Presents or Presence

My grandson was trying to negotiate with his mother about when Santa would come and he could open presents.  He had faith and trust that there would be wonderful gifts waiting for him on Christmas morning.  If only he could make it come sooner.  Truly a child's way of thinking!

But is it really?  Don't we all want our gifts to come as soon as possible?  Isn't it really hard to wait?

And what about those presents.  Is that what we celebrate?  Or is it the real presence of God.  Emmanuel! God with us!  That is a real cause for celebration.  He is present!  God came to earth to live among His people!

Do we buy presents to show our love or do we give real presence to those that we truly love!

As we approach the new year, I hope to be able to be more present to those I love and to remember that God is always present.  He is in this world and the entire world is in Him.  Each and every creature on the earth shows that God is present.  Do you see?  Can you feel it?

We often get caught up in our fears about tomorrow and our regrets about yesterday, but all we have is this moment in time.  That is our present.  

Can we be aware of God in this moment?  One of my spiritual practices is to take time periodically throughout the day to reflect on what has happened over the past few hours and to try to see where God was present in those moments or events.  It's one way for me to keep spiritually connected to God throughout the day. Noticing the sacred in the everyday ordinary.

Being grateful for His presence.  He has given us His Spirit to help us become more like Him!

Living in His grace!

Watch and Prepare

As the Advent season draws to an end it has been a wonderful time for reflection on self, the state of our world and the greatest gift that has ever been given since creation.  The themes this season center around watching and waiting.  I have been especially tuned into those little miracles that God reveals to us in our everyday lives if we are awake to observe them.  

One of the recent lessons is the parable of the bridesmaids waiting for the groom.  Some took extra oil for their lamps and others didn't.  After waiting and watching for the bridegroom to arrive, those who were not prepared had to fetch more oil and missed the celebration.  How many people have been preparing so diligently for the Christmas season that they have missed the real opportunity for celebration?  How many have begun by preparing their hearts and minds through prayer and meditation to receive the gift that keeps on giving?

In a meditation on 2 Corinthians 8, we find Paul writing about the Macedonians: And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. ² In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. ³ For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, ⁴ they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. ⁵ And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

The Macedonians were a very poor people and in their severe trials and extreme poverty they felt overflowing joy.  How was this possible?  As it says in the first verse, they were open to receive the grace of God.  The grace of God created overflowing joy and that joy then overshadowed the severe trials and extreme poverty resulting in rich generosity.  Not only of money but also of love and compassion. 

That is what is in store for us.  If we prepare our hearts to receive God's grace, we too can have overflowing joy in the midst of our spiritual poverty being ever willing to share the love and compassion of Christ with all people of this earth.

Peace and Grace to all at Christmas!