“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8
Sharing a prayer with you today from Emily P Freeman that I think hits the spot beautifully as we enter into the Christmas season.
It’s the beginning – – – – and we confess our anxiety.
Hope seems to have thin reins this year.
We want this season to be different, simple, and meaningful.
But we have our doubts.
Though we admit we don’t yet feel joy or gladness, we refuse to shake the “I told you so” at our own soul.
Like Your people did for 400 years of silence, we wait.
We obey the calendar and wait, not with tapping foot and huffy breath. But we wait with open hands and willing hearts to experience the truth of the gospel in our everyday lives.
We will fight this year – not for meaning, for magic, for perfection, or even for simplicity.
Rather we will fight to remember You have come, You are here, and You will come again.
May we hear Your silence as kind company rather than as rejection.
May we see our sorrow, our grief, and our difficulties as they are without trying to extract meaning or closure before their time has come.
May we give sadness room to breathe even as we wait for the joy to come.
The world was broken and You could have sent a doctor, a soldier, or a king.
Instead, You sent a baby. You arrived small. You looked different than we thought You should look.
But still, You came!
Help us to remember that in Your kingdom, the answers we think we want don’t always show up in ways we expect.
Like the shepherds who followed a star to a stable, may we be willing to believe the unbelievable.
May we remember who we are in Your presence.
Our Doctor, our Soldier, our King came disguised as a baby.
May we behold the mystery of Your birth with resurrection eyes.
Amen
Have a beautiful day
Lv Tracey xx
www.waterintowineblog.com
Emily P Freeman writes at www.chattingatthesky.com
Church Christmas Lunch
Is happening Sunday the 20th of December straight after the morning service. This is a always a beautiful time of sharing delicious food, hanging out together as a church family and a great opportunity to invite other family and friends along as well.
To ensure we have enough of everything I’m making a list!! If you could let me know (by email or txt or see me at church on Sunday) what you would like to bring along please. Not sure? Here are some suggestions (enough for 6-8 people) BBQ chicken, cold meat platter, fruit platter, pasta dish, salad of any kind, bread rolls, drinks, cake, slice, nibbles. Let’s make it festive and fun. Thanks so much!!