Many

“At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. (Daniel 12:1-3, NRSV)

If you are righteous and your name is written in the book you will be delivered.

And then the word that struck me in this reading…

Many…

Many of those sleeping shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Really many? Not all?

So who is left behind in the dust of the earth? And in the Hebrew the word is there. I admit I am not a Hebrew scholar by any stretch of the imagination, but it looks like a good translation to me. But that leaves the question of who is left in the dust. Because some rise to everlasting life and some rise to everlasting contempt.

It is a question we are left with to ponder, yet we can know from this passage if we strive to do what God has called us to do and follow Him, we will shine like the stars forever and ever.

waiting…

It seems Christmas is upon us! The winter wonderland has come! I know, just wait it will only get deeper and the white will not be so pretty… But Christmas lights are up, and the snow has fallen. All that is left is for Santa to come, oh wait; he is already at the mall, waiting to hear your list…

But is it time for Christmas? We are waiting. Now is the time of Advent, the season of the church year that is the 4 weeks before Christmas where we wait the advent of Christ in the manger. Advent means arrival. We are waiting for the arrival of Jesus.

But isn’t Jesus already with us? And yet we still wait on His advent again. It is the already not yet of Christmas and the return. You see as I write this it is not yet Thanksgiving, yet stores are playing Christmas music and all over the country side we see lights of Christmas. It is as if we have skipped being thankful into being consumers. It is a joyous time, but what does Christmas mean to you?

As we wait this year for the baby in the manger, let’s not get caught up in the societal understanding of this wonderful day. As we work through December and Advent, let us prepare for the miracle that allows us to be in relationship with God.  Let us prepare our hearts and bodies for the coming of our savior.  Let us during Advent, the season of Hope and Light, prepare for Jesus coming in the manger.

Don’t get caught up in the whirlwind excitement of consumerism this Advent. As we wait for Christmas, the day we celebrate the birth of Christ by giving to others, rather than giving to Him. Let us remember that His coming was the greatest gift we could ever receive and live into that gift, by focusing on others, just as He did for us. Live in the expectation of the greatest gift and miracle we have all behold.  Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds and prepare you this Advent.

Stay awake!

“But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.” (Mark 13:24-37, NRSV)

There are so many signs we could take as the end is coming, but Jesus tells these disciples that this generation will not pass away before these things happen. Therefore these cannot be signs fo the coming end in and of themselves.

We need to be focused and stay alert and awake to what Jesus is calling us and leading us to do.

Because you see no one but the Father knows when the Kingdom of God will come in its fullness. Not the angels, nor the Son. But the Kingdom will come like a thief in the night or a master returning from a trip. We do not know when, but we need to be doing what He has called us to do when He comes back!

So stay awake as we await His return. Knowing we are doing His will!

You

Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion; and to you shall vows be performed, O you who answer prayer! To you all flesh shall come. When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us, you forgive our transgressions. Happy are those whom you choose and bring near to live in your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, your holy temple. By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas. By your strength you established the mountains; you are girded with might. You silence the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples. Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs; you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy. You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it. You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness. The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy. (Psalm 65, NRSV)

You alone o Lord are worthy of our praise!

You have answered our prayers and come to the rescue of all flesh!

Even though we are caught in our sinful ways, you still forgive us and come to us, providing a wonderful creation and bounty for us as your creatures!

May we always praise you and give youthanks for the mercy and grace that overflow from your throne!

indescribable gift

The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:6-15, NRSV)

No one can make you give something you don’t want to, because you will regret it and it will become a festering wound that will eat you alive inside out…

But when you free yourself to give, you will see the inherent richness in giving! When you give what has been given to you away, the one who has given it to you has space to give you even greater riches.

The gift of God is an endless flowing fountain of mercy, love and grace, and if we hold on to it it will dry up, but if we can free ourselves from worry of what we will miss because we want to be secure, we will be overwhelmingly filled beyond our wildest dreams!

So cling to the promise He will continually fill you and give to those in need around you!

one leper

tenlepersOn the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:11-19, NRSV)

What are you thankful for?

Truly thankful for?

And have you told the person who did this for you you are thankful?

You see 1 out of 10 lepers returned to the Lord to thank Him for cleaning them and giving them their lives back. All 10 of them were now outside the city with no hope in their disease fo getting back in. They had to rely on others to feed them and give them their daily needs. But cleaned, they could return into the city and to life!

And only 1 was bothered by this to say thank you!

Think about all the things in your life you have to be thankful for and give thanks for them!

wither

A gracious woman gets honor, but she who hates virtue is covered with shame. The timid become destitute, but the aggressive gain riches. Those who are kind reward themselves, but the cruel do themselves harm. The wicked earn no real gain, but those who sow righteousness get a true reward. Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but whoever pursues evil will die. Crooked minds are an abomination to the LORD, but those of blameless ways are his delight. Be assured, the wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will escape. Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without good sense. The desire of the righteous ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked in wrath. Some give freely, yet grow all the richer; others withhold what is due, and only suffer want. A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water. The people curse those who hold back grain, but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it. Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to the one who searches for it. Those who trust in their riches will wither, but the righteous will flourish like green leaves. Those who trouble their households will inherit wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, but violence takes lives away. (Proverbs 11:16-30, NRSV)

The proverbs are rich with telling us what to do and what not to, but in a way that makes sense to most of us…

For instance if you are kind you will actually reward yourself instead of the one you are kind to, but if you are cruel, you are only harming yourself.

It is wisdom for the day…

The line that struck me here is “Those who trust in their riches will wither, but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.” And then the picture, a well watered thriving leaf…

Where do you place your trust? Is it in hoarding your resources and building wealth? Is it by cheating others out of what you owe, or what you need to do?

Because when we freely give, our cup will be refilled to overflowing, but if there isn’t any room there, there will not be a blessing given!

We can not trust in our own riches, or ourselves. We must trust in the Lord our God, who will provide for our every need. He will make our lives flourish like green leaves, if we but trust in Him!

heap

Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:13-21, NRSV)

I love these verses…

Kill them with kindness is the way we say this now. But I love the imagery of heaping burning coals on the heads of those who persecute us!

But is it easy?

To love your enemies?

To pray for those who persecute you?

To do good to those who hate you?

No. it is not easy. But here is the thing, it really isn’t an option for us.

God told us to do this. So we need to love everyone as our neighbor and repay no one evil for evil.

If we shower them with kindness we will confound them. We will confuse them. and in the end it will be worse for them than if we tried to seek retribution ourselves!

So love them to death and heap away!