Originally published Friday, 06 December 2013.
Will you join me today with some simple yet not-so-simple sentences which I typed across this page out of my own journaling of today's Advent Scripture? Will you join me as we first look inward to grasp what we will call The Bigger Picture and then look outwardly to how we might live it out?
Advent Scripture for today from THE VOICE: Isaiah 40:5-8
The Lord will be, really be, among us. The radiant glory of the Lord will be revealed. All flesh together will take it in. Believe it. None other than God, the Eternal, has spoken. A voice says, “Declare!” But what shall I declare? All life is like the grass. All of its grace and beauty fades like the wild flowers in a field. The grass withers, the flower fades as the breath of the Eternal One blows away. People are no different from grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; nothing lasts except the word of our God. It will stand forever.
Advent is about the bigger picture, yes! The bigger picture looks beyond our present trials and struggles. The bigger picture looks beyond our present discord with others. The bigger picture looks beyond our doubt or distrust in God. The bigger picture looks beyond the most obscene or horrific of headlines of the day.
Awe and Wonder
The bigger picture is that God is the beginning and the end.
The bigger picture is the birth, the history altering, life-changing Birth of Messiah--Jesus.
The bigger picture is His Word which never falters, never stands errant, never fades.
The bigger picture is the Cross with which Immanuel--God with Us-- died for us.
The bigger picture is that we don't go a day with out sin. We need forgiveness.
The bigger picture is the Risen King––Jesus victorious three days later.
The bigger picture is His radiance and everything else looks gray comparatively.
The bigger picture is we may live in His radiance and love the unlovable in His radiance.
When it all comes down to it. At the end of our day (today) what matters most? What difference did we make with our life today? What matters most is the bigger picture.
Journal:
Take some time with each line above in the Awe and Wonder section. You will almost be able to write the words "bigger picture" in your sleep as we've reiterated them so very many times today. That was intentional.
~Write out each line above and journal a few words in prayer about how you can make the bigger picture a reality in your life as you live it out.
Did anything stand out to you in particular? Leave a comment...let's chat!
***Also! If you would like to receive Advent: Awe and Wonder in your inbox: Subscribe to LIVE IT OUT! by Email (check your inbox and/or spam box to verify the subscription!) See you tomorrow for Day 6...
SHARE
