Tag: Christmas

Kingdoms and Treasures > Christmas
Blog
December 18, 20240

The Wild Love of God

Written by Tracy Busse

In contemplative silence with another, I found my heart beating wildly with love for God. It was as if the Holy Spirit had taken my heart for a raucous dance, leaving me breathless with delight. What a wonder it is to be loved.

The past few months have felt wild in a circumstantial way, with so many changes and movements around me. It has been a season of discernment and sweet gifts from God—a time of transition where I’ve both celebrated and grieved the seasons that have passed. It’s also a time when I long for what’s ahead. I pray for God’s grace to help me be fully present to the in-between, to slow down before rushing to the next thing. And in that slow-down, I find God’s wild love for me—and for you.

As Advent wraps up this week and we prepare for Christmas, I find myself not quite ready to leave the quiet spaces of Advent. Every year, I grow an Amaryllis, hoping it will bloom by Christmas. This year, though, the plant seems to reflect my desire to linger in Advent a little longer. I’m not sure when it will bloom, but I can’t wait to see what it looks like when it does.

My Amaryllis came from a local farmer’s market, and the vendor told me it was a unique species from somewhere in South America. It’s exciting to have something in my life that is both familiar and new. Tending to this little plant has been a sweet gift. I communicate with her every day, reassuring her that there’s no rush to bloom. She is just as wondrous in her growth as she will be when she blooms.

In the in-betweens of life, there is a temptation to rush. But the way of Jesus invites me to slow down and savor where I am. This place of presence and waiting is where I encounter God’s wild love. Jesus keeps reminding me that there is nothing more to do. I am invited to rest as God works within me, cultivating growth. We often miss what God is doing during times of transition—and the truth is, we may not need to know what is happening beneath the surface of our lives.

While the Holy Trinity invites me into a raucous dance followed by moments of sweet embrace, I wonder how the Holy One is inviting you to encounter love. You may be in the middle of a season that feels heavy or light, or perhaps you, too, find yourself in the in-betweens. Wherever you are, I invite you to take small moments to encounter God’s love. How does Love desire you? Can you imagine how God wants to be with you today? And when you notice God’s love with you, can you take a few moments to savor what is being offered?

Blog
December 19, 20200

Do You Hear What I Hear? An Advent Letter to My Family of Faith

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

I see you. I want to hear you and I want to know your heart. Not just hear, but listen. We are a church divided. We are a Nation at odds and we are a world fighting for life. We are the Church. We belong to one another. We were created by love and for love. The darkness can cause our vision to falter, but it will never prevent the light from coming. 

Do You See What I See?

I see pastors wondering how to lead a scattered flock. I see an angry flock wondering where their shepherd has gone. I see people trying to glue together shattered glass, to recoup a past that is gone. I see angry people trying to be heard.

I see “a star dancing in the night.” I see hope when I look for the light. I see God’s beloved remembering who they are. I see joy in the smallest things. I see a world that is learning how to wait. I see a multitude of gifts in the myriad of faces around me. 

Do You Hear What I Hear?

I hear weary parents doing their best. I hear the cries of lonely hearts. I hear predictions of the future riddled with fear. I hear hopelessness from the ones that fought the good fight and believe they lost. I hear the sobs of grieving souls.

I hear “a song with a voice as big as the sea.” I hear parent’s adoration of their children. I hear laughter in the company of friends. I hear the voices of the abused and broken standing tall. I hear an invitation to dance with the Divine. 

Do You Know What I Know?

I know that I do not know a lot. I do not know how the pandemic will end. I do not know how to stir up hope in the hopeless, and I do not know how to give peace to the anxious. I know we are tired. I know we engage the Advent season longing for a weary world to rejoice.

I know this Advent we wait for Christ to come in a big way. I know that God comes in ways we cannot predict. I know his life is teeming within all of us, waiting to be revealed. I know he came to give us life and to invite us into life in his Kingdom.

Listen To What I Say…

I listen because I want to know you. I listen because I want to hear your story. I listen because I want to see your heart. 

I listen because Abba knows me and calls me daughter. I listen because the Holy Spirit always listens to me. I listen because Jesus has captured my heart.

Dear brothers and sisters,

 Will you join me in listening to one another? What do you hear, see, or know that brings you hope as you wait? We are a family united by Christ and in Him we are one.  

With all my love and grace,

 Your sister