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Living The Solution – Online Newsletter |
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December 6, 2004 ISSUE |
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Opening Thoughts:
God is so much bigger than we can imagine. A big God
who often seems to operate subtly. I’m finding a great appreciation
of the “mystery” of God is very much on my mind as we move
closer to Christmas.
Does God really enter into our everyday lives? If so,
does that mean that I can have a personal connection? During this Advent
season slow down and let the mystery of “the Word made flesh” become
real.
Peace and joy,
Tom Gilbert
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IN THIS ISSUE
Feature Article: Advent Adventure
In The Spotlight: Sound Gift Giving and Living
Daily Thoughts: Come and See
Prayer & Sharing Requests
Quotable: Any Thing Done for God
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| FEATURED
ARTICLE |
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Advent
Adventure
Article by Tom Gilbert – December
2004
Advent
is a time of preparation, the four weeks leading to Christmas
when we celebrate the birth of Christ.
Of course our society makes the true celebration of this time harder each year.
Most people spend December in a flurry of activity that includes shopping for
gifts, holiday parties, decorations, sending cards and lots of rushing. There
is very little waiting
Very Mysterious
This Advent can be an adventure for
you. This adventure can be one of truly entering more into
the mystery of the Divine becoming human. I don’t
know how much time you may have spent contemplating this
mystery. As for me, I know that it has not been nearly
enough. I really need to spend more time in quiet contemplation
of it. It’s not about trying to figure it out or
logically absorbing the content. That’s impossible.
But I can spend time in the mystery and that means I must
make time for that.
The inescapable fact of our lives as believers that God has and does enter into
our lives in a very real way – particularly as the “Word made Flesh” – means
we won’t figure it out. A mystery it will always remain. But, is there
anything wrong with this? I find that some mystery in our lives is a good thing.
Read the entire article here
Discover more thought provoking articles
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| IN THE SPOTLIGHT |
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Sound Gift Giving and Living
This holiday season consider gifts that are
ecological sound. Find ways to live in harmony with life and God's creation.
Recycle and protect the environment.
Here are some considerations:
Co-Op America
Call To Renewal
Compassionate Consumption
Phones4Charity
Computer Recycling USA
See more at our Spotlight Specials page
Do your holiday shopping at our Living
the Solution online store. It’s secure,
extensive with many great gift ideas! Visit our online
store. There's something for everyone.
When you shop with us, you support our ministry – thank you!
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DAILY THOUGHTS & REFLECTIONS |
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Come
and See
The next day John was back at his post
with two disciples, who were watching. He looked up, saw Jesus walking nearby,
and said, "Here he is, God's Passover Lamb." The two disciples
heard him and went after Jesus. Jesus looked over his shoulder and said
to them, "What are you after?" They said, "Rabbi" (which
means "Teacher"), "where are you staying?" He replied, "Come
along and see for yourself." (John 1:35-39 — The Message)
John had never seen Jesus before. He'd never seen Jesus
do any of His miracles. Still he recognized Jesus for who He was, the Son
of God. God had given John a sign, a sign that the Holy Spirit in the form
of a dove would rest upon the one who was the Son of God. And John, in spite
of his busy schedule, was keeping his eyes open watching for the sign of
which God had spoke. He did not let what he was doing get in the way of
looking for the sign. He did not get caught up in the work he was doing
and develop a false sense of self importance. No, John remembered who he
was, what he was about, and who he was looking for.
When Jesus arrived two of John's followers heard what John had said about Jesus
and went to confirm this with Jesus. Rather than give them an answer, Jesus simply
says, "Come along and see for yourself".
So many things have not changed today. God has placed in our hearts, something
that is uniquely God-seeking and it recognizes God when He comes. But, unlike
John, we get too caught up with what we are doing. We lose focus or start to
think what we are involved in is all about us and we miss Him when He comes.
And Jesus’ answer to us is still in the form of an invitation — "Come
along and see for yourself". It was all about relationship back then and
it is still all about relationship today.
Take time this Christmas season to re-focus your heart on God. Get that God-thing
that is in your heart tuned into Him again and take up His invitation to "Come
along and see for yourself".
Live it with Passion
Pete Reinbold
Get daily inspiration with a Scripture verse and commentary
at
Daily Thought
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PRAYER REQUESTS & RESULTS |
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Prayer works. It really does.Submit your prayer
requests and we will pray for them.
Of course, we keep your information confidential.
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My thoughts are shared regularly on the pages of
our web site, especially on
the Journal pages.
We welcome and appreciate your feedback. If you would
like to submit an article please see our writer's
guidelines.
It is our hope that the content of Living The Solution will
stimulate you to deepen your faith. That is certainly a result for us in both
our writing and reading. If you would like to see articles on a particular topic
or you have comments please let us know.
Send an email
Quotable: Any Thing Done for God
As long as I see any thing to be
done for God, life is worth having; but O how vain
and unworthy it is to live for any lower end!
— David Brainerd’s (1718-1747) Journal
Copyright 2004 Living the Solution, all rights reserved.
Tom Gilbert
Editor/Web-servant
Living The Solution
www.livingthesolution.com
P O Box 25584
Albuquerque, NM 87125-5584
Toll free 1-800-399-2564 ext 105 (US only) or 505-247-3232
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