Advent 2024 series
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| Week 1: Be on Guard (Luke 21:34-36) | Monday Memo notes More this Week 1) Want to read all of Luke 21 and see all of the vivid poetry and imagery Jesus uses about the destruction of the Temple and the fall of Jerusalem? it’s a great example of “apocalyptic literature” in the New Testament, not unlike the strange book we know as Revelation: Luke 21.5-38 NRSVUE 2) This Advent, take the 30 day prayer challenge that Pastor Chris mentioned during the sermon, one used by another pastor drawing on something well-known French Christian mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal. Every morning, pray this once or a few times as a centering, opening prayer: “God, if I am half-asleep, wake me up, amen.” 3) Another prayer exercise this week would be to pray daily about a) your own weakness in the face of what you’re facing, and b) needing the strength that only God can give. Be intentional to do this as often as it comes to mind or as often as you need, and then pay attention during the week to see how God is answering your prayer. 4) Here’s how spiritual director Dr. Gail Seidel describes the difference between spiritually sleepwalking and being awake spiritually: “Actual sleepwalking occurs when people walk or do another activity while they are still asleep. Persons in this state are far more susceptible and easily-manipulated by others. “How akin is this to what we do as Christians? We sleep walk through the spiritual life, not realizing that we are simply going through the motions without any real substance within – which is tantamount to a serious soul disorder. We become insensitive to the Spirit of God and harden our hearts. Our eyes are glazed over…open but not seeing, moving but with little or no memory of what’s occurring… “When you make a choice to not pay attention to the Lord you miss out on what God wants to do through you. You miss out on intimacy with Him…You don’t notice all His kindnesses. You never know the joy of surrender to Him. It is as if your life is comatose, your heart is beating, but not much else, you cannot see, listen, or choose much at all. It is as if you have sleep-walked far from home and are now not where you are supposed to be. “Getting out of chronic soul sleep is a simple choice to respond to God’s invitation, for surely He has been trying to rouse you for quite some time, far longer than you yourself have been aware of the need to stir. “An attentive soul has the following characteristics: being fully present in the moment, looking purposefully and not too quickly, looking fresh at what is familiar, waiting with expectancy, and being available, aware, and mindful. As C.S. Lewis wrote, ‘We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God. The world is crowded with Him…The real labor is to remember to attend. In fact, to come awake. Still more, to remain awake.” |
| Week 2: The God of Surprises | Monday Memo notes |
| Week 3: | Monday Memo notes |
| Week 4: | Monday Memo notes |