"O Holy Night"
3 Days Away
It is so close! Cookies are baked. The program has been performed. Most of the packages are wrapped. We are weary. We are so weary.
It is time. It is time to be still.
S.T.I.L.L.
Slowly Take In Lavish Love
Music: "O Holy Night"
Meditation:
"Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint." ~Isaiah 40:28-31
"It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, 'Lord, are you going to wash my feet?'
Jesus replied, 'You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.'
'No,' said Peter, 'you shall never wash my feet.'
Jesus answered, 'Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.'
'Then, Lord,' Simon Peter replied, 'not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!'
Jesus answered, 'Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.' For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. 'Do you understand what I have done for you?' he asked them. 'You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed to do them." ~John 13:1-17
Oh, God is so GOOD! God knows how worn out we can get living in this world--this weary world.
He reminds us in His Holy Word that He does not grow weary, he does not grow faint.
We need to trust--to have faith--to seek help in order to be renewed.
Next, we need to be still. Now, I am a person who likes to be on the move. Action means something is happening. Items are being checked off my lists. I am accomplishing.
Be still. Slowly Take In Lavish Love
Jesus cannot wash my feet with my running shoes laced up as I grab my keys to go on another meaningless errand.
Picture it.
We sit in a comfortable chair. We kick off our shoes. We peel off each sock and wiggle our toes in comfort.
We lean back, close our eyes, and let the stress sink from our shoulders.
We hear a rustle and peak through our heavy eyelids.
A figure is close with a basin and a towel.
He kneels in front of us and delicately picks up a foot and begins to wash.
We sputter and fuss, "No--I need t--You can't--This isn't right--" Peter's protests echo from us.
Jesus gently, calmly whispers, "Let it be so. It must be so. Be still. Slowly take in lavish love. My love.
The world is weary.--This is a Holy Night.--Be S.T.I.L.L."
Almighty God, thank You for this Holy Night. Let us learn to be still in this weary world. Let us accept the love and the lessons You offer us. Nothing in more important than learning to give and receive love, especially Your love. Let us learn the lessons You so patiently taught us. In Jesus' Precious Name. Amen.
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