How has your week gone?  Have you finished the turkey, the leftovers, the shopping, the list of things that needed to get done and, maybe, a few of the things you wanted to do?  Were you able to get together with family and/or friends to celebrate giving thanks?  Did you brave the crowds for shopping?  Did you remember the local businesses?  Did you do anything different -- maybe even "new"?

This is Christ the King Sunday - the last Sunday of the liturgical year IF you follow the liturgical calendar, one of the Lectionaries or attend a church that does.  It is a time for remembering the importance of Christ as first in our lives.  In many ways it is a time for remembering the last year, being thankful, and starting the preparation(s) for the "new" year -- which starts next Sunday with the first Sunday in Advent.  It can also be a time for thinking about ways to give Christ the "kingship" of our lives -- first place in our lives.

What would it take to do that?  What schedule changes would need to be made so time with God daily could be added in?  How would Sundays look different if they included worship with fellow believers celebrating God's love for ALL of us?  What Bible study might you do?  (There are a lot of awesome studies out there -- ask your minister about them!)  Would the Bible study be an individual study, "just" for you, or a group study?  What about strengthening, or changing, your prayer life/time?  How would that change?

Next Sunday starts the "new" church year.  It is a good time to start the new year resolutions if for no other reason than it confuses friends and family.  Now, during busy hectic schedules, if changes can be made they will be easier to continue when the schedules slow down (if they ever do!).  Trying "new" things can be scary and challenging.  Try it - it might not only work it might be awesome!  And, like my friend Isaiah says (41:10 & 13) God not only has you in God's hand, God is holding you by the hand.  New? Yup, but you ​might like it!

​I don't know about you but I'm starting to wonder where the time has gone lately.  It is Thanksgiving already!  (And my son's birthday - actually on Thanksgiving this year - but then that's me!!)  I thought things would "slow down" when our summer people left, I got a chance for a break (the trip to AZ and recently a trip to my son's) and we started working on/toward the holidays.  It hasn't happened!  What about your schedule?  Do you have time to 'stop' and 'give thanks'?

Today's readings are in my friend Isaiah (9:1-7) where Isaiah is reminding the people God was with them in a couple of different battles, IS with them and will be there in the future.  Isaiah, like other prophets, is trying to call the people back to God.  They are letting the world "around" them be the most important.  Isaiah is pointing out the love, and justice, God has for God's people.  The early church also pointed to verse 6 as talking about Jesus -- 'wonderful counselor,' 'prince of peace,' 'Mighty God.'  Verse 2 points out that "those walking in darkness have seen a great light."  In today's Gospel reading Jesus is pointing out He is the "light."  (John 8:12)

When schedules get busy, when no matter which way you turn there is a list of things to do, when the answer to your prayers seems to be either 'no' or 'not yet' or when you get home from vacation you get a monster cold (yup, I have a cold!) what is it you do?  Do you stop, take time with God to - as Mark Batterson puts it in "Draw the Circle" - to keep praying?  Do you thank God?

Yes, I know thanking God is not the first thing we think of.  In fact stopping to be with God isn't always the first thing!  As we celebrate Thanksgiving, prepare for Advent (and Christmas) it is an interesting thought to also "thank" God for the hectic schedules, the things that have to get done (and the things you would like to do), the phone call you didn't want, the answer to prayer - even if it seems to be no, and for the cold.  I'm thinking it will change our attitude if it doesn't change anything else.  Happy Thanksgiving!!

Once again we have a "call to prayer," as people are hurting, this time in a small rural (where we don't 'expect' things like this to happen) town in Texas.  I ask that you be in prayer for all of those that are hurting because of this.  I ask you to pray as the people, of this small town AND church, come together for worship this morning.  I ask you to pray they are feeling God's presence AND God's peace "that passes all understanding."  I also ask you to be in prayer for what, and how, God is asking you to respond.

Today's readings are in Amos, a prophet many don't think of let alone know, about "justice."  Jesus is reminding us, in the Gospel reading (John 8:12), He is the Light of the world.  If we are following Jesus we are "walking in the Light."  Jesus is the "Light" of hope, Love, peace AND 'justice.'  Are we paying attention to what God is asking each of us, individually and as communities, to do?  Are we strengthening our relationship with God so we can reach out to show God's Love and justice?

Martin Luther King, Jr made these particular verses, in Amos, famous in his "I have a dream" speech.  Does knowing that help bring Amos to more importance for us?  Do we "only" listen when we know the prophet?  Do we only pay attention when whatever the topic/Scripture/readings/point is being made by someone important, or someone we know/like?  Do we have 'prophets' in our lives that we are ignoring because they don't look like, sound like, what we think a prophet should be like? 

Amos was/is calling the people back to a stronger relationship with God.  Jesus is reminding people He IS the Light of the world and to "walk in the Light."  Are we listening?  Are we strengthening our relationship with God so we can be "walking in the Light," going (and doing) what God is asking us to do?  Do we see how these readings still apply to us today?  Are we doing?

What does it take to get your attention?  Think about it as both an adult and as a child of God?  Think about it as both the teacher, as we work with other "children" of God, and as the student as we learn, grow and strengthen our personal relationship with God.  Think about it as the "teenager" going our own direction and the "parent" trying to get their attention.  Is it the shouting you hear?  Is it the storm breaking around you? Or is it the whisper?

I had a professor, in graduate school, that not only took the role for every class he never raised his voice.  I'm not sure how the people in the back row heard him.  I know I had to pay very close attention and I sat in the front row!  (Yes, I had my needlework with me but by graduate school everyone was used to it!)  It does raise the question though about the volume needed to get, and keep, our attention.

Today's reading, 1 Kings 19, Elijah has fled to God's mountain after being very busy against the gods of the people around him, fleeing for his life and traveling for 40 days/nights.  He is tired!  Then there is wind, and earthquake and fire.  When does Elijah hear God -- in the q-u-i-e-t.  God has provided rest, in the desert, and food for the journey (vs 6 & 7).  Now God speaks, once before (vs 9), and once after (vs 13) asking "what are you doing here?"  To which Elijah points out how tired he is - understandable!  He also realizes, I think, God's presence with him through everything - through fighting other gods, winds, earthquakes, fire, journeys and maybe even facing a few "giants."

So.......  How has God been trying to get your attention?  There have been, and continue to be, a lot of storms happening around us.  Have you heard/seen God?  We have faced many 'giants' - phone calls, trucks trying to pass, a difficult diagnosis, technology(!) - sometimes with someone and sometimes "alone".  Have you heard/seen God?  Elijah continued to follow where God was leading, doing what God asked.  Are we?