Concert of Christmas Cards

Concert

Psalm 150

Exposure: Read the passage. Make arrangements to go watch a Christmas concert or play. Go outside your normal circles and attend one at a church you've never visited or in a part of town you don't often drive through.

Exploration: What part of the concert or play meant the most to you? What did you learn just from the setting and the people you watched it with?
When they sang 'holy night' and specially when they talk about the message of christmas. Why we celebrate it, and not that it is just a child was born. But what it means that he was born.

Expression: How is God like a conductor or director? How can you apply the discipline of rehearsal to improve your relationship with God?
I can hang in there. When you first start to play a musical instrument or a new song. It isn't always easy. You go on a rollercoaster, maybe first a little hill down but then a big mountain of hardnes to overcome. And that's where I find myself. At the mountain. Even though I have learned through life that the mountain isn't as tall and steep as it appears, it's still hard to start the climb. But I have to keep at it, because you have to let your body and muscle get used to climbing. Then everything will get better!!

Experience: Discuss with friends or family or journal about a time in your life when you were completely in tune with what God wanted for your life. What are some spiritual disciplines that you need to rehearse more regularly to get back in sync with God?
I think it has to be over 10 years ago. I was alone at a new place with all new people. It gave me the time to read and pray. Now that I have a family and lots of stuff happening all the time, I find it hard to take the time to put Him first. And I am truly missing it, so I have to really take the effort and take the time again!

Christmas Cards

Acts 15:22-31

Exposure: Read the passage about an encouraging letter. Most of the New Testament is made up of letters. Buy or make a Christmas card for someone who has really been a blessing to you this year. Spend some additional time expressing to them what they mean to you. If a card won't hold all you need to say, write out a whole letter like the early church did.

Exploration: Think of how meaningful letters like this must have been in the first century. What kinds of communications do you most often use to express these kinds of thoughts to those in your life?
I'm usually bad at expressing my feelings, but when I do I mostly do it by texting. Allthou I used to be a good letterwriter. I think I have to take the time for it again. I know there are several people wanting some good old fashion mail. 

Expression: How do you think your card will make this person feel? Why do you think there is so much power in expressing love to someone?
I hope the card will make the person feel happy and appreciated. The power is in the fact that you express your most inner feelings in letters. The things you find hard to say, sometimes they are even hard to write. But you don't have to deal with them face to face, so it makes things less confrontal. Even though it's happy things. We are to caught up in our own emotions, or lack of love. What we ourselves are missing that we forget that we can be the ones giving those things to someone else. 


Experience: Jesus wrote us a really long letter called the Bible expressing His love for us. What has been the most meaningful part of His letter to you?


I think it is that I am something, that I'm worth something to Him. He likes me, wants me and cares for me. Even though I have a husband who really loves me, kids that do the same. I find it hard to think that someone else cares. And God has enough of people that is 'better' than me. Still He cares about me. Wants me to be better, and feel like His child. But even though I don't feel it, doesn't make it any less true.