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I'm sharing this journal entry from one of our sheep / shepherds for your encouragement and invite you to share your stories to keep us connected David
Thursday April 2, 2020: A journal entry:
JESUS WEPT.
A Morning mist of low cloud wrapped soft around the hills.
I read John 6 and tried to ponder on Jesus the living bread. But the mist beckoned and drew me outside, quickly enfolding me in its clammy embrace.
There was no pausing to choose direction. I headed straight up the hill blanketed in the foggy stillness, only birdcall echoing the inner certainty – she’s coming to pray.
Pray up the hill. I haven’t prayed up there for a while. I’ve prayed. But not there on God’s hill, my place of retreat.
At the summit, as cloud drifted and lifted, it was my heart that rained out its anguished plea, the cry for help with COVID19: LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER. Help us Jesus.
That was it. No wordy waffle. I perched on the rim of the damp bench, poised in grief and need; heart, mind and spirit turned to God, “Yet still do I praise you Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Living God.”
A lull then settled over me, like a mute button had been pressed to hush the turmoil of my distressed thoughts and wretched emotions concerning the plight of the world’s people. Wait. Be quiet!
Jesus wept. The words from last Sunday’s reading came to mind loud and clear.
33 When Jesus saw her crying, and the Judaeans who had come with her crying, he was deeply stirred in his spirit, and very troubled. 34 ‘Where have you laid him?’ he asked. ‘Master,’ they said, ‘come and see.’ 35 Jesus burst into tears. (John 11:33-35 NTE)
I too burst into tears, and as I wept, there at the top of the hill, I knew he was weeping with me. Weeping with all the world. Weeping for us all.
Turn to me. And I, turning, vision all awash, could see clearly, he was there. Feed my sheep. To this I shook my head, and thought, I’m no pastor. You are a minister of my word. Therefore, speak my word to others. Speak my word to one another. And suddenly understanding dawned. “You aren’t just saying this to me, are you? It’s your call to all of us: Feed your sheep. The responsibility is ours collectively.” And I pictured the scattered sheep, isolated from one another but belonging together and needing creative new ways of being church and speaking grace and hope to one another and others.
I plunged, then, down the hill, not following the worn paths but winding down the steeper slope, weaving through knee high weeds, around rocky mounds and patches of slippery flattened grass, to emerge at the wider base track.
Now is the time to forge new paths. Jesus is still the Way, the “base track” of my faith remains the same. It’s the network of familiar paths that represent how we have lived out our faith, that have fallen away, not God’s word or his kingdom, or his love.
I am thankful for this love that comes to us where we are: scattered sheep weeping in the mist of uncertainty. I’m thankful that Jesus wept and that his way isn’t set in stone. That he comes and calls us to discover a new and living way, today and tomorrow and the next day. Hallelujah! This is a new day! And the Jesus who weeps with us in our distress will renew us and lead us on beyond COVID19.
JESUS WEPT.
The autumn sun filtered a pale ray through the drifting grey. A reminder that the God who weeps, also sheds light as well as tears.
Light of Life Christmas Eve Read: John 8:12-16 “Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” John 8:12 (NIV)
What an amazing promise by Jesus. Today is Christmas Eve and I am sure there is much preparation going on in your home. Some may be finishing work for a week or two to have time off over Christmas/New Year. Children would have finished school earlier, and I am sure that there is much excitement and anticipation for the Christmas dinner, the gifts, the family time. What a joy Christmas is to families whether Christian or not. However, the biggest difference is in knowing Jesus, His love, the hope of a future and the promises that come at the birth of Jesus. Christmas takes on a greater meaning and importance knowing Jesus. Isaiah foretold the coming Christ-child who would be born 700 years later, but described Him as “…Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Through different writers in the Bible, Jesus was also called: Immanuel, Messiah, Saviour, Good Shepherd, Bread of Life and in the passage above Jesus describes Himself as, “…the Light of the World.” To unpack each of these descriptions would make this devotion pages longer, but what we do need to know is that this little baby sent by God planned this from the beginning of time for the world’s salvation.
