One of my favorite songs says, “This is holy ground; we’re standing on holy ground; for the Lord is present and where He is, is holy.” Ah, God’s presence is within me, around me, before me, embracing me and my neighbor, and all those who need the peace of God. It is a sacred experience.

God calls all of us to be his hands, feet, eyes, voice, and touch to others. Perhaps we have once been wounded or feel compassion for the hurts and fears of others. Allow those feelings to drive you into God’s compassion and healing for others wherever we are. Together we can make a difference. Together we can be healed and experience hope. Together we see God!

“And Jesus said, “Come to the waters, stand by my side. I know you are thirsty, you won’t be denied. I felt every tear drop when in darkness you cried. And I strove to remind you that for those tears I died.”

What’s on our “want list?” Does it include serving others or fulfilling the needs and dreams of others? Perhaps that was one of the original purposes of sharing gifts at Christmas.

When we are “blanketed in God’s Love,” when we acknowledge that Jesus embodies that Love, we discover that it is the perfect gift to us from God in our moments of great pain and sorrow, as well as in our time of jubilant joy. So, look and see the greatness of God in a small child born in Bethlehem so long ago. Let God wrap you in his arms of Love. Experience this Love that brings healing, hope, and peace into our lives. It is a gift that never goes away!

This Advent Season at Faith Lutheran Church in Shelton, we gather to do the Holden Evening Prayer. This song is part of that worship, and it moves the heart. If you haven’t attended this service, I recommend you do it on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. It is a chance to lift up our prayers to God for peace and justice and hope, now and into the future.

And what is it that God requires of us? Perhaps Micah 6:8 says it best: “[God] has told you…what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Jesus demonstrated it for us. Return to the ways of God is what God desires of us.

The words, “give thanks to the Lord,” are used at least 35 times in the NRSV translation of the Bible. They are music to my ear, healing for my heart, and food for my soul.” They are the “thank you, God” that makes life meaningful and worth living!

God, you are the strength of my heart, the fuel that keeps me going. Direct me, hold me, carry me along so that I may find hope, peace, love, and contentment with you. Amen

Read the first chapter of Genesis. In this creation story, did you notice how it repeated the words, “God saw that it was good,” over and over again. Then when God created humans, Genesis says, “God saw that it was VERY good.”