patience

We know that the whole creation is groaning together and suffering labor pains up until now. And it’s not only the creation. We ourselves who have the Spirit as the first crop of the harvest also groan inside as we wait to be adopted and for our bodies to be set free. We were saved in hope. If we see what we hope for, that isn’t hope. Who hopes for what they already see? But if we hope for what we don’t see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:22-25, CEB)

Who hopes for what they already see?

We do not hope for something we have. We hope for something we do not have or are waiting on. We have patience when we have to wait.

Patience in the promises God will deliver.

Patience as we hope for the fulfillment of the kingdom.

Patience as we wait for the healing of the nations.

Patience as we wait for love to be fulfilled.

As you wait in patience, be hopeful of what is in store, and work towards sharing love in all you do.

Loving People. Loving God.

All Humanity!

In the fifteenth year of the rule of the emperor Tiberius—when Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea and Herod was ruler over Galilee, his brother Philip was ruler over Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was ruler over Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas—God’s word came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. John went throughout the region of the Jordan River, calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. This is just as it was written in the scroll of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
A voice crying out in the wilderness:
    “Prepare the way for the Lord;
        make his paths straight.
Every valley will be filled,
    and every mountain and hill will be leveled.
The crooked will be made straight
    and the rough places made smooth.
All humanity will see God’s salvation.”
(Luke 3:1-6, CEB)

John went where most normal people wouldn’t go to make sure that all humanity heard the message.

Every valley will be filled and every mountain leveled and everything crooked will be made straight and rough places will be made smooth. All obstacles will be removed.

What obstacles do we put in front of others and ourselves?

What can we do, like John, to move out of our comfort zone to prepare the way of the Lord?

As we wait for God, let us prepare the way and remove obstacles that keep love from flowing.

Loving People. Loving God.

Depend on others

Jesus called the Twelve together and he gave them power and authority over all demons and to heal sicknesses. He sent them out to proclaim God’s kingdom and to heal the sick. He told them, “Take nothing for the journey—no walking stick, no bag, no bread, no money, not even an extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, remain there until you leave that place. Wherever they don’t welcome you, as you leave that city, shake the dust off your feet as a witness against them.” They departed and went through the villages proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere. (Luke 9:1-6, CEB)

Jesus gave the disciples power and authority. However, they needed to rely on others for daily needs.

They could cast out demons and heal the sick, but they needed others for a place to sleep and something to eat.

We can not do this life alone. We need community to help us.

Share love. Share resources.

Be love.

Loving People. Loving God.

Stay.

What do I think about this? Just this: since Christ is proclaimed in every possible way, whether from dishonest or true motives, I’m glad and I’ll continue to be glad. I’m glad because I know that this will result in my release through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. It is my expectation and hope that I won’t be put to shame in anything. Rather, I hope with daring courage that Christ’s greatness will be seen in my body, now as always, whether I live or die. Because for me, living serves Christ and dying is even better. If I continue to live in this world, I get results from my work. But I don’t know what I prefer. I’m torn between the two because I want to leave this life and be with Christ, which is far better. However, it’s more important for me to stay in this world for your sake. I’m sure of this: I will stay alive and remain with all of you to help your progress and the joy of your faith, and to increase your pride in Christ Jesus through my presence when I visit you again. (Philippians 1:18-26, CEB)

I want to know if Paul is contemplating what he may be considering here.

“But I don’t know what I prefer.”

“I’m torn between the two…”

“I want to leave this life and be with Christ, which is far better.”

“However, it’s more important for me to stay in this world for your sake.”

Is Paul considering taking his own life? It is far better to be with Christ, but I need to be here for you, so I won’t leave this place.

He is in prison and beaten up. He does decide, “I will stay alive and remain with all of you to help”.

As we wait it is hard. We will be weighed down by life and circumstances, but all of us form the community that shows God’s love to the world We need each other and we are not the image of God without each piece.

Stay. Know you are needed.

Loving People. Loving God.

why do you?

Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that the things that have happened to me have actually advanced the gospel. The whole Praetorian Guard and everyone else knows that I’m in prison for Christ. Most of the brothers and sisters have had more confidence through the Lord to speak the word boldly and bravely because of my jail time. Some certainly preach Christ with jealous and competitive motives, but others preach with good motives. They are motivated by love, because they know that I’m put here to give a defense of the gospel; the others preach Christ because of their selfish ambition. They are insincere, hoping to cause me more pain while I’m in prison. What do I think about this? Just this: since Christ is proclaimed in every possible way, whether from dishonest or true motives, I’m glad and I’ll continue to be glad. (Philippians 1:12-18, CEB)

Why do you preach Christ? Some of you might say, “I don’t preach Christ.” To which I would say you do, however, let me rephrase what I said.

Why do you share the love of God, or claim to follow God? Do you share Christ to gain something personally? Do you share Christ so that others may know the love of God?

What is your motivation? Love? Gain?

God knows why you do what you do.

Share God and God’s love out of love for all as we wait for the Lord to come and fulfill the kingdom.

Love always wins!

Loving People. Loving God.

Sign

When the crowds grew, Jesus said, “This generation is an evil generation. It looks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except Jonah’s sign. Just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Human One will be a sign to this generation. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from a distant land to hear Solomon’s wisdom. And look, someone greater than Solomon is here. The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they changed their hearts and lives in response to Jonah’s preaching—and one greater than Jonah is here. (Luke 11:29-32, CEB)

What sign are you looking for?

