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Listening

Today is about listening while we wait.
Psalm 62 (assorted verses)

1 For God alone my soul waits in silence;
    from him comes my salvation.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall never be shaken.  For God alone my soul waits in silence;
    from him comes my salvation.

For God alone my soul waits in silence,
    for my hope is from him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God rests my deliverance and my honor;
    my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. 


Beginning the day in silence and in the WORD we begin the day in the same way we end the day.  In our silence we listen, we pray, we connect with the divine.
This silence is made more difficult with the onset of early morning news and the evening news we close the day with.  Whether we watch or read, do these times  help us draw closer to God?  Are these times so unimportant that we feel it necessary to know more about the world than about listening to the voice of the Spirit?


I cannot answer those questions for you but only for myself.  When in doubt, pray.  When there is too much noise in your life, pray, be still, be silent.
Advent is a time through the darkness to be silent and listen.

What draws your attention today?


Pastor Barbara 

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December 5, 2020

Advent Day 5

That soft still voice that says:


“For unto us a child is born         unto us a son is given”
“He will establish and uphold it (his kingdom) with justice and with righteousness.”  Isaiah 9: 6-7 (paraphrased)


I’ve been hearing a lot these days of justice – social, food, personal space, and on it goes.  As I’ve heard these things -people say there’s not enough. I wonder how can I, through this noise, hear the voice of God, the voice of the Son, and even the voice of the Spirit?


Be still we’re told.  Will we find peace if we are still?  OR does the work of justice call us to more?


What do you think?  Righteousness and justice are big words that we can put into practice in our own lives.
May we hear the voice of Spirit – today and always.

Pastor Barbara

“And suddenly”

“And suddenly”  That phrase is a familiar one taken from the natal story in Luke’s gospel.  


And suddenly – there were angles
And suddenly (I was a bit out of breath)
Suddenly


What?  No power?  Hydro One has been working to keep the lights on.What? No phone service?What? No traditional Christmas dinner or gatherings?What? We’re out of t-paper once again?
And suddenly…


We wait.  It’s a hurry up and wait thing we do every year.
And suddenly
We find ourselves hoping while we wait.
And suddenly 


We find Christ – no longer in the manager but in our hearts.
Keep waiting and hoping.  Your “suddenly” will come.
Blessings,Barbara

Blessings?

Advent Day 3

There are blessings still to come.


Luke 6:20-2120 Then he looked up at his disciples and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,
    for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now,
    for you will be filled.
“Blessed are you who weep now,
    for you will laugh.

“For you will laugh.” Really?  There will be laughter?

Do you have a sense that something really great is going to come?  Even with the many restrictions that surround us right now we can still laugh and get excited.  Yes, Christmas will be different, perhaps even difficult.  But, Christ is still with us. There is snow on the ground but the hope of spring is still with us.  Are you looking at the seed catalogues or pictures of warm beaches? 

We wait and in waiting we can learn to laugh, to dance, to sing (at least on our own), to pray, and live through the gift of Christ in our lives.

Blessed – is the one who wears the mask and loves their neighbour (hood).

Blessed – is the one who Hopes in Christ.

What are your blessings today?  Let’s share our blessings.

In the peace of Christ,

Barbara

Somebody’s Knockin’

Revelation 3:20
“Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come into you and eat with you, and you with me.”


Have you ever noticed on the artwork of Jesus standing at the door? The door has no door handle.  Jesus cannot open the door.  Only we can do this.
In this time of waiting, believe that there is somebody knocking at your door.

Christ is persistent. Christmas is coming.  We can wait quietly, calmly or we can rush around in a haze of flurry and chaos.? You choose.


Open the door and let peace enter.