2 Peter 3:8-13

The older I get the faster time seems to pass. Another year coming to an end, my children both celebrating birthdays in the last six weeks. Is it fleeting or is it just me? Peter tells us that the day of reckoning will come like a thief in the night. This makes me more than a little apprehensive. My faith lies in Christ's sacrifice for my sins and I do attempt to live a Christian life daily but I falter
all too often. When I do stand in front of Jesus to be judged the only thing that matters is the truth that He knows. My insecurities sometimes say "your not worthy"
but Christ knows better. Thank you Lord!

Acts 6/7

It is the second day of Christmas.

And we've moved from the peaceful joy of the stable to the stoning of Stephen....from the birth of the Prince of Peace to the first example of Christian martyrdom.

Today is St. Stephen's day...December 26th is the day we remember this martyrdom around the world. (Good King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of Stephen).

It helps us to escape from the safe pageantry of Christmas and remember that this all has life and death consequences. The King of Kings asks for our allegiance, and that is not always the easy thing to do.

Readings

Monday - Acts 6:8-7:2a, 51-60
Tuesday - John 21:20-25
Wednesday - Matthew 2:13-18
Thursday - 2 Peter 3:8-13
Friday - Psalm 148
Saturday - John 8:12-19

Psalm 96

The Lord our God has given His followers the gift of life through Christ.
He is to be both feared and praised. The sacrifice of the Son makes possible our relationship with the Father. The words...he will judge the nations fairly and with truth... are all that I can ask for. My God has given me great blessings and keeping the focus on His story is the challenge I attempt not only during this season but each day I'm given the opportunity.

Wishing all a wonderful Christ-filled Christmas and safe travels in the coming days.

1 Samuel 2:1-10

After a rough go of having children where she was even ridiculed by those close to her, Hannah prays to God for a son promising to give him to God.  God blesses Hannah with Samuel and when the boy "had been weaned" she brings him to Eli at the temple and the prays the verses we read here.  Much like Mary's song, this a prayer rejoicing in the goodness of God.  Those who are humble and deserving receive God's blessings, while the rich are sent away.

I have been singing "My Soul Glorifies the Lord" from our Christmas Cantata all week.  I haven't been able to get it out of my head.  (Here is the link if you want it stuck in your head Christmas Cantata, which is a better recording than the one I posted on Sunday).  I'm not sure if I really want it out of my head though.  I am so blessed, not only with children, but a beautiful wife, a job, a house, family, friends... My soul should glorify the Lord all the time!  I never want to be on the other side of Hannah and Mary's words.  The haughty and undeserving.  No, we are created and saved to be thankful and giving back to the glory of God.  Amen!

Luke 1:46b-55

I know that generations have reverred these verses and love this song...but I'm beginning to think I will always struggle with it.

I've had two normal children - and each pregnancy and each birth was world-changing, confidence shattering, and ego-bursting. The sense of peace and calm and gratitude in Mary's song seems so foreign from any emotions I could even imagine her having.

But new in today's reading - I've discovered that she did not break into song upon hearing the news of her pregnancy. Her initial response seems to be more...resigned "Fine, let it be with me as the Lord has said (it's not like I can change it anyway)"

She doesn't sing with joy until after she talks with Elizabeth. We need each other to help us make sense of God's actions in our lives. Mary needed to talk to another pregnant woman. She needed to speak with Elizabeth - who was old and had been longing for a child for so long.

When it's just "me and God", God can be overwhelming. When it's "us and God", we work side by side. We pray together, we praise together. And sometimes God makes more sense. And often, I am braver.

Readings for the week...

Monday: Luke 1:46b-55
Tuesday: Hebrews 8:1-13
Wednesday: 1 Samuel 2:1-10
Thursday: Psalm 96
Friday: Romans:13-11-14
Saturday: (Christmas Eve) Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14 [15-20]
Sunday: (Christmas!) Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; Hebrews 1:1-4 [5-12]; John 1:1-14

Our worship service schedule for Christmas:

Christmas Eve
4pm: Family Service
11pm: Candlelight Service


Christmas Day
10am: Worship Service (Traditional)

www.faithlutheranquincy.com

Hear our Cantata from 12/18! : MP3s

Hebrews 1:5-14

Well Julia woke up from a bad dream and now she's peacefully back to sleep while I'm
wide awake! So why not blog rather than turning on the NFL network.


