Following the Star

Pause

It's not what someone does for us that matters most; it's the very fact that they are with us when we need them that's important.

In moments of struggle and suffering - and in times of celebration and joy - we want another alongside us to share our experience.

The overriding message of Christmas is that God has come to be with us. And God is with you now.

Listen

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established;what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?

Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8:3-9

Think

Most of us, most of the time, have our attention focused on what’s right in front of us. But every so often something happens to make us look up and out, and we can see ourselves as God sees us: tiny specks in a vast universe and yet glorious, made in the image of God.

It’s no accident that such moments tend to happen in nature. When we see something not made by ourselves that nonetheless has life and movement, beauty and purpose, we start to think about who created that and realize it’s the same One who created us.

The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, stars and snowflakes, all of them tell of the glory of God. Set among all these treasures is one close to God’s heart: you.

Sarah Councell Turner

Pray

Creator God, your glory shines through all that you have made. Thank you for making me a part of your glorious world. Amen.

Go

Now go with the assurance that
God is present in you at your strongest and weakest.
God is present in all creation, including you.
God is present in every moment and in a single word.
God is present, recognized or not.
And God is present in the flesh – like our flesh – to bring us home.