Acts 3:19-20 “Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus.”

This time of year can be busier than any other without much effort.  The stores are filled with gifts to buy for loved ones and decorations to put in your homes.  Christmas songs fill the air and the parties are not far off anymore.  This morning our church decorates for Christmas and tomorrow is the first Sunday in Advent.  I have concerts coming up soon and even if you don’t play an instrument or sing, there are many concerts you could attend.  The hustle and bustle can push us right into Christmas Eve and Christmas Day without even a blink of an eye.  Peter is not talking of Christmas in this passage yet these verses can be used to remind us that we need to slow down and reflect so that we might be ready to receive the Messiah.  We celebrate his birth each year but he is with us whenever we turn to receive him.  Turn and rest in the presence of the Lord.  He will cleanse our sins away so we are ready to receive the most High, the Messiah; the true Christmas gift.

Lord,

Search our hearts for sin that lurks within us.  Banish it from us so that we are free to come and free to receive Love from you. During this busy season, compel us to take moments to rest in your Holy presence for renewal and restoration so we are truly ready when the Christ child comes.  Amen.

Isaiah 59:8 “The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths.  Their roads they have made crooked; no one who walks in them knows peace.”

As the voices of joyful fellowship fade into yesterday and the quiet of this morning comes, I move from a day of giving thanks and turn to seek peace.  We have a journey to embark on.  It is almost time to start the long journey to a faraway land.  It is on this journey that we may begin to find justice in our paths.  On this journey to a manger in Bethlehem our roads may become more straight than crooked and as we walk closer to the small town in the middle of a desert we may find a peace we have not found before.  We need not leave behind the feelings of love and thanksgiving we received yesterday.  I need not lay down any of the burdens we carry although we may.  We are welcome on this journey just as we are; joyful or sad, mended or broken, confused or focused.  Take my hand and let us begin this journey together.  Let us take the journey to find the way of peace and justice, a straight and beautiful road that leads us to the Prince of Peace.

Lord,

Without you there is no peace.  Without you there is no justice.  Without you we cannot know either peace or justice.  Guide each of us as we seek the path out, as we begin to walk the road to peace.  Thank you for your promise to always be with us, for we need you on this journey.  Amen.

Psalm 100:1 “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.”

Happy Thanksgiving to all!  On this day of thanks let us all make a joyful noise unto the Lord.  Today families and friends gather to visit, watch football and eat food.  My family gets together for a wonderful time each year.  The house is full of people, the kitchen especially.  There is chatter as we prepare the meal and the kids (big and small) are playing outside or in the other room.  When the meal is ready, we all gather together and after giving thanks, we eat!  All that prep work gone in a matter of minutes!  Dishes clang as we wash and coffee pots gurgle as they brew fresh coffee for drinking with pie.  I cannot imagine a much more joyful noise that this.  The fellowship of family and friends feeds the soul.  We gather on a special day of thanksgiving but it would be good to let this feeling flow into the next day and the next.  I think of those people who are estranged or separated from family and friends and I think of those who struggle to find anything to be thankful for on this day.  I pray they will see that they are not alone but that the Lord of all joins them on this day and every day.  I find they will find it in their hearts to be thankful to Him too.

Lord,

Blessings of love abound and I thank you.  Let our homes be filled with joyful noises of thanksgiving to you on this day.  Bring comfort and peace, love and joy to those who have none and let us share ours with others until the world is filled with these, your blessings.  Amen.

Hosea 14:8 “O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols?  It is I who answer and look after you.  I am like an evergreen cypress; your faithfulness comes from me.”

I love evergreen trees.  I have lived in Colorado all of my life and there is nothing like the smell of an evergreen tree warmed by the sun.  They stand tall and true and they do not change with the seasons like so much of nature does.  I had not heard this verse before but I like the analogy of the evergreen tree and God.  He is unchanging and always true.  He towers over us but brings shade and comfort.  During the season of winter in our souls, He is still there, tall and true, comforting and sheltering; unchanging.  There are not many things in life that are constant; God is.  When we finally lay down our idols, the works of our hands and our selfish desires and turn once more to the Lord, we see His grandeur and beauty anew.  We see with fresh eyes that He has always been there, constant and true, faithful to the end.  I hope when we go out into the world that whenever we see an evergreen tree we are reminded of God.  I know I can always use one more reminder through my day.

