…down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
Revelation 22:2
Advent season is very different from usual this year as we are in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We await the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ in the midst of waiting for successful treatments and a vaccine to help put an end to the isolation and illness from which our world is suffering. Our frontline healthcare workers are essential in caring for our loved ones as we cannot be present with them at this time. I thought of my daughters, Michelle, who is a nurse, and Melinda, who is a physical therapist, who work in local hospitals. In the picture we see a nurse (Kristin McCullough) in full personal protective gear, and I recognized Dr. Karin Buettner as she works to protect and care for her patients.
In Revelation 22:2, we read of the “leaves for the healing of the nations.” This reminds me of the doctors, nurses and therapists who we entrust to care for our loved ones in hospitals and healthcare facilities. It is a very lonely time for those who experience social isolation due to high risk, advanced age and illness. I believe the Holy Spirit is present with all of us, especially the dedicated caregivers who support our loved ones each day and provide comfort for those who cannot have family with them in their last moments of life.
My prayer today is for strength for all healthcare workers, comfort for those who are suffering, and healing for our nation and world.
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Matthew 6:26
I know this verse is about shedding the emotion of worry. I also know that this verse assures us that our Father in Heaven will feed the birds, and also us. That being said, I’d like to look at this verse in a slightly different way this Advent season. You see, I am married to the Short Pump Bird Lady.
We have 10 bird feeders, one Hummingbird feeder, two Bluebird houses, and two bird baths. We also take our live Christmas tree outside after Christmas in case any birds need some shelter from cold winds or the snow. Looking through this lens, God does feed the birds, and so does Nellie.
God does indeed feed the birds, and could it be that He also put all of those bird people out there to help feed those same birds? You could say God’s hand is guiding Nell’s passion and devotion to her birds.
And God will guide us to help people. We have marching orders to help other people, right? Matthew 22 tells us to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” And it doesn’t matter if those people are Republican or Democrat, White or Black, Yellow Finch, Bluebird or Cardinal. We are commissioned to help everyone. So during this season, look for someone you can help. Helping people can ease their worry. Be a bird lady.
He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.
Psalm 147:8
Our photograph speaks to us of the vastness of the ocean, the blackness of storm clouds filling the sky, and the brilliance of light breaking through the dark. We may feel very small and insignificant when we stand on the shore looking out to sea, but God’s love shines on each of us individually. We are never beyond his reach.
During this time of COVID-19, we may sometimes feel despair, but this Advent season brings us the assurance that God’s grace is still given to us. Through the clouds God prepares rain for the earth and makes seeds to sprout. He nourishes the animals and plants. He brings forth flower and fruit, providing for his people. Our psalm reminds us that we worship a faithful God who treasures the people who honor Him and gives them life.
As we prepare for Christmas and the coming of Christ this year, let us raise thankful hearts. In spite of a worldwide pandemic we lift our gratitude to the God who came to us in person. We rejoice that Christ’s birth is reality and that we can receive Him in our hearts to guide and direct our living. We await His coming as Love with the hope we can express His love more fully through our actions to all people.
Let us pray:
O God, may your kingdom come and your will be done so that Advent truly comes in our hearts today. Amen
Carol Gill
Thanks to all who shared their #Week1 #ExperenicingAdvent photos with us. We’ve been putting them into a Facebook album that you can see HERE. (No Facebook Account Required!)
This week we are looking for photos/videos of places you’ve seen the beauty of God’s creation OR ways you’ve cared for the Earth.
The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.
Isaiah 35:1-2
These verses of the scripture talked about the restoration of the land and of the people. The wilderness and wasteland shall be glad for them and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose: after the judgment on the nations described in Isaiah 34, that God will bring a beautiful restoration.
It will blossom abundantly and rejoice: this was true in the immediate term when Judah was restored after the invasion of the Assyrians was turned back. It is true in longer term too, when modern day Israel has turned the wilderness and the wasteland into productive farms and truly has made the desert blossom as the rose. It will be true in the ultimate fulfillment of prophecy when God restores the ecology of the world after the end of the great tribulation and the battle of Armageddon
Verse 1 of Isaiah, states that the wilderness is a solitary place. The land of the church’s enemies, which had enjoyed many external blessings and comforts, shall be turned into desolate wilderness, as was declared in the foregoing Chapter. So on the contrary, Emmanuel’s land or the seat of God’s church and people, which formerly was barren and despised like a wilderness, shall flourish exceedingly. We have more than once had occasion to observe that by the wilderness is generally meant the Gentile world: now it is here foretold that through the influence of the gospel and the grace of God, it should put on new face and become like a pleasant and fruitful garden. The multitudes of converts to the true religion should be made there in and a vast number of spiritual and Holy worshippers should be raised up to God in it.
Verse 2 of Isaiah explains that it shall be glad for them. This is evidently a beautiful poetic figure by which the wilderness is represented as expressing joy. The sense is the desolate mortal world would be filled with joy on account of the blessings which are foretold in this prophecy.
And the blossom as rose means that the word rendered rose. Whatever the meaning of the word, the rose will convey the idea of beauty compared with the solitude and desolation of the desert. The word “rose” is being a flower better known conveys a more striking image of beauty and there is no impropriety in retaining it.
The picture showed that God is able in everything, everywhere and he can make a way where there is no way. God brings joy where there is no joy. He gives the weak strength and comfort.
…then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.
Deuteronomy 11:14-15
Thank you for this beautiful world that sustains us daily. Help us to respect it as the work of your hands that sowed the seeds for your children to reap.
As you read the scripture and look at the picture above you will see two of our youth at work picking vegetables at Shalom Farms. They will be sharing God’s harvest with those that need food. I love our youth here at Trinity UMC. They not only give of their physical labor but so much love in deeds of caring to our entire community as well as all mission work outside of Richmond, VA.
The Holy Trinity works through the body of Christ. The season of harvest is upon us, the time to reap the abundance from the seeds you have sown.
Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.”
Genesis 1:29
This verse could be the vegetarian creed. However, God’s words are regal. God promises to provide the most basic human need, nourishment. It is our obligation to accept this gift and interpret it as another sign of God’s grace and love for us all. It is incumbent we use what has been provided voraciously in HIS service. “You may be whatever you resolve to be” and you need sustenance to succeed in life’s journey. This gift is unequivocal. God provides for our basic need and it is our choice how we will shepherd it and apply it in our life.
The parable of the Sower in the New Testament illustrates this well. Liken this gift of food to God giving his spirit to us. Nourished, it grows and bears fruit, and our lives are lived in a Christian lifestyle. Ignored or taken for granted, our spirit languishes and never puts down roots and consequently our life is not lived according to God’s plan.
