Today was sunny enough for sunglasses, but cold. Freezing cold. Colder than death, as my friend M would say. We barely got out of the garage in time to get to West Hartford where it was my week to help teach the elementary kids for Sunday school. We parked, the boys ran to sign themselves in, and I zipped right over to my spot, just in time for communion. RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRK. That's the sound of brakes stopping my feet.
Isn't that just what God does to us? We're careening through life when suddenly we come to a dead stop, face to face with our creator. Well, not so much face to face. (One day!) But still. Right there in Conard High's cafeteria, I was on holy ground. Called to remember the king who came to earth wearing nothing but dirty blankets. No crown. No palace. No maids.
Yes, God calls me to ponder these things. I bowed my head, took the bread. Took the cup. Remembered Jesus the baby. Jesus the king. Jesus the Savior.
Luke 2: 1-5About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.
6-7While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.
8-12There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger." 13-14At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
15-18As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.
19-20Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!
Otherwise, completely and totally at random:
Isn't that just what God does to us? We're careening through life when suddenly we come to a dead stop, face to face with our creator. Well, not so much face to face. (One day!) But still. Right there in Conard High's cafeteria, I was on holy ground. Called to remember the king who came to earth wearing nothing but dirty blankets. No crown. No palace. No maids.
Yes, God calls me to ponder these things. I bowed my head, took the bread. Took the cup. Remembered Jesus the baby. Jesus the king. Jesus the Savior.
Luke 2: 1-5About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.
6-7While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.
8-12There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger." 13-14At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
15-18As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.
19-20Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!
Otherwise, completely and totally at random:
Ugly Christmas Sweater party at junior high youth group tonight. Of course, we had not a single Christmas sweater in the house - ugly or not. I think Camden nailed it.
Benjy begging me to send a text to Curt requesting Chick Fil A nuggets. Yes, please.
My favorite dessert - a ho-ho and skim milk on ice.
In case you can't read this, it says the temp is 17 degrees.
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