Proverbs 22:24-25
This is what the JAM kids will be learning this week.
Monthly Memory Verse: God’s power has given us everything we need to lead a godly life. 2 Peter 1:3a (NIrV)
Monthly Life App: Self-control—Choosing to do what you should even when you don’t want to
Read Proverbs 22:24-25
24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
do not associate with one easily angered,
25 or you may learn their ways
and get yourself ensnared.
Have you ever been around someone who is easily angered? Maybe they yell, or stomp their feet, or pout when they’re frustrated.
While we should always be kind and treat everyone fairly, we also need to be careful as we choose the friends who are closest to us. Why?
Because when we hang out with friends who have bad habits, it’s easy to pick them up too. If your best friend yells or gets super angry all the time, guess what? You are more likely to respond the same way. And then, as the Bible tells us, you’ll be trapped!
The best way to find good friends, the kind of friends that are slow to get angry, is to be that kind of friend. If you’ve notice yourself becoming easily angered, think of one thing you could do in that moment to help you calm down and control your anger. As you work on being a good friend, ask God to help you find good friends that stop to think before they act so you don’t get trapped!
Dear God, thank You for the emotions You have given us! We know that You gave us these emotions so we can feel, become passionate, and change the world around us for the better. Please forgive us for the times we have allowed our anger to control us instead of showing self-control! Teach us to use our anger to help and not hurt. Please guide us with Your Holy Spirit and remind us, [Bottom Line] don’t be controlled by your anger. We love You, and we ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen!
©2021 Parent Cue
Proverbs 14:29
This is what the JAM kids will be learning this week.
Monthly Memory Verse: God’s power has given us everything we need to lead a godly life. 2 Peter 1:3a (NIrV)
Monthly Life App: Self-control—Choosing to do what you should even when you don’t want to
Read Proverbs 14:29 Whoever is patient has great understanding,
but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.
Sometimes things happen that make us angry! But that doesn’t mean we can’t control our anger.
Try some of these suggestions below this week so you can calm down and respond in a way that helps instead of hurts.
CALM DOWN IDEAS:
1. STOP and BREATHE DEEPLY. Try the following exercises.
– The snake: Breath in through the nose and out through the mouth as you hiss like a snake.
– Square breathing: Trace the four sides of a square with your finger on your leg. Breath in through your nose for 4 counts to trace the bottom, hold your breath for 4 counts as you draw the right side, breath out through the mouth for 4 counts as you draw the top, then hold your breath for 4 counts as you draw the left side.
2. Punch a pillow or a punching bag. Sometimes, you need to get physical and let all that energy out safely. But do not punch a wall or a person.
3. Draw or write. Writing about why we are angry can help us see our own part in the situation.
Drawing or painting can help us express our feelings too.
“Dear God, thank You so much that You give us everything we need. Thank You, Lord, that when we’re angry and our anger wants to take control, Your power can help us PAUSE and make the wise choice. This week, when our anger wants to take control, help us PAUSE and pray, breathe, hug a stuffed animal, walk it off, or count to ten. Help us keep control of our anger instead of letting it control us. Thank You, Lord. Amen.”
©2021 Parent Cue
Proverbs 29:11
This is what the JAM kids will be learning this week.
Monthly Memory Verse: God’s power has given us everything we need to lead a godly life. 2 Peter 1:3a (NIrV)
Monthly Life App: Self-control—Choosing to do what you should even when you don’t want to
Read Proverbs 29:11 Fools give full vent to their rage,
but the wise bring calm in the end.
Think about a bottle of soda. What happens if you shake it and shake it and shake it and then open it? Soda spews everywhere! People who are easily angered are kind of like that. And sometimes, it only takes one shake, one small something, to make them explode.
Do you like to hang out with people like that?
Foolish people let their anger run wild. A fool is a person who lacks judgement or sense. But a wise person keeps their anger in check. A wise person stops and thinks, “Why am I so mad? What’s a better way to handle this so I don’t hurt others or myself?”
Do you want to be known as wise or foolish? If you want to be wise, don’t be controlled by your anger. To do this, you will need God’s help! Stop, pray, and ask God to help you be wise this week and keep your anger in check. Thank Him for hearing you, for helping you and for loving you, always.
“Dear God, thank You for the emotions You have given us! We know that You gave us these emotions so we can feel, become passionate, and change the world around us for the better. Please forgive us for the times we have allowed our anger to control us instead of showing self-control! Teach us to use our anger to help and not hurt. Please guide us with Your Holy Spirit and remind us, [Bottom Line] don’t be controlled by your anger. We love You, and we ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen!”
