Friday, December 8

2 Corinthians 6:18 (NIV)

I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

Not every one of us has a father at home. Some of us miss our fathers who have passed. Others have no father at all.

Thank you, Lord. You are the Good and Perfect father to us all, and though men may fail us, you never will.

I am yours, and you are mine. Help me to feel your arms around me to remind me that I am not alone.

Pray: Daddy, you’re the best. Amen

Thursday, December 7

Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;
for I am meek and lowly in heart:
and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

For me, this passage always calls to mind oxen working in the fields. I picture them dragging a heavy load, working against the weight that tries to hold them back. I suppose this picture is accurate in some aspects, but there is more to this image.

In Jesus’ day, a Rabbi was known for his “yoke.” This referred to his course of study for his students. The Rabbi’s task was to teach the law and the prophets. Some Rabbis were known to be particularly difficult, having a “heavy yoke.” Jesus says that his yoke is easy, he asks us to take his yoke and to learn from him.

When asked about the law, Jesus said, “Love God and love your neighbor.”  He said that if we do those things, all of the law and all prophecies will be covered.

In addition to that, Jesus says to come to him, come to him and he will give rest. In Advent we say we await his coming. I think Jesus awaits our advent as well. Come to Jesus, rest. Peace and love await.

Pray: Dona nobis pacem. Give us peace. Amen

Wednesday, December 6

Luke 1: 26-38 (NIV)

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.  The virgin's name was Mary.  The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever;
his kingdom will never end."

 “How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."

 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Mary was able to accept Gabriel’s message with a calm, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be as you have said.” It’s a beautiful example of humble service to the Lord.

With the storm that was sure to follow; family shame, scorn from the community, possible rejection from her fiancé, and the huge task of raising the Messiah, Mary was able to accept God’s message with quiet humility.

What message does God have for you? Do you suppose a moment of stillness might help you to hear that message and accept it with humility?

Let’s be still. Let’s see what God has for us.

Pray: Lord, in quiet moments, help me to hear your message and humbly accept it. Amen