New Year's Eve Resolutions

"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 of Paul

Form ready-made
New Year's Resolutions.

I will refuse to

Listen to hatred,

View the vile or

Contemplate evil.

I resolve to cleanse my mind

By focusing on the

Honest,

Just,

Pure, and

Lovely.

Photo by emilianohorcada

Prayer for 2010

Daddy, who lives beyond our senses,
Your name makes us shiver
In happiness and awe.
Make 2010 the completion of time.
Let us know and do your will
As those that have joined you
Know and do.
Forgive our missteps and stumbles
As we forgive those
That stand in our way.
Keep the candy of life out of sight,
Carry us over the obstacles
That would make us fall.
For you are time and space
And love eternal.
Make this year ahead one where
We know that you hold us close
And wrap us in your love.

Photo by Mel B.

Happy Birthday!

We have much to thank God for:

For a baby born some two thousand years ago,
For the man that baby became,
For the teachings of the Son of Man,
For his sacrifice on the cross,
For the resurrection,
For the Comforter that dwells with us.
Thanks, too, for the food, family and fellowship
We will share this day.
Christmas can be summed in three words:
Happy Birthday Jesus.

Photo by Ardyiii

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve has arrived
With blustery winds
And driving cold.
Not the season of
Our savior's birth
But the time of our celebration.
Shepherds were in the hills
With their flocks;
The night breezes were warm
When Jesus was born.
Spring,
His time of birth,
His time of death.
Better to celebrate with joy
And anticipation in winter's chill,
Than obscure the Easter message.
Shepherds.
Flocks.
Lambs.
The Lamb of God is come.

Photo by nz willowherb

The Advent God is Brown

Kittens tumble under the Christmas tree,
Black, white, gray or orange
Born to a calico mother.
Cats see no difference because of hue.
Why are we not more like these furry creatures
And see only the humanness of others
Not the skin tint passed by generations?
What color were you, Lord?
Not the pale hue of northern climes.
In a land scorched by the sun
You were neither white nor black.
We cannot choose the color of our skin,
But you could.
Why do we forget?

Photo by adrigu

An Advent Tree

A
Star
Glistens
At the top of
A tree trimmed
With objects held dear.
A symbol of life everlasting
Erected in remembrance of God.
Festooned not with glitter and glitz
But with hope and the promise

Of

Love

Photo by mtungate

A Bow at Advent

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 us understand the sovereignty of God,

And understand that in His kingdom

No one is diminished who bows before
Isaiah's
Wonderful Counselor and
Prince of Peace.

Photo by stevendamron

Advent in the Gospel of Mark

"And it came to pass, in those days,

That Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee,

And was baptized by John in the Jordan."

Thus Jesus appears for the first time
In the Gospel of Mark,

At the start of his ministry,

A man grown.

And God speaks:

"Thou art my beloved Son,

In whom I am well pleased."

From birth
Jesus knew God's love.

How wonderful to have that love proclaimed.

At Christmas may we all

Know God's love

And have that love proclaimed
In our hearts.

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.

Christ is God in action,

The instrument of creation,

The instrument of salvation.

God shed his majesty to experience

The world

As one of those made in his image.
As human,
He could experience death.

Resurrected,
He demonstrated everlasting life.

What greater gift can there be?

Photo by bahoootah qtr

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?
We look to a person's wealth
To define their character.
God looks to how a person treats
The least among us.
My prayer at Advent must be

"Lord, make me a servant in your image,

today, tomorrow and forever."

The wise men did bring three gifts:

"Gold, and frankincense,

And myrrh."

As Christmas comes,

Let me offer gifts to God:

Love,

Faith,

And Humility.

A Light to the Gentiles

"Simeon was devout and righteous,

Waiting for the consolation of Israel..."

Christ promised to return,

But do we believe He will?
His followers believed
Christ would return within their lifetimes.
Every generation needs to share that belief.

Are we devout and righteous,
As Simeon was?

Do we look forward to the Second Coming
As Simeon looked for the First?
As Christmas approaches let us

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:

Christ comes for all.

Advent 2009

"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 Christ excludes no one from his love

For he came "to all people."
There is no exclusivity,
No unique faith,
Just the manifestation of God
In a baby
And"great joy."

That is the message of Advent.

Photo by aharden

Celebrate Advent

Christmas approaches
With the burden of our traditions.

The city is covered in glitter and lights.

We search for gifts amid the crowds.
Shouldn't we read the prophet's words?

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 as yourself.
Listen for His words.
"I am come."

Photo by daveiam