Simply Soul Searching

WEEK FOUR: PEACE IN THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY

The Light of our Countenance

John 8:12 (NRSV)

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

Psalm 34:5 (NRSV)

Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.

Jesus has come. The Dawn of Light is fully shining on us. And Jesus is telling us that if we follow him, if we follow this Dawn of Light, we will never walk in darkness. I hope these Advent reflections have reminded us how true this is! Jesus provides hope, love, joy and peace in all circumstances. Jesus is our Helper, our Comforter, our Teacher, our Guide, our Redeemer, our Friend. We have abundant life for all eternity.

This Good News is meant to be shared! This Good News is a gift for everyone! How might we serve as witnesses of Christ? One of the ways is to walk among others with this “light of life.” This is the witness of our countenances; how we present ourselves to others. When we walk in peace during troubled times, trusting in the One who holds us and keeps us… when we walk in peace during times of turmoil as gentle, unwavering presences…. when we walk in peace among those who would scorn us as unashamed people of integrity… we will be true witnesses of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

In following the light of the world, Jesus’ light not only will fill us and guide us, but it will reflect on us to shine upon others. We follow and we look to him, and we become radiant. This is our visible witness that the Dawn of Light has fully come, and we will walk in peace forever.

God’s peace shines through our countenance as we follow Jesus.

Numbers 6:24-26 (NRSV)

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

WEEK FOUR: PEACE IN THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY

The Light of a Searchlight

Psalm 139:1-2,7,11-12 (NRSV)

O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away.

Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light around me become night,”
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

In the times when I feel as if I have disappointed God- when I know that I have not been as loving or kind, as selfless or gentle, or as gracious and humble as God would like- I feel far away from God. It’s as if I am trying to avoid God until I do enough ‘good’ to be back in God’s good graces! But God knows what I have done, even if I don’t admit or confess it. Like a searchlight, God seeks me out, even if I try to avoid or hide from God.

Jesus, as our Dawn of Light, assures us that we are forgiven. This is why our confession brings peace. We are not telling God anything God doesn’t already know- and has shown us through Jesus that we are already forgiven- but we clear our hearts as we confess our wrongdoings, and we change our hearts as we express our desire to repent. God’s searchlight is a light of loving forgiveness, a light of full understanding, a light of encouraging guidance as God works to perfect us. God’s searchlight is a light of discovery and peace.

God’s peace shines when we confess our sins.

WEEK FOUR: PEACE IN THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY

The Light of a Desk Lamp

Psalm 119:130 (NRSV)

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. 

A few months before I learned I had cancer, I read The Artist’s Way series by Julia Cameron. The books are written to help artists discover and enhance their creativity, and I love how Julia emphasizes the spirituality in creativity. She encourages the practice of writing “morning pages.” Every morning, before doing anything else, we are to write our free-flowing thoughts on three pages. I began writing these morning pages a few years ago, and they have become an integral part of my contemplative, prayer time with God. Every morning I have a cup of coffee, turn on my desk lamp, and begin writing.

I understand now how God led me to begin this practice, so that I was better prepared to face my cancer. Beginning the day fresh with God is such a centering, reflective, wisdom-filled time. God’s word for me each morning gives me understanding and focus for the day (after all, it even gives understanding to the “simple!”). All through the joys and trials of my time with cancer, God gave me that peace beyond understanding. Spending time in honest reflection with God each morning helped carry me through.

God’s word comes to us in many ways. You may not enjoy writing. But we may read God’s Word in the Bible. We may hear a Word from God in a conversation or music. We may see God’s Word in nature and life. God’s Word comes to us each time we listen or watch for it. God’s Word now has especially come to us as Jesus! God’s Word gives us light for each day. God’s Word gives us peace for each day.

God’s peace shines as we begin each day with God and God’s word.

WEEK FOUR: PEACE IN THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY

The Light of a Glow-stick

Psalm 51:17 (NRSV)

The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

One of my friends was going through a divorce, and I was listening to his heartache and pain. Having been divorced a few years earlier, I vividly recalled the difficult days of grief, guilt and loneliness. My heart hurt for him, and I wished that he didn’t have to face the hurt and sadness of his days. I did my best to reassure my friend that life eventually gets better, that he would one day reach a ‘new normal,’ and that God would resurrect his life.

But I also told him about my special gift from that time when I was facing my divorce: my deep desperation for God. When we deeply know that we are greatly broken- we have failed in our precious marriage and we have thus caused pain to many; when we are embarrassed and humbled because our brokenness is made public and visible to others; and when we know how much we truly need Jesus’ forgiveness, our hearts become so open and ready to receive everything God has to share with us. I am so grateful to have a new life and love, but there are times when I miss being aware of my aching, desperate need for God’s love. I don’t miss those days, but I do miss that desperation.

The truth is, I am still broken. I still need God’s love as desperately as before. I am just not as aware or appreciative of it- my pride and self-reliance tend to grow when life is going well! The glow-stick is a good reminder for me. Glow sticks need to be broken in order to glow. Like a glow stick, we have the potential to glow, but until we recognize our brokenness, we may not fully understand how God alone can help and use us. When we are broken, God’s peace and love can really shine- to heal us and transform us into lights of peace.