©2021 Parent Cue
Isaiah 60:1
Stop
Stop somewhere that you can be still and close your eyes. Notice what you hear. Do you hear something you’ve not noticed before?
Listen
Isaiah 60:1
Arise, shine; for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
Reflect
Some days it’s hard to rise and shine. Some days I just want to curl up in bed and hide, keep the shining to myself if there is any shine. This verse from Isaiah was the ‘verse of the day’ on a cloudy-it’s about to snow and it’s really cold kinda day. I definitely did not think the sun was going to shine. As a believer in Jesus I don’t always need the sunshine, but I do need to have some God light. We are given that light in baptism and reminded of it every time we see water. Pastor Lusungu Msigwa reminded us that we should look for our light, we should remember to turn it on so others can see our faith and our hope. We need to shine our light to show the world how Jesus loves us and how Jesus loves everyone.
On those days where you do not feel like rising and shining know that the light of Jesus is still there! He is shining even when we are at our darkest. Also, I want to remember that Jesus came to us in the dark, dark that is sacred and holy.
Pray
God of sleepless nights, it is comforting to think that you too knew fear. That the woman who held and formed you knew the fear of waiting, of uncertainty, of being subject to the rule of oppressive men. Our own bodies are riddled with anxiety. So we numb, and look at screens, and lash out, and do a thousand unhelpful things to placate, if only for a moment, the tension rising in us. We have known and elusive anxiety – a fear that cannot be placed or rationalized. Help it to not alienate us but draw us into communities of patience and understanding. Steady us in your arms, God. That your presence with us would be a mother’s tenderness. That we would be rocked and swayed, but that it would be the kind of rocking that brings comfort to us in the arms of our makers and sustainer. Let us breathe deep, keeping rhythm with the chest of God. (from @blackliturgies)
Amen
Carry On
Carry on with your days and take time for yourself, every day. Remember that God is with you, God is for you, and God loves you.
Genesis 2:7
Stop
Stop somewhere that you can be still. Open your eyes and notice what is moving around you.
Listen
Genesis 2:7 then the Lord God formed adam/man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.
Reflect
Good day! Today I’m going to introduce a few acronyms to (hopefully) get you to take care of yourself. Self-care means taking time to prioritize you, taking time to be your best self emotionally, physically, and psychologically. It is essential to your overall health and if you haven’t made time to take care of YOU, it will be hard to be good to others. Remember God made you and wants you to be exactly who you are.
Breath, air, breathing, wind, respiration. Every living thing needs breath! When was the last time you noticed your breathing? Breathing is a tangible gift that we’ve been given from God (and there are millions of intangible ones) taking time to notice one’s breath can be a way to notice God. Right now, I want to teach you the first acronym STOP and BOP (from balancingelephants.com). S.T.O.P. and B.O.P. is an easy breathing exercise! S=shoulders relaxed; T= tummy soft; O= open/close the mouth; P= posture tall. Now we are ready to BOP = Breathe on Purpose
Take 3 mindful breaths right now and notice how you feel.
Really notice, how do you feel? Calmer, antsy for what’s next, something else?
Ok let’s move to the next self-care acronym, GREAT (from NIMH nimh.nih.gov).
GREAT stands for Gratitude, Relaxation, Exercise, Acknowledge feelings, Track thoughts. Each of these items are practices, try one or all when you have taken some ME time.
Pray
Dear God thank you for breathing into each of us! Remind us of Your love and grace with each breath we take. Amen
Carry On
Being mindful about anything takes practice. I challenge you to STOP and BOP every day for the next week.
Psalm 34:14
Stop
Stop, somewhere that you can be still and close your eyes. Take time for 5 controlled breaths.
Listen
Psalm 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
Reflect
As we begin the second full week of a new year, I wonder about resolutions made. I am not a resolution maker, perhaps because I know that I would make a BIG resolution instead of a small and SMART one. I’ve learned that I need to take small steps, hopefully leading to lasting changes. Over the past year many famous athletes and entertainers have been open about their mental health struggles. I am hopeful that their shared struggles will inspire everyone to take care of themselves and others. For a number of years I have struggled with anxiety and depression, the changes in hormones during pregnancy didn’t go back to ‘normal’ so I have learned ways to cope and regulate my ups and downs. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) says, “If that anxiety doesn’t go away and begins to interfere with your life, it could affect your health. You could experience problems with sleeping, or with your immune, digestive, cardiovascular, and reproductive systems. You also may be at higher risk for developing a mental illness such as an anxiety disorder or depression.”
