Like it or not, pretty well all of us have problems or difficulties of some sort or other--and, I presume that this will probably continue this way, at least while we are on 'this side of eternity'. And so, it is great to have someone to talk to about our problems, another person perhaps, or God. Today's psalm depicts one person's conversation with God, but if we want to see this 'in action' the story of Jesus with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35) cannot be bettered. The two disciples are 'lost' in their grief and their woes and Jesus listens in and eventually helps them to find closure. Anyway, I find this story to be most encouraging, both in terms of what we can do for each other, but also what God can do for us.

Yesterday was the start of a new church year, and appropriately enough, the start of the four-week season of Advent, a time for reflection on God's incredible gifts and for preparation for His coming. In this, we are encouraged to be more disciplined and intentional in our times of devotion, but, as today's passage and meditation remind us, this needs to be sincere, from the heart and reflected in the way that we live our daily lives. Seeing as this is easier said than done, easy to rack up in terms of 'intentions' but less so in practice, it is all the more necessary that we engage in prayer for God's help in this.

Today is the First Sunday in Advent and the start of the Advent season of preparation and anticipation. It is often said that during this season we celebrate the three comings of Jesus into our world. We remember with joy and thanksgiving His first entry into our world, as a vulnerable creaturely baby in a manger in Bethlehem. And we celebrate His coming into our hearts and lives and what that means to us individually and corporately. And, we look forward to His coming again into our world as its Redeemer and Saviour and Judge to set 'aright' all things and bring all things to their proper state and completion.

And so, it is most appropriate to think of how we might be ready, prepared, in heart, soul, mind--and action, which is what today's Scripture passage and meditation are all about.

Our psalmist today waxes eloquent partially on the wonders of creation, but even more so on how the hand of God created it and is present in it. What this says to me is that perhaps more of us should simply take the time to step outside and take in and enjoy the wonders He created. Here I am thinking of the wonders of the snow and ice and the glory of the night sky. And, if you have an indoor arboretum, to take a gander at the wonder and intricacies of the plant world. Or, failing any of these, just to watch one of the glorious 'nature flicks' that have been produced over the years. To me, all of these just highlight how wonderful and praise-worthy is our God.

For yesterday and today our readings and meditations have to do with our praises and thanksgiving towards God, which is, of course, entirely fitting for all times and situations. But in a sense, it is all the more appropriate as we look forward to Christmas and God's incredible and costly gift of His Son, to not only share our mortal human existence with all its joys and sorrows, but also to experience the very worst that humans could endure and the very worst that we could impose upon another, namely the Cross and Passion of Jesus. This is such an incredibly rich and precious gift that we should, at all times and places, give thanks to Him.

Today and tomorrow’s readings and meditations have to do with our praises and thanksgiving towards God, which is, of course, entirely fitting for all times and situations. But in a sense, it is all the more appropriate as we look forward to Christmas and God's incredible and costly gift of His Son, to not only share our mortal human existence with all its joys and sorrows, but also to experience the very worst that humans could endure and the very worst that we could impose upon another, namely the Cross and Passion of Jesus. This is such an incredibly rich and precious gift that we should, at all times and places, give thanks to Him.

At Thanksgiving we are reminded, in something of an 'official' capacity, of all the things that we are thankful for, but very rarely do these 'official' recognitions mention anything by way of our spiritual blessings, which are many and wonderful. It is this kind of blessing that the apostle Paul waxes eloquent about in today's passage and is something well worth each of us paying attention to.

I think that all of us want the church to be built upon a solid foundation, such that it will continue to last, well into the future. And indeed, Jesus has promised that it will last, that even the 'gates of Hades' will not prevail against it (Matthew 15:18). But then, what about our own efforts to build it? Well, that is another, far more challenging question. Absorbed in that simple question are two other question. Firstly, are we really building upon the foundation of Christ--and not only some human philosophy or technique? (Far too often, I'm afraid, that we in the church pick up on the 'latest' fad--be it a philosophy or a technique--and run with it, never thinking to examine whether it is really of the Lord--or, more importantly, whether it is based on the Lord.)

And, secondly, we don't always examine what materials, what behaviours or ideas, we use when we build upon that one foundation that is Jesus Christ. Sadly and unfortunately, over my more than forty years as an ordained pastor I have seen more than my share of back-biting and raw ambition and just plain nastiness 'gracing' the sanctuaries and decision-making assemblies of the church. Surely these are less like gold and silver and precious jewels and more like hay, wood and straw.

So, folks, we are left with quite a challenge: how are we, you and I, going to build our beloved church?

Today's passage from Galatians raises, for me at least, an issue that has continually haunted and bothered me. It is the question of 'handouts', of giving materially to those who show up at the church asking--and often demanding--assistance. On the one hand, we have Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, telling us to give to whomever asks (Matthew 5:42) and furthermore telling us that the measure, the standard, that we apply to others will also be applied to us (Matthew 7:2). That sounds pretty conclusive and pretty drastic. Some would argue from this injunction of Jesus that we should give liberally and without question or judgment to anyone or everyone who asks, regardless of whether we are pretty sure that they will abuse or wrongfully use that gift. Anything else, they claim, would put us ahead of God who gives His gifts liberally to people both bad and good (see Matthew 5:45).

But, on the other hand, Jesus also tells us to actually make judgment calls (see Matthew 7:15-20) and even the Parable of the Speck and the Log (Matthew 7:3-5) is not forbidding any acts of judgment but only to do so with clear vision. And the bit about pearls, dogs and swine (Matthew 6:6) is clearly implying that we make some judgment calls.

