Tuesday, December 7
Isaiah 40: 28-31
God seems to bless those who wait. Waiting is a timeless discipline with eternal rewards. The scripture has many stories of those who waited and learned.
Noah waited for years as he built a boat on dry land and learned the lesson of deliverance. Jonah waited three days in the belly of the fish and learned the lesson of obedience. The prophets waited for centuries to see the Messiah and learned the lesson of faith. Joseph waited in prison and learned the lesson of forgiveness. Zacharias waited to speak and learned the lesson of humility. Anna and Simeon waited a lifetime to see the Savior and learned the lesson of perseverance.
Waiting during the season of Advent can serve as a discipline to teach us many spiritual truths. While waiting we can develop patience and true obedience. We can glimpse the hugeness of God’s love and grace and learn to recognize holiness when we encounter it. Waiting nurtures our compassion and opens our eyes to see others in need. It opens our hearts to service and fosters a freedom to give and encourage others. As we pause and wait for God, we have time to assess our priorities, discover happiness where we are and develop an appreciation for what we have.
Advent is a time to deal with our fears, our anger, our disappointments, and learn to both give and receive forgiveness. It is a time to internalize the cleansing joy of repentance and to know the peace of taking last place. While we wait, we can use the unknown time to realize that living with mystery builds faith, and suffering and sacrifice reveal God to us. While waiting we acquire a dependence on God, we gain hope, and we become sure that while we wait we are never alone.
During Advent, the Church waits to celebrate the first Advent of God into the world and waits for completeness and perfection at the Second Advent. In the waiting, we find our peace.
Reflection – What have you learned from God during those waiting times of your life?
Monica Boudreaux
The purpose of this blog is to offer suggestions and insights about missional living.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
God Choices
Monday, December 6
Luke 6:39-45
Choices – they seem unending, especially at Christmas. The Scriptures can be our guide as we observe the way God chooses and the way he challenged others to choose. From the very beginning when Adam and Eve chose their own way over God’s provision, each person who has ever lived has faced that decision.
Martha, out of self-righteous frustration, reprimanded Jesus because he would not condemn her sister, Mary, for not helping her with chores. Jesus simply tried to help her understand that Mary, in choosing to simply sit in His Presence and internalize his every word ,had indeed chosen “the good part.” Mary chose the part that never goes away, never gets old – the part that is eternal.
The rich young man expected a quick, easy answer from Jesus. He needed to know how to inherit eternal life. He could not imagine that inheriting eternal life could be any more challenging than inheriting his father’s wealth. But Jesus told him he would have to make a choice between what the world could give and what God could give. The rich young man chose the part that goes away – the part that is temporary.
The Christmas narratives portray God’s nature by the choices He made.
Reflection – Consider each decision you make this season in light of God’s decisions in the Scripture.
Monica Boudreaux
Luke 6:39-45
Choices – they seem unending, especially at Christmas. The Scriptures can be our guide as we observe the way God chooses and the way he challenged others to choose. From the very beginning when Adam and Eve chose their own way over God’s provision, each person who has ever lived has faced that decision.
Martha, out of self-righteous frustration, reprimanded Jesus because he would not condemn her sister, Mary, for not helping her with chores. Jesus simply tried to help her understand that Mary, in choosing to simply sit in His Presence and internalize his every word ,had indeed chosen “the good part.” Mary chose the part that never goes away, never gets old – the part that is eternal.
The rich young man expected a quick, easy answer from Jesus. He needed to know how to inherit eternal life. He could not imagine that inheriting eternal life could be any more challenging than inheriting his father’s wealth. But Jesus told him he would have to make a choice between what the world could give and what God could give. The rich young man chose the part that goes away – the part that is temporary.
The Christmas narratives portray God’s nature by the choices He made.
- God chose a teenage peasant girl, not a daughter of a ruling Pharisee.
- God chose a carpenter, not a king.
- God chose Nazareth, not Jerusalem.
- God chose a stable, not a palace.
- God chose a feeding trough, not an ornate cradle.
- God chose shepherds, not rabbis.
- God chose to show his star to Gentiles, not Jewish royalty.
- God chose poverty, not wealth.
- God chose humility, not position.
- God chose service, not recognition
- God chose earth, not heaven.
Reflection – Consider each decision you make this season in light of God’s decisions in the Scripture.
Monica Boudreaux
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Jesus About Christmas
An unknown author wrote something which I believe is important. He called it a letter from Jesus about Christmas.
