Today's Word
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Salisbury PlainClimb a Hill, Look at a Rock Day
Our Lord is so good, He grants us many blessings. We can see Him in the daily course of events, in our homes, our jobs, our lives. I pray that these words help you to grow in your faith and recognize His hand in even the most mundane circumstances.
The picture to the right is of a Celtic Chapel located in Cornwall England. This building is approximately 1700 years old, and contains a holy well known for its healing powers.
(Click for enlarged)
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, WEB
I worked in retail when I was younger. I started as a cashier and floor clerk and went through a management training program for two different companies. I eventually worked my way through the ranks into a leadership position in whatever store where I worked. I loved it, but I worked incredibly long hours. My hours some weeks were as much as two full time jobs because I was not only working in my store, but I joined a store remodel project at another store. I was salaried at my store, but I earned overtime for the work I did at the other. It was good money, but it was exhausting to work seven days a week and as much as twelve hours in a day. In one three-week period I put in more than three hundred hours. I had no life outside my job. My only time of relaxation was during my hour-long commute, and I hit my bed as soon as I got home at night. It was a good thing that I was not married at the time, because I had no time for anyone.
I decided that I did not want another managerial job after I got married. I was happy to be a cashier and serve customers, to work a few hours a week. My resume made it easy to be hired, as a matter of fact, the home fashions department manager at a large mid-level retail chain snapped me up immediately. I loved it. I served many small business owners and enjoyed helping them make choices about color and fabric. I was very good at my job, and it didn’t take long for the general manager to take notice.
One day I spent hours helping a woman who was decorating a bed and breakfast. She walked out of the store after spending thousands of dollars, confident that her rooms would be beautiful and welcoming to her guests. She was so happy with her purchases that she wrote a thank you letter to the store manager, singing my praise. He called me into his office one day and thanked me for making such a good impression on our customers. He told me that her letter was not the first time he had noticed my hard work and enthusiasm. It made me feel good to know that I was doing my job well.
The department manager was not so thrilled. She was happy to hire me when she thought I could make her look good, but when my work brought attention to my own abilities, she began to worry. Despite my repeated assurances that I was only interested in a part time position, she was convinced that I was trying to steal her job. After all, why would I work so hard if I weren’t working to rise in the company? She was never happy about the job she had; she was constantly trying to work her way up to the next rung on the corporate ladder. Instead of being happy that I was making her department look good, she began to undermine the work I was doing. She found ways to make me fail. She gave me the worst hours and rejected any requests for time off. She stuck me in the warehouse as often as she could so I couldn’t work with customers. She had the power, but she was so frightened that she would lose her power that she destroyed herself in the process. I eventually quit that job and I heard that she was fired a short time later.
We live in a world where we are expected to strive to be the best, the highest, the strongest. We live in a world where we are expected to work not just to live, but so that we can move up the ladder. It is a world where accepting to be less than our potential is seen as weakness. Could I have been a good manager at that department store? Yes, I believe so. But I was happy with my job; it was enough.
Paul knew what it was like to live with “enough.” He recognized that true power was found in God’s grace. He didn’t need to strive according to the expectations of the world; he was happy to embrace weakness and let God’s strength shine through. As we journey through Advent, are we willing to be weak so that God can be strong? Are we willing to be less so that God can be more?
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“Praise Yah! I will give thanks to Yahweh with my whole heart, in the council of the upright, and in the congregation. Yahweh’s works are great, pondered by all those who delight in them. His work is honor and majesty. His righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered. Yahweh is gracious and merciful. He has given food to those who fear him. He always remembers his covenant. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations. The works of his hands are truth and justice. All his precepts are sure. They are established forever and ever. They are done in truth and uprightness. He has sent redemption to his people. He has ordained his covenant forever. His name is holy and awesome! The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
John Jacob Niles, folklorist and singer, was in Appalachia when he overheard a young girl singing a few lines from an old folk song. He took those words and expanded them into a song for Christmas in 1933. “I Wonder as I Wander” is a haunting melody, which draws the listener into the wonderment of the reason for Jesus' birth.
I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on’ry people like you and like I...
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.
When Mary birthed Jesus ‘twas in a cow’s stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God’s heaven a star’s light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.
If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God’s angels in heav’n for to sing,
He surely could have it, ‘cause he was the King.
I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on’ry people like you and like I...
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.
It is so easy for us to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations. I was thinking about my schedule for this week, all the things I have to get done, and I don’t know how I'm going to finish all my preparation Oh, I’m sure that a few things on that list can wait, but I’m sure I’ll push myself into a frenzy until it is all complete. I’ll forget to spend time in wonderment, considering all that Jesus gave up to be my Savior. He left heaven for a stable, the glory of God for the company of men. Isn’t this an amazing thing to ponder? Shouldn’t we stop during this Advent season to think on these things?
All the while, however, we are also reminded by Bing Crosby of the beauty of the season. His song “White Christmas” has been a favorite for generations. Yet, in the midst of the hustle and bustle, let’s remember that it is not just about the stuff we do or the stuff we buy or the stuff we make, it is about the people with whom we get to share those blessings. Bing once said, “Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won’t make it ‘white.’”
So, let us wonder as we wander through the holidays what it means to be a Christian. Who is Christ, what has He done, what is He doing and what will He do in the future? What did He give up for our sake? How can we follow in His footsteps? I don’t think that Jesus was thinking that our holiday schedules should be filled with things to do, but instead be filled with music as we sing His praise. Take time this advent to just wonder and wander, to commune with God in silence and prayer, praise and son, and then share God’s grace with the world.
The following links provide some specially chosen scripture that tell the stories of the Birth and Passion of our Lord as Savior Jesus Christ, as well as a fictional perspective of the Crucifixion. Spend time in God's Word, read about His life and learn of the wonderful gifts He has for you. Know Jesus Christ and honor Him today. Thanks be to God.
The Story of our Savior's Passion
The Crucifixion, a fictional perspective
When researching, I use several versions of the bible, including the New International Version and English Standard Version. Due to copyright restrictions, I have not included quotes for the scriptures on some of the archives, but highly encourage you to open your own bibles to read the scripture passages for yourselves. Where scripture is quoted, it is usually the American Standard Version or World English Bible which belong to the public domain. Any other versions used in quotes are identified.
The devotion posted on Wednesday is based on the Lectionary texts used by millions of Christians each Sunday. The Lectionary consists of four texts: an Old Testament passage, a Psalm, a passage from one of the Epistles and a Gospel text and follows the church calendar. Archives for these writings are found at Midweek Oasis.
You are welcome to use these words to share the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. Please remember to give credit to the Author who has given you these gifts, and keep in remembrance the vessel which He used to bring them to you. We pray that this site may be a blessing to you and anyone with whom you've shared it. Peggy Hoppes
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