Luke 2:13-14 “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’”

The clouds are glowing pink and orange, reflecting the morning light of the sun. This is one of the things I treasure in my early morning quiet times.

Clouds – they are nothing but tiny droplets of water that gather together in a group of misty fluff. If there were only one drop reflecting the sun's light I would never see it, but when so many pull together it is a glorious sight to behold.

Do I reflect God's light in my daily life? Do I let His light and Love shine through me, like a droplet of water?

Do we, as Christians, join together in a chorus, a group, a cloud, as witnesses shouting our praises and reflecting the Love of God in the world?

We are on this earth for a just a moment in the span of all time; like the clouds, we are wisps that are quickly gone but during our time here, let's pull together. Let's gather as one and reflect His love in truly glorious and beautiful ways.

Join the angels saying Glory to God in the highest heaven and peace on earth!

Lord,

Thank you for sunrises. Thank you for clouds and gentle rains. Let these simple things of nature remind me of the lesson you gave me this morning. As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, open our hearts to received and reflect your love in more glorious ways than we can imagine.  Open our ears to hear the angel voices so we can join in on their praises. I pray in Jesus holy name. Amen.

Colossians 3:14 “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

We are getting our Christmas decorations out, slowly but surely.  The tree is up but we haven’t even strung the lights yet.  I have not set the Nativity up yet but our visiting elf has arrived, much to the kids delight.

I have been wondering about different practices and beliefs we hold.  Where do they come from and what do they really mean to me and my family?  When I get the decorating all done, does it point to different beliefs, do some clash with others or do they really come together in a picture of harmony?  Do my snowmen and reindeer draw away from the Christ child in the manger?  Does the lighted tree with all of its sparkly ornaments turn our attention away from God or remind us of God and his precious gift of love?

Even as I ponder these external things I am aware that I need to search my heart more.  Do I have discord and strife wrestling in my heart or is my heart covered with God love, bound together with him in perfect harmony?

My handbells concerts begin today and continue through the next couple of weeks.  I pray the chords and music will serve to remind me of this verse and of this call.  Let the music of the bells, and the music of my soul be clothed in love, binding us all together in God’s perfect harmony.

Lord,

You know the strife and struggles in this world and the hearts of each of us.  I ask you to cover us in your love today.  Fill us and restore us in you.  Bind us together in love during this season of celebrating your love for us.  I pray for peace and harmony on this day.  Amen.

Hebrews 12:2-3 “looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.”

Many people ask how I can get up every morning and do a quiet time.  They tell me they could never do that.

I remember when I began my quiet times my kids still took naps so I could do it in the afternoon – that was great.  Once naps stopped happening I had to find a time when I could fit my quiet time in and it fit the easiest in the early morning.  I could never have done this on my own; it is through the strength and encouragement of the Lord that I continue this discipline.

Several months ago I began receiving nudges to start jogging.  I never liked running and so I ignored the first several nudges.  The Lord is persistent though so nudges continued and opportunities opened up; the path simply unfolded before me and the nudges continued.  When I started I knew I would never succeed.  I told my friends and the Lord that I could not do this.  I have received guidance and encouragement on every level and slowly but surely I have pressed on. There are still days when I have to talk myself through it; remembering this is a practice in discipline if nothing else.

I cannot help but to see the parallels in the physical training and the spiritual training I have been doing.  They each take a call.  Each one takes a response and they also require perseverance and drive.  I tell you all, these things do not come from me.  They come from the Lord. As I prepare to jog my first 5K in a couple of weeks I give thanks and praise to the Lord and I continue on in my training. 

Lord,

You inspire me, you strengthen me, and you encourage me.  Thank you for pushing me beyond what I thought I could do in so many ways.  You gave all for me; I give all I can back to you.  May my life glorify your holy name.  Amen. 

2 Corinthians 12:9 “but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’  So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

At face value these words seem odd.  Why would we boast in our weaknesses?

Maybe it is just me (I don’t think so) but I am always striving to do better, to be better.  My goal is always to live as Christ lived.  I am humbly reminded that I am not, nor can I ever be, perfect.  God did not create humans to be perfect; he created us with free will.  Even in Genesis he acknowledges the imperfection in

humans.

