Welcome to Advent 2011 - Day 1

Advent is a wonderful opportunity to take time to "ponder" Jesus and the Incarnation.  It is not for "fast food" devotions; but rather, a time for "thinking" about all that God has done in sending his Son - Jesus, our Savior, to the world that ultimately would reject him!

Each day we'll read some scripture...then I'll share some thoughts on the passage and invite you to "comment", so that we can all gain from a wider community of God's people.  Please feel free to "comment" at the end of each post.

Finally there is an encouragement to pray, asking God to make the Word spoken more real in our hearts than we can ever gain from our intellect alone.

TODAY:  We read Isaiah 43:14, 18-21

Thus says the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: … Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? … For I put water in the desert and rivers in the wasteland for my chosen people to drink, The people whom I formed for myself, that they might announce my praise.

THINK:  God, through Isaiah, says God is a God of Beginnings.  God began with a people - Israel, first by calling Abraham, then by protecting them in Egypt's slavery, and finally in deliverance.  He raised up a nation that would reflect His Character and His Ways.  From this, David would rise to be the greatest of Israel's Kings.  But David was no more than a good human...not God. He could not, of his own, secure God's righteousness, nor God's peace.  Isaiah prophesies of a time when Israel would bring about new "beginnings".

Advent is our opportunity to "Begin Anew".  We behold all that God has done in making all things new.  He gathered people from enslaving fear, from religious duty, from performing in order to look good, and brought them to a place of freedom...a freedom of Spirit that allowed them to see God personally, and to see Him as the God who sought them...instead of ignore them.

THINK about it.  You and I are a part of God's Plan for new beginnings.  Do you need a new beginning  with God?  Today is a good day to ask Him for that to occur.

Prayer:

Lord, we come to this time of Advent with a desire that this be a personal "Advent-ure".  Please come, and wash us with the grace of your Spirit that leads to righteousness before you.  Please help us to walk with you in all the ways that we can respond to you...through every moment, through every day.  Amen.