#Adventbookclub – Week 1

•December 8, 2012 • Leave a Comment

I just thought I’d do a bit of a recap of week 1, to think about where we’ve been and where we are.

We’re waiting, waiting for God, waiting not just for Christmas, but for God to come in final fulfilment.

But as we wait, we are reminded that God is with us here, every day.

I am reminded of the old car bumper sticker, a take on an RSPCA one,

Jesus is for life, not just for Christmas

a little twee now, but still true.  If we are looking for Jesus just at Christmas, we are missing so much of what he has to offer.

And so our preparations become about far more than food and presents and…

Our preparations are far more about our hearts and lives.

Can we take time to be with God, to allow him to speak to us, touch us, heal us, to give us hope, to know  love and peace?

And as we do so, can our lives then be open to him and to those around us, as we live and wait for all he is going to do.

Lord I’m waiting,

I’m not always patient,

I want things to rush along,

but I will wait

– wait with you,

wait for your way,

your time.

As I wait,

I pray that you will equip me,

change me,

heal, me,

restore me

– that I may be ready

for all you call me to

– today and always

Thank you to all those who’ve joined us this week and shared conversations – looking forward to next week.

This year for Advent, some friends and I are using Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Henri J. M. Nouwen.   You’re welcome to join us on this journey.  Feel free to comment here, or on Twitter using #adventbookclub

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Judgement Call – Day 8

•December 8, 2012 • 1 Comment

There are some judgements we have to make in life – who to trust, what opinion to hold, what to believe…

One judgement we do not have to make is about the worth of other people.  That is a given, and where the focus takes us in today’s reading.

Yesterday, we thought about ourselves and our own intrinsic worth.  Today we consider how that works in our interactions with others.

For, if we are content within ourselves, that puts us in a different place in life.  A place where we no longer need to be judging others – because it no longer matters.  If our worth is not in “stuff”, then neither is that of others.  They  are of worth just because they are, and so we no longer need to be evaluating them and their behaviours .  They too are of intrinsic worth, and we can see that, not what they do or have.

What freedom that would bring to life, to no longer feel we are seeing how “they” measure up.  However tempting, judging others is God’s job, not ours.

Judging Others

37 Jesus said:

Don’t judge others, and God won’t judge you. Don’t be hard on others, and God won’t be hard on you. Forgive others, and God will forgive you. 38 If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in return. It will be packed down, shaken together, and spilling over into your lap. The way you treat others is the way you will be treated.

Come Lord, into our lives and into the world, that this may be so

 

Do not let dislike dominate your hearts

This year for Advent, some friends and I are using Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Henri J. M. Nouwen.   You’re welcome to join us on this journey.  Feel free to comment here, or on Twitter using #adventbookclub

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What Really Matters – Day 7

•December 7, 2012 • 4 Comments

What do I need?

What do I rely on?

What makes my life complete?

Do I need nice things? Good holidays?  What I see my neighbour has? Others to say nice things about me?  The comfort and challenge of the world?

Or can I find my worth and delight in who and what I am?  Unadorned?  Deep within my very self?  Am I enough?  Or do I need something else?

Can we find our worth in God alone?

The Return of The Prodigal

We considered yesterday how important community is.  But we cannot find our worth solely in others.  They can certainly help or hinder us, but we need to be secure within ourselves – otherwise we can at times respond in very strange and unhelpful ways

Henri Nouwen challenges us to try cutting out other things for a day.  To be alone with ourselves.  To see where our dependencies lie – and to consider if they are healthy or not.  As we prepare for Christ’s coming, it’s a good question to ask ourselves.

“Things” can let us down – God doesn’t and won’t.  We can stand secure in him and the depth of his love for the real, intrinsic us – you and me.

 

Forgive me Lord,

for the times I look for my self-worth

in all the wrong places.

Help me

to look to you,

to clear the things that get in the way,

of truly knowing and accepting

the depth of your love for me.

Lord, I come before you

and ask you,

and you alone,

to meet my needs

of love, security and worth

And no sooner had I written this post, than this dropped into my Inbox:

Letting the Love and Light Flow

Jean Vanier

 When we begin to discover and to drop the barriers and fears which prevent us from being ourselves and which prevent the life of the Holy Spirit from flowing through us, we become more simple. Simplicity is no more and no less than being ourselves, knowing that we are loved. It is knowing that we are accepted, with our qualities, our flaws and as we are in the depths of our being. Simplicity is letting the love and the light of God flow and shine through us.

Source: Community and Growth

This year for Advent, some friends and I are using Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Henri J. M. Nouwen.   You’re welcome to join us on this journey.  Feel free to comment here, or on Twitter using #adventbookclub

Posted in Advent, Advent Book Club, God, Religion, theology
Tags: , , ,

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