Journey to the Manger – Advent Day 1

The Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem


Today we begin our journey to the manager. Twenty-five days of Advent posts. Most churches started their Advent observances by lighting the first candle on Sunday.

We’re taking a different approach with daily reflections each day between now and Christmas Day.

Today’s focus is the Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the end.

While everything we do is fixed in time, Jesus exists, and has always existed, outside of time.

There’s a good deal of comfort in that.

We always have new beginnings to look forward to. A new week, a new month, a new year. Sometimes it’s a new job or a new home, or a new relationship.

But we also have endings. A job ends. For an actor a show ends. A season ends.

And of course, life ends, my wife and I said goodbye to no less than fifteen close associates or family members in 2021. We got a little weary with funeral notices.

There’s also a great deal of comfort in knowing that because Jesus stands outside of our concept of time, nothing surprises him.

I particularly like to remember that when I screw up, which is more often than I care to admit.

We’re on our way to Bethlehem where this part of the story begins.

UPDATE: While I don’t do Biblical proof-texting, I also don’t believe in coincidence.  My regular reading this morning included the following:

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.

Revelation 1:17

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

slot777situs luar gacorslot toto gacorslot mahjongslot gacor hari inislot server luarslot mahjong gacorsitus luar gacorlink gacor maxwinslot gacor maxwinslot luar negerislot 88slot toto gacorslot luar negerislot gacor 88slot maxwinslot toto gacorslot gacor maxwinlink alternatif pacutoto99slot gacor maxwinslot toto gacorslot gacor 4dslot maxwinslot 4d gacorsitus slot gacorslot gacor maxwinslot maxwinslot totoslot server luarslot luar gacormaxwin totositus luar gacorsitus slot gacorslot toto gacorsitus luar gacortoto gacorslot totoslot luar gacorsitus luar gacorslot server luarslot toto gacortoto gacorslot totoslot luar gacorsitus luar gacorslot gacor maxwinslot server luarslot luar gacorslot gacor maxwinmaxwin totolink gacor maxwinslot gacormaxwin slotslot maxwinslot gacor maxwinslot toto gacor maxwinslot maxwinslot asiaslot server luarslot jepangslot server asiaslot luar negerislot server thailandspaceman slotslot 4dthailand slotserver jepang gacorasia slotslot gacor maxwintoto slot gacorslot thailand resmiserver thailand slotserver jepang slotserver asia slotserver malaysia slotserver luar slotserver macau slotserver hongkong slotslot luar 4dslot toto gacorslot server thailandslot server luar negerislot dana 5000slot thailandslot server jepangslot server luarslot luar negeri 4dslot dana gacorsitus toto gacorslot toto gacorslot server luarpacutoto99 link alternatifslot gacor 4dslot server thailandslot server luarslot dana 5000slot toto gacorslot luarslot luar negeritotoslot luar 4dws168toto slotslot gacor maxwinslot totoslot maxwinslot luar 4dslot luarslot asiatoto gacorslot totoslot gacor 4dslot gacor server luar hari inislot toto gacorslot onlinesabung ayam onlineslot server luarslot server thailandslot totoslot gacor server luar hari inislot toto gacorslot server luarslot luar negerisv388slot thailanddigmaanslot totoslot server luarsv388slot thailandsv388slot totosv388digmaanws168slot totoslot server thailanddigmaanslot totopacutoto99luarsv388ws168totopacutoto99pacutoto99pacutoto99