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Devos

Monday, 22 December 2008

December 22, 2008

Friends,

Jesus is sitting right next to me! Right on my desk!

Not big Jesus (cause he might break the desk)...little Jesus. Baby version.

At church, we've got the 18" versions of Mary and Joe on the front lawn waiting out under a wooden shelter next to an empty bed with a timer light that they can't even control themselves. Just keeps coming on whenever it wants to...then doesn't work other times...how frustrating.

And they are just waiting. Waiting for Jesus to show up.

But he's on my desk. Cozy and warm. Smiling up at me with this creepy look that says to me: "Don't make me go out there...it's cold! And besides, someone might steal me!"

8 pound 6 oz. baby Jesus doesn't actually say that...that's just what floats through my head when I've been surrounded by snow for the last three days.

What Dear Lord Baby Jesus actually says is: "I'm faithful! I'm coming. I won't stay on someone else's desk. I'll be on yours. I won't hide in the warmth of comfort. I'll jump into whatever your circumstances are...no matter how cold...harsh...difficult...lonely or tough."

"The Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one." 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Would I go into the cold? Would I get distracted by 100 other things on my way? Would I leave my parents...a bunch of shepherds...the world....waiting?

Luckily Mar and Joe aren't/weren't waiting for me...or you. They were waiting for the promise to arrive. The one that would come and make sense of the confusion, overcome the evil, guard them from the cold. And that one arrived.

And that one is arriving.

Are you standing waiting? Are thinking that your "cold" might be too cold for this One? Are you feeling like the Promise is on someone else's desk?

"The Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one."

May you be surprised in your cold, dumbfounded at your desk, overwhelmed in the midst of the evil that surrounds you. Because He has been there. He is present.

"To us a Son is born....to us...a Son is given."

Faithful.

Lord, amaze me again. Amen

Still in One Peace,

(I've got this little thing going on the 24th and then some time off, so I won't be posting devo's until next year. If you don't have a place to celebrate the birth of this Promise on Christmas Eve, I want to invite you to Zion to celebrate with us. Check out www.zionontheweb.com for our worship times. I hope we'll see you!)

Pastor Steve Biegner

POSTED BY: Pastor Steve AT 07:29 pm | Permalink | E-mail this

Wednesday, 17 December 2008

December 17, 2008

Friends,

Sometimes I share one verse with you...or maybe even a couple....but today it's a few more.

Luke 9:51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

Luke 13:22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.

Luke 17:11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.

Luke 18:31 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

Luke 19:28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

Are you getting the sense here that Jesus is heading somewhere? Like maybe Jerusalem?

I was watching one of Rob Bell's "Nooma" videos this morning with a group of moms and reflecting on what it meant to have purpose.

It seems to me that Jesus is a pretty good example.

His purpose is to head to Jerusalem...to give his life for the price of sin...to open the gates of heaven to people like us...

But to fulfill that purpose, he's got to get there. And before he can start the journey, he has to say "Yes" to going. Otherwise, the distractions could have overwhelmed him.

"Heal me"

"Feed me"

"Fix this"

"Do this"

What's great about Jesus' example is that he never once stops and says out loud, "Well, I guess I should do this thing" or "I'll feel guilty if I don't do...." I have yet to read those words in Scripture.

Don't get me wrong, along the way he does heal, feed, do and fix. But in each case it's a way to proclaim and fulfill his purpose...that the Kingdom of Heaven has broken in and that's good news for all!

What voices are you hearing this morning?

What's on your list?

And should it be there?

Are you walking the journey of your purpose today?

Are you walking in the shadow of the light that arrived on Christmas and culminated on Easter?

Read your story today...not just one verse...what purpose and story does it tell?

Lord, help me walk...in the light of your purpose. Amen

Still in One Peace,

Pastor Steve Biegner

POSTED BY: Pastor Steve AT 07:23 pm | Permalink | E-mail this

Monday, 15 December 2008

December 15, 2008

Friends,

Ever feel like things are moving really fast? Like you have a lot to do? Things ever get crazy? Like someone is throwing shoes at your head and you have to keep ducking?

I just got back to church after taking a few days of vacation. What a nice rest...I didn't go anywhere or really do anything, besides a lot of nothing. Played with the kids and Michelle. Set up the tree. Partied with the neighbors. Watched the Bills lose again in yet another new way. Sang a bunch of Christmas songs all week. It was great...and full of Adventness. (new Biegnerism for December)

Definition: Adventness - the state of being in Advent and preparing for the light of Christ to come.

Most of our lives, we are told/taught to be productive, efficient and effective. Full Adventness isn't really concerned about any of that. Adventness is like a month long bizarro Time Management seminar.

And it's full of reminders like this one: "He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his
arms, and carry them." Isaiah 40:11 that keep reminding me to slow down and maximize my Adventness.

We need to be carried sometimes...and that's OK. It's needed. That is what Isaiah was proclaiming....that One called Jesus will come to carry us...to wipe out to-do lists, to make time a thing to be enjoyed, not feared...to invite us to slow down and roll with life and let all aspects of our life be reminders that God's kingdom has broken in...not broken down on us.

But approximately 1/2 hour after I came back to church this morning, I was on the road to a meeting in central NY...already...rushing...making phone calls on the way...reading sermon texts...reading mail from the week...checking off lists.... All the while trying to speed up to get there quickly and avoid being blown off the road by the 30 mph winds and rain sweeping from right to left.

I lost my Adventness already. I forgot that there was One sent and coming again...breaking into those moments I was rushing through. The only thing that worked this morning to keep me on the road was...to slow down. Slow down and own again the power of Adventness.

"He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them."

He will. You don't have to add that to your list. You don't have to duck from someone throwing that responsibility at you.

Slow down. And reclaim your Adventness this week.

Lord, help me be. Maybe even be carried or gathered....by you. Amen

Still in One Peace,

Pastor Steve Biegner

POSTED BY: Pastor Steve AT 07:20 pm | Permalink | E-mail this

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