Lent 2018 Devotional: Day Thirty-Five

"See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them." --Isaiah 42:9

When we come together as community to listen to God, the Spirit is always speaking something new. What worked in the past may not be what best serves God and neighbor today. It is up to us to pay attention to the prophets in the church, read the scriptures together, and listen with open ears to what the Spirit is speaking through them today.

What in your life needs examining? Are you engaging in a practice a certain way simply because it is the way it has always been done? What new thing might the Spirit be saying? Connect with a friend to get some outside input.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Advent 2019: Day Seven

“Then Mary said, ‘ Here am I , the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.” –Luke 1:38 Throughout the Bible, when God speaks a word to God’s followers, the signal that they hear and are prepared to answer the call is marked by their response: “Here am I.” When God calls on Abraham and Moses, they respond, “Here am I.” Samuel, perhaps slower on the draw, responds, “Here am I,” three times before he figures out it is the LORD who calls him. Mary’s response, marked by this same signal, shows that she is included in this line of those called by God for a purpose, and that she has the strength and faith to respond, “Here am I.” But unlike those who have come before, here a  woman  is shown answering this call. This breaking of the gender barrier signals a shift in what God is doing in the world. When Mary offers her own, “Here am I,” it is to a wholly new work: God’s own birthing into the world, taking on flesh to walk amon
Read more

Advent 2019, Day Three: What If the Annunciation Were Trans? (Part Two)

Read Part One The stranger sighed and gave her an indulgent smile. "You're gonna be a momma, Mary," they said gently. "And not just any momma. You're gonna be pregnant and grow your own little one, not just in your heart but in your belly too, and believe me when I tell you your child is going to be incredible." And with that announcement, Mary completed her journey to speechlessness. No more stammering, no half-formed protests – she couldn't even decide if she wanted to laugh or shout, let alone make a coherent sentence. As if in a dream, she found herself tilting the half-empty laundry basket so it fell on the floor, and once the couch was clear, she half-fell onto it, her eyes never leaving the stranger, who was waiting patiently all the while. "This isn't happening," she finally decided. Never mind that her pulse was so loud in her ears she could barely hear herself speak. Never mind the shaking in her limbs. Never mind the static
Read more