Today's passage from Galatians takes what I would consider to be a rather balanced and nuanced approach. It maintains, first of all, that all of us should work for a living and take care of our own needs. There is to be no sponging or sense of entitlement. However, at the same time, we are to use, to apply, whatever abundance we have to assist those who are genuinely in need, seemingly through no fault of their own.

This still means that I have to struggle with this issue, but can do so, with some excellent guidance and help from God's word. Of course, it all comes down to a personal decision, to how we understand God's word and how we feel He is guiding us in specific circumstances. May God bless you as you wrestle with this.

This isn't my daily meditation but rather something that grew out of yesterday's one. As I meditated on the idea of setting aside Advent as a deliberate time of prayer based on these four headings, I immediately started getting ideas, specifics, as to what might be prayed for each day. The attached prayer is a result of that, but please feel free to fill in other headings as seem appropriate

An all too frequent habit among us humans is that we 'write ourselves off', or, do that very same thing with other people. Simon Peter had good reason to do that after denying our Lord three times, and so too did Judas. However, Peter didn't go off and hide himself and wallow in his woes, having his own private pity party. No, he sought out his fellow believers, who could help and support him during this time of shame and self-doubt. Judas, on the other hand--equally remorseful, sought the only relief he could think of, namely ending his own life. He figured that he was too far gone even for God, for Jesus Christ. Peter knew otherwise, knew that there was nothing that would interfere with the practice of God's love (see Romans 8:38-39) and so decided to give God a chance.

The penitent thief on the cross was of the same mind. Somehow, he knew that he wasn't too far gone for God. His faith, his cry for help, was pretty dismal, but it was enough for God! God, in Jesus Christ, responded and welcomed him home.

The same goes for each of us--and indeed, for everyone else in the world. None of us is too far gone for God. What wonderful and uplifting news! Alleluia.

Today's passage and meditation touch on something that is probably woefully understated--and under-practiced--in many of us today, and that is the practice of prayer. James has much to say on the matter, but let me suggest something very practical, based on his words in today's passage. Let me suggest a particular prayer discipline for the four weeks of Advent (which begins next Sunday):

Week One (November 27 - December 3): prayer for ourselves and for help in times of trouble or difficulty (don't we all have them?);

Week Two (December 4-10): prayer for those around us, for their healing and their forgiveness;

Week Three (December 11-17): prayer for the church and for its restoration and renewal. When James speaks of people 'having wandered away from the faith'', he isn't speaking of something sudden or intentional, but a gradual, unconscious drifting away. Isn't that very thing a problem with lots of so-called Christians these days?

Week Four (December 18-24): prayer for our land and our nation, even as did Elijah for his country and its people.

Anyway, this is just a suggestion, but one that I, hopefully, will be able to adopt.

Aches and pains and various other ailments, such as colds and the flu, seem to be the common lot of most if not all of us. Misery is something that we know all too well, and so we can most definitely sympathize with the author of today's passage from the Psalms. He certainly does 'have it bad', and in the introductory phrase to this psalm, invites others--us included--to join in its words. But rather than being disheartened by all that he has and is going through, he remembers God and recalls the glorious things that God can and has done, and calls God back to this. While he himself is a mere mortal, blessed with only a short lifespan, God is not. God and His love and care are everlasting and eternal. And so, God can do far more than we usually give Him credit for. That realization is certainly awe-inspiring, heartening and encouraging, but then, just near the end, the psalmist suggests that God's intervention is even more incredible. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews suggests that several verses here, verse 25-27, are actually referring to the Messiah. That gives God's intervention and action on our parts even more scope. Wow! So, most certainly, we can have confidence in going to Him with our prayers and petitions.

Faith, that is, trust in God, and faithfulness, are two sides of the same coin. We know that God is faithful and will always keep His side of the covenant He has established with us, His people. But whether we prove faithful is another story. We may place our faith and trust in Him in word, but do we always follow up on it? We may make promises to Him but don't always keep them. Sadly, that is part of the human condition, part of who we are as flawed, fallible human beings. Fortunately, God is always there for us, always faithful, and welcomes us back at the slightest opportunity. Thanks be to God.

An interesting commonality to the previous few meditations is a focus on faith, and not simply faith as a matter of faith or even of commitment, but faith put into practice in very tangible observable ways, whether in continuing to live fully in this age or safeguarding our tongues (what we say out loud or in print) or in choosing to trust Jesus even before we see any 'results'.

An interesting commonality to the surround mediations is that of them is a focus on faith, and not simply faith as a matter of faith or even of commitment, but faith put into practice in very tangible observable ways, whether in continuing to live fully in this age or safeguarding our tongues (what we say out loud or in print) or in choosing to trust Jesus even before we see any 'results'.

Sometimes the Scriptures seem almost uncanny--and almost frightening--in their discussion of issues and problems that we still face today. In today's reading from Habakkuk, we hear of God's indictment of run-away profiteering, of abuse of persons, of despoiling the environment and of reliance upon material things rather than upon God. Just how contemporary and relevant this is! However, in this context, it is good to know that God is fully aware of all this--and all we go through--and that He is here with us to help us and to guide us. Thanks be to God.

An interesting commonality to the next few meditations is a focus on faith, and not simply faith as a matter of faith or even of commitment, but faith put into practice in very tangible observable ways, whether in continuing to live fully in this age or safeguarding our tongues (what we say out loud or in print) or in choosing to trust Jesus even before we see any 'results'.