A Prayer for the End of the Year

Spirit of God that surrounds us,

Praise to you, Creator, Action, and Love.

In the coming year,

Let this world know your love through us

As we do your will.

Provide for your people.

Give us the power to overcome our weaknesses,

So that we can help others

And love the unlovable.

Keep us safe annd protected

As this year unfolds.

You are core of all life.

Above all, you are.

Your Kingdom Come

This day I pray that your kingdom comes
And comes quickly.
Almost two thousand years have passed
Since you walked this earth.
You sent the Holy Spirit to comfort us,
But sometimes I feel so alone,
I must remember to
"Wait for the promise of the Father."
I will still my thoughts
Focus on your love and sacrifice.
And pray that I will know your will.
I will wait.

A New Years's Resolution from Philippians

"Finally, brethren, what ever things are true,

Whatever things are honest,

Whatever things are just,

Whatever things are pure,

Whatever things are lovely,

Whatever things are of good report:

If there be virtue, and if there be any praise,

Think on these things."

These words from Philippians

Form a ready-made New Year's Resolution.

I resolve to cleanse my mind this year

By focusing on the

Honest,

Just,

Pure, and

Lovely.

I will refuse to

Read smut,

View the vile or

Contemplate evil.

Blessed are they that Mourn

"Blessed are they that mourn;

For they will be comforted."

These are the words of Jesus

In the Sermon on the Mount.

Are they true today?

I believe so.

Those that mourn are those

That have cared for another.

They feel the pain of separation.

Their comfort comes because

Having loved once,

They can love again.

Holiday Sadness

Dear Lord, I feel sad today.
The holidays are over.
Family and friends have departed.
I am alone.
What did you say, Lord?
"I am with you always."
I must remember that;
Hold those words for comfort
As I face the the coming year.
You are the great "I am."
Thank you for my very being.

God's Color

Kittens tumble across the floor.
Black, white, and orange.
They see no difference in color.
Why cannot we be more like cats
And see only the humaness is all of us,
Not the color of the skin?
What color were you, Lord?
Not the pale hue of northern climates.
In a land scorched by the sun,
You were dark-eyed,
Skin neither white nor black.
We cannot choose the color of our skin,
But you could.
Why do we forget?

Happy Birthday Jesus

Dear Lord, we have much to thank you for:
For a baby born two thousand years ago,
For the man, Jesus, that baby became,
For his sacrifice on the cross,
For the resurrection,
For the Holy Spirit that dwells with us.
Thank you for the food, family and fellowship
We will share this day.
Let us not forget why we celebrate this day,
Happy Birthday, Jesus.

Advent Christmas Tree

A
Star
On top of
A tree trimmed
With objects held dear.
Erected in remembrance of God,
Festooned not with glitter and glitz
But with hope and the promise
Of

Love

Advent: Hallelujah Chorus

Christmas carols fill the air.

The Hallelujah Chorus rouses us from our seats

As we follow a tradition set by an earthly king.

Christians say we acknowledge no king but Jesus.

Do we really know Christ as our sovereign?

Does God govern our lives?

Let me understand the sovereignty of God,

And understand that in His kingdom

No one is diminished who bows before Him.

Mark's Advent

"And it came to pass, in those days,

That Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee,

And was baptized by John in the Jordan."

So in the Gospel of Mark we encounter Jesus

For the first time

At the start of his ministry,

A man grown.

And God speaks:

"Thou art my beloved Son,

In whom I am well pleased."

Jesus always knew he had God's love,

But how wonderful to have it confirmed.

My wish at Christmas is that we all

Know God's love

And have that love confirmed.

The Word at Advent

"In the beginning was the Word,

And the is Word was with God,

And the Word was God."

"And the Word was made flesh

And dwelt among us..."

These quotes from the Gospel of John

Speak the message of Advent to me.

Christ is God in action,

The instrument of creation,

And the instrument of salvation.

He shed his majesty to experience

the World He created

As one of those made in His image,

And to know death as we do.

Resurrected, He showed us there can be

Everlasting life.

What greater gift can there be?

How many wise men?

"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea

In the days of Herod, the king,

Behold there came wise men from the east..."

The Bible does not count the wise men,

But we do.

Why?

Are we so determine to quantify the world

That we fail to know the quality of our surroundings?

Is a person's worth counted in dollars or

How well they serve others?

I fear the answer, so I pray.

"Lord, make me a servant in your image,

today, tomorrow and eternity."

There were three gifts:

"Gold, and frankincense,

And myrrh."

As Christmas comes,

Let me offer gifts to God:

Generosity,

Faith,

And mission.

Simeon Speaks on Advent

"Simeon was devout and righteous,

Waiting for the consolation of Israel..."

Can anyone claim that today?

Christ promised to return,

But do we believe He will?

Are we devout and righteous,

Waiting for the Second Coming?

I can only pray that it be so,

And remember the joy of Simeon

As he held the baby Jesus in his hands.

"For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

A light to lighten the Gentiles,

And the glory to thy people, Israel."

These are the words of Advent for me:

Christ comes for all.

Advent Today

"And the angel said unto them,

Fear not; for behold,

I bring you good tidings of great joy,

Which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day

In the city of David

A Savior,

Who is Christ the Lord"

The words of Luke's gospel echo through the ages.

In this season do we hear that echo?

I fear not.

Carols fill the halls and malls of commerce

Until we no longer comprehend the words.

Today,

I will listen with my heart to Luke,

And know the Christ excludes no one from his love

For he came "to all people."

That is the message of Advent.

A Baptist Advent

Christmas approaches.

The city is covered in glitter and lights.

We search for gifts amid the crowds.

Shouldn't we search for the Bethlehem babe?

Shouldn't we listen for the angel's message?

"Peace on Earth."

Let us remember that a child born two thousand years ago

Changed the world.

His message is simple and unadorned.

Love God

And Love your neighbor.

Fear of God

I do not understand God's ways.

I pray for relief, but receive no answer,

So I wrap myself in aloneness and fear.

Then like today, I pray,

and the answer comes so clearly that

I am afraid.

Thank you God for your answer this day.

Take away my fear.

I know you said,

“Fear not,”

But I still shrink in terror.

Give me strength to walk without fear

When I do not hear God's answer

And when I do.