I have taken up many different practices to help and some have been very beneficial for me, so I thought I would share a couple.
As a family we have a gratitude journal. Every night each of us shares something that happened during the day that we are grateful for. The gratitude can be BIG or SMALL just the act of sharing it helps to remember what is important. I also have a Bible app on my phone and am notified early each morning of a Verse of the Day, a small way to remember to stay grounded in the Word of God. Some days the given verse resonates with me, some days it doesn’t. I think the act of reading and re-reading that verse gives me just a little spark.
Pray
Hey God, thank you for sending Jesus to Earth to be our Hope and salvation. Thank you for every small and big thing that makes us grateful. Please help each of us to see the ways you work in our lives. Amen
Carry On
Take time today to do one thing for yourself. Meditate, exercise, read a book, be in nature. Do anything that brings you peace or joy.
If you are struggling to cope, or the symptoms of your stress or anxiety won’t go away, it may be time to talk to a professional.
Don’t wait until your symptoms are overwhelming. Talk about your concerns with your primary care provider, who can refer you to a mental health specialist if needed. If you don’t know where to start, read the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Tips for Talking With Your Health Care Provider fact sheet.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/tips-for-talking-with-your-health-care-provider
Galatians 3:27-28
Stop.
Find some way to be around water. Walk to a river or lake if you can, or pull up video of the ocean, or even just run your hand under the faucet. Breathe. Let the rhythm of the water refresh you.
Listen.
As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. – Galatians 3:27-28
Reflect.
When Paul wrote his letter to the church in Galatia, he wanted to guide them away from lies. He knew those faithful believers were falling prey to some who tried to preach that there were more and more rules to be a real Christian. Paul tries to remind them that only Christ makes you Christian. In baptism, we all become one with Jesus. In baptism, there are no rules or divisions or hierarchy. There is only Christ.
It’s easy to take this one passage as an assumption that all believers are exactly the same. Unintentionally, we can cite these words to reinforce that there is one right way to be Christian regardless of cultural differences. “We are all one in Christ Jesus,” we seem to say, “So all Christians should act like me.” That’s not at all what Paul says. He says that those differences are real – there is such a thing as gender and status and ethnicity – it just doesn’t matter more than being part of God’s own family.
Our Christian traditions come from our authentic identities. Different churches have different practices because of the cultures, backgrounds, habits, and ideals that formed them. Even baptism looks different in other countries, denominations, and congregations. The point is not that there’s one right way that everyone should practice. The point is that baptism is baptism. Through baptism, in all its variety, we join in one holy church, one blessed family, one union of many cultures, countries, and creeds.
And that, my friends, is good news.
Pray.
I praise you, God, for the full variety of humanity and all its styles, cultures, and traditions. Through my baptism, unite me with all these believers. Help me to learn from them as I seek to always grow in my faith. Amen.
Carry On.
What do you value most about your faith tradition or cultural background? What do you admire about someone else’s? How can you celebrate these things today?
Acts 2:38-39
Stop.
Go get some water. With just a little water on the tip of your finger, make the sign of the cross on your forehead. Take a few deep breaths. Rest for a moment in God’s promises for your life.
Listen.
Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” – Acts 2:38-39
Reflect.
This Sunday, we’ll celebrate Baptism of Our Lord Sunday. It’s a time to reflect on the gift of baptism and what it means for our lives. For many of us, baptism is an abstract event. We were baptized when we were too young to remember the event and the ceremony and meaning get forgotten unless we have the joy of watching another baby baptized during worship.
However, many were baptized when they were older. Some belonged to traditions that held that belief should precede baptism. Others didn’t come to know a faith community until they were older. Still others just never got around to it. We can argue about what’s right when it comes to baptism, but at the end of the day, the only thing that matters about baptism is that it happens.
In our reading from Acts, we hear Peter encourage those present at the first Pentecost of the church that they should repent and then be baptized. For those who think baptism depends on your action first, this checks out. You should repent; then you’re welcome to choose baptism. But note what happens next: Peter extends the promise to “you, for your children, and for all who are far away”. There’s plenty of space in there for anyone of any age, ability, or stage in faith to receive baptism. For those who think baptism depends only on God’s action, not our capacity, this makes sense.
The moral of the story is that the order doesn’t matter. Faith and baptism go together. Sometimes one comes first; sometimes, the other comes first. Does it truly matter? Or is the most important thing that we know God, receive the gift of baptism, and continue to grow in a life of faith – in any order?