As I prayed over this verse it became clear to me once more that because of my weaknesses I need God.  Because of my weakness and sin, I make regular communion time with the Divine.  I am brought to my knees in his presence to receive forgiveness and grace.

He tells us that his grace is sufficient for us.  I am able to see his strength and power because I am weak and powerless without him.  I can boast because it is only through his grace that I am made strong.  I will stumble and fall.

The blessing is that he is ready to pour his amazing grace on me whenever I come for forgiveness.  I am weak but he is strong.  Yes, Jesus loves me!

Lord,

Thank you for your love and grace.  I will never be strong without your strength in me.  Without you I cannot truly live.  Help me embrace my weakness so that I can fully embrace your strength and power.  Amen.

Luke 6:47-48 “I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built."

There are a few kids’ songs about the wise man who built his house on the rock and the foolish man who built his house on the sand.  This morning I had one of those songs running through my head when I woke up.

Floods are so damaging; they destroy many homes each year.  Water seeps into every tiny space; even places we cannot see or never knew about.  We only discover that damage when the smell of mold penetrates the air around us.

Sin is like that too.  If we stand on a shifting foundation in our faith, the sin seeps through our hearts and souls like water in sand.  There is no stability and we are destroyed as easily as a sand castle in a big wave.

We need the strong foundation of Jesus.  We need deep rooted faith to hold us firm during the storms and floods of life.  Dig deep in your faith.  Stand firm on the Rock of our salvation.  He will uphold us; always and in all ways.

Lord,

Storms are inevitable but rarely enjoyable.  As we experience them, let us feel your protection against the railing elements.  Open our ears and hearts to hear and act upon your words so our faith is built on solid rock.  You are the Rock and our salvation; I praise you and thank you this morning.  Amen.

1 Samuel 3:10 “Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak,for your servant is listening.’”

Do I listen or do I simply hear?

My friends tease me a bit because I do not hear well on the phone.  If they want to talk with me it needs to be in person so I don’t misunderstand or just miss what they say.

We live in a world of noise and distractions.  We are barraged with sound at every turn and when there is quiet, we make our own sound because we don’t know quietness.

It takes intent to really listen.  It takes quiet and focus to move beyond the noise of our world.  When we take time to really listen, it is amazing what we can hear.

Samuel was just a boy serving under the priest Eli when he heard his call.  Like us, he didn’t understand what or who he was hearing until Eli told him.  Then, when the Lord called again Samuel was ready, he was listening.

The Lord calls to us as well.  Have you heard his voice calling and misunderstood it or missed it altogether?  I pray you will take time to sit and listen with intent.  I pray you hear his voice calling you into love and action.

Lord,

Please forgive me for hearing and ignoring or not even hearing because of distraction or selfishness.  Open my ears and my heart to hear your voice, to hear your call and to be a willing servant like Samuel.  Help me truly say “speak, for your servant is listening.”  Amen.

Luke 14:27-27 “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters,yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.  Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

Do I have what it takes to be a true follower, a true disciple of Jesus?

The twelve apostles dropped everything and followed him.  Whatever their livelihood was, whatever their lives held, they stopped it; they dropped it and followed Jesus.  I am willing to do the same?

I am receiving messages like this one form numerous sources.  It seems like everywhere I turn, everything I hear when I am listening says “Come and follow me.”  “Take up your cross and follow me.”

I am reading an old story about living like Jesus.  The characters in the story have agreed to live as Jesus would for one year regardless of cost.  They ask themselves “what would Jesus do?”

As I take this all in, I let it ruminate in my soul.  I know God is working and I know this is a time for me to wait in the Lord, so I wait, rest, and prepare.  Until then, I ask you to consider in your own life: “What would Jesus do?”

Lord,

I do not know the plans you have for me but I know you will reveal them to me when the time is right.  Help me be ready; help me let go of my worldly desires and hold more tightly to your Spirit.  Help me grow into your true disciple.  Amen.