Giving the Gift of Hope

Hope

First Week of Advent
Saturday December 7, 2013

 Read: Isaiah 40:1-11

 A voice cries out:
‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low;
   the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together,
   for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’—Isaiah 40:3-5

 The Lord is coming. We need to get ready. The Lord is coming. We need to clear the debris and clutter out of our lives, anything that might be blocking communion with God. The Lord is coming and will set all things right. 

The Book of Hebrews describes hope as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul. (6:19) In our scripture today, Isaiah is saying that hope is real and within our reach. 

The Children’s Defense Fund’s logo is a child’s picture of a child on a boat adrift at sea. It includes this prayer: Dear Lord, be good to me the sea is so wide and my boat is so small. http://www.childrensdefense.org/ 

All of God’s children, no matter their age, need steadfast anchors for their souls. This advent let us each find a way to give this gift of Hope to another and in so doing share the love of God. We might start with ideas from our devotions this week but I am sure you can make a list of your own.  Here are few to get us started:

  • Have you measured your carbon footprint? Go to http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx and see how you do and then set goals as a family to reduce your carbon footprints. Your friends with asthma or COPD will appreciate your enabling them to one day leave their homes when bad air days are gone.
  • Provide proactive justice. Review the Children’s Defense Fund Cradle to Prison Pipeline® Campaign at http://www.childrensdefense.org/programs-campaigns/cradle-to-prison-pipeline/. See anything that might work in your community. Work with your congregation on project(s) that will prevent children from being sucked into the prison pipeline.
  • Who offers English as a second language classes in your home town? Are such classes needed? Do they need volunteers?
  • Does your church employee staff in a child care, mother’s day out program, or any other activity? Are those people being paid a living wage by your church? It is harder than you think, particularly if you are trying to hold the costs down for your participants. Check out what a living wage is for your area at this website http://livingwage.mit.edu/. If you are not paying a living wage set a goal to do so and work toward it. If you own a small business and are not yet paying a living wage, explore this possibility also. You might consider what kinds of tax breaks etc. might be necessary for you to make a living wage a reality for your staff. If you do, share those ideas with your elected representatives.
  • How is your local school doing?  Talk to teachers, principals, and students. Ask your school what they need, identify what you or your congregation can do to help, and do it.
  • Your ideas: 

You do not need to do everything. You are called to do something. Find your niche and make a difference. 

Prayer: Holy One, walk with me as I move out into the world to bring hope and share the love of God. Amen.

All scripture passages are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version.