No matter when or how you were baptized, it was enough. God was there. The promise belongs to you.
Pray.
God, I thank you for all your gifts: life, faith, grace, mercy, love, hope, community, and baptism itself. Guide me as I live into all these promises and celebrate them with the whole church on earth and in heaven. Amen.
Carry On.
Do you have a friend or family member of a different faith tradition? Ask them about their baptism, or how baptisms happen at their church. What can you learn about the many ways God’s promises come to us in baptism from their stories?
John 1:30-31
Stop.
Get a drink of water. Take a few minutes to drink it slowly. As you drink, reflect on water as a gift of life. Let it remind you of God’s promises for life in baptism.
Listen.
[John said] “This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” – John 1:30-31
Reflect.
This coming Sunday is Baptism of our Lord Sunday. On this day, the church remembers and celebrates that Jesus Christ was baptized. In this event, we also rejoice in the gift of our own baptisms. We get to talk about what baptism is, how it welcomes us into the life of faith, how it unites us with all God’s people, and how God’s promises for life are fulfilled for us.
Every gospel has some account of Jesus’ baptism. We will read from the gospel of John through Easter this year, and admittedly, John’s gospel recounts the event a little differently from any of the other gospels. Most remarkably, John doesn’t actually describe the event – he only has John the Baptist reference the event. He doesn’t even name himself as the one who baptizes. For John, Jesus’ baptism is so special and holy that he doesn’t want anyone to be able to take credit for it.
In a way, this is much like a Lutheran theology of baptism. We believe that God alone acts in baptism. We don’t choose it – we can’t choose it. We don’t get to take credit for the work of faith that enters our lives through the sacrament. Instead, we celebrate that God reveals Jesus to us regardless of our will, interest, or even our worthiness. Baptism comes to us as all gift.
In our own baptisms, we come to know Jesus. We rejoice in the gift of baptism, the gift of Jesus, the gift of life.
Pray.
God, I thank you for the gift of baptism. I praise you that you offer us this promise no matter what we do or how we feel. Let its promises refresh me today as I continue to experience Jesus’ love and grace. Amen.
Carry On.
Were you baptized? What do you know about your baptismal day? Look for pictures, stories, or memories of your baptism from friends and family who might have been there.
Mark 6:8-11
Packing a Bag for the New Year
Stop. Take a deep breath. Have you already made a resolution for the new year?
Listen. Mark 6:8-11 says 8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
Reflect. I am so committed to new years’ resolutions that I honestly can’t remember a single one I have ever made. But I do know forming new and healthier habits is important. If you want to lose a few pounds to feel healthier then go for it. If you want to spend more time with your family or friends then go for it. The list goes on. Resolutions will not make God love us any more or any less because in Jesus God has already resolved to be with us. That being said J… If you haven’t already made a resolution then I offer this: in a year when so much has already been removed from our lives due to covid precautions, think of one additional thing you would like to leave behind. There is a difference between luggage and baggage.
Baggage is the stuff we carry around that we were never intended to carry. Baggage is dead weight that keeps us from the journey God desires for us. Baggage includes things like judgment, guilt, shame, greed, regret, hate, and more. Baggage holds us back from God’s promised abundant life.
Luggage includes things that are useful and life giving. When Jesus sends his disciples out he sends them with very little. They are only to carry things that are necessary for the journey ahead. If they had a bad experience, they were supposed to leave that behind, too, by shaking the dust off their feet.
As we enter this new year I ask: is there something that needs to be left behind, something that is weighing you down? I invite you to leave it in 2021.
Pray. Gracious God, help us to lighten our loads as we enter this new year. Free us from any burden(s) we may still be carrying. Help us to live into the abundant life you have promised us here and now. Amen.
Carry On.
Think of one word that will help you remember to leave behind your baggage. Write it down and carry it with you, pin it on your bulletin board, etc. Helpful words might include:
Forgiveness, Grace, Freedom, Love, Joy, Wonder, Peace, Trust, Life, Healing, Mercy, Gentleness, Faith, Unity, Compassion, Openness, Surrender, Acceptance, Gratitude, Hope, Listen, Purpose, Serve
Matthew 2:16-18
Slaughtering of the Innocents—A Not So Christmas-y Christmas Story
Stop.
Take a deep breath. Think about a news headline or two. We remember that even though Jesus has come to be with us, the world is still not as God intended.
Listen.
