"John answered them all, "I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." (Luke 3:16)

Do you remember your baptism?  Some of us were baptized as infants so we probably don't but we do know who our Godparents are.  Some of us were baptized when we were older so we didn't have Godparents but we do remember the event.  Most of us have been to baptisms and know not only the importance for the service but are reminded of the vows we all make.  So...if you don't remember your own baptism do you remember one you were at least at - if not a part of?

The readings today are about John baptizing the people AND Jesus.  He is calling the people to repentance AND pointing out how Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit.  There were "multitudes" (Luke 3:7) who came to John "to be baptized." (3:7)  And we know Jesus came to be baptized (3:21).  Jesus was fulfilling prophesy and doing what God called him to do.

So...... are we following where God is leading?  Do we REALLY believe the vows we have made - either at our own baptism or as we participated in baptism services?  Something to think about......

"They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.  Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh."  (Matthew 2:11 NLT)

Did you get the gift you were looking for this Christmas?  Did you GIVE someone the special gift they were wanting?  Was it an actual gift, wrapped up in a box, or - like we do - a special memory?  We like to give memories - like doing things together.  Sometimes it is a particular "show" (movie or some production) and sometimes it is the day spent doing things together.  In both cases it is the fun of doing and then remembering.

Today's reading, for Epiphany, is the Wise Men reaching Bethlehem, finding the "child" with "his mother Mary" and two things happen.  First off the "bow down and worship."  The second thing is to give the gifts they have brought specifically for the "King of the Jews." (Matthew 2:2)  The Wise Men are excited, "filled with joy" (10) and "bowed down" to "worship."

So.....  Are you following where God is leading?  What gift have you brought?  What is God asking you to do?  Where is God asking you to go to?  With busy, changing, challenging schedules time is difficult to get, and have, regularly - but it is a wonderful way to "just" be with God.  

"At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon.  He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel."  (Luke 2:25 NLT)

How are you at waiting?  Do you have to wait "often"?  Do you know the time you will be waiting?  I know sometimes it seems like we are always "waiting"......  The hurry up and wait happens with everything from traveling (even if only the stop and go lights) to appointments - especially doctor appointments.  Then there are the things we seem to wait longer for - weddings, babies to be born, graduations.  The question is, however, how are you doing with the waiting?

In the reading, yesterday (technical difficulties delayed the post), we see Simeon who has "eagerly" waited for the Messiah's birth.  Then, in verse 36, we also start reading about Anna who has also been waiting.  Both are very excited about seeing Jesus blessing the child and the parents.  Both also praised, and thanked, God even though they had been "waiting" a long time - years in fact.  

In this "instant" world we live in it is hard to think about waiting so long.  It is hard to decide our reactions when we do have to wait - maybe even a long time.  So......  what is your attitude as you are waiting - at a stop light, the doctor's office or longer?  Something to think about............

"And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn."  (Luke 2:7 RSV)

Excitement!  Preparation!  Sometimes people are even working together to get everything ready, finished and be able to be together.  Schedules are crazy, things have been changed, added and -in most cases- made more difficult.  But at the same time we are preparing to celebrate a VERY special birthday.  We are preparing to "welcome" Jesus.

The Scripture, this morning, is pointing out the same thing.  Mary and Joseph have been preparing, worked through the changes that made things more difficult and welcomed the baby Jesus.  We are also told, in the next few verses of shepherds welcoming, celebrating and sharing what they have seen and heard.  This verse, this morning, makes a very important point to be thinking about.  Do we have a "place," "room," or time for Jesus?  Not just this week, although it is important to remember and celebrate, but in our busy changing schedules of a "normal" work week?

If we ARE making room, for ourselves, to be with Jesus are we celebrating and sharing how we have felt "God with us" - Emmanuel?  Something to think about.......

"For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed."  (Luke 1:48  NLT)

We frequently get asked, or told, to do something - right?  Sometimes it is a request we look forward to being able to help with.  Sometimes it is a challenge we will have to 'figure' out.  Sometimes it is something we will be working on for a while but know it will be "great" when it is finished.  Sometimes it is unexpected while sometimes it is something we are really hoping for and working toward.

