• Advental Breathing

    Psalm 25:1-10, Nehemiah 9:6-15, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

    Remember, LORD, your
    and your love,
    for they have existed from antiquity.
    (Psalm 25:6)

    As we enter the Advent Season this Sunday, we will be drawn to worry about and other social gatherings. The culture around us has begun its annual whirlwind of consumption and revelry. As Christmas approaches, the Christian gets pulled into the culture’s orbit, and it seems so good, because it has to do with Christmas.

    Take a . Breathe in. Breath out.

    While breathing in deeply, say, “Remember, Lord, your compassion.”

    While breathing out, say, “Be compassionate to your servant.”

    While breathing in deeply (again), say, “Remember, Lord, your faithful love.”

    While breathing out, say, “Remind your servant of your faithful love.”

    The psalmist is all but throwing himself onto the of God. Nehemiah is seeing the grace of God in action through restoration. is reminding the Thessalonians of the grace they have experienced, and the grace-filled life they are called to live out.

    As the world enters a time of material craziness, we are called to enter a time of grace, a time to invite God incarnate, Emmanuel, to abide with us. Let us enter into His grace-filled and transform the space around us.

    1) It is often hard to be grace-filled in this season, and especially to share it. What can you do to share the grace that God has placed in your life?
    2) Can you see yourself throwing yourself into the lap of God? If, yes, how do you balance the awe of God with that openness? If, no, how do you balance this “reckless” love that God expressed in birth and death with the awe that you feel, or the “” that you must/should have?
    KD) Are you excited about Christmas? Presents? Do you think about the best present of all, , and how to give Him to your friends?

    • Devoted?

      Devoted?

      Jesus said, “…if you haven’t been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you your own?” It’s not just about an employer or shareholder or spouse or family, it’s about God.

    • Narrowed Ways

      Narrowed Ways

      ‌What if, when Jesus speaks about the narrow gates and hard roads, he was transitioning from treating others as you’d have them treat you to looking out for false prophets? The narrow gate and the hard road become transformed.

    • Our Blindings

      Our Blindings

      When Jesus is asked who is saved, Jesus speaks about the narrow way. What if the narrow way is not about what we think it is?

    • People Past

      People Past

      ‌Read: Psalm 25; Isaiah 25:6-9; Philippians 3:20-21; John 6:37-40 ‌‌🔎 Focus ‌“This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day.” John 6:40 (NRSVue) Those who have died, that have been a direct…