Today’s Reflection
When we acknowledge God’s abiding presence over our mortality, we enter the timelessness of God—the One who has brought all things into existence and stands over and above time itself.
Thinking about such imponderable matters gives us patience, fortitude, and—ultimately—faith. We cannot give ourselves eternal life. We cannot give ourselves another day of life. We do not create our own experiences. All of these are gifts of God.
Today, as you ponder how far you have come and the dangers and trials that you have been spared, give thanks. Our lives are gathered up—have already been gathered up—into the timelessness of Eternal God. Thanks be to God.
—Todd Outcalt, Let Us Go Now to Bethlehem: Daily Devotions for Advent and Christmas (Upper Room Books, 2020)
Today’s Question
How can you show your gratitude for God’s timeless care in your life? Join the conversation.
Today’s Scripture
Don’t let it escape your notice, dear friends, that with the Lord a single day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a single day.
—2 Peter 3:8 (CEB)
Prayer for the Week
God, the One who has brought all things into existence, I welcome the lessons and love—expected and unexpected—you will bring today.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
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Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
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5 Comments
Stay in relationship with God, acknowledging God’s love, being God’s hands and feet, following the two greatest commandments, allowing God to work through me. Thank You, Lord. I do think we create some of our experiences, problems and successes. God is there with us in every situation either trying to help us get back on track or smiling when we do things right. That’s a blessing.
Down to 10 this morning, it will go up to 30 with sunshine. Have to check the ski report, it may be a day to go.
Making good progress with photos of my finished model . It’s northbound to Montreal in front of East Swanton station. 68 years since its last run I finally get to see what I could have seen if I had been at the station.
Continued prayers for the NEM. family as we draw closer to Christmas Eve. Safety, health, wellbeing, and resolutions to problems along with Thanksgiving for blessings and joys. Thank You, Lord.
By returning to church and becoming a member of this new congregation. I hope this is pleasing to God and a way of showing my gratitude for and hope in his care.
I have been applying to a flurry of jobs via Ziprecruiter and am hopeful. I will also speak to my church friend on Sunday regarding the customer service job. Please keep praying for me regarding a job with good benefits. Also the day of mediation draws near and I am terrified!
Prayers for Ally’s disability application approval, for David to recover from his fall and for Jeremy to come home today. Prayers for Jill as she worries about Larry and Roger, for Larry’s anxiety to abate and for Roger’s diabetes to be brought under control. Prayers for Robert’s church laity and for Erich to take responsibity for his future. Prayers for blessings for Marti and her staff.
Thank you for your prayers and may God bless all who visit here.
Yes- God sees us through – when we see no way – He sees us through. Thanks be to God. Love God and love our neighbor -always strive to do what is pleasing to God. We are not perfect but we try every day. Thank you God for watching over us and blessing us with your great mercy. Blessings and peace to all today.
Love and giving thanks for God’s gifts seems to be what God wants me to focus on today. A Catholic friend suggested a prayer she plays for financial help, which begins by telling the Lord what we are thankful for and giving praise God’s good gifts. I can also show my thanks through worship and participating in the life of
the church and its ministries. Most of all, I can love because God first loved us.
Jeremy is doing well and comes home today. Pray we can figure out a way to pay the bill and that we can pay for the surgery he will need eventually. Pray also for this disability process. I talked with my attorney, who said that process is taking longer due to disorganization that has developed within the Social Security Administration over last few years. David is getting around better today. Praising God for that as well.
Julie, I am believing for you a great job with good benefits. Praying for the mediation as well and that you feel the Lord’s presence in this process.
Robert, prayers continue for you and Erich as you seek appropriate housing and for Erich’s future. I like to hear about your weather. Temps in the 70s forecast for our part of Georgia. Too warm for December. Jill, praying for little Roger and restoration of his health. I know the is a sweet, good boy. Praying also for a good offer on Larry’s condo and for the move to Florida. Lou, in agreement with your prayer. Lord, thank You for your gifts, especially for Jesus, whom You sent because we needed a Savior. Blessings to all as we wait and hope.
P.S. our water is off due to broken main. Please pray it is fixed soon!
A humble, grateful attitude, consistently carried and evident each day, each moment. Caring for those God brings to mind and for those deeply embedded in my life – trying to follow the model of God’s faithfulness and lovingkindness.
Some pretty cold mornings for running, but grateful for no wind. I feel like almost any temperature is tolerable as long as there is no wind.
My last class of the afternoon – I was working out a very involved problem – it took up the entire whiteboard. I knew something was amiss, took a moment to look back over my work, but couldn’t find my mistake. My students didn’t see it anyway. So I plowed ahead with an uneasy feeling. Again, I doubled back – and sure enough, in the second step – I had a positive sign, when it should have been a negative sign. Ugh – so frustrating. A teachable moment, but still kicking myself. Guess it is time to slide into exam week. Tomorrow – my two classes have quizzes – so the slide has begun.
I have a zoom Advent thing this evening, led by my former spiritual director. It runs until 8:30, so I am not wild about that – but it will be good to listen to what she shares.
Ally – so glad you will get little Jeremy back in his environment. Good for all three of you. Julie – praying for the right opportunity to present itself in terms of a job. Ally – also praying for the disability case. Robert – being so far north – is it taboo to “make” snow for the resorts? I know fresh powder is preferred.
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