The Scripture reading this morning is Mary's response to the angel's visit and her trip to see Elizabeth.  The Scripture gives us Mary's response to what God is asking her to do, to be - the mother of our Lord and Savior.  Her response is called a "Song of Praise" and the Magnificat.  Mary is responding to Elizabeth telling her about how her (Elizabeth's) baby "in my womb jumped for joy." (v.44)  Mary is also telling all of us a good way for us to respond when God is asking (calling?) us to new things.

So...... what IS our​ response?   Something to think about........

"At the sound of Mary's greeting, Elizabeth's child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit."  (Luke 1:41  NLT)

Doing.... what are we doing?  How are we doing it?  When God calls us to do something what is our response?  We are in the season of Advent, the start of  the church's year so what is our response?  Are we following where God is leading - maybe even doing something "new"?  Are we facing challenges but still feeling God's presence?

We are looking at Mary and Elizabeth's response this morning as they prepare for the birth of their babies.  Elizabeth has gone into "seclusion" (Luke 1:24).  Mary has gone to visit Elizabeth so she can share the awesome news the angel brought her. (Luke 1:39)  The response is the baby "leaping" in Elizabeth's womb and Elizabeth being "filled with the Holy Spirit."  She tells Mary "God has blessed you above all women" (v. 42) and wonders why she, Elizabeth, has been so "honored" ( v.  43) for Mary to visit her.  Mary's response is to praise God with what we refer to as the "Magnificat."

​What is our response?  Are we doing, following, where God is asking us to go or do?  Are we sharing, with each other, how we are feeling God's presence with us through the changes and challenges?  Are we even sharing with others so they can be praying for us?  Something to think about.........

"But the angel said, "Don't be afraid, Zechariah!  God has heard your prayer.  Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and your are to name him John."  (Luke 1:13  NLT)

What do you think of when someone says "prepare"?  Getting everything ready for company - clean the house and buy the food?  Getting ready for an exam or a paper that is due?  Getting the food lined up on the counter so you can "prepare" the meal or cake?  Or, like most of us at this time of year, is it getting everything out and ready for Christmas?  

The Scripture reading, this morning, is for Zechariah and Elizabeth to "prepare" for a baby.  A long waited for, wanted and prayed for baby.  A baby that, when grown, would prepare people for Jesus.  A baby that when Mary visited Elizabeth jumped for joy - even in Elizabeth's womb.  The angel is telling Zechariah to not be afraid but of all the things the child, including being filled with the Holy Spirit (v. 15), John will be doing. So...basically.... don't be afraid of the angel, the changes coming or where God is leading.

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, for those of us who follow the liturgical calendar, so it is the start of the "new" Christian year.  We start preparing for Jesus' birthday AND for Jesus to return.  We might even start our New Year's resolutions as we "prepare."  So....are you preparing?

"Enter his gates with Thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise.  Give thanks to him and praise his name."  (Psalm 46:4  NLT)

"Busiest travel of the year."  "More people at the airport, on the road and traveling over 50 miles than has happened in several years."  News reports about how the weather could easily cause delays.....  All these things are happening around us even as each of us goes through our own changes and challenges.  All making us wonder about the idea of "entering his courts with praise."

The Psalm today is a "Psalm of grateful praise."  Today, if you follow the liturgical calendar, is also Christ the King Sunday.  A time of praising God, thanking God and celebrating Jesus as King of Kings, Lord of Lords.  A time of looking at, thanking God for and preparing for the celebration of Jesus' birthday while we prepare for Jesus' coming again.  All of which is happening for each of  us individually while we come together and celebrate in worship.

So......  Are you giving "thanks"?  "Praising his name"?  As we come together, if we are able, with our families and friends are we remembering to thank God?  Have we even tried to "come into his courts"?  Something to think about..........