Tuesday, December 5

Jeremiah 33: 14-16 (NCV)

The Lord says, "The time is coming when I will do the good thing
I promised to the people of Israel and Judah.
In those days and at that time, 
I will make a good branch sprout from David's family. 
He will do what is fair and right in the land.
At that time Judah will be saved, 
and the people of Jerusalem will live in safety. 
The branch will be named: 
“The Lord Does What Is Right."

Family trees are interesting. It shows us from whom we came. They allow us to transport ourselves from generation to generation, imagining the way our ancestors lived. For many, discovering roots of their family tree is exciting. I once was excited about my family roots, but now I have second thoughts.

I am related to General Robert E. Lee. For my whole life, this was something our family claimed openly. Yes, he was a confederate general, but he was an important figure in history, and our family was descended from this historical figure!

I have to admit, the best part of this lineage is the passing down of Mary Anna Lee’s gingerbread recipe. Mmmmm! It’s so tasty!

Still, with recent events, I am questioning that pride. How can I be excited about such a controversial man?

Jesus’ family stemmed from King David. What a wonderful lineage! King David was a man after God’s own heart, and to be a descendant of such a man must have caused a great sense of pride.  However, David was an adulterer and a murderer in the notorious tale of David and Bathsheba.

Perhaps part of this lineage from David was a reminder of the sinfulness in all of us, it reminds us that we are in need of a savior, Christ the King.

Pray: Lord, we all came from somebody, but we know that ultimately we will go to You. Thank you for being my Heavenly father. Amen

Monday, December 4

Luke 3: 3-6 (NRSV)

He (John the Baptist) went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

Get ready! It’s almost time!

The Christmas season has just begun, and it’s about to be in full swing.

Every year I look forward to the fun parts - family time and hot chocolate by the fire - but I have come to dread the days which include preparation for the Big Day.

The truth is, December 25 is not the only part of Christmas that matters. It’s the preparation; not the shopping and party prep, but rather the act of preparing to celebrate the birth of a tiny God-child in a bed of hay.

Preparing for that beautiful day requires moments of stillness. Moments in which we contemplate the reason for Christ’s birth. He came to save. He came to die and to rise. The tiny child came for you and for all. 

Preparing for Christmas means taking time of joy and expectation, it may come alone in the quiet, or with family, hot chocolate and a fireplace. However you prepare, take time to do it! 

Get ready! It’s almost time!

Pray: Lord, fill me with expectation in preparation, not the dread of busyness. Amen

Sunday, December 3

Isaiah 40:3-5

A voice cries out:
‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.‘   

Yes, it’s true, I was one of those kids, the kids who’s bedroom got messier and messier with time. Eventually my mother would come to the doorway, sigh an exasperated sigh, and say, “Clear a path from the door to your bed.”

I would do it, though I am sure it took much longer than it could have, because as I cleared a path, I found dolls waiting to be hugged, drawings which need to be surveyed, and books which needed to be read.

Once the path was clear, my mother would come to my door and say, “Good job, this is much better, now, why don’t you see about cleaning this side of the path.” 

You guessed it, I would clean it, only to be directed to clean the remaining side next. It was my mom’s way of breaking down the job for me.

When I read todays’ passage, I see my mom’s words, “Clear a path.” Isaiah’s voice in the wilderness says to “make the rough places plain,” in other words, make it easier to get from point A to point B.

What makes the way into our hearts rough? What blocks the way for Jesus as he comes to us?

For me it may be busyness, distractions like gift giving and cookie baking, or even unreasonable expectations for the holiday. These things start to take over my thoughts, my energy, my days, and they get in the way of the real purpose for Advent and Christmas. I am going to try to clear a path today. Maybe you would like to try it too.

Pray:  Help me to clear a path from where you are to my heart. Come Lord Jesus, come. Amen