Lord,

Thank you for the beauty of nature and thank you for evergreen trees.  Use these trees and whatever else you can to keep our eyes and hearts focused on you and away from the idols that distract us so easily.  Give us hearts of faithfulness grown from your faithfulness to us.  I pray all this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.  Amen.

Hosea 13:4 “Yet I have been the Lord your God ever since the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no savior.”

It is as plain as the nose on your face... this is the saying that came to mind as I read through this passage in Hosea.  His people continue to seek other gods and fall away from the Lord in sin.  They worship their kings and their idols and their lives self-destruct.  We humans are masters of deception.  We deceive others to get what we want or think we need but even more we deceive ourselves.  We go through our days seeking our own desires all the while telling ourselves we seek to serve others.  We worship other gods while telling ourselves we only do this to honor the one true God.  It is only when we take time to stop doing and truly listen that we find our way back to Yahweh.  Even through his righteous anger, He waits for his children to come back so He can pour love and compassion on them.  He remembers their sins but He remembers his love more.  As you prepare your hearts to come together with loved ones in Thanksgiving, take time to prepare your hearts to come in thanksgiving to the Lord, our God as well.  It is through Him that we have been blessed.

Lord,

Why do we continue to miss the mark?  Why can we not just believe in your everlasting love and be content to live in it always?  You know us better than we know ourselves.  Change our hearts and open us to be thankful, truly thankful for the blessings you pour out on us every day.  Amen.

Hosea 11:4 “I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love.  I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks.  I bent down to them and fed them.”

What a beautiful picture of tender, sweet love.  We have all seen parents gently holding their babies up, snuggling and nuzzling them in precious love.  I still remember the soft feeling of my babies’ cheeks on mine and their sweet baby smell.  I remember the warmth and tenderness that flowed between us as they lay on me, resting in comfort.  These are treasured intimacies.  When they lay in my lap nursing or drinking from a bottle, the feeling of nurturing love was so powerful.  When they started eating from a spoon and opened their little mouths like baby birds to receive the next bite... these are treasures of parenthood with an infant.  God’s words in this verse show a side of him we do not think about often.  I encourage you to think about them today.  He loves each of us like this.  He loves us with tenderness and precious love.  He nurtures us and takes joy in our resting in His arms.  He rejoices when we seek more from him like hungry baby birds.  We are a treasure to Him!

Lord,

Thank you for these tender words of love that remind us you love us in all ways.  You are Lord of Lords and King of Kings; you are our tender loving Father and Mother.  Fill us with this love today so we are sure and true to you.  Let your treasured love for us guide us forth in love for each other.  I thank you and praise you for all you give us.  Amen.

Hosea 10:12 “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.”

I know it is not time for New Year resolutions yet but it is always a good time to reflect on what we would change about ourselves if we could.  Is there some habit or characteristic you have that you wish you didn't?  Is there a characteristic you wish you had?  I use to wish I was thin, lean and perfectly in shape.  I have come to realize until I am willing to put some hard work in, this will not come to pass. I have also come to realize my spiritual health is more important than the measurement of my hips.  This verse clearly spells out that we must be willing to do some hard work to receive the blessings of righteousness.  Just as the toning of our bodies doesn't happen while sitting on the couch, neither does spiritual growth happen while our souls sleep.  Wake up soul, seek the Lord!  Sow, reap and break up ground, prepare yourself to receive a rain of righteousness from the one true God!

Lord,

Forgive our idleness.  As we pray, open us to see your vision and how to achieve it.  Guide our prayers and our actions to bring your righteousness to us and to the world round us.  Through your steadfast love I pray.  Amen.