Experiencing Rest

December is a busy month. Parties, shopping, Christmas cards, kids’ activities, travel, and everyday normal stuff. God didn’t come to the world so that we would be busy, distracted, and tried. God came to the world so that we could be focused and rested.

God Says

And Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. –Mark 2:27

Something to Think About

God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day. Humans are created in God’s image and are in a continuing process of being restored into God’s image. Sabbath is part of what restores humans to God’s image. Sabbath is the refusal to let one’s life be defined by consumption and production. It is making space for God and others and self. Learning that you don’t have to do to be. And accepting the grace of doing nothing. It is taking some time each day, each week, and each year to trust that we can do more with God than we can without God.

Individual or Family Activity

Spend focused time with God and / or loved ones. Be intentional. Eliminate your access to distractions. Disconnect from the world and connect to God and / or loved ones.

Individual or Family Prayer

Dear God,

Let this day be comprised of moments that

Sustain rather than stress

Fill-up rather than empty

Restore rather than weaken

Set me free from habits that disconnect me from You and others

        Too much attention to unimportant things

A calendar that is too full

Constant distractions

Let me come to You and embrace Your rest for my soul

For things that waste my time let me release

For a life that is too busy let me cease

For time filled with interruptions and diversions give me peace

In my life of stress let me experience your lifeline of grace

Replenish my body and my relationships

Renew my mind and my attitude

Restore my soul

Amen.

Looking Like God

People most look like God when we serve, when we give, and when we forgive. Yesterday we experienced God’s forgiveness. Today we give it to others.

God Says

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. –Ephesians 4:32

Something to Think About

Paul urges the Ephesian Christians to be forgiving. Paul understands forgiveness. He experienced it. His past was anything but perfect, but God’s grace was greater than his sin (Romans 5:20). He experienced the power of forgiving others. Forgiveness is not primarily for the offending party, but ultimately a gift to the offended. Ropes of resentment are released and bonds of bitterness are broken. It is the offer of a gift to another and we are the primary beneficiaries. And, when the forgiven becomes forgiving, humans move a step closer to being restored into God’s image which itself is quite a splendid gift.

Individual or Family Activity

Individual – Think of a person you need to forgive. Dream about how God might bless you if you were able to practice forgiveness. Spend a moment and pray about what the next step of forgiveness might look like for you.

Family – Talk about forgiveness. What are some of the benefits? What are some of the challenges? How would forgiving others and / or forgiving each other help your family?

Individual or Family Prayer

Dear God,

You have come to the world so that I may have abundant life.

You have died so that I may experience the forgiveness of sins.

Your sacrifice is absolute and complete.

Grant me the wisdom to forgive others as You have forgiven me.

Remove my feelings of bitterness and resentment.

Help me close some chapters of life so that I can write new ones.

May I reflect Your love to others.

May I forgive as I have been forgiven.

May I look more and more like You everyday.

Amen.

The Unopened Present

Imagine the presents remaining under the tree, unopened, the day after Christmas. The tree is eventually taken down. The unopened boxes and bags are moved to the corner of the family room—visible, but unopened. 

God Says 

Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” –Matthew 26:27-28

Something to Think About 

God offers forgiveness. Nothing we have done is too bad that we ever find ourselves beyond the reach of God’s love and grace. God is willing to forgive—the challenge is accepting God’s forgiveness. Christ came to save the world from our sin. Forgiveness is God’s Christmas gift to us. But for many, the box remains unopened: under the tree, tucked away in the corner of the room, or stuffed in the closet. Still available and most likely visible—but unopened.

Individual or Family Activity 

Write some of your sins on a sheet of paper. Read the sins and then destroy the paper. Shred it. Burn it. Tear it apart. On a new sheet of paper write down some of your hopes and dreams. Keep that sheet of paper and refer back to it.

Individual or Family Prayer 

Dear God, 

My trespasses are many. 

People I have hurt.
Opportunities I have missed.
Shortcuts I have taken.
Times I have distanced myself from You.

My sins continue.
Mornings of jealousy and nights of envy.
Craving and consuming people, places, and things.
Poor responses to anger and annoyances.
Avoidance of doing Your work. 

I fall short of who I want to be.
My thoughts are impure.
My words can be harsh and careless.
My deeds are not always loving and life giving.
I have habits that damage me and others.

Yet You forgive.
You delight in giving mercy.
You rescue me from the dominion of darkness.
I turn to You and You refresh me.
You make me a new creation and let me begin again.

And You keep forgiving.
You purify me and make me as white as snow.
You cast my sins to the depths of the sea.
You remove my transgressions as far as the east is from the west.
You remember my failures no more.

Let me open and keep opening this gift of forgiveness.
Help me respond to Your grace.
Enable me to experience Your freedom.
Make it possible for me to forgive myself.
Draw me closer to You so that I am free from sin.

Amen.

Re-Gifting

Re-gifting is not usually a good practice. We give to another what somebody else has given to us usually because we don’t want the gift we receive. Unlike a shirt or a pan or a fruitcake, God’s gift of Jesus is unlimited. We can give Jesus away and not have any less of Jesus ourselves. In fact, we’ll probably have more of Jesus ourselves.

God Says 

The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?” So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. –Acts 8:34-35 

Something to Think About 

Phillip had earned credibility and goodwill with the Ethiopian Eunuch. The Eunuch was now asking Phillip questions. He trusted Phillip. At the right time, Phillip invited the Eunuch to follow Jesus. The Bible is full of invitations. Specifically, God’s invitation to humanity to accept His love, power, and grace. Jesus was prolific at inviting. He said things like: “Come and follow me” and “Go and tell”.

