SATURDAY, December 31

Psalm 46. Be still, then, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.

New Year’s Eve. The Christmas season continues for six more days, but it may not seem that way. Life has gone back to a humdrum sort of norm, and for most people, the new year is as much a time of uncertainty as it is of expectation and celebration.

I like to turn, at this time of year, to “For the Time Being: A Christmas Oratorio,” by W.H. Auden. In part III, the narrator reflects:

To those who have seen

The Child, however dimly, however incredulously,

The Time Being is, in a sense, the most

trying time of all.

The Time Being. The time we spend disconnected from eternity, as we drive the car, complete our work, fold our laundry. The time we spend being our cynical, earthbound selves. Yet Auden’s Chorus reminds us, as the oratorio comes to its end:

He is the Way…

He is the Truth…

He is the Life.

Yes. Alleluia! To us a child is born. Come, let us adore him. Alleluia!

PRAY for the Diocese of Zululand (Southern Africa)

Ps 46, 48; 1 Kings 3:5-14; James 4:13-17; 5:7-11; John 5:1-15

View the daily Lectionary Readings at http://satucket.com/lectionary/

Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com or Oremus Bible browser.

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The Way. The Truth. The Life!

Dec 31, 2011 at 7:06 am

Written by emeline,

On this New Year's Eve, I thank God for His Son, Jesus Christ, Whose Birth we have just celebrated. As we move into a new year, may we be ever reminded that Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The life. Let us continue to put our faith and trust in Him and thank God for His goodness and mecry towards us. Praise be to God, our Creator!

Thanks to December's Meditation Writer for the insights into the Scriptures. Thanks to the Commentators for sharing their wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

I pray for a blessed, prosperous and peaceful 2012 for all of us.

God's blessings, always!

Challenge of Faith

Dec 31, 2011 at 7:27 am

Written by A,

To Emeline especially,
Thank you for your inquiry on my well being. In the midst of the abundant joy and promise of the gift of Jesus, I was able to embrace my many blessings and yes, I spent Christmas afternoon serving a meal to those less fortunate. Yet, I would be less than honest if I did not admit the painful trials of learning a new way for my family in the midst of our "new normal" of division. At times, my pain made even prayer a challenge. But so it is for many of us, no? I continue to seek that steadfast anchor in God's way, truth and life while the battle with the "earthbound self" persists. I so appreciate your prayers and hope your health is well.
I value the contributions of the meditation author's and commentators who words deepen the journey we all share toward a more full knowledge of Christ and a closer walk beside him.

Thanks be to God

Dec 31, 2011 at 8:07 am

Written by Chris,

‎"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." -- Melody Beattie

God, thank you for the meditations you have inspired the writers with, for the strength and courage of those who answer, witness to, share, discuss within, and even challenge, and for the many ways you love us, come to us, and calling us to follow your Son, Jesus Christ, Amen

I pray that y'all are blessed by God and that His joy and peace will fill your hearts this Christmas!

Gratitude

Dec 31, 2011 at 9:04 am

Written by Van,

I am so grateful for the mediations and comments. Abundant blessings and God's loving care and grace to all.

learning a new way

Dec 31, 2011 at 9:09 am

Written by Bill Collins,

To A:
He is born; each of us is born anew. We receive His blessing and learn a new way. To recall this in gratitude is difficult amidst our pain. For me prayer engenders gratitude as I recall the simple gift He is born, and I, reborn.

The Spirit of Christmas

Dec 31, 2011 at 9:16 am

Written by Rick,

I hope that the Spirit of Christmas will live in our hearts the whole year long.

...

Dec 31, 2011 at 11:21 am

Written by Mary kier,

I look forward to the daily verse, meditation, and comments as a part of my time each morning with God. Thankyou to the author and all my fellow writers. May we find heaven on earth through the love we share with God, our family, friends, church, strangers even enemies.

Deeply Grateful

Dec 31, 2011 at 5:05 pm

Written by Sarah,

Thank you all for spending the month of December reflecting and praying with me. Your responses have made me, your writer, joyful and humble. God bless you in 2012.

...

Dec 31, 2011 at 6:25 pm

Written by E. Linda Cushner,

I have been reading the Forward Day By Day for at least 40 years. These meditations and writings have been part of my daily meeting with God. I may or may not agree with the comments or conclusions but they always make me think. This thinking, questioning and praying has helped my faith to grow and to know our Lord more and more each day.
It is a unique way of spreading the Gospel and after all, is't that we are expected to do.
I truly enjoy the format of reading other people's comments, thoughts, prayers and concerns for after all we are all brothers and sisters in Christ; a peculiar kind of people; we are on this earth but not of this earth; we are on a journey, going home.

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