Tag Archives: Advent

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Daniel 2

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King born in a manger.  "Blessed be the name of God, forever and ever. He knows all, does all: He changes the seasons and guides history, He raises up kings and also brings them down, he provides both intelligence and discernment…." Daniel 2:20-21 (MSG)

This is the time of year when all of the media outlets come up with their "Top 10" lists from the previous year. It's interesting to look back, but it can also get kind of depressing for me. There's so much craziness in the world on so many levels. I don't need a recap of the death, tragedy and scandals – thank you very much.

As I watch the daily news, I have to remind myself that God is guiding history. It sometimes takes conscious effort to recall that God "raises kings and brings them down." It is so easy to get discouraged and fatalistic.

I was reminded again in todays chapter of the season of Advent we are in. David reminds King Nebuchadnezzer that throughout the earthly kingdoms God will be "building a kingdom that will never be destroyed." Advent is the season of expectant anticipation of the coming of the King of Kings. Advent culminates at Christmas, the celebration of the birth of the "Prince of Peace" who came to establish God's Kingdom work on Earth.

Even so, come quickly King Jesus.
 

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and mtsofan

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Micah 2

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The search of the Magi.  If someone showed up with a good smile and glib tongue and told lies from morning to night—
'I'll preach sermons that will tell you how you can get anything you want from God:More money, the best wines…you name it'— you'd hire him on the spot as your preacher! Micah 2:11 (MSG)

I was on a business trip this week and spent a few late evenings flipping through the television channels. Channel surfing drives my wife crazy, so when I'm on the road I like to overindulge myself in an all out surf fest. I found it interesting the divergent slants the different news channels had on the same events. It didn't shock me. It was just another reminder that we all like to listen to people who agree with our point-of-view.

The more things change the more they stay the same. The prophet Micah was complaining about the same thing about 2700 years ago. We want to be told what we want to hear and will often go out of our way to make sure we hear it.

In this Advent season, I'm thinking about the Magi who sought out the Christ-child. Perhaps what made them "wise men" was not their position but their desire to ask, to seek, to knock. I pray that I may continually search for that which is True rather than that which is merely comfortable.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and Sacred Destinations

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Micah 1

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Advent candles are lit.  Look! The LORD is coming from his dwelling place; he comes down and treads the high places of the earth. Micah 1:3 (MSG)

Christmas draws near. You can't escape it. I'm travelling on business this week and across from my hotel is a used car lot roughly the size of the island nation of Grenada. The car lot is blasting Christmas music so that you can hear it in your car from across the street even when you have your radio on. 

Before Christmas was about decorations, reindeer, shopping, and eating it was called the season of Advent (from the Latin word "coming"). It wasn't a day, but a period of time leading to Christmas in which people prepared their hearts for Jesus' coming. It was an annual time of personal reflection that culminated in a celebration of God sending His Son to reconcile a broken people to Himself.

I've been thinking a lot about Advent this year. Perhaps that's why the verse above jumped off the page at me. As time goes on, I find that I'm seeking more than superficial holiday traditions. I'm searching within and looking out for the coming of Christ in my life, my family, and my community in new and powerful ways

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and  Steffe.