December 31st

Well, I'm not going to pray for the obvious today, Lord. I know you're taking care of things that way. I'm just going to offer myself to you and ask for your continued care for me, my family and friends and all creation. I know that you're going to carry on no matter what I pray, but I also know that you want to hear from me, from all of us, because that contact is vital. We're here for you and you're here for me, and so I want to thank you for that and do my part, especially since I know you're doing yours.
All I ask is that you help me feel your work in my life, through my church, my friends and family and in the miracle of creation.

December 30th

God, in this season of in-between, this time when the excitement of Christmas is waning and there is still time before the excitement of the New Year celebration, this time when stores are closed for the holiday and there is no-one staffing the church other than me, when the days are grey and wet, I realize that you are still on duty. Even though the rest of us might be taking it easy, you're busy working behind the scenes in our lives and in the universe, and I once again am awed by our faithfulness, by your constant presence, by your persistence in the presence of our human inability to pay attention. Thank-you for this gift, and for sticking by me, even though I often feel I don't deserve your attention.

December 29th

Loving God, I pray that you keep me mindful of others, careful to speak the truth, but only in love, generous in helping out, but only where it's wanted, wise in counsel without being preachy. Let me be the best I can be by reflecting Christ's ways and focussing on your will.

December 28th

God, I thank you for my family, and for the way that we are friends as well as relatives. It's a special gift to enjoy a person's company, not because you have to, but because you genuinely like them.
I guess it's the same way with Jesus: He is my Lord and Saviour, and I appreciate Him for than, but I also feel that he is a friend and I love Him not because I am forced to, but because I love what He represents and what He offers to the world. May I be more like Him, taking the best of me and improving it with the best of Him.

December 27th

God, it's my birthday, and I want to thank-you for all the friends that helped me celebrate the day. Help me to continue to celebrate the life and joy you have given me, not just today, but always, and help me to take that sense of joy and celebration and share it with others. May my love for you took neighbour and stranger alike so that others might celebrate and enjoy you as well.

December 26th

God, it was a pretty quiet day at church and at home, and I thank you for that. After the hustle and bustle its nice to sit back and relax a bit. Thanks for the folks that trekked to worship this morning. Thanks for the family that embraces me at all times. Thanks for all your blessings, especially the quiet, subtle ones.

December 25th

Lord, on this day we mark Jesus' birth. We don't really know when it happened; we humans just use this date for assorted reasons that made it a convenient choice at the time. It turns out that we live our life of faith that way an awful lot. We take what you tell us and make it more convenient or palatable. It's good for us, but maybe not always good for you. Help me, Lord, to be more faithful to my faith. As you help me through Jesus, help me be more true to him, forsaking the convenient way, forgiving me when I do, and encouraging me when I get it right.
Thank-you for Jesus, for his arrival as a baby, for his example as a human, for his death on the cross, and for the resurrection that save all mankind.

December 26th: Imponderable, Improbable, Impossible

This season celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ brings to mind three words, words that pertain not only to his birth, but to His whole existence.
It is imponderable that Jesus should have been born at all. What kind of a God would descend to the level of His creation? Who would willingly send an emissary to a stubborn people that had, time and time again, proven themselves unworthy? What’s more, who would have sent a baby to do a god’s job?
With Jesus on the planet, it is improbable that He was a perfect boy. Kids are kids, no matter who they belong to. Just ask a preacher: she’ll tell you that, despite what some grumpy folks might say, her children are no more angels than any other child. Or ask Mary herself. After all, she must have been on the brink of insanity that time Jesus stayed in the temple without telling anyone. Jesus was a child just like the rest of us.
It is impossible that a human being rise from the dead. Despite our best prayers, wishing on lucky stars, or promising any deity that will listen we would do anything to have our beloved back, there is no overturning death. So how is it that Jesus not only raised Lazarus out of the grave, but was Himself brought back to life? And to add to the impossibility, how is it that He managed not only to come back to life, but to raise the rest of us up from our Spiritual death?
It all has to do with our imponderable, improbable, impossible God. We can’t imagine God’s power. We can’t figure out just how amazing He is. Nor can we understand that God has no limits. The craziest thing of all is that God loves us. Imponderable! God wants us back. Improbable! God never gives up. Impossible! Nevertheless, that’s the truth, as imponderable, improbable or impossible as it may appear.
God’s love is so great that nothing can prevent Him from getting us back into His heart. Imponderable? Only if you have no imagination at all. Improbable? Only if you are too lazy to love Him back. Impossible?
Did I mention that Jesus came as a baby? Did I mention that He was just like us? Did I mention that He rose from the dead? Did I mention that He did it all for you?
Thoughts