Jesus is God’s Son who was sent into the world to bring light to people’s lives in giving them the promise of an eternal future. Tonight, as you celebrate with family, make sharing with them the promised Saviour of the world a part of your celebrations. If you cannot go to celebrate with the local congregation, have your own little service by reading the story of the birth of Jesus from a Bible, maybe a child’s Bible.
Set up a nativity display and have the children make the scene as it is being read. Play a few Christmas carols and sing them as a family (perhaps some can play them on instruments). Light candles and share how God’s light has come into the world through Jesus. With Jesus there is no darkness! Prayer: My Saviour Jesus, the Light of the World, enter my heart this night and help me to share with family and friends the promise given with the birth of Jesus. You are my light and my life. Amen.
Living in the Light 4th Tuesday in Advent Read: John 3:16-21 “Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” John 3:21 (NIV-UK)
On a cold day, a hot cup of Milo warms the body and in summer on a hot day, a cold glass of milk and Milo goes down well. How many of you have eaten Milo by just taking spoonfuls out of the tin? I developed quite a taste for the dry Milo when I was a child. So, I used to sneak into the kitchen and fill a glass with the dry Milo and then go and hide under my sister’s couch in her room.
Looking back now, I am sure my mother knew that someone was eating the Milo, but she never commented. But one day I confessed to my mum what I had been doing. She didn’t growl or scold but gave me a hug and said if I wanted some don’t go and hide, just eat it at the table. I never did take any more! Even as a small child I knew I was doing wrong and went and hid. There were other people in the Bible who also went and hid when they did wrong: Adam & Eve, Jonah and Elijah. Adam and Eve hid in the garden, Jonah got on a ship to sail away from God, and Elijah went and hid in a cave.
Do we really think that our hiding is getting away from God? I know that God saw me hiding under the couch, but He convicted me to bring my wrong into the light and I was forgiven. God doesn’t want us to hide from Him, but to do everything in the light. Things that we do that are right and good in God’s eyes brings glory to God. Do your work colleagues, neighbours, friends, know that you are a Christian and like to go to church? Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, be open, share the Good News of the coming Saviour of the world and invite others to join you in worship.
You may be surprised at the reactions and maybe someone will want to join you. Be open, be bold, live in God’s Light! Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to me this Christmas and helping me be a light to those around me. Let my Christian light shine out brightly that others may be attracted to it. Amen.
God’s Chemical Reaction 4th Monday in Advent Read: John 1:1-9 “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” John 1:9 (NIV-UK)
A chemistry professor at a major university tells the story of a young girl who wished to make some potassium hydroxide solution. She decided to throw a large lump of potassium into a bucket of water. The professor, glancing in her direction, saw what she was about to do and hurried towards her. “What are you doing?” he asked. She explained, and then he told her to stir the water in the bucket for five minutes before adding the potassium. “Professor,” she asked with a questioning tone, “why stir the water and why must I do it for five minutes?” The professor replied, “It will give me time to get out of the building.” Some people can anticipate an event without knowing what will happen, others with knowledge can know what is coming and react accordingly.
The same is true with the coming of Jesus at Christmas. It had been foretold throughout the Old Testament that God would be sending a Saviour, a Messiah to bring peace and love to the world. Still when Jesus did come, many did not believe. Jesus had come at Christmas to be the Light of the World. On that night in Bethlehem, God sent His light into the world to shine into the hearts of all people.
We learn from the Bible reading that Jesus was the true light. If you put the word ‘Jesus’ wherever ‘Word’ is written in verses 1-5 of John 1… we read that Jesus had been since the very beginning with God. God had planned that Jesus come as a human to bring light and forgiveness to the lives of the human beings God had created. God knew from the beginning the ‘chemical reaction’ that would occur within the Jewish society of the time. He knew that Jesus would rock the world and cause disruption to people’s lives. Does Jesus cause disruption or peace to your life?
May the Christ-child bring you peace and love this Christmas. Allow Jesus to disrupt your life with His presence and light! Prayer: Dear Jesus, your light comes into my life at Christmas to show me the need for a Saviour. Shine your light into all the dark places in my life and show me how I can serve you. Amen