| Sunday, November 29 – John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John’s take on Jesus coming into the world was that He was light driving out darkness. John has barely begun his gospel narrative before introducing this cosmic conflict as the reason God the Father sent the Son. With a confident foreshadowing of the story’s end, John assures us who will ultimately come out on top. “That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.” Right here John sums up the season of Advent. Even amidst the great deal of darkness in this world, the light of Jesus Christ shines bright. He who experienced all of the darkness, even death itself, and was not overcome now dwells in us as God’s Spirit. As followers of Jesus, we still live in a world where darkness seems ever-present. This is no surprise to many of us. We experience suffering in relationships, through disease and death, and seeing the world run by and for those in power. Remembering the truth found in John 1:5 and the resurrection of Jesus allows us to have faith that, in the words of Frederick Buechner, “the madness and lostness we see all around us and within us are not the last truth about the world but only the next to the last truth.” Reflect – Consider today how the light of Christ may shine into the darkness around you. Are there times in your life where you’ve accepted the darkness in which you may be called to carry the light of Christ? How might practicing the four tenets of Advent Conspiracy bring about light into our dark world? Pray – Jesus, Light of the World, During this Advent season, may we not ignore or fear darkness, but help us see the same light that came into the world 2,000 years ago still shines in us today. When we grow weary, strengthen our hearts. When we feel despair, encourage us through community and your words, And where there is darkness, lead us to be light. Amen.  |
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We will continue to count down the days until the birth of the Christ Child together through these times of reflection back to what was happening in Bible times and, as we look ahead on our own lives and how we are preparing to celebrate this miracle and how to share His love with everyone we know. I hope you will join us daily, via this email to you or on my Kennedale News column each day, as we spend a little time in God’s Word. Have a wonderful Advent. I miss you all and I ‘wish you a Merry Christmas! “I don’t know how, but I know Who!” Peace, Pastor Nelda Reverend Dr. Nelda Barrett Murraine is Pastor at First United Methodist Kennedale 229 W 4th St. Kennedale, TX 76060 If you would like to donate to the ministries and mission outreach of FUMC Kennedale, we now offer online giving. Just follow this link: Vanco Online https://www.facebook.com/KennedaleFUMC |