Individual or Family Activity 

Make a list of people you are going to invite to worship at The Water’s Edge during one of our Christmas Eve worship experiences or to come to the Children’s Christmas Musical. Pray about ways you can invite them to experience God’s love through Christ this Christmas. Make a plan to start making the invitations. 

Individual or Family Prayer 

Dear God, 

Your grace has drawn me in.
You have put people in my path who have invested in me.
You have called people to invite me to know and experience You.
You have included me in Your Kingdom. 

Let me experience Your Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. 

I also want to be a vessel of Your grace.
Help me as I invest my life in others.
Bless me with the patience and compassion to actively listen.
May I be a person who has earned the goodwill to be respected and heard by others.
Give me the pure motives of empathy and love. 

Help me make the right invitations at the right time to the right people. 

May my invitations be signals of Your unlimited grace. 

Equip me to lead others into Your family and Your Kingdom.
As You have included me—give me the heart to be inclusive of others.
Prepare me and inspire me to give Your grace to others. 

Amen.

Sharing God's Hope

In the last two days we have experienced that God is the source of hope and God’s hope can overflow in our lives. Today we look at sharing God’s hope with others.

God Says 

The hope of the righteous brings joy. –Proverbs 10:28

Something to Think About 

God has used people to give hope to others throughout history. David’s Psalms gave hope to a nation. Ruth’s comforting words to Naomi gave Naomi hope. Paul’s letters gave hope to early Christians. Jesus gave hope to the sick, the hurting, and to sinners. God’s hope that lives in you will bring joy to others. You can follow in the rich tradition of God-followers by offering hope to the world. 

Individual or Family Activity 

Think of a person. Maybe somebody you love. Maybe somebody you know is going through a difficult situation. Intentionally and specifically encourage them. Have a conversation. Write them a letter. Offer them the same hope that God offers you. 

Individual or Family Prayer 

Dear God, 

You give me hope. 

You give me hope that overflows. 

As I have received—teach and inspire me to give. 

Help me share Your hope with Your world. 

Place people in my way I can encourage. 

Let me be mindful of people in my life I can support. 

You are the hope of the world! 

May others see and experience Your hope in my life! 

Amen.

God's Overflowing Hope

We live in an imperfect world. Your life will not be an exception to the world’s brokenness. A primary aim of life is not avoiding the inevitable, but dealing with despair and discouragement in helpful, healthy, and hopeful ways. 

God Says 

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. –Romans 15:13

Something to Think About 

Trusting in God will fill us with joy and peace. Trusting in God also overflows us with hope. We live in a world that can be very tough. Disease, dysfunction, despair, and death are all real. But God heals and God saves. Having hope is one of the most significant attributes of life. It provides people with a vision, energy, and courage to take the next step.

Individual or Family Activity 

Take an empty glass. Imagine this as a life empty of hope. Slowly fill the glass with water until it overflows. Pray about God doing this in your life. Ask God what are some specific next steps you can take over the next twenty-five days so that some of your hopes can begin to be filled and eventually overflowing.

 

Individual or Family Prayer

Dear God, 

I come before you in need of hope. 

I come in need of more hope. 

I feel helpless at times.
Sometimes I am afraid. Sometimes I am weak. 

Give me hope. 

Give me more hope. 

I need hope for a better life.
I need hope for a better future.
I need hope for kindness, compassion, and love.

I observe the sky is darkest just before the new day breaks.
I pray this is true for me as it seems pretty dark right now.

Bless me with Your light which is my hope.
In every way.
In all ways.

Teach me that You are bigger than my problems.
Remind me that You have overcome the world.
Help me to walk in Your light and live my life trusting and hoping in You.

Amen.

God's Gift of Hope

The world may present evidence to the contrary that hope is nothing more than a dream or a fantasy. But without hope, things like anguish and dejection become overwhelming and permanent. Jesus is the hope of the world. Christ walked here and walks here still. He still heals and he still saves us from the world, from others, and from ourselves.

God Says 

And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you. –Psalm 39:7

Something to Think About 

Where do you put your hope? Do you put it in perceived security? In your own energy and resources? In other people? None of these are bad. But, eventually we all will fail. And, ultimately we all will fail. God is our true and ultimate source of hope. 

I place no hope in my strength, nor in my works: but all my confidence is in God my protector, who never abandons those who have put all their hope and thought in Him.
 -Francois Rabelais 

Individual or Family Activity 

Write a short letter to God. Thank God for being your hope. Share with God some of your hopes. 

Individual or Family Prayer – A Prayer for Hope 

Dear God, 

Faith is waiting and waiting is faith. 

I wait impatiently and I wait patiently. 

Like a pregnant woman waiting for new birth 

Like a captive waiting for freedom 

I hope and my hope is in you 

I have faith my present struggles are not permanent 

I have faith your vision for my tomorrow is better than my present reality 

I have faith my struggles today will make me stronger tomorrow 

Like a person lost at night unable to see a faint flicker of light
I keep stumbling through the night because I believe
Somewhere and sometime the morning will come 

Help me be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Help me trust in You that I will find new strength
I will soar high like an eagle
I will run and not grow weary. 

Let me know you are with me as I faithfully wait with hope. 

Amen.