What sign would make you believe?

Jesus said the only sign given will be Jonah’s sign. What is Jonah’s sign?

Jonah spent 3 days in a big fish’s belly, like a tomb.

And someone “greater than Jonah is here.”

Do we see the sign and believe?

What are we waiting for?

Loving People. Loving God.

enter by the gate

“Look! I’m coming soon. My reward is with me, to repay all people as their actions deserve. I am the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Favored are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right of access to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs, the drug users and spell-casters, those who commit sexual immorality, the murderers, the idolaters, and all who love and practice deception. “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to bear witness to all of you about these things for the churches. I’m the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star. (Revelation 22:12-16, CEB)

“Favored are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right of access to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.” Does this mean if my robe is dirty I have to climb over the wall? And is washing their robe something they do?

And what does it mean to be favored? You are elevated above the rest, but does that mean the rest are still included they just aren’t favored?

Deception practicing people are outside. But are they included and not favored?

This passage out of context is not really telling much because one could read it is you didn’t wash your robes, you are not included. However you can also read it if you wash your robes you are favored, and the rest are just outside but still included.

My issue here is I have to wash my robes. Some can’t wash their robes, so how are the included?

How do we who can do something make sure those who can’t get the same access we have?

Advent is about waiting for the coming of a baby and waiting for the coming of our Lord to fulfill the kingdom. How can we work for justice and equality for all as we wait?

Loving People. Loving God.

slowness

My dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both letters to stir up your sincere understanding with a reminder. I want you to recall what the holy prophets foretold as well as what the Lord and savior commanded through your apostles. Most important, know this: in the last days scoffers will come, jeering, living by their own cravings, and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? After all, nothing has changed—not since the beginning of creation, nor even since the ancestors died.” But they fail to notice that, by God’s word, heaven and earth were formed long ago out of water and by means of water. And it was through these that the world of that time was flooded and destroyed. But by the same word, heaven and earth are now held in reserve for fire, kept for the Judgment Day and destruction of ungodly people. Don’t let it escape your notice, dear friends, that with the Lord a single day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a single day. The Lord isn’t slow to keep his promise, as some think of slowness, but he is patient toward you, not wanting anyone to perish but all to change their hearts and lives. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day the heavens will pass away with a dreadful noise, the elements will be consumed by fire, and the earth and all the works done on it will be exposed. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be? You must live holy and godly lives, waiting for and hastening the coming day of God. Because of that day, the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt away in the flames. But according to his promise we are waiting for a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. Therefore, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found by him in peace—pure and faultless. Consider the patience of our Lord to be salvation, just as our dear friend and brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him, speaking of these things in all his letters. Some of his remarks are hard to understand, and people who are ignorant and whose faith is weak twist them to their own destruction, just as they do the other scriptures. Therefore, dear friends, since you have been warned in advance, be on guard so that you aren’t led off course into the error of sinful people, and lose your own safe position. Instead, grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. To him belongs glory now and forever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:1-18, CEB)

“A single day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a single day.”

We can not know when the end is coming. I will offer a thought though.

The Lord “is patient toward you, not wanting anyone to perish but all to change their hearts and lives.” The Lord is patient wanting all to change and live. Maybe Jesus hasn’t returned yet because we all have not figured out how to love each other yet. And if we are truly honest, none of us has figured out how to love everyone yet.

How can we make this season of Advent about learning to stop judging, hating, and seeing others as “other”, and love as Christ called us to do?

God is patiently waiting for all of us to change and live.

Loving People. Loving God.

Stay Alert

“There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On the earth, there will be dismay among nations in their confusion over the roaring of the sea and surging waves. The planets and other heavenly bodies will be shaken, causing people to faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world. Then they will see the Human One coming on a cloud with power and great splendor. Now when these things begin to happen, stand up straight and raise your heads, because your redemption is near.” Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, you know that God’s kingdom is near. I assure you that this generation won’t pass away until everything has happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away. “Take care that your hearts aren’t dulled by drinking parties, drunkenness, and the anxieties of day-to-day life. Don’t let that day fall upon you unexpectedly, like a trap. It will come upon everyone who lives on the face of the whole earth. Stay alert at all times, praying that you are strong enough to escape everything that is about to happen and to stand before the Human One.” (Luke 21:25-36, CEB)

There will be signs the end is near, but I am sure we will misread those signs.

Our job as we wait for the Lord is to stay alert. Stay the course and hold fast to love.

Love God and love all others. Do not be confused or overwhelmed by life or the things of the world, but stay alert and focused on God.

Wait patiently for the Lord. God is coming.

Loving People. Loving God.

Wait

“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that its destruction is close at hand. At that time, those in Judea must flee to the mountains, those in the city must escape, and those in the countryside must not enter the city. These are the days of punishment, when everything written will find its fulfillment. How terrible it will be at that time for women who are pregnant or for women who are nursing their children. There will be great agony on the earth and angry judgment on this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations. Jerusalem will be plundered by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are concluded. (Luke 21:20-24, CEB)

Wait patiently in the Lord. We will see terrible things, but God will never leave us.

There will be agony and judgment but God’s love will win.

Wait patiently in the Lord. Know you are a beloved Child of God and God will not leave you nor forsake you.

Once the time has come, the kingdom will be fulfilled and we will be with God.

Wait.

Loving People. Loving God.