Matthew 2:16-18 says “When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
18 ‘A voice was heard in Ramah,
wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.’”
Reflect.
Jesus has come and even though God desires life for all people and Jesus is the king of peace, Herod has other plans. Herod hears of a messiah born and his response is to maintain his power by crushing any opposition. (historical note: Herod kills all first born males age 2 and under because the magi begin their journey from the east when the star rises at Jesus’ birth. From then to their arriving on Herod’s porch could have been approximately 2 years. It’s probably still okay to put the magi up with your nativity set instead of getting them out two years from now)
Jesus has come into a world where evil is present and evil persists. There are Herod’s all around us who use their power to oppress and gain even more power. Jesus is not a quick fix. Instead, Jesus shows us what God’s kingdom looks like and invites us into the work of bringing God’s kingdom into the world.
Howard Thurman, an African-American theologian, education, and civil rights leader wrote this poem titled “The Work of Christmas”:
When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among the people,
to make music in the heart.
The work of Christmas continues through you and me.
Pray.
Gracious God, help us to continue the work of Christmas as we live out your kingdom here and now. Amen.
Carry On.
What is one very practical thing you can do to continue the work of Christmas?
4th Day of Christmas
4th Day of Christmas
Stop. Take a deep breath. Good. Now close your eyes and think back to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. What feelings did you experience? What do you remember seeing? Is there one thing (a feeling, something you saw, or an experience you had) that you want to linger beyond Christmas?
Listen. Luke 2:19 says “but Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.”
Reflect. In the Christmas story from Luke’s Gospel Mary and Joseph are staying in a room while Bethlehem is bustling for the census. Mary gives birth, wraps Jesus in cloths and lays him in a manger. Angels visit shepherds then shepherds visit the Christ child. Can you imagine having dozens of strangers come and visit just after giving birth?!? Eventually the commotion dies down and it’s just the holy family. Luke’s gospel says that “Mary treasured and pondered these things in her heart.”
So often we get caught up in the commotion of preparing for and providing the perfect Christmas for our families and friends. Time is filled with the commotion of gathering with others, opening gifts, enjoying good food, and generally being super stressed out. After Christmas day the wrapping paper is thrown out, decorations are put away, and even Christmas carols cease being sung (even though December 25th is only the FIRST of TWELVE days of Christmas). So I want to ask you: now that Christmas has come and gone will you join Mary in pondering in your heart what has just happened?
Jesus is God’s gift given to us. Thinking back to Christmas, are there other gifts you would like to keep and savor throughout the year? Perhaps it was time with family (and why was that so special?). Perhaps it was serving others. Maybe it was the gift of peace and quiet once all your guests left for the night. Don’t put those gifts away—treasure them in your heart for the year ahead.
Pray. Gracious God, we thank you for the many gifts we received on Christmas. We ask you to help us ponder and treasure the gift of Jesus, family, peace, and even the gift of commotion in the days ahead. Amen.
Carry On. If you haven’t already put everything away, hold onto Christmas cards received from family and friends. We store Christmas cards received until Lent when we take them out 2-3 cards each night and pray for those 2-3 families. Then we pass their cards around to take one last look before recycling or disposing of them.
Luke 2:19-20
Stop.
Close your eyes and take a few slow, deep breaths. Picture the infant Jesus in his mother’s arms. Let yourself be filled with love, peace, and warmth.
Listen.
But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. – Luke 2:19-20
Reflect.
Your heart and your life must be going a million miles a minute right now. Maybe you’re sprinting between gatherings and parties. Maybe you’re trying to get your home together to host. Maybe you’re lost in the memories of Christmases past in all their melancholy. Maybe you’re just trying to get through the day.
Whatever’s happening in your life right now, you’re here. You’re taking this moment to connect with God’s word for you in this very minute. You know that this day means so much, and the heart of it all is the good news of Jesus Christ born to Mary over two thousand years ago.
In these two gorgeous verses from the Christmas story, I’m reminded of the two things that are most essential to our commemorations of this day. First, the shepherds. They see Jesus and head back out into the world, back to their work, “glorifying and praising God” for what they have gotten to see. They don’t keep it to themselves. They don’t forget. They let this day and all they’ve experienced change them. They joyfully share this good news with anyone who could hear them. This is the greatest joy of Christmas: sharing the gospel of Jesus.
But there’s also the beautiful mention of what Mary does in that moment. She quietly considers everything and treasures them. She takes it all in, careful not to be swept away in the moment, intentional about her reflection, earnestly being fully present. The event will not pass her by.
