ZPCBlog

About the author: Misty and her husband, Stan, started attending ZPC after moving from Dallas, Texas in 1997. They are happily retired empty nesters whose daughter and son have both married and are enjoying family life. Misty volunteers with the Worship Arts Team, VBS, and sings with the choir.

9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 

In the picture above, it is October 2014, and I'm standing with my husband in the middle of the San Andreas Fault - a place of geologic significance. It is a "continental right-lateral strike-slip transform fault." That also describes how I'm feeling about our country right now - like I'm standing in the middle of something big that's moving in different directions. As I write this, it is the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and I am looking forward to spending time with family in the coming days. This feeling of anticipation is in line with the season of Advent and the sense of expectant waiting and preparation. I have been sad, but grateful, over the past few weeks. Sad, because of the outcome of the election, grateful, for all the wonderful people in my life, and the fact that I can trust God is on his throne. I am grateful that my family isn't being torn apart, and that my friends (some of whom didn't vote the way I did) are still willing to be in a loving relationship with me. 

We are eternal beings and our relationships matter to God. People matter. Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians as he was experiencing persecution, after having been forced out of Thessalonica.  He was deeply concerned about (and longed to see) the new believers he had left behind. He sent Timothy to encourage them. Paul's exclamation of thankfulness (in verse 9) comes after Timothy brought back good news regarding the faith and love exhibited by the Thessalonian believers. Paul feels joy in God's presence because of these believers. Paul fervently prays for their faith and that he would be able to be with them.

Advent is about celebrating the coming Christ. Immanuel - God with us. We need that "with us" to be top of mind (and heart) in all of our relationships. We each have a sphere of influence - people with whom we come in contact. As we move through the coming weeks, let us pray that everyone would see Christ in us, and know/experience the hope that we have in Christ. Even in my sad moments, I'm thankful that God is with me. About a week ago, I felt God's nearness when I was outside with my dogs, praying, and a beautiful bluebird (the first one I had seen in several years) flew into my yard and sat in a bush in front of me. I'm not saying it was the bluebird of happiness, but it did bring me a burst of instant joy in God's handiwork.  

Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians is a powerful reminder of how we should behave in all of our relationships and the hope we have in the coming Christ.  I'm paraphrasing his prayer below.

Prayer

Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to each person with whom he has chosen for us to be in relationship, and may the Lord make us all increase and abound in faith, and in love for one another. And for all, so that he may establish our hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

In Jesus' name we pray,

Amen

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