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| p2. December 11-20 Nativity. Dec 11. Faith requires just the right tension. Faith means trusting God is present with us without being able to prove it. Though we cannot know when, where, or how God is going to act, we trust God is active in our lives and in our world. The tension of faith can easily get out of balance in 2 ways. 1 way is to live as though God has no influence or interest in the outcome of human affairs. We do whatever we feel like doing without consulting or caring about what God has in mind. The other way is to excuse ourselves from any responsibility for the outcome by claiming it�s all up to God. Life with God is a partnership. When our partnership is working, we experience this tension of knowing and yet not knowing in a way that results in a healthy blend of hope and courage to act boldly, mixed with trust in God to manage the outcome. Lord, grant me confidence to follow where you lead. Dec 12. And Jesus sighed deeply in his spirit and said, �Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.� See Mark 8:12. The sign Jesus left us was a cross. The sign of the cross communicates a willingness to give birth to love, God�s willingness, and hopefully ours. Dec 13. The fear and dread of you shall rest upon every animal of the earth,� See Genesis 9:1-17. Today most animals run away when humans approach. In Noah�s time, people were often mauled by wild animals. These words from Genesis must have been comforting to them. God would not only protect them from wild animals, but wildlife would now be afraid of them. Creator God, teach me to be a good caretaker of the part of the world you have entrusted to me. Amen. Dec 14. �my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. See Isaiah 54:1-10. In a covenant each party voluntarily enters into a relationship out of mutual love, respect, and trust. There are no guarantees. The scriptures tell us how over and over again God comes to the people of Israel. Then God came to the first faithful and fearful disciples of Jesus. Today God comes to us promising to be with us, promising us peace, hope, and compassion. There is no contract. God initiates a relationship with us, and waits with eternal patience for us to be part of the covenant. God of peace and hope, thank you for your steadfast love. Amen. Dec 15. May he defend the cause of the poor, give deliverance to the needy� See Psalm 72:1-7. It was amazing how the leadership of Houston, Texas organized the city to receive the 250,000 evacuees from storm and flood-ravaged New Orleans in 2005. This was all made possible by a partnership between the faith-based organizations and publicly elected city and town officials. Their mutual goal was clear: provide services for the deliverance of these desperate needy newcomers to Houston. The grace of God was visible in hundreds of deeds of compassion in those first chaotic weeks. God does indeed work miracles through those who focus on God�s goals. Dec 16. And when you turn to the right or when you to turn the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, �This is the way; walk in it.� See Isaiah 30:19-26. O God, my trainer, let me hear your words of guidance for my life. Amen. Dec 17. �The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the spirit. See John 3:8. The spirit is no respecter of denominations. On March 15, 1992, Kevin and Steven were united before 250 guests at the Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, amid vigorous protests and threats of retribution from national and regional Baptist leaders. Also in Raleigh, Binkley Memorial Baptist Church licensed a gay minister! Thank you, Spirit for your outbursts of hope. Dec 18. I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. See Joel 2:28. When I was young I dreamed that I was in spirit with another spirit. The other spirit was showing me my life on earth and the many challenges that I would have to face. When I woke up I could not remember those challenges, nor do I always know what is in my future, but I know that there is a plan. I believe that life is a growth process. Death is a threshold, not an end. Lord, bless us with all we need to face the challenges of today. Amen. Dec 19. Joseph was a self-affirming, unrepentant dreamer. Jealous of the grace that God bestowed on him, his brothers plotted to kill him, but Rueben suggested throwing him into a dry well. Then they sold Joseph to passing slave traders en route to Egypt. Little did Joseph�s brothers know what role they had unwittingly played in God�s providence. For in Egypt, Joseph�s dreams would come true, and he ultimately saved their family from famine. See Genesis 37:19-20. Send more dreamers, that our churches may be filled with dreams! Dec 20. Then Gamaliel said, �Let them alone; because if this plan or undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them- in that case you may even be found fighting against God!� See Acts 5:35, 38-39. Spirit, blow through the wilderness of the church courts and councils, for freedom is coming. |