While I certainly hope you’ll sing God’s praises this Christmas, I also hope you’ll take a cue from Mary. I hope you’ll pause and reflect. If you’re with loved ones, I hope you’ll sit back for a bit and let yourself soak in the celebrations, mistakes, and chaos that will become treasured memories in the future. If you’re on your own, I hope you take the time to let the quiet nurture your heart. If you’re in a gathering that doesn’t feel very welcome, I hope you’re able to step back and guard yourself gently, hopefully, trusting in God’s presence with you.
Whatever your day is, whatever it brings or has already brought, there is reason for praise. Stop, observe, treasure, and ponder. Christ is born. Thanks be to God.
Pray.
I turn my heart to you, God. Let your Son’s birth fill me with hope and joy. Keep me focused on your promises so I will never forget and always stay centered in you. Amen.
Carry On.
Have an incredibly merry Christmas! And in whatever way you can, ensure at least one other person can say the same.
Luke 2:10-11
Stop.
Close your eyes and take a few slow, deep breaths. Picture a dark, quiet night with a sky full of stars. In that quiet and calm, what might God say to you? Let that message fill you with peace.
Listen.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” – Luke 2:10-11
Reflect.
Angels regularly preface their messages with the direction to not be afraid. If you listen to books like Ezekiel, Isaiah, or Revelation to hear what heavenly messengers might look like, you realize just how terrifying they might look. A far cry from the gentle, white-robed cherubs with rosy faces that might hang on your Christmas tree, they are alternatingly described as human-animal hybrids, covered in fire, having numerous faces, being essentially made of wings, and more difficult-to-comprehend descriptions.
In other words: it’s not just the messages they bear that make them terrifying. They’re pretty scary all on their own.
When the angel, followed by an entire sky full of the heavenly host, appeared to the shepherds in the field, it’s a bit of a miracle that the shepherds went looking for Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. First of all, the shepherds had important work to do in protecting their flocks through the dark of night. But most importantly, it’s hard to believe that the shepherds would actually take in the “good news of great joy” from half human flaming creatures flapping their half-dozen wings in mid-air.
We all think we want to know what God’s trying to tell us. We never consider that maybe what God’s saying is too hard – or too terrifying – for us to even process. Humans are notorious for craving stability, safety, and supremacy. God’s word tends to upend things, make things more risky, and remind us of our call to serve others. Perhaps the miracle is not that God speaks but that we ever listen at all.
Perhaps the best we can hope for is to be like the shepherds, who overcame their own fear and managed to show up anyway. Perhaps we have to learn to hear God’s word as a worthwhile risk. Perhaps we are called to breathe, move past our anxieties, and allow ourselves to be led. It might just lead us to the manger.
Pray.
God, I confess that it often feels scary to go where you send me. Speak to me anyway. Let your peace and joy truly live in my heart so I can take on the challenges you put before me to your glory and for the good of my neighbor. Amen.
Carry On.
How do you discern what God might be saying to you? In the busy-ness of the next few days, can you set aside even a few minutes to sit, rest, and listen?
Luke 2:4-5
Stop.
Close your eyes and take a few slow, deep breaths. Think of your faith life like a journey. Picture God walking that path with you. Let yourself be comforted by God’s constant presence in your life.
Listen.
Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. – Luke 2:4-5
Reflect.
The author of Luke’s gospel wants to make the point that Jesus was born in Bethlehem to connect Jesus to the promises of a king in the line of David. This detail lets us know why a young family from Nazareth would have their first child born in Bethlehem, a town seventy miles and possibly a week’s journey away from their home. Jesus’ hometown might have been Nazareth, but his birthplace was Bethlehem, giving him another connection to God’s promises for a new king.
But I hear a different detail. I hear a heavily pregnant Mary being compelled by the edict of a tyrant to walk for a week a more, just so they could be “registered”; that is, noted officially so they might be taxed accordingly. The story makes absolutely no mention of her riding a donkey for this arduous journey, no matter what the Christmas carols say, and even if she was on a donkey, ask any pregnant woman if they’d like to bounce around on a donkey’s back in their third trimester.
I hear a woman at her most vulnerable being forced to go on a journey she didn’t want or need, forced away from home at a terrifying, potentially lethal moment in her young life. I hear a woman who must have felt desperately alone.
People like to use journey language when they talk about faith to indicate that we keep moving along as we learn and grow. But it’s important to remember that journeys can be risky. The end is uncertain. The path itself is fraught with danger. And there are times in our lives when we’re simply not cut out for the work.
