Christmas
January 4, 2017

Scripture Reading: Psalm 29

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
   the Lord sits enthroned as king for ever.
May the Lord give strength to his people!
   May the Lord bless his people with peace! –Psalm 29:10-11

One of the hardest challenges in doing faith in God is walking that fine line between trusting in an all-powerful God and taking responsibility for doing our part in forwarding God’s vision and mission. I chose the word doing instead of practicing because living our faith is the real deal on the court or field of life. It is not something we are preparing to do in case we are called to participate. Indeed, we need to hone our skills every step of the way, but the game of life proceeds.

As I write this, there are terrible floods in the southeastern part of the United States. Homes destroyed, people died. Bad things do happen to good people. It does rain on the just and the unjust*. Psalms 29 assures us that even in the floods of life God is with us giving us strength, opening doors for us to share our lives and love with those afflicted.

The players on the best sports teams are in sync with their coaches. Good advice for Christians, don’t you think?

Prayer: We thank thee, Lord God, for all the benefits thou hast given Us in thy Son Jesus Christ, our most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother, and for all the pains and insults he hath borne for us; and we pray that, following the example of thy saintly bishop Richard of Chichester, we may see Christ more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever**. Amen.

*See Matthew 5:45
**Prayer from 1253 see at http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/139.html

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.