Merry Christmas!

I pray the silence and anticipation in your journey to Christmas has brought joy and peace.

Benediction

(from Jane Rubietta, Finding the Messiah)

Dear one,

The angels' song 

Is the same today

As in the field

That long-ago dark night.

I still bring peace,

And favor rests upon 

All with whom I am pleased.

And you, you!

With you I am well pleased.

Believe that, please,

And be willing to punch out 

From your day job

And your night shift

And come to Me.

Because I came in Christ,

Through Christ,

Peace, peace and favor,

For you,

For the world.

come, now.

Sing with Me...

Here is a bonus song, for fun!  Merry Christmas!  Click here.

Week 4 Day 5

Merry Christmas!

Listen to Peace Has Come by clicking on the title.

Week 4 Day 4

Some artwork with the shepherds...
(sorry they are a little small, but they get too blurry when I enlarge them)

Week 4 Day 3

This week's devotion comes, again, from Jane Rubietta's Finding the Messiah...

"Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests."

Peace, did you say? Peace in a country ruled by a manic king?  Peace in a people who had known only separation from the Holy One because of all the manifestations of disobedience in their tribe?  Peace, did you say?

How the shepherds must have drunk deeply of that word.  It's used in the same way as shalom in Hebrew: peace, harmony, tranquility; safety, welfare, health; lack of strife, reconciliation in relationships.  After God's people endured centuries of separation from him, the angels truly proclaimed peace?  Shepherds lived in rather constant danger, likely suffering health issues from exposure to the elements year after year.  The angels' song of peace must have answered a cry deep in their hearts as those notes spilled out like star showers in the night sky...

As the heavenly harmonies faded, the shepherds shook themselves from their midnight vision, blinked widely, then stared at one another for confirmation.  "Did we just see this?  Did this really just happen?" But not for long.  Without a backward glance at their sheep, didn't they whisper in the deep, quiet holiness of the night, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about" (Luke 2:15)?  There is no mention of a new shift of shepherds coming in to take over for the ones who ran off the field to worship the just-born King.

In our busy brains and our busy days and nights, how hard it is to leave our work and our worrisome lifestyles, throw caution to the wind and our sheep (jobs) to the wolves, and go to find the Christ child?  How I long to answer the angels' song like those shepherds, the melodic message tugging on my heart, and me tugging on my neighbors' sleeves, and all of us hobbling off together on our work-weary bones to find this peace child.  To experience the community of people on whom God's favor rests.  To know that favor, that goodwill and acceptance, that blessing.

But wait.  Isn't that Advent?  Christ comes, and his very coming demonstrates that God's favor rests on us, and that peace, peace, peace is available to us all.  Shalom.  Everything we need to live whole lives, to live wholly, to live holy.

Peace.  Favor.  Advent.  Christ comes, and off we go.

Week 4 Days 1 & 2

This week's theme is peace.

In the midst of the busyness of the events of this season, I want to continue to experience peace.  Some days this is easier than others.  I have times when I feel completely overwhelmed.  Then there are times when life is zooming by and I feel complete peace.

In my experience, it is the point of my focus which changes the depth of my peace.  When I start to look around and see the wind and waves, as our friend Peter did when he was walking on the water, I, too, get scared and have to cry out to Jesus to save me.

Other times, I say with Paul that I have learned to be content in whatever situation I find myself because I know that Jesus is right here with me.

The angels told the shepherds:

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests."  (Luke 2:14)

The coming of Jesus brings peace.  I am praying for this peace to permeate my heart and life today.  I pray that it is also permeating yours.

Thank you for stopping by.  May God's peace rest on you today, this moment, this season.

Week 3 Day 7

A prayer for the journey:

Jesus,

in the darkness of these Advent nights

let me be guided by the light of your word.

Give me the humility to be led by you

and the wisdom to learn from you.

I feel your light in my life 
and in the world.


I am grateful for the Savior who awaits us, 


and eagerly await the time of rejoicing. 


Let me look forward in hope 


and turn to you with great trust, 


knowing you will guide my steps 


along the unknown path of this day.

(from Creighton University Online Ministries Advent Prayers)

Week 3 Day 6

I chose the song "Breath of Heaven" for this week.  I liked this version because of the scenes from the movie "The Nativity Story."  This song talks of the long journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, but also, of Mary's journey of heart, too.  Enjoy!

This is absolutely beautiful! The same song in Spanish.   If you have time, give this one a listen, too.