“It has come to my attention,” Jesus begins, “that many of you are upset because some folks are taking my name out of the season . . . How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don’t care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate my birth, just get along and love one another!
“Now, having said that, let me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn’t allow a scene depicting my birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all my followers did that there wouldn’t be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.
“Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were.
If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1-8.
“If you want to give me a present in remembrance of my birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way my birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell me all the time.
2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don’t have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
3. Instead of writing to the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don’t you write and tell him that you’ll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.
4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can’t afford and they don’t need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of my birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.
5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don’t know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.
7. Instead of nit-picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren’t allowed to wish you a “Merry Christmas” that doesn’t keep you from wishing them one.
8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary especially one who takes my love and Good News to those who have never heard my name.
9. Here’s a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no “Christmas” tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don’t know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other Christian charity, and they will make the delivery for you.
10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to me, then behave like a Christian. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do in my presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.
Don’t forget; I am God and can take care of myself. Just love me and do what I have told you to do. I’ll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I’ll help you, but the ball is now in your court.
And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those you love and remember . . . I LOVE YOU, JESUS.”
“It has come to my attention,” Jesus begins, “that many of you are upset because some folks are taking my name out of the season . . . How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don’t care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate my birth, just get along and love one another!
“Now, having said that, let me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn’t allow a scene depicting my birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all my followers did that there wouldn’t be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.
“Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were.
If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1-8.
“If you want to give me a present in remembrance of my birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way my birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell me all the time.
2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don’t have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
3. Instead of writing to the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don’t you write and tell him that you’ll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.
4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can’t afford and they don’t need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of my birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.
5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don’t know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.
7. Instead of nit-picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren’t allowed to wish you a “Merry Christmas” that doesn’t keep you from wishing them one.
8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary especially one who takes my love and Good News to those who have never heard my name.
9. Here’s a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no “Christmas” tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don’t know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other Christian charity, and they will make the delivery for you.
10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to me, then behave like a Christian. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do in my presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.
Don’t forget; I am God and can take care of myself. Just love me and do what I have told you to do. I’ll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I’ll help you, but the ball is now in your court.
And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those you love and remember . . . I LOVE YOU, JESUS.”
The Family Tree
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord
We are all curious about our family heritage. Many of us take time to go to family reunions. Still others log on to research sites to find out if there is an exciting person in their background. Isaiah traces the roots of Jesus back to show His connection with King David. It is that strong heritage of freedom that Jesus proclaims for the people.
We share in that victory and heritage because we are children of the king.
Isaiah 11:1-3
We are all curious about our family heritage. Many of us take time to go to family reunions. Still others log on to research sites to find out if there is an exciting person in their background. Isaiah traces the roots of Jesus back to show His connection with King David. It is that strong heritage of freedom that Jesus proclaims for the people.
We share in that victory and heritage because we are children of the king.
- Meditate on your spiritual heritage and thank God for your experience.
- What is something you are most grateful for in your heritage?
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Pondering – Over and Over
Saturday, December 4
Luke 1:46-55
She is old. She sits lovingly wrapped in a shawl near a warm fire in John’s house, she is remembering – pondering in her heart…
It was just an ordinary day in Nazareth when I was visited by Gabriel, an angel sent from the very presence of God. He told me I had been chosen to give birth to the Messiah. I was troubled, afraid, confused, accepting, blessed. I have pondered that angelic conversation over and over in my heart a thousand times….
I went to visit Elizabeth in the hill country. Her child leaped for joy in her womb when I entered the house, and Elizabeth called me “the Mother of my Lord.” I have pondered that visit over and over in my heart a thousand times….
The angel’s assurance to Joseph, the trip to Bethlehem for Caesar’s census, the birth in the stable, the manger that Joseph filled with fresh hay. I have pondered those days over and over in my heart a thousand times….
The story told by the shepherds that night…how an angel proclaimed the Savior’s birth and a huge choir of angels sang their beautiful song of glory and peace in their field. I have pondered the story of the shepherds over and over in my heart a thousand times….
We presented Jesus in the Temple and an old, devout man named Simeon recognized Him as the salvation of Jews and Gentiles alike. He looked me in the eye and spoke of a sword piercing my soul. I have pondered those chilling words over and over in my heart a thousand times.
We went to Jerusalem for Passover. He was twelve, and we realized on our way home that he was not with our group. After three frantic days, Joseph and I found him in the Temple astonishing the scholars with his knowledge and understanding. He told us he was about his Father’s business. I have pondered his words over and over in my heart a thousand times….
