Ponder

Just as they came from their mother’s womb naked, naked they’ll return, ending up just like they started. All their hard work produces nothing—nothing they can take with them. This too is a sickening tragedy: they must pass on just as they arrived. What then do they gain from working so hard for wind? What’s more, they constantly eat in darkness, with much aggravation, grief, and anger. This is the one good thing I’ve seen: it’s appropriate for people to eat, drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work under the sun during the brief lifetime that God gives them because that’s their lot in life. Also, whenever God gives people wealth and riches and enables them to enjoy it, to accept their place in the world and to find pleasure in their hard work—all this is God’s gift. Indeed, people shouldn’t brood too much over the days of their lives because God gives an answer in their hearts’ joy. (Ecclesiastes 5:15-20, CEB)

We will leave this world the way we came in… Naked. All of our toil and work will not allow us to take anything with us. So when we store up for tomorrow we need to realize that tomorrow may not come.

I was struck by the last sentence of the reading today, “Indeed, people shouldn’t brood too much over the days of their lives because God gives an answer in their hearts’ joy.” People shouldn’t brood too much over the days of their lives. People should not be anxious or gloomy about the days of their lives. We are here for an undetermined amount of time and we are to be beacons of hope and love while we are here. Life is a gift and we should live it to the fullest, not preparing for something to come, but being here and now and showing love in all we do.

Love out Loud. Do not worry about tomorrow. Love today!

Loving People. Loving God.

Acting

Guard your step when you go to the house of God. Draw near for obedience, rather than for the fools’ offering of sacrifice; for they know not how to keep from doing evil. Watch your steps when you go to God’s house. It’s more acceptable to listen than to offer the fools’ sacrifice—they have no idea that they’re acting wrongly. (Ecclesiastes 4:17—5:1, CEB)

When approaching God, it is best to know that you are not the one who should be leading. The creator of the world knows what is best even when we can’t understand how it is going to work.

Many times I didn’t understand the plan, but I have followed, and going God’s way is always better than thinking I know what is best.

Do not think you know better than the creator of the universe.

Know you are loved and God’s way is always better.

Loving People. Loving God.

Epiphany

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the rule of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.” When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and everyone in Jerusalem was troubled with him. He gathered all the chief priests and the legal experts and asked them where the Christ was to be born. They said, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what the prophet wrote:

You, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
        by no means are you least among the rulers of Judah,
            because from you will come one who governs,
            who will shepherd my people Israel.”

Then Herod secretly called for the magi and found out from them the time when the star had first appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you’ve found him, report to me so that I too may go and honor him.” When they heard the king, they went; and look, the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Because they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route. (Matthew 2:1-12, CEB)

Herod asked the magi to find the child and come back and tell him where the child was so he could go and pay honor to him. But the magi were warned in a dream not to tell Herod. Herod would take the time of the star rising and then call for the murder of any male child born since then until that day. It is known as the Slaughter of the Innocence and is a high holy day usually observed on December 28.

The magi though visited Mary, Joseph, and Jesus in a house, not a manger, or a stable, or someplace where we assume he was born. The family had been there a while, probably 2 years from the time we see that Herod used for the killing of children.

This was the showing of the messiah to the world, to those who were not part of God’s chosen, but to the whole world. Epiphany is a revealing. A revealing of the love that the creator wanted us all to know. A revealing of the love the creator wanted all of us to embody. And not just for those who thought it was for them, but for everyone.

Love, specifically God’s love is for everyone and we do not get to pick or choose who is included or not. God did that here, with the magi coming from far away to be included in the love that came down and dwelt among us.

Know you are loved and included. And included everyone, because God already made that choice.

Loving People. Loving God.

grace upon grace

In the beginning was the Word
    and the Word was with God
    and the Word was God.
The Word was with God in the beginning.
Everything came into being through the Word,
    and without the Word
    nothing came into being.
What came into being
    through the Word was life,
    and the life was the light for all people.
The light shines in the darkness,
    and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.
A man named John was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him everyone would believe in the light. He himself wasn’t the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light.
The true light that shines on all people
    was coming into the world.
The light was in the world,
    and the world came into being through the light,
        but the world didn’t recognize the light.
The light came to his own people,
    and his own people didn’t welcome him.
But those who did welcome him,
        those who believed in his name,
    he authorized to become God’s children,
        born not from blood
        nor from human desire or passion,
        but born from God.
The Word became flesh
    and made his home among us.
We have seen his glory,
    glory like that of a father’s only son,
        full of grace and truth.
John testified about him, crying out, “This is the one of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than me because he existed before me.’”
From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace;
    as the Law was given through Moses,
    so grace and truth came into being through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
    God the only Son,
        who is at the Father’s side,
        has made God known. (John 1:1-18, CEB)

From His fullness, we have all received grace upon grace.

From Jesus, we have all gotten more than we could ever ask for.

Truth came into being through Jesus and only through Jesus can we see truth.

We get grace and truth through Him and can share it with the world for Him.

Jesus stepped down from His place of exaltation to show us love and give us grace and truth.

Know you are deeply loved to deeply love.

You are a beacon of hope to the world that needs to see grace upon grace.

