December 11, 2017 Advent Devotional - Psalm 43:3-6

The scripture for today, 1John 3:1-2, is the story of Nicodemus, a Pharisee, who goes to Christ at night to tell him that he knew because of his actions that He was from God.  He is from God because of the things he does. It seems that Nicodemus had head knowledge, not heart knowledge.

This brings me to memories of my teen years. I had head knowledge yet I heard the still small voice in my head and sometimes followed it. I was lucky in that I was brought up going to church. Church was a point of contention between my parents. When my brother and I were little, my mom took us to her Lutheran church, because my dad was not going to any church at the time. A few years later my dad decided to go back to the church of his youth, the Episcopal Church. He talked my brother and I into attending his church because there were interesting things there, like kneelers. I didn't know how much that affected my mother until years later.

The Episcopal Church was one of the smallest in my little northern Wisconsin town of Tomahawk and we had no youth group. I have great memories of walking to my friend's church in the cold of winter with frozen snow crunching below my boots, seeing my breath and my mouth getting so cold it was difficult to talk until I warmed up in the church basement where the youth had their meetings. It was good to be with friends and the adults treated us all as if we were all members.
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The anticipation of Christmas coming was palpable. I talked my mom and dad into trimming the tree with all blue lights and tinsel. It looked cool to me as I walked home at night. Each day there were more wrapped presents under the tree and Christmas music filled the house. Christmas Eve morning my thoughts were all about those wrapped presents. That night we went to midnight mass and thoughts drifted back to the Lord.

I am grateful for the still small voice. It has led me well.

Daily Reading:  Psalm 43:3-6

3 O send out your light and your truth;
    let them lead me;
    let them bring me to your holy hill
    and to your dwelling.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
    to God my exceeding joy;
    and I will praise you with the harp,
    O God, my God.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you disquieted within me?
    Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my help and my God.

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