Listen

A child is born to us, a son is given to us, and authority will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Think

Ever thought about the Christmas carol “Away In A Manger” as being radical? “Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head…” Conjuring images of tiny shepherds in bathrobes and angels covered in glitter, “radical” is probably not a word that comes to mind when we sing this song. A Messiah who would restore the line of David and overthrow an occupying government – that’s radical. A baby wrapped in blanket – that’s just adorable.

But think about it: of all the ways that God could have accomplished what God wanted to accomplish, beginning it as an infant that is dependent upon others to survive is about as radical as it gets. It defies our expectation. Yet, that’s the way it is with God sometimes. Just when we think God is going to zig, God zags. But whether God is zigging or zagging, we must remember that God is moving and breaking into the darkness. We know this because “a child is born, a son given to us.” Thanks be to God.

Kris “Bubba” Brammer

Pray

O great and unpredictable God, you keep me on my toes and break into my routine with radical defiance of my expectations. Thank you. Thank you for not letting me settle for the ordinary. Thank you for challenging me to think in new ways. Amen.

Go

The Light has come.

The Light is within us.

Go and let the Light shine.