Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Romans 10:12b-13

[T]he same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Everyone

There is no one God refuses to hear. No one is too broken, too lost, too confused, too doubting, too non-Christian or too anything to be unwelcome in the circle of God’s grace. No sin is so great, no life so wayward and no opinion or understanding of life and God so wrong-headed that the Loving Mystery turns away.

The Holy One longs to live in intimate, heart-to-heart oneness with you. God is waiting, eager to hear your voice calling out to be heard.

It is only our arrogance, resistance and failure to pray that prevents us from entering and abiding in loving union with God

So turn from the assumption that you can or should be able to navigate your life without God’s help. Take the risk of trusting that you are loved beyond measure by the ever-generous Source of your existence.

Call out to God with whatever is in you. Seek blessing when you are hurting, lost and alone. Cry out for forgiveness when you know you are wrong and for deliverance when you are threatened and trapped. In moments of joy, exclaim your gratitude to One who longs for you to share your heart.

Don’t let pride or doubt stop you. The invitation is for everyone and most certainly for you.

Pr. David L. Miller

Monday, November 26, 2018

Romans 13:11-12

Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light ….

Day has come

I always check the time when I leave the house for my morning walks. I note when the sun will rise then choose the route I follow to Feather Sound. I want to arrive at the west bank of the pond as the sun appears over the water.

The light may be clear and bright or filtered through clouds. Some days the purple, mottled sky reflects perfectly on the face of the water or glistens cold and pink on snowfall. Other days I see only a gray smudge in eastern sky.

It is never the same. Each day is a unique experience of light coming again to my little place on this earth, telling me … once more … where I live and when.

I live in a world where day has come, where the light of Christ has shined and shines still. Night has passed. Day has come. We have seen the face of God. We have witnessed the light of the divine heart illumining our world.

Morning light awakens the heart, a smile and a prayer of thanks for the light of Christ that lives in us and in this world at the dawning of each new day.

So lay aside all sadness and fear. The light of Christ has dawned and will again, igniting a hope as pure and clear as candles soon lit on our Advent wreaths.

Pr. David L. Miller