Whether it’s Mary on the road to Bethlehem or you in the midst of some long, challenging, intimidating part of your life, remember that you do not go alone. God goes with you. It does not take away the hard work you need to do, but it does assure you that God’s love and promise follow you no matter where the path leads.
Pray.
God, you guided Mary in her most difficult journey. Walk with me today. Let me feel your presence, especially when I feel lost, tired, or overwhelmed. And no matter where I go, always guide me back to the promise of your Son. Amen.
Carry On.
For many, a journey isn’t just a faith metaphor. Like Mary and Joseph, many today still must travel at the whim of political influences into dangerous places. Learn more about how we might care for refugees and immigrants today through Lutheran Immigrant And Refugee Service: www.lirs.org
Isaiah 55:12
Stop.
Take a deep breath. As you breathe in say, “Lead me in joy.” As you breathe out say, “Send me in peace.” Repeat as many times as you need.
Listen.
For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. – Isaiah 55:12
Reflect.
This beautiful passage from Isaiah 55, which we’ve been reading from all week, would gone to the exiles living in Babylon. Their time of exile is coming to an end and God calls them back to their land – even though it hasn’t been their land for 70 years. God’s people remember the pain and suffering that led to their exile and persisted with them through their time away. Grief stays close to them.
But when God invites them to come back home, God speaks of a journey and arrival filled with hope and joy. The very land they walk on will burst into song. The trees will applaud. Creation receives and leads them in great hope and expectation; the people may not feel it yet, but this is a good thing.
This can be a strange time of year filled with the burden of going home. For some, going home is a joy and privilege. For some, it’s burden and struggle. For others, going home isn’t an option and may never be. For still more, they can go home – but the person who made it feel like home won’t be there. The pressure of there being “no place like home for the holidays” can be overwhelming.
For the exiles, “going home” would not have felt much like home. The land hadn’t been theirs in generations. But what made it their home was God’s invitation. God assures them that this is where they need to be. God promises to be with them and provide for them. Their presence in this place will make the world rejoice.
May we all know the same truth. Home isn’t a predestined or dictated location or group. It’s where we’re welcome. It’s where God’s love is known. It’s where we can go out in joy and be led back in peace. May this gift of God be true for all people.
Pray.
God, your love is my true home. Guide me with that love into places where I am truly valued, cared for, and respected. Make my home into this place for others. Amen.
Carry On.
Who has always made you feel welcome? How can you reach out to them this week? Can you lift up their love and welcome in your life?
Isaiah 55:8-9
Stop.
Take a deep breath. As you breathe in say, “God, you are wisdom.” As you breathe out say, “God, you are truth.” Repeat as many times as you need.
Listen.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:8-9
Reflect.
As we continue reading through Isaiah 55, we hear beautiful, poetic images of God’s providence. After God reminds the people that they will receive what they need, God also invites them into closer relationship. God, through the prophet, declares “let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them” (55:7b). And just after that, we get the verse for today.
It’s almost as if God says: I will give you what you need, and I will always grant you mercy and grace, and you won’t think you deserve it, but you’re wrong. My thoughts are not your thoughts.
We often hear this verse as another version of “God has a plan” language. When life takes a turn we wouldn’t expect or desire, leaving us wondering what on earth God could be doing here, we might be inclined to remind each other that God’s ways are not our ways. But that’s not entirely accurate, here.
In its context, the passage doesn’t say that you’re suffering because God is up to something and you just can’t see it yet. It says that God will always, always welcome us back. God will always receive us in mercy. God will always bring hope to difficult places. We trick ourselves into thinking we don’t deserve it or aren’t good enough for it – or worse yet, we trick others into think that about themselves – but it’s not true. Just because that’s what we think should happen doesn’t mean it’s what God will do. God is far more gracious than we are. God’s ways are not our ways.
God’s wisdom sees the worth in each person. God’s love is truth. Thanks be to God!
Pray.
I thank you, God, that you wouldn’t treat me like I think I deserve. I praise the mystery of your love and revel in your graciousness. Help me to extend that love to others, even when I don’t understand it myself. Amen.
Carry On.
Can you catch yourself talking down to yourself? When you hear your thoughts drifting towards being unworthy or unlovable, can you remember this verse? Practice trusting that God loves you more than you could ever admit to yourself.
Isaiah 55:2
Stop.
Take a deep breath. As you breathe in say, “You fill my heart.” As you breathe out say, “I find joy in your promise.” Repeat as many times as you need.
