God With Us

We enter this sacred season of Advent with open hearts to the mystery and wonder of God's love. These days of waiting and longing are holy days. The promise of God is Emmanuel - God is with us. In the hurt and loss, God is with us. In the grief and pain, God is with us. In the anticipation of a new day, God is with us. May you know God with you in this holy season.

Christy Nockel's song, Advent Hymn, is a beautiful anthem for this season. May its words be the prayer of our hearts as we enter this first week of Advent, and may we wait in hope.

Christ whose glory fills the skies

Christ the Everlasting Light

Son of Righteousness arise

And triumph o'er these shades of night

Come Thou long-awaited one

In the fullness of Your Love

And loose this heart bound up by shame

And I will never be the same

So here I wait in hope of You

Oh my soul's longing through and through

Dayspring from on high be near

And daystar in my heart appear

Dark and cheerless is the morn

Until Your love in me is born

And joyless is the evening sun

Until Emmanuel has come

So here I wait in hope of You

Oh my soul's longing through and through

Dayspring from on high be near

And daystar in my heart appear

So here I wait in hope of You

Oh my soul's longing through and through

Dayspring from on high be near

And daystar in my heart appear

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNuY6I4OtoE

Listen

Listen to the voice.

Sometimes it comes in whispers that swirl around you

like leaves blowing in the autumn wind.

Sometimes it comes in power and knocks you off balance

like waters swirling in a mighty river.

Either way, it will come,

if you are still enough to listen

Listen to the voice.

It calls for you.

It calls to you.

You can trust its message,

for the message is love,

and the messenger is Love.

The voice is leading you in the way of goodness and truth.

The voice will not fail you or lead you astray.

Sit in stillness.

Open your heart.

Silence your mind,

and wait.

The voice will speak.

Listen.

Breathe

Gratitude fills my heart as I reflect on the opportunity I had to step away from my everyday routine to breathe for a few days. I mean to really breathe...to breathe in the salt air...to breathe in the fellowship of some fabulous women...to breathe in the holy presence of God.

There were times in the weekend when I was broken open by my grief. At other points, there was deep laughter and joy as I broke bread with lifetime friends and new friends. In every space, God was there breathing with me and in me.

I continue to take deep breathes as I face the challenges of these days. To just sit and breathe is a blessing and a prayer.

Breathe on me, Breath of God.

Fill me with life anew,

That I may love the way you love,

And do what you would do.

(Edwin Hatch)