Monday, December 10

Isaiah 5:8-23

Psalms 9, 15, and 25

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Luke 21:20-28

The beautiful weather this fall has inspired me to get out and dig in the dirt.  Flowers I had planted in the spring and even some from the previous year were looking rather leggy and weak.  I pulled out each one and pounded the dirt off the roots, their beauty and usefulness no longer desirable.  I raked out the beds, tossing out rocks and debris in an effort to start over with the new.  Other plants I could prune and chop on a bit to extend their beauty hopefully another season.

God knows how we often need to be pulled up by the roots, our dirt pounded out; our beds cleared of so many messes.  Chopping off the thorns and barbs of our hearts is too often necessary to get our attention. 

Today’s lessons are filled with attention grabbers.  Words like desolation, great distress, wrath, destruction, thief in the night, etc.  Signs of the end of the age abound.  Even Isaiah’s reading starts with, “woe to you.”  Not exactly what I was hoping for as inspiration for Advent.  What about promises of a new kingdom?  What about lions and lambs lying down together?  Glad tidings of great joy anyone? 

Luke once again saves us with Jesus’ words, “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”  Luke 21:28

God does know us well, he is also in charge, and he will redeem us.

Thanks be to God and a blessed Advent to all,

Jennie Perry