Preparation

The Heart of Preparation…

In a lot of ways, it’s human nature to see preparing in terms of stocking up on tangible assets such as food, beverage, health, and other household supplies. However, the preparation Jesus is talking about in chapter 24, verses 37-44 of the Gospel according to Matthew (included below) , is about not being so attached to that kind of mindset, but rather to focus on embracing what can be attained not through material means, but through a heart that is maturing in its capacity to love and to be loved. This is something that is not accomplished by how much one does or the number of prayers that one might say, but rather by how one’s prayer influences decisions, actions, and interactions, so as to strive to live in such a way that one reflects the heart of God here on earth.

It’s not that preparing to have what one needs to sustain oneself physically is not good. It’s that it can be easy for that to become a bigger part of one’s concerns and for the mind to take over, leading to a heart that’s less than what it is created to be. One that is more self-serving than it is open to being a servant of God. Comparatively, when one can start with their heart, inviting God into the mix, everything else can fall into place. The result being that one has what they need, and not only sees the places where they are able to give, but also has a desire to do so.

As we enter the first week of Advent, in what ways do you need the heart of God to be revealed to you? And how do you desire to be a presence of the heart of God in each moment, in the coming weeks and beyond?

Jesus said to his disciples:
“As it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
In those days before the flood,
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage,
up to the day that Noah entered the ark.
They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.
So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.
Two men will be out in the field;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Therefore, stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” – Mt 24:37-44

Lady Luck…

As I proceeded toward the steps and the front door, I could see something… a bug, moving on the frame around the door. With each step, I could see it more clearly. I was thinking, “It couldn’t be, it’s too cold,” but as I got closer to the front door, I saw that in fact it was a ladybug. What a pleasant surprise, in stark contrast to the spotting of the brown stink bugs that are common this time of year.

As I watched the ladybug crawling around for a few moments, I could not help but smile. Although it was a small thing, on a rather chilly day, this friendlier, more palpable kind of bug brought a sense of wonder and joy to me as the weather progresses toward winter where I live.

What a great way to prepare to enter the house. What a great way to prepare to enter any place for that matter. To go forth thinking… feeling… remembering the truth of what it means to be begotten by God. That is blessed!

Gifts and blessings come in packages of all types and sizes. Look for and welcome the unexpected. Receive all that each moment brings. Strive to remain faithful regardless of circumstances. Trust that what God has in store is always the best.

You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever. – Psalm 16:11

LadyBug

More than days…

Growing up we had a wrought iron fence around the patio in the back yard. It was a nice looking fence, sturdy and reliable, creating an enclosure and added layer of safety. In order to keep and protect its appearance and function though, every so many years it required maintenance.

I remember the first time I helped my father with this process. Before we could paint, we had to use a wire brush to remove any rust that might have developed in the time since the fence’s last painting. While it may have been easier to just paint over the rust, neglecting to scrape it away and sand it down, would result in the paint breaking off and exposing the fence to further deterioration, in addition to necessitating more frequent painting.

Our lives can be similar to wrought iron fences, in that we also can have spots that are rusty, or things that cause us to shine less brightly than we are capable of… to be less than who we really are and have been created to be.

On the feast of Pentecost, both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, the people were gathered together in one place.

In the Old Testament description of the preparation for Pentecost (a.k.a. the Feast of Weeks), it is written:

You shall rejoice in the presence of the LORD, your God, together with your son and daughter, your male and female slave, and the Levite within your gates, as well as the resident alien, the orphan, and the widow among you, in the place which the LORD, your God, will choose as the dwelling place of his name. – Deuteronomy 16:11

And, in the New Testament description of the coming of the Holy Spirit after the Ascension, it is written:

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. – Acts 2:1-3

Part of the preparation to receive the blessings of the feast was gathering together. There was a gathering in the Spirit to receive the Spirit. However, even before this could happen, other things needed to transpire. At the forefront, people needed to make time to prepare. They needed to make time for both themselves and each other as well as for God. In doing so, they were scraped and primed, and ready to be made new by the Holy Spirit.

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