Focus

Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today.

---

Read

Acts 13:16-25 (NRSV)

So Paul stood up and with a gesture began to speak:

“You Israelites, and others who fear God, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. For about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. After he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance for about four hundred fifty years. After that he gave them judges until the time of the prophet Samuel. Then they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years. When he had removed him, he made David their king. In his testimony about him he said, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, to be a man after my heart, who will carry out all my wishes.’ Of this man’s posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised; before his coming John had already proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John was finishing his work, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but one is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of the sandals on his feet.’

---

Reflect

In these days of Advent, while we are waiting and watching for the big event—the coming of the King—my thoughts often turn to a time when my children were small. Sometimes it seemed that our focus was all on Santa, gifts, and food. The true reason for the celebration ended up hidden somewhere in the top of a closet with those packages that would magically appear on Christmas morning.

We used an Advent Calendar to help put the focus on the real Christmas story, but the most tangible reminder of the true meaning of the coming celebration sat under the Christmas tree and could be handled, rearranged, and, unfortunately, (once) partially eaten by the dog: It was what we called “The Activity Set”—complete with a stable, wise men, camels, Mary, Joseph, and a sleeping Baby Jesus. So named by our toddler son, who understood “activity,” but not “Nativity,” and so it has been for more than forty years. We still put the Activity Set out every year—minus the one sheep that the dog ate—and we still look forward to the coming of the King.

---

Pray

Holy God, help us to go through this Advent season with hearts attuned to its true meaning. When we are dazzled by the tinsel and glitter that the world calls Christmas, gently guide us back to kneel at the stable to view with awe and reverence your holy gift of Love, our King, Jesus.

Go with God.