Wisdom Educational Ministries, Inc. - Weekly Apple
”Behold, I make all things new.”
Rev. 21:5
God, it is a brand new year and I am full of promises.
Advent waiting is over and I am ready for something new,
ready for your promises to hurry up and get started now.
I’ve been patient, at least as patient as I could be –
I am ready for your Epiphany, for my Epiphany –
I am ready for your promises to manifest and show themselves.
I am tired of hide and seek.
I am itching to get going.
I desire to move.
I am asking sacred questions and I am pondering ancient texts.
You are waiting.
Some Wisdom to Share:
There are some important decisions that have to be made. Some of them may change the course of your life. But – they don’t all have to be made today.
Wait.
Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. Others were gone, but you can probably find them again on Facebook.
Plan a trip down memory lane. Asking someone else who you were “back then” is usually pleasant and insightful.
The Fourth Sunday in Advent
Apparently, I am not a citizen of the United States.
Down south, we would say, “You ain’t from around here, are ya?”
This past week, I found out my drivers license had expired, and set out to correct this. But when I arrived at the renewal office, I was told they could not renew my license because I am not actually a citizen of the United States.
This was a big surprise, needless to say.
The Third Sunday in Advent
This past week or so has been a complicated schedule at the Diamond house. Hardly have I known which hat to put on next!
I was sitting at the kitchen table one day recently and my son Taylor asked what was wrong. I said, “Oh honey, life is just complicated. I have a lot on my mind.” He replied, “Well Mom, God never said life would be easy.” Surprised, I asked, “Where did you hear that?” He smiled and said, “I read it on a bookmark.”
The Second Sunday in Advent
Matthew 2
13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’ 14Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.’
The First Sunday in Advent
Whew.
Thanksgiving is over, the plates are put away, and for some of us the Christmas trees are already out. Almost before you can finish your turkey, we are thrust into Advent, this holy and precious waiting time in the church.
I love Advent, but I do not love waiting. It always reminds me of Dr. Suess’ book All the Places You’ll Go, where he describes The Waiting Place:
…for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
Or a bus to come, or a plane to go
Or the mail to come, or the rain to go
A prayer of thanksgiving.
God, I am grateful this week for a time set aside to give thanks.
It reminds me of how often we forget to say it.
I look around me at the good things that surround me,
and I realize how easy it is to not see them,
or not always see them as good.
It is easy to take things and people for granted.
Thank you for the fall, and falling leaves,
for pumpkins on doorsteps and scarecrows about,
for good things to eat and a table to sit around.
Thank you for warm coats and soft gloves and
bright shiny eyes and pink cheeks.
Thank you for lip balm.
Recently, my friend James and I were having a serious conversation. At one point, James said something like, “Well, you are just seeking a blessing.” I may not have the quote just right, but this made a thoughtful impact on me. I knew he was right, and it helped give me space to think differently about the situation.
God, there are sometimes when things get broken
and all the pieces are thrown about
and life feels more like a cyclone than a haven.
During these times, God, I am not really sure of you or of me.
I keep listening for your still small voice
but instead I just feel still and small.
I am most aware in the brokenness of my own fractured spirit -
and I feel I cannot follow you in a way that makes
any
real difference in this world.
I don’t like the brokenness and I don’t like the mess.
Is it possible to lose you?
Because I feel lost.
What can you do about that?
When I was in middle school, I attended a church where I was visiting with a friend. I remember going to Sunday School and then hanging out during church in the education rooms, although I cannot remember why; there seemed to be a load of people down there for it to be the worship hour. At one point, my friend came running through with slips of paper and was highly animated. “Mark NO on as many of these as you can,” she told everyone. “We want to vote our pastor out!”
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