SCRIPTURE: (Happy are ...) those who have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation, your steadfast love and your faithfulness. - PSALM 40:4, 10

This verse from Dan’s great Daily Scripture comments, made me think, Maybe I should "Speak of your faithfulness and your salvation, your steadfast love and your faithfulness" by contributing to the 2011 Trinity Advent booklet, and sharing part of my Journey.

The first prayer I can remember praying, when I was probably 10, was for help finding my mitten lost while I was leveling ear corn as it came into the top of our corn crib in Illinois. I found it, and was sure it was a miracle! Many miracles later, some recognized, more probably not, I feel I personally know of the Lord’s faithfulness, salvation and love. While I don’t subscribe to the "Prosperity Gospel," as described by some, my own life experiences seem to show a more than average amount of what many would call "luck", or maybe
"dumb luck." I feel these experiences have shown me God’s Faithfulness, Love, and Salvation, so I should speak of these things to others.

I was a slow learner about God’s Love. In my early adulthood, I was bothered by sermons and things I read urging me to love God. I thought, How can you love an invisible God,  who has so much power, who has created such a beautiful, terribly complex world and an apparently infinitely large universe? So I started to experiment with praying as if I could "see" God and Jesus as beings that could respond to my love as well as to my prayers. Very soon I felt like they were answering me, "Of course, Bob, you dummy, how long have you been reading the Bible without knowing that I love you, but I also want you to love Me!" Now I feel like anyone who is not taking advantage of this great offer of Love, Salvation and  faithfulness is missing out on a huge blessing that could be a part of their Journey.

PRAYER: Dear God,  Thank you for this season of Advent, when we are reminded again of your fantastic love for us and grace given to us. Help us to think of You, praise You and feel your presence more often on our journey through this Advent season. AMEN

(Bob Peart)