Tuesday, November 30

Isaiah 1:21-31

Psalms 5, 6, 10, and 11

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Luke 20:9-18

Therefore the Lord Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel, declares: “Ah, I will get relief from my foes and avenge myself on my enemies.” Isaiah 1:24

Every year as Advent approaches I look forward to the exciting prophesies in Isaiah and the beautiful birth stories in Luke; well today’s readings are not of that ilk so they are somewhat disappointing. At first read, and I will admit second and third read, these come off rather vengeful and wrath filled. In my constant effort to find the good news, even in verses filled with thoughts of murderers, harlots, cheaters, will burn together, broken to pieces and crushed, I find God’s incredible love. He is constantly trying to redeem us.

Isaiah admits the obvious, people can and will constantly fall into sin. In Luke’s Gospel Jesus tells of how we constantly back away from what is right and fair. What these readings also tell us is that God is and will be constantly involved and constantly trying to reconcile us to him.

The precious stories of Christmas are coming, just a few more weeks. Advent is our time to ponder and struggle to live into God’s magnificent redemption.

Blessings,

Jennie Perry

Monday, November 29

Isaiah 1:10-20

Psalms 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Luke 20:1-8

The morning commute started with its usual banter – “Did you remember your show-and-tell?” “Can we have spaghetti for dinner?” “My favorite letter is W!” - as the girls settled into their morning backseat play time. I had my eyes on the road, planning my day, making my mental list of things to get done. At some point a headless doll emerged from under somebody’s car seat, and Keatyn (our five year old) declared in a very stern voice, “Mommy, I am very mad about Karsyn pulling my doll’s head off!” And her little sister retorted in the voice of a cherub with the logic that only two year olds possess, “I’m not mad, I’m Karsyn!” As a parent, how do you begin to respond to that? On the one hand I wanted to rally around Keatyn and declare how unfair toy damage inflicted by younger siblings is. And on the other hand, I had to stifle a giggle (so as not to encourage errant behavior from our “little ray of sunshine”) because her bold outburst that she wasn’t mad was a reminder to me that I choose how I respond to everything that happens to me and around me.

In Psalm 7 David was grateful that God was righteous. As children of God we never have to worry that someone will pull the wool over God’s eyes – HE who is I AM cannot be snowed! When the questions arise, and we wonder if anyone out there is fair or honest – rest assured that He sees everything and He knows our hurt. And unlike the commuting mother of two (who doesn’t know whether to laugh or write an Advent meditation about the situation) God longs to sit with you, He wants to hear your hurt and He always has and IS the right answer.

KariAnn Lessner

The First Sunday of Advent

Sunday, November 28

Isaiah 1:1-9

Psalms 111, 112, 113, 146, and 147

2 Peter 3:1-10

Matthew 25:1-13

During Advent we sing Hymn 66 “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus;” it is a brief reminder of the long wait of Israel for the coming of the Messiah. A messiah that, by his birth, would fulfill God’s promise to the Jewish people for redemption, forgiveness, freedom, peace, joy and acceptance into the heavenly kingdom of God. As we know the wait was very long.

In Matthew 25 we hear of how the kingdom of God is like virgins waiting for the bridegroom. We hear about the 10 virgins with 10 lamps – how five were wise and five were foolish. All were expecting and waiting for the bridegroom – the Messiah. All grew tired and fell asleep. All fell asleep with hope of meeting the bridegroom. How is it that five knew to take oil and five did not? I am not certain but I think that the five with oil were mature in their understanding of God. They knew the wait would be long. Not because God is slow on delivering on his promise but because, as Peter noted in his letter, verse 9, “Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” He wants each of us to be prepared for him when he comes again. The oil is the knowledge that we have of God. God wants us to seek Him out, to know Him completely, to experience his gifts of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. If we do not take the time to be with God and to learn about God, God can seem to us like a stranger. We do not find hope in the unknown or in strangers. We find hope in those we know and who have shown that they will always meet our needs. Those who know us well. He who knows us well – God.

For Hope to happen in our lives, our relationship with God will need to be very close – like that of parent and child. A child seeks out its needs through the parent and the parent meets those needs. Sometimes the parent will wait before meeting the need but the need is always met. Over time the child learns to trust the parent for more and more. Over time, the child, by seeking need-fulfillment through the parent, learns more and more about the parent. Trust develops, and soon follows hope. The hope of Christmas is found in a deep relationship with, and a deep, mature knowledge of God. With that mature knowledge we can be assured that our lamps will have plenty of oil and we will enter the wedding banquet.

Over the next 27 days leading up to Christmas morning, set aside the time you need to deepen your knowledge of and your relationship with God. Study the bible verses with your study bible and share your findings with your family. What greater gift could we give this season to those we know and love, than a roadmap to a deep and loving relationship with our Lord?

God wants for each of us to have hope in Him.

Bob Felice