Today’s Reflection
Take a deep breath in, then exhale slowly. With that breath, you just connected with the divine spark that is within you! It’s easy to lose touch and get swept up by the season and forget the breath of life that God has placed inside each of us. So many of us have lost touch with our bodies, with who we were created to be. But no more! Today, you can embrace the challenge and the opportunity of being fully present for Advent as we prepare with anticipation for the birth of Christ, of God being made human.
—Whitney R. Simpson, Fully Human, Fully Divine: An Advent Devotional for the Whole Self (Upper Room Books, 2022)
Today’s Question
How does breathing help you connect with God? Join the conversation.
Today’s Scripture
The Spirit of God has made me;
the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
—Job 33:4 (NIV)
Prayer for the Week
Creator God, thank you for creating my whole self. Help me
to continue to slow down and hope, be mindful and present,
and use my body to draw closer to you on the journey this
Advent. Make me a wise one who seeks you always. Amen.
Prayer by Whitney R. Simpson
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
Are you enjoying this week’s reflections? It’s not too late to join us for Fully Human, Fully Divine: An Embodied Advent Online Experience. In this season, we are challenged to live in the “right here, right now” as we await the birth of Christ—the embodiment of God’s presence. Register today here.
Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.
3 Comments
From the moment we enter this world, the first activity we make is to cry, then breathe. I’m not sure of the details, but know that for my first ten days breathing was a problem. I had pneumonia.
Air is like the spirit, life giving and unseen, but its presence is recognizable, we are aware of it and know we need it. Hopefully that is the same for our relationship with God.
CCUMC is making the transition from a local pastor to a lay pastor in training supported by a mentor and a coordinating pastor. Most of us never thought we’d experience anything like this, but it is happening, Thank You, Lord. Prayers for John and Lisa Reiss dealing with liver failure and for Finn trying to recover from heart surgery.
A busy first week of Advent with a study, fellowship, the Nativity Scene/Cookie Walk, and Communion.
Prayers for NEM during this time of patient waiting and preparation. Thank You, Lord
I like that line about God breathing his breath into us and thus giving us life. He is in us and without him in us we do not live. His breath is our soul but also without breath we do not live.
Today I am making ten dozen cookies for my church’s cookie walk. I got out my new Advent wreath and candles and set them up. So far although curious, the kittens have not bothered the display. I sent the same wreath with different candles to my mom and she really liked it. My therapist is helping me with a discussion I need to have with Megan. Megan has given a down payment to a breeder for a dog. She intends to pick it up next month. I vehemently oppose her getting a dog and discussiing it rationally has gotten nowhere. When Megan is determined nothing can stop her. But the end of December is coming quickly and I need to act.
On the way to school this morning – “It’s Your breath in our lungs…Great are You Lord” song came on. That song has always resonated with me – and I treasured it this morning as I approached school. He is responsible for each breath, for me rising in the morning and sustaining me. Thank You, God.
I am not sure where November went – but it sure was fast. I think the kittens have something to do with that.
Now about three weeks to go until winter break. I have begun getting things together to make up my exams. I will have the morning tomorrow to work on this, as well as some time Thursday evening during conferences, as I don’t suspect to see an overabundance of parents.
Off to my god son’s basketball game this evening. It is a tough team, could be starting off the season 0-2. He has gotten bopped on the nose twice in the past week and has been having frequent nosebleeds. My friend is a bit concerned about this being an issue this evening.
Add Comment