“You’ve got to have a dream!” What’s yours?

Morning: Psalms 46, 48; 1 Kings 3:5-14; James 4:13-17, 5:7-11

Evening: Psalm 90; Revelation 21:1-6

My mother had a few records; one of them was “South Pacific”. She played it a lot when I was little. One of the songs is about a boy-girl romance, but a line from it stayed in my memory as a guide for life: “You’ve got to have a dream, if you don’t have a dream, how you goin’ to have a dream come true?” The Book of Revelation has a dream, of a new heaven and a new earth to supersede the old … a good dream for a new decade, something to reach for. What’s your dream?

What causes us to believe?

Morning: Psalms 20, 21:1-7; I Kings 17:17-24; 3 John 1-15

Evening: Psalms 23, 27; John 4:46-54

Some say they will believe if a miracle happens; others believe if they see proof … which is not belief at all, but knowledge. True belief is trusting … without a miracle. Later, belief may deepen, as did that of the Roman official whose son Jesus healed. He already believed sufficiently that he asked for help. Perhaps he had already experienced something astounding? … Haven’t we all? Life itself? Generosity? Love? Aren’t these everyday miracles enough to convince us that a higher power is behind them? Aren’t they enough to make us trust that even greater things are possible?

Ultimately, peace depends on whether you trust God

Morning: Psalms 93, 96; I Samuel 1:1-2. 7-28; Colossians 1:9-20

Evening: Psalm 34; Isaiah 62:6-7, 10-12; Luke 2:22-40

As you get older, you realize that not everything you dreamed of will happen in your lifetime! You may respond to this by thinking the world must surely be ‘going to hell in a handbasket’! Or, you may trust that the next generation will carry forward what you think important and worthwhile. However, it’s natural to look for signs. Simeon greeted the infant Jesus as a sign that all would be well with the world. Now, Simeon could live and die in peace. Ultimately, your peace depends on your trust in God.

Believing is Seeing, not the other way round

Morning: Psalm 26; Jeremiah 31:10–17; Galatians 4:1–7

Evening: Psalms 2, 8; John 1:1–18

On the radio the other day someone describing science said that when you have evidence you can believe.  But that is odd, because belief that requires evidence is not really belief. Belief is accepting what cannot be proved by external evidence. The affirmation that the Creator of the Universe took flesh and was born in human form is unique to Christianity. John declares that Jesus is light for all and brings grace and truth to all who receive him. You cannot discover what this means unless you first believe it. No evidence can prove it to you. Believing is seeing.

One who has suffered can help those who suffer

Morning: Psalms 148, 149, 150; Isaiah 41:17–20; Hebrews 2:10–18

Evening: Psalms 125, 126; Matthew 1:18–25

Henri Nouwen’s book “The Wounded Healer” explored what is often true … that, in order to become a useful companion for those who suffer, you yourself must have suffered in some way. The letter to the Hebrews describes Jesus similarly, that because he became like us in every respect, including by what he suffered. And, especially because his suffering was an expression of love, he is able to help us when we are tested. Suffering and death make us afraid; the love of Jesus works in us to overcome our fears.

Who are the ones most likely to share good news?

Morning: Psalm 145; Isaiah 41:8–10; Hebrews 1:1–12

Evening: Psalms 146, 147; Luke 2:15–21

Luke says the news of the Messiah’s birth came first to shepherds. They were poor, illiterate and dishonourable because they could not be home at night to protect their families. Some thought shepherds were thieves because their sheep grazed on other people's land. To these outcasts of polite society, counted with sailors, butchers, camel drivers, and other despised occupations … to these unlikely folk, the angel came with good news for all people, especially the lowly and outcast. Maybe the shepherds were first to hear this good news because they were the ones most likely to share it?

Let us love one another, for love is from God

Morning: Psalms 2, 85; Micah 4:1–5; 5:2–4; 1 John 4:7–16

Evening: Psalms 110, 132; John 3:31–36

Love speaks for itself. Something about love tells you it comes from beyond you.  You cannot order up love by telling yourself, “I’m going to love …”; or, even more ridiculous, by telling someone else, “You must love …” Love only becomes real when you recognize and accept the loving and creative power at the heart of all things, whom some call ‘God’, and it is beyond your control. Love is from God. When you find peace with yourself, with God and with all things, love comes unbidden and unforced. May you know this peace. May you know this love.