Tag Archives: journey

#adventbookclub The Journey Begins

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And so we wait, for God to do, what God will do.

We decide if we will join him, as he invites us.

To let him in, or keep him outside.

To accept his light, or stay in the dark.

To take his light with us, to bring his hope.

Stephen’s original questions were:

  • which person in the story did you most relate to?
  • what surprised, shocked or delighted you the most?
  • how has this changed your understanding of the Christmas story?

I think the person who’s story hit me anew was Martha, the keeper of the inn.  Minding her own business, doing her best, then Jesus bursts into her life.  Unexpected, he brings his presence, his life, his hope to that place that we might not have chosen; and nothing is ever quite the same again.

God does that!  But we have to be prepared to let him and join him in the onward journey.

I look forward to hearing your answers. To those questions.

May your journey have led you into a new place with God, re-filled you with his light and given you courage and strength for the onward journey bearing that light.

Thanks to Stephen Cottrell for writing this brilliant book.

Thank you for joining us reading Walking Backwards to Christmas by Stephen Cottrell from SPCK Publishing this advent.  For all who have been part of #adventbookclub, shared thoughts here, on your own blog, on Twitter using #adventbookclub or on the Adventbookclub Facebook page

See you next year!

Casper #adventbookclub

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Matthew 2:1-2, 10-12 (CEV)

The Wise Men

2 When Jesus was born in the village of Bethlehem in Judea, Herod was king. During this time some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and said, “Where is the child born to be king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”

10 They were thrilled and excited to see the star.

11 When the men went into the house and saw the child with Mary, his mother, they knelt down and worshiped him. They took out their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh and gave them to him. 12 Later they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, and they went back home by another road.

We saw the signs, we had to come. A new King.  We want to be here, we want to worship, we have brought our offerings.

Stephen Cottrell introduces us to Casper.

One who knows the value of the darkness, because in that he can see the guiding, pulling light. In the daylight all is bright, the power of the light cannot be seen. One who dreams, and follows those dreams. One whose focus is not on the space in front of him, but wide and big. An interpreter, helping others to see and understand. A man who looks, and sees.  And then does.

Lord,
in this journey through Advent,
may I look,
see
and act.

May I seek you out,
worship you
and offer my gifts before you.

As I come,
seeking a king,
may I not be distracted,
or swayed by the obvious,
but seek the truth,
the reality,
the light
of you.

 

Join us reading Walking Backwards to Christmas by Stephen Cottrell from SPCK Publishing this advent.  Be part of #adventbookclub, share your thoughts here, on your own blog (and let us know we’ll link to it), on Twitter using #adventbookclub or on the Adventbookclub Facebook page

The Father Revealed vi

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Ian Paterson [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons

John 8:21-30 (CEV)

You Cannot Go Where I Am Going

21 Jesus also told them, “I am going away, and you will look for me. But you cannot go where I am going, and you will die with your sins unforgiven.”

22 The Jewish leaders asked, “Does he intend to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying we cannot go where he is going?”

23 Jesus answered, “You are from below, but I am from above. You belong to this world, but I don’t. 24 That is why I said you will die with your sins unforgiven. If you don’t have faith in me for who I am, you will die, and your sins will not be forgiven.”

25 “Who are you?” they asked Jesus.

Jesus answered, “I am exactly who I told you at the beginning. 26 There is a lot more I could say to condemn you. But the one who sent me is truthful, and I tell the people of this world only what I have heard from him.”

27 No one understood that Jesus was talking to them about the Father.

28 Jesus went on to say, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, you will know who I am. You will also know that I don’t do anything on my own. I say only what my Father taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me. I always do what pleases him, and he will never leave me.”

30 After Jesus said this, many of the people put their faith in him.

I can’t go
where you are going?
But that is what you promised,
it’s what I want,
what I need…
I need
your presence,
your support,
your strength,
your guiding
in my life.

Oh,
but you’re talking about them,
the ones
who seek only to make trouble,
do all they can
to turn others from you,
refuse to hear your word,
and try to stop others doing so too.

Is that me?
Am I one of them?
Thinking I am secure
in my cosy God-world,
when it is anything but?

Or
can I actually go with you?
Will I go
where you are going?
The way of sacrifice
or pouring out your all,
for those
who need your offering
of love
and forgiveness?

Can I walk that way?
Give up my securities,
my certainties,
that hold me back;
and live
the way
that pleases you?

Where am I going?
Lord,
let it be with you.
May I follow
in faith
day by day

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