God’s peace shines through our brokenness.

PEACE BRIGHTENS THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY: WALKING IN PEACE

Scripture for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26

Luke 1:26-38, 47-55

Romans 16:25-27

These Scripture readings are just a few examples of God’s faithfulness and strength that fill the Bible. In 2 Samuel, when God asks David to make a temple, David is reminded of God’s power and presence in his past, and he is promised the same for his future. In Luke, the angel tells Mary that she too, will be doing something significant. She will be the mother of God’s Son, Jesus! But Mary is assured that God is with her and she need not fear. Psalm 89 and Romans 16 praise our God who is steadfast, faithful, firm, and strong.

Very soon the Dawn of Light will be fully revealed. Just as we know the sun will rise each day and the sun’s power gives us life, through the birth of Jesus we can be certain that God is always present, faithful, and powerful. God gives us life. God’s presence through Christ will be with us; God’s power in Christ will help us. No matter what we face, we can journey on in peace, for we know…

God’s presence + God’s power = God’s peace.

.“Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of Christ.”    ~Sheila Walsh

ADVENT WREATH/CANDLES

Turn off the lights and sit in the darkness for a few minutes…

Reflect on the times in your life that were challenging, heartbreaking, or conflicting. Were you able to feel God’s power and presence with you? Were you able to find peace? Thank God for bringing you through those times. If you are currently undergoing difficult times, ask God for the awareness of God’s steadfast presence and powerful strength. Ask God for peace. If you are currently blessed with a good and peaceful time, ask God to make you an instrument of God’s peace for others.

Light the candles of hope, love, joy and now the candle of peace.

When I was a resident advisor in college, I arranged for the students in my dorm to see the sunrise one morning. Several of us awakened early, walked to the hill across the campus, sat on our blankets, and eagerly awaited the sun. Soon after the scheduled time for the sun to rise, we realized that the clouds prevented us from seeing it at all. I took them to breakfast to make up for the disappointment!

This Advent, we have watched and waited for the Dawn of Light. As our devotions moved us toward the gradual revealing of the sun, God has moved us from our darkness into the Dawn of Light. Now God’s love is being fully revealed in Jesus! I imagine one day when we see Jesus in all his glory, we will feel the warmth of his love and see the brightness of his countenance, much like the full light of day!

Here in our earthly life, we often have clouds. Yet we know the sun is still there, lighting our ways and warming our days. There are even glorious times when openings in the clouds allow sunbeams to shimmer down. In Jesus, we have God-with-us, guiding with light and warming with love. Yes, we may have clouds- clouds of doubt, distraction, or difficulty. But we know the Son is here and gives us reassuring peace. There are even moments when his presence and power are like glorious rays of light beaming through the clouds. We can walk on in peace, feeling Christ’s presence and power for each step of our journey.

God who brings us the Dawn of Light,

Thank you for bringing us to the Dawn! Thank you for Jesus, whose presence and power help us to walk in the light of peace. Please remove any clouds we have created so that we may see you fully revealed. Help us to be your peace. Amen.

WEEK THREE: JOY WITH THE RISING SUN

Radiant Birthday Candles

Ephesians 3:18-21 (NRSV)

I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

I think that no matter how old we are, at each birthday we are surprised that another year has passed so quickly! We are thankful for another year and all of the blessings we have received during that time. But, if you’re like me, we may wonder just how many cakes and candles we will get to have. With each passing year, the realization that life is short creates an urgency that I need to DO something worthwhile before I leave this earthly life.

These verses bless me, because I am reassured that Christ’s “power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine!” God will use each of us abundantly- we just have to allow God to do so. God will work in us according to God’s purposes- we only have to get out of the way. God’s idea of abundance doesn’t have to mean lots of tasks and lists, but sharing lots of love and care. We will be filled with all the fullness of God, simply by knowing that we are loved deeply and completely. We find joy in knowing that we have been created by God, that God has a purpose for us, and that God’s love within us is all we need in order to live abundantly.

Joy radiates when we allow God’s love to fill us and God’s power to work in us.

WEEK THREE: JOY WITH THE RISING SUN

Radiant Christmas Lights

Isaiah 40:3 (NRSV)

A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

Do you enjoy all of the preparations and festivities of Advent? I love to decorate with Christmas lights and festive décor, to cook and bake, to find gifts and wrap them, to write Christmas notes, to attend events, and to invite friends and family to our home. Most of all, I love to light the Advent candles and spend special time preparing my heart for Jesus once again. The whole season is a busy but joyous time for me. There is joy in the preparation and the anticipation!

John the Baptist became this one that Isaiah prophesied would prepare the way of the Lord. John urged people to repent and be baptized, to be ready for the One that was to come. “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). I wonder if John was filled with joy as he prepared the people, as he anticipated the One who was to come. We know he had his doubts as he later sat in prison and sent word to ask Jesus, “Are you the one?”

The difference for us- and our reason for joy in the preparing and the anticipating- is that we KNOW Jesus came as our Messiah! We know the story, we know how much he loves us. Even as we prepare and anticipate, we are privileged to have the joyful ending already in mind and forever in our hearts. May our joy be as festive as a bright string of Christmas lights!

Joy radiates in our preparation and anticipation of Jesus, and our delight because he has already come.