When he turned water into wine, when he raised Lazarus from the dead, when he healed the crippled and the blind, when he walked on the sea and calmed the storm. The parables, the sermons, his teachings. The emotions on his face that only I could read, the times he wept, the times he challenged the Pharisees. I have pondered each event over and over in my heart a thousand times….
The arrest in the Garden, the trials, the flogging. The crucifixion! Simeon’s prophecy came back to me, and I wondered how I could still be living with that sword of pain piercing my soul. The tomb, the waiting, the crushing grief. Then the resurrection! Joy beyond words healed that wound to my soul! The ascension, as my Son went back to his Father – my Son who was before me. All of this I have pondered over and over in my heart a thousand times….
I was chosen to be the God-bearer. I was called to obedience, to be faithful in mystery, to endure great sorrow, and to know the deepest joy ever experienced by a human being. All these things I, Mary of Nazareth, have pondered over and over in my heart a thousand times….
Reflection – As you remember these years of journey with Christ, what do you ponder over and over in your heart?
Monica Boudreaux
Luke 1:46-55
She is old. She sits lovingly wrapped in a shawl near a warm fire in John’s house, she is remembering – pondering in her heart…
It was just an ordinary day in Nazareth when I was visited by Gabriel, an angel sent from the very presence of God. He told me I had been chosen to give birth to the Messiah. I was troubled, afraid, confused, accepting, blessed. I have pondered that angelic conversation over and over in my heart a thousand times….
I went to visit Elizabeth in the hill country. Her child leaped for joy in her womb when I entered the house, and Elizabeth called me “the Mother of my Lord.” I have pondered that visit over and over in my heart a thousand times….
The angel’s assurance to Joseph, the trip to Bethlehem for Caesar’s census, the birth in the stable, the manger that Joseph filled with fresh hay. I have pondered those days over and over in my heart a thousand times….
The story told by the shepherds that night…how an angel proclaimed the Savior’s birth and a huge choir of angels sang their beautiful song of glory and peace in their field. I have pondered the story of the shepherds over and over in my heart a thousand times….
We presented Jesus in the Temple and an old, devout man named Simeon recognized Him as the salvation of Jews and Gentiles alike. He looked me in the eye and spoke of a sword piercing my soul. I have pondered those chilling words over and over in my heart a thousand times.
We went to Jerusalem for Passover. He was twelve, and we realized on our way home that he was not with our group. After three frantic days, Joseph and I found him in the Temple astonishing the scholars with his knowledge and understanding. He told us he was about his Father’s business. I have pondered his words over and over in my heart a thousand times….
When he turned water into wine, when he raised Lazarus from the dead, when he healed the crippled and the blind, when he walked on the sea and calmed the storm. The parables, the sermons, his teachings. The emotions on his face that only I could read, the times he wept, the times he challenged the Pharisees. I have pondered each event over and over in my heart a thousand times….
The arrest in the Garden, the trials, the flogging. The crucifixion! Simeon’s prophecy came back to me, and I wondered how I could still be living with that sword of pain piercing my soul. The tomb, the waiting, the crushing grief. Then the resurrection! Joy beyond words healed that wound to my soul! The ascension, as my Son went back to his Father – my Son who was before me. All of this I have pondered over and over in my heart a thousand times….
I was chosen to be the God-bearer. I was called to obedience, to be faithful in mystery, to endure great sorrow, and to know the deepest joy ever experienced by a human being. All these things I, Mary of Nazareth, have pondered over and over in my heart a thousand times….
Reflection – As you remember these years of journey with Christ, what do you ponder over and over in your heart?
Monica Boudreaux
Friday, December 3, 2010
Sayings of the Master
Friday, December 3
Matthew 4:16-25
No one can live only on food. People need every word God has spoken.
When you do good deeds, don’t try to show off. If you do, you won’t get a reward from your Father in heaven.
When you give to the poor, don’t let anyone know about it. Then your gift will be given in secret. Your Father knows what is done in secret, and he will reward you.
Don’t store up treasures on earth! Instead, store up your treasures in heaven.
Your heart will always be where your treasure is
Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself.
I tell you not to worry about your life. Can worry make you live longer?
Why do you have such little faith? Put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.
God will be as hard on you as you are on others! He will treat you exactly as you treat them.
Ask, and you will receive. Search and you will find. Knock and the door will be open for you.
Treat others, as you want them to treat you.