Listen.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. – Isaiah 55:2
Reflect.
Last Sunday, we had the awesome opportunity to hear the Christmas story in a new way. Through songs, laughter, and joy, we told the incredible story of God’s love made known to us in Jesus Christ. That incredible event meant we didn’t hear a Biblical text or sermon in worship. Don’t worry, it was still an absolutely valid worship service.
The text we would have heard on that day came from the prophet Isaiah. The passage is so beautiful that I can’t resist discussing it with you this week even though we didn’t get to hear it in worship. As we’ve heard before, Isaiah writes in response to three different periods in the life of God’s people: the time before their exile, their time in exile, and their return. This chapter begins the section reflecting on life after the exile.
In exile, God’s people became completely detached from the land God promised them. Seventy years passed before they returned, so those who came back home had no familiarity with the land any more. They likely became accustomed to exile and saw the return to the land as more work and challenge than they wanted.
God still calls them home. God doesn’t just promise to satisfy their needs. God says that they will be so abundantly provided for that all people, no matter what, will have more than enough. God even encourages them to “delight… in rich food”. That sounds like a good reason to enjoy Christmas treats, right?
But nonetheless, God’s promise stands. Rather than working for that which will not satisfy – that is, living in a land that is not theirs and beyond the fulfillment of God’s promises – God calls them home. God alone will give them what they need and so much more.
We receive this invitation, too. At this time of year we’re invited to consider all that which pulls us from God’s promises, anything that feels like more burden than joy, all that stands between us and hearing the good news of the infant Jesus, and set it aside. Instead, we delight in the hope and love that our God provides for us, now and always.
Pray.
God, your Son is the greatest gift. Help me to hear the promises of his life and to move away from anything that does not give life. I celebrate your abundance for all people and rejoice in your many gifts. Amen.
Carry On.
This season can be a great time to talk about treasured food traditions. What do you remember? And better still, what do these foods call to mind for you? What people, places, and celebrations do they recall? How can you share in those memories this year?
Elizabeth and John
From Parent Cue ©2021 Parent Cue. All Rights Reserved
Read Luke 1:23-25, 64-66
23 When his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
24 After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, 25 “This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.”
64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.
Elizabeth became pregnant, just as the angel had said. But did you catch how she responded? Look again at verse 25. Who did Elizabeth thank? Who did she say had been kind to her?
Yes. God! Elizabeth knew that only God could do this! She chose to celebrate because God can do anything.
When something awesome happens, what do you do?
Do you tell someone? Do you take all the credit for the good thing that’s happened?
It might seem a little strange at first. But it’s important to remember that God is the source of every good thing. Even the things you think you’ve accomplished on your own – like getting a good grade or making the winning shot. Ultimately, God is the one who gave you that brain and all that ability. Just like Elizabeth, we can stop and say ‘Thanks, God’ and celebrate because God can do anything!
Finally, the time came for John to be born. After months of silence, Zechariah was finally able to speak! What was the first thing he did?
Unscramble the letters below to make 3 words below to answer:
E H S P A E I R D D G O
The Bible tells us that right away, Zechariah praised God. He said, “Thank you, God!” He took time to celebrate knowing God could do anything.
After years of waiting and praying for a baby of their own, God had given them John. And this baby would grow up to prepare the way for Jesus. John would become Jesus’ biggest cheerleader, his biggest champion. John would be the one to say, “Don’t look at me, look at Jesus! He’s the Savior you’ve been looking for.”
So what’s been happening lately that’s worth celebrating? Make a list and then pray, thanking God for all God’s done for you.
You could do what Zechariah did! What if first thing in the morning, before your feet even touch the floor, you stopped and praised God?
Gabriel and Zechariah
From Parent Cue ©2021 Parent Cue. All Rights Reserved
Read Luke 1:18-20
18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.” 19 The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.”
When the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah in the temple, he was scared. He was confused. And he doubted that this could actually happen.
What did the angel say would happen because of Zechariah’s unbelief?
Zechariah would not be able to speak until after his son John was born. A typical pregnancy lasts nine months. That means that Zechariah would be unable to speak for a long time. Zechariah would have to find other ways to communicate with the people around him.
Could you do what Zechariah had to do? The next time you sit down to dinner with your family, see if you can make it through the entire meal without speaking. Even if someone asks you why you’re not speaking, see if you can stay silent until dinner is done.
After the meal is over, tell your family about this little challenge and about Zechariah. Thank God for the ability to speak and to celebrate because God can do anything!