God is Near: Week Four

Our Plan, God’s Plan

I have about ten Christmas Movies that I try to watch every year during the holidays. One of these classic movies is Christmas Vacation, staring Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold. Christmas Vacation is one of those movies where I will sit and roar in laughter for two hours straight. What connects most with me about this movie is the fact that our own christmases past are all reflected in the crazy things that happen to Clark and his family! Let’s be honest, we Americans have the ability to make Christmas into a crazy, hectic, totally stress-filled holiday, instead of the time of simple peace that it should be. Throughout this movie we realize that Clark has a plan for every part of his Christmas experience, but that his plans never come to fruition. When I think of the story of Jesus’ birth I realize that Joseph must have had plans for his future and that his plans most certainly did not include the revelation that his betrothed, Mary, was pregnant. As you prepare for this Sunday I invite you to watch the video, read the Scripture and then spend a few minutes pondering the reflection questions below.

Matthew 1:18-25

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” 

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Reflection Questions:

1. What do you think about Joseph’s reaction to finding out that Mary was pregnant? What would your reaction be if you received news of what appears to be blatant betrayal?
2. What if God called you to a path similar to Joseph’s path; the path of forgiveness and acceptance? What would it take for you to be able to follow a similar path?
3. Where is God calling you today to offer love or forgiveness in the face of betrayal or injury or injustice? 

God Is Near: Week Three

Nothing Is Impossible With God

This Sunday we continue our reflection into the thin veil between heaven and earth during the incarnation. Messengers are sent back and forth to bring good news that the long-awaited Messiah, the savior of the world, is on the way. The messengers break into humanity’s history to bring unexpected news. I wonder if we have had messengers bring unexpected news into our own personal stories. Many of us serve in ministries because God has called us into unexpected paths. I wonder if Rev. Kris Shonewolf ever dreamed, she would be doing ministry among the Lowell Correctional Women today? Or whether Jonathan and Donna Baker knew they would travel to faraway lands such as Congo to bring news of running drinking water? I wonder about our Christmas shoeboxes traveling all around the world.We had such fun filling them up and soon they will make their way into little hands and smiley faces. I wonder about those who work with Messy Church or mentoring children? I wonder how they knew to respond… “Ok, Lord, I will do it,” “Yes, Lord, let it be as you have decided.” As you read the scripture below, grab a comfortable chair, find a cozy spot and submerge yourself into the story. A mighty and powerful angel coming to a young teenage girl. This power of light comes to interrupt this young woman’s story and her response, “Yes, Lord, Let it Be” challenges us to respond in the same fashion. Come Sunday expectant of what news God might have for us!

Luke 1:26–55

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”

Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
 How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
 For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.
 He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him.
 His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
 He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble.
 He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands.
 He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful.
 For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.”

Reflection Questions:

1. Has God ever interrupted your plans with news of a different path for you to take? What was your reaction?

2. Often our response to unexpected news is “why?” Reflect on what might be a better response (i.e. “Lord, this is happening… how do you see this? What do you want me to learn? Who do you want to be for me at this moment in life? Yes, Lord, Let it Be.”

3. Are there people around you who are experiencing either exciting or difficult news, how can you be a support to them through their circumstances?

God is Near: Week Two

Waiting and Hoping

Have you ever waited and hoped for something that just seemed to never come? I know I have and it can become frustrating! Loida and I had something in our lives that we waited on for almost 10 years. We so wanted Loida’s mom to be able to come and visit us in the US and for many reasons she simply was never given a the tourist visa needed for the visit. We worked for it, prayed about it and even made plans for what would happen if she was able to get the visa and yet God never seemed to answer our desired wish. I have to admit that we finally just gave up on all the work and resigned ourselves to the fact that her mom would probably never be able to come to the US, when out of the blue, her mom called one day to say she had gone down to the US embassy (without our knowledge) and they had given her a Visa! 

This Sunday we are going to examine what to do when God seems to not be answering our prayers and then how to handle when God does answer our prayers.  As you prepare for Sunday I invite you to watch the video, read the scripture and then spend a few minutes thinking through the reflection questions below.  See you Sunday!

Luke 1:1-25

Luke 1:1    Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. ² They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. ³ Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, ⁴ so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.

Luke 1:5    When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. ⁶ Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. ⁷ They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.

Luke 1:8    One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. ⁹ As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.

Luke 1:11    While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. ¹² Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. ¹³ But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. ¹⁴ You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.^{a 16} And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

Luke 1:18    Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

Luke 1:19    Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! ²⁰ But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”

Luke 1:21    Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. ²² When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.

Luke 1:23    When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home. ²⁴ Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. ²⁵ “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”

Reflection Questions:

1. Have you ever waited for something so long that you finally give up on it?
2. How would you react if an Angel came to you and expressed that God was going to give you that thing you had given up on? (read verses 11-19 to see Zechariah’s response)
3. How do you stay connected with God even when the longing of your heart is not being answered?