Jesus is the theme of these verses. Throughout God reemphasizes that Christ is greater than all. The Son whom was with the Father before time was became man for our sake. He was the Most High and yet took on flesh and became fully human. He did this for me and for you so that we could have a place in His Father's home. His greatness and sacrifice is beyond words. Thank you Jesus for counting me worthy to worship and glorify you.

Mark 9:9-13

These couple of verses are probably packed for theologians.  "Do not tell anyone" and "Elijah must come first" has written a lot of long books.  But what do they mean to me?

I love verse 10: "They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what 'rising from the dead' meant."  So human.  Afraid to look silly asking dumb questions like rising from the dead.  My boss called me out on this a little while ago.  I tend to smile and nod when I hear something I don't understand or the name of someone I do not know.  Half the time, I'll jot down a note to look it up later.  But not asking then and there does not allow me to fully participate in the conversation.  Instead, I am just a receiver of information. 

What I love about being Lutheran is that we are charged to actively participate in our faith.  To question the things we don't undestand and to try to explain to others the things we think we do.  We aren't the receivers of these verses, we are the intepreters and the embodiment of what the words call us to do.  Just like those theologians arguing who Elijah is and what the messianic secret was all about.

Readings for the week...

Monday: Psalm 125
Tuesday: Acts 3:17-4:4
Wednesday: Mark 9:9-13
Thursday: Hebrews 1:5-14
Friday: Psalm 89:1-4,19-26
Saturday: John 7:40-52
Sunday: 2 Samuel 7:1-11,16; Psalm 89:1-4,19-26; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38

Psalm 27

This Psalm exhaults our Father to His proper place in the lives of those who believe. Give unto Him all your need and anxiety for His refuge is all that is necessary. My problem is that I'm human and continually struggle with being in the driver's seat. God has always been there for me and will continue to guide my life when I'm not trying to control everything.

Philippians 3:12-16

Pressing on..let us live up to what we have already attained!  These few verses are good to read on a down day.  One of those words that almost count out the steps to keep you moving.  "Hut, two, three..." 

Luke 1:5-17

The beginning of the Gospel of Luke...the beginning of the Good News of the story of Jesus Christ....

And the story isn't about Jesus at all.

It's about Zechariah and Elizabeth and John the Baptist.

The Gospel of Luke is the gospel that spends the most time talking about the poor, disenfranchised, and powerless. Instead of focusing on what we think should be "THE MAIN STORY", throughout this gospel Christ focuses on the widows and the children and the lepers on the side of the road. So I guess it makes sense that the gospel begins with the story of an everyday priest who would be the father of a locust-eating desert wanderer.

If someone were to write about my life, in what ways does it pave the way for THE MAIN STORY of God's salvation? Who have I passed in a river? Is my son's cousin going to bring hope to the hopeless? What words did I say 9 years ago that mattered to someone enough that her life is blessing others in new ways?

We are called to Prepare the Way of the Lord this Advent. There are so many ways and so many people and so many relationships that we are a part of. May God bless our words and our silences.

Readings for the week...

Monday: Luke 1:5-17
Tuesday: Isaiah 4:2-6
Wednesday: Philippians 3:12-16
Thursday: Psalm 27
Friday: Habakkuk 3:13-19
Saturday: Psalm 126
Sunday: Isaiah 61:1-4,8-11; Psalm 126; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

John 1:35-42

I can't fathom what it took to be a disciple during Christ's time on earth. John the
Baptist spent his days preaching to his followers of a coming Savior and here we read
John's announcement of this man. These men were blessed with the gift to know and be
taught by Jesus. What an experience this must have been and yet I wonder if they had any idea of the significance of what they were exposed to. They witnessed first hand
the Living God walking and teaching among them. Christ's message of salvation and sacrifice lives on more than 2000 years since he walked the earth even though some
may say that it has been diminished.

Today it is so easy to get caught up in living life. We all need to provide for our
families as well as enjoy the fruits of our labor. I am grateful for my life and all
that I have been given and do try and give back but am I doing all that I could? The
disciples gave up everything to follow Christ and though I'd like to think my faith is at the top of my list my actions show different. My challenge is to strive to walk in the Light the Lord has provided for His believers and seek His will for me in this life.