“Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.”

May we be the bread that feeds others, the bread that radiates with the aroma of hope and life, the bread that reflects Jesus, the Bread of Life.

The Gospels record that Jesus declares himself to be “The Light of the world” (John 8:12). This Light cannot be extinguished – not even by death! And so, the story of God’s love is recorded.

Today, I feel the need to be in the presence of Jesus. I yearn to hear his voice and to hear his words for me. I am Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus, letting the preparations of the day be set aside.

It is Advent as I write. Wars and deaths and fear still fill our lives. As we look at ourselves, our world, and the chaos around us, instead of despair, we “Wait for the Lord!” Something new will break through all the gloom.

As house parents for youth and teens who were troubled or came from unstable homes, it was our duty to keep these ten boys safe.

God says: “No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.”

Yet, with this same tongue, I can tell someone “I love you!” I can lift a person who is stressed out, tell others of their goodness, ask forgiveness for a wrong I have done, and share the story of God as I have experienced God with a friend. With the tongue I can pray to God and praise God in word or song. What a wonderful gift the tongue truly is!

God comes to Abraham (age 99) saying, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless.” God tells him his plan—I have a surprise for you! I will make a covenant with you. God’s side of the agreement is that Abram and Sarai with new names, new land to this nomadic couple to be passed down to their ancestors, and Sarai will become pregnant, the mother of many nations.

There it is! We are a people who have experienced God in our life or a people who are seeking to know God and wanting to experience God’s mercy and forgiveness and care. Sure, we are far from perfect. God knows that too! Todd, my husband, and Lutheran pastor, once said, “If it weren’t for sin, I’d be out of business as a pastor!”