You can tell what they are by what they do.
I didn’t come to invite good people to be my followers. I came to invite sinners.
Anyone who gives one of my most humble followers a cup of cool water, just because that person is my follower, will surely be rewarded.
If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.
Good people bring good things out of their hearts, but evil people bring evil things out of their hearts.
What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself? What would you give to get back your soul?
Whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you.
Everyone who is now first will be last, and everyone who is last will be first.
Love the lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. This is the first and most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, “Love others as much as you love yourself.”
If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored.
I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.
Reflection – Choose one of these sayings of Christ to become your focus each day as you journey.
Monica Boudreaux
Matthew 4:16-25
No one can live only on food. People need every word God has spoken.
When you do good deeds, don’t try to show off. If you do, you won’t get a reward from your Father in heaven.
When you give to the poor, don’t let anyone know about it. Then your gift will be given in secret. Your Father knows what is done in secret, and he will reward you.
Don’t store up treasures on earth! Instead, store up your treasures in heaven.
Your heart will always be where your treasure is
Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself.
I tell you not to worry about your life. Can worry make you live longer?
Why do you have such little faith? Put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.
God will be as hard on you as you are on others! He will treat you exactly as you treat them.
Ask, and you will receive. Search and you will find. Knock and the door will be open for you.
Treat others, as you want them to treat you.
You can tell what they are by what they do.
I didn’t come to invite good people to be my followers. I came to invite sinners.
Anyone who gives one of my most humble followers a cup of cool water, just because that person is my follower, will surely be rewarded.
If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.
Good people bring good things out of their hearts, but evil people bring evil things out of their hearts.
What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself? What would you give to get back your soul?
Whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you.
Everyone who is now first will be last, and everyone who is last will be first.
Love the lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. This is the first and most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, “Love others as much as you love yourself.”
If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored.
I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.
Reflection – Choose one of these sayings of Christ to become your focus each day as you journey.
Monica Boudreaux
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Worship
Thursday, December 2
John 4:19-26
People silently entered the candlelit sanctuary. In the total quiet of the moment, the intense prayers of those gathered were almost palpable. Each brought to worship years of living with accumulated pain and joy. The lonely came, as well as the exhausted because they are never alone. Some came bearing deep hurts, and some came bearing crushing guilt because of hurts they had imposed. Some came because their pain was nearly unbearable, and some came because they were afraid they could no longer feel anything. Some came because they were afraid to die, and some came because they were afraid to live.
The ancient music washed over us all calming doubts and troubles in our souls. The liturgy began and those souls were lifted up to the lord. Fear and cares receded, and peace and hope took hold. We gave God our thanks and praise and He gave back to us the mystery of His presence. We revisited the crucifixion together as we celebrated Holy Communion. No matter our pasts, our educations, and our finances - we were all the same before God. We were sinners in need of His mercy – and we received it. We left that sacred time forgiven, reconciled, and whole. We worshipped and left with grace for the journey-full of glory.
Advent presents us with unique opportunities for worship. As we come to God honestly confessional, void of pretense, seeking God for who he is, not for what we want from him, we realize that we are living in the very beginning days of eternal life.
Reflection – Confess to God everything that stands in the way of your worship.
Monica Boudreaux
John 4:19-26
People silently entered the candlelit sanctuary. In the total quiet of the moment, the intense prayers of those gathered were almost palpable. Each brought to worship years of living with accumulated pain and joy. The lonely came, as well as the exhausted because they are never alone. Some came bearing deep hurts, and some came bearing crushing guilt because of hurts they had imposed. Some came because their pain was nearly unbearable, and some came because they were afraid they could no longer feel anything. Some came because they were afraid to die, and some came because they were afraid to live.
The ancient music washed over us all calming doubts and troubles in our souls. The liturgy began and those souls were lifted up to the lord. Fear and cares receded, and peace and hope took hold. We gave God our thanks and praise and He gave back to us the mystery of His presence. We revisited the crucifixion together as we celebrated Holy Communion. No matter our pasts, our educations, and our finances - we were all the same before God. We were sinners in need of His mercy – and we received it. We left that sacred time forgiven, reconciled, and whole. We worshipped and left with grace for the journey-full of glory.
Advent presents us with unique opportunities for worship. As we come to God honestly confessional, void of pretense, seeking God for who he is, not for what we want from him, we realize that we are living in the very beginning days of eternal life.
Reflection – Confess to God everything that stands in the way of your worship.
Monica Boudreaux
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