Loving People. Loving God.

received and yet

“The tent of testimony was with our ancestors in the wilderness. Moses built it just as he had been instructed by the one who spoke to him and according to the pattern he had seen. In time, when they had received the tent, our ancestors carried it with them when, under Joshua’s leadership, they took possession of the land from the nations whom God expelled. This tent remained in the land until the time of David. God approved of David, who asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who actually built a house for God. However, the Most High doesn’t live in houses built by human hands. As the prophet says, Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. ‘What kind of house will you build for me,’ says the Lord, ‘or where is my resting place? Didn’t I make all these things with my own hand?’ “You stubborn people! In your thoughts and hearing, you are like those who have had no part in God’s covenant! You continuously set yourself against the Holy Spirit, just like your ancestors did. Was there a single prophet your ancestors didn’t harass? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the righteous one, and you’ve betrayed and murdered him! You received the Law given by angels, but you haven’t kept it.” (Acts 7:44-53, CEB)

This is part of the story Stephen told before he was stoned.

God doesn’t dwell in houses made with human hands. God dwells and resides everywhere.

And we received the law given by the angels, but did we keep it?

It is like getting a present that you never open. It is never used, nor is it appreciated. Is it actually accepted?

If we never open or use what we get did we really take it?

A present not used is not received.

Receive God’s love and use it to make the world a better place.

Know you are deeply loved.

Loving People. Loving God.

Fam

“No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand so that those who enter can see the light. Nothing is hidden that won’t be exposed. Nor is anything concealed that won’t be made known and brought to the light. Therefore, listen carefully. Those who have will receive more, but as for those who don’t have, even what they seem to have will be taken away from them.” Jesus’ mother and brothers came to him but were unable to reach him because of the crowd. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who listen to God’s word and do it.” (Luke 8:16-21, CEB)

Who is in the family?

Those who are in Jesus’ family are those who listen to God’s word and do what it says.

They are those who love unconditionally. Put no rules on who is allowed and who is not. Those who judge their actions over the actions of others.

Those who work on removing the plank from their eye before working on splinters in others.

Everything we do and the reason we do it is known to God and that is all that matters. Do not make others happy with your actions, work to please God.

Love like Jesus.

Know you are deeply loved.

Loving People. Loving God.

Deny the truth

Are any of you wise and understanding? Show that your actions are good with a humble lifestyle that comes from wisdom. However, if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, then stop bragging and living in ways that deny the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above. Instead, it is from the earth, natural and demonic. Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and everything that is evil. What of the wisdom from above? First, it is pure, and then peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, and genuine. Those who make peace sow the seeds of justice by their peaceful acts. (James 3:13-18, CEB)

When you live for selfish ambition you deny the truth. Your power does not come from above but from below, from earth, from natural and demonic realms. Selfish ambition is evil and should not be pursued.

Wisdom and power from above is pure and peaceful. It is gentle and obedient to love. It is inclusive and merciful, fair and genuine. True understanding comes through love of all.

All humanity are children of God and anything that denies anyone humanity is not of God and denies the truth.

Stop bragging and living in ways that deny the truth.

Love Wins.

Know you are deeply loved.

Loving People. Loving God.

Found!

When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told. When eight days had passed, Jesus’ parents circumcised him and gave him the name Jesus. This was the name given to him by the angel before he was conceived. (Luke 2:15-21, CEB)

The shepherds wanted to confirm what the angels told them, so they went and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. Just as they were told. They found Jesus!

Then they shared what had happened and Mary committed it all to memory and pondered what it all meant.

What does this mean for Mary?

What does this mean for you?

God stepped down from their throne to show you love.

Know you are deeply loved.

Loving People. Loving God.

Hope.

Jesus spoke to the people again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me won’t walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” Then the Pharisees said to him, “Because you are testifying about yourself, your testimony isn’t valid.” Jesus replied, “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, since I know where I came from and where I’m going. You don’t know where I come from or where I’m going. You judge according to human standards, but I judge no one. Even if I do judge, my judgment is truthful, because I’m not alone. My judgments come from me and from the Father who sent me. In your Law it is written that the witness of two people is true. I am one witness concerning myself, and the Father who sent me is the other.” They asked him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You don’t know me and you don’t know my Father. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” (John 8:12-19, CEB)

Jesus said I am the light of the world whoever follows me will be light for life.

Those who do not get it will always find a way for there to be an argument against Jesus. Here it is he is testifying for himself. But is not God able to testify about God?

This is a circular argument that could be hard to unwind, but as I read this I hear hope. When we know Jesus, we know God and in knowing God there is hope for the promises that were made.

Even in the lowest points of our life, we have hope. Hope in God has carried me through many times of deep darkness and despair. I have never lost that hope.

Know you are deeply loved.

Loving People. Loving God.

Stay alert

“But nobody knows when that day or hour will come, not the angels in heaven and not the Son. Only the Father knows. Watch out! Stay alert! You don’t know when the time is coming. It is as if someone took a trip, left the household behind, and put the servants in charge, giving each one a job to do, and told the doorkeeper to stay alert. Therefore, stay alert! You don’t know when the head of the household will come,whether in the evening or at midnight, or when the rooster crows in the early morning or at daybreak. Don’t let him show up when you weren’t expecting and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: Stay alert!” (Mark 13:32-37, CEB)

If you knew when someone would break into your home, would you let them break in?

We don’t know when Jesus is coming back.

We need to be prepared at all times.

Our lives shouldn’t be clean to welcome Jesus, they should be focused on sharing love. When we share love we are doing and being what Christ has called us to be.

So stand fast in following Jesus and being love to the world.

Love Out Loud.

Know you are loved.

Loving People. Loving God.