12/12/2019
The words of the Advent wreath...Peace, Hope, Joy and Love. Isn’t that what all of us want or our lives? If we had those, could we feel like we had it all? I thought that I would spend my midweek blog for the next 4 weeks of December reflecting each week on one aspect.
Let’s light the candle of peace…
Peace too often is a word or concept of the absence of conflict or troubles. I believe that we seek much more than that when we ask for peace.
I believe that what we really desire is Shalom-peace. Shalom speaks to having harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity and tranquility. Is that what you desire? I know that is what I am asking for when I seek peace in my life...in my soul.
I don’t believe that shalom is humanly created or accomplished by us. I believe that this kind of shalom comes when we have a right relationship with God. I believe that this is a gift of the Holy Spirit and that we can only realize and receive this gift when we have that relationship with God. What does it take for this kind of relationship? A stillness...an openness...an availability.
So during this crazy season of parties, shopping and decorating...if you want peace, shalom peace, remember to take time to be available, to be open and to be still.
I know that this hymn is a very old hymn for in fact it is as was written by Frances Ridley Havergal in the 1800’s but I can’t help but feel the poetic words beautifully describe shalom peace as I believe we desire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhLti2q0lCo
May your life be filled with peace, shalom, this Advent season. Pastor Patti
Archived Posts
What just missed the cut for Sunday’s Sermon
Naaman’s servants may actually become one of the hidden gems of the sermon. They say, essentially: “If the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it.”
One of the Longest Benedictions I Ran Out of Time to Share
Maybe you know the story of how Joseph and Mary accidentally left Jesus at the gas station on their way home from Jerusalem. Well, not the gas station bathroom in Jesus’ case. Joe and Mary are far down the road before they realize Jesus isn’t with them...
So many quips and quotes...
So little time to preach
I wonder what Mary and Martha’s phones might look like:
* Martha = the open browser with 27 tabs
* Mary = the single window that matters
* Psalm 46 = God saying, “Close the tabs.”
Quotable Outtakes That Didn’t Make the Sermon This Week
“When you try to control everything, you don’t just exhaust yourself—you quietly replace trust in God with trust in you.” & more
There is a challenge when it comes to preaching the Word of God.
Preachers are called to open up and interpret the word—inspired and written down thousands of years ago—and make it relevant to a very different world. On top of that there’s a degree of persuasion that goes along with the process.
What Jessica Really Meant to Say in Her Sermon…
When Jessica or Rick or a guest preacher takes the pulpit it’s hard for me to write a One More Thing Blog. I can’t share with you what didn’t make it into the sermon because I have no idea, not having written or delivered it.
Jesus Keeps On Ruining Funerals!
I didn’t have anything this last week that didn’t end up in the sermon. No catchy illustrations that didn’t make the cut. No theological insights that slowed down the main point. No one can ruin a funeral like Jesus. Told as I saw it and that was it. So I did some quick research and I thought I’d share just a reminder of what Easter is all about.