Thought for the Day - Sunday 29 November

Thought for the Day – Sunday 29th November ‘Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?’ (Isaiah 43: 18-19) I was reading recently of someone who, like myself, as a child always liked to face forward when they were travelling on a train – feeling they might be sick if they faced the wrong way. However, having had to do just that many times since while travelling on trains I suspect it was really just a childish excuse on my part so that I got to see where we were going rather than where we had been! It strikes me that Advent is a bit like that train travelling! It is a season where we are encouraged to sit down and take time to look forward, to look into the future and see the new things God is preparing for us all in the birth of Jesus. Of course, if we don’t take time to look forward and are always looking back at where we have been then we might just miss something wonderful that God is planning or has planned for us. So let’s take the time, let’s look forward and not back so that we don’t miss anything that God has planned for us! I was talking today in worship of the ‘thrill of hope’ and we as hopeful people need to be out there sharing the hope which we hold dear in our lives, that way we bring hope to others! I was also saying that our ‘Thought for the Day’ will be changing slightly during Advent. Many of our children and perhaps some of you adults will be familiar with the ‘Elf on the Shelf’ who can be quite naughty and move around the house getting into all sorts of bother and recording the naughty deeds of the children. Well here is our twist on that for Advent – we are going to have the ‘Angel on the Shelf’ and this Angel will give us a good thought for each day and a good deed for each day of Advent. Nothing too strenuous, some will encourage us to be like children but all will help us to walk through Advent in a meaningful way! So there will be no ‘Thought’ tomorrow but this will give you time to look out your angel – one from last year’s knitting mission to our community, or the one from the top of your tree or one you make yourself or just a picture of an angel. Then our Advent walk will begin with the ‘Angel on the Shelf’ on Tuesday 1st December! Blessings Prayer Loving God, In this season of waiting, of longing, of pining, of looking for you to come into our world anew we are seeking light. Light in our own lives, light in our neighbourhoods, light in our families, light in our work. Lord Jesus you are the light of the world may we have eyes to see you and ears to hear you - come into our world today. Amen