Partners in Grace

Second Sunday of Advent
Philippians 1:3-11

• Advent is waiting for the coming of God, the fulfillment of God’s plan.

• I thank God every time I mention you in my prayers. (v3). My prayers of you are full of joy. My hope is your continued growth towards completion, perfection, shalom, wholeness as God would have you be.

What would that wholeness look like? (wait for it)

I think today it would look like security. Safety. Economic and social. To know that not only *I* would know peace and prosperity, but that my children & grandchildren would know peace & prosperity. That and maybe world w/o war, disease, poverty.

Can you imagine that? Is there anything you can do to work towards that? Could you do it if you had a partner? If that partner were God?

Sounds like The Promised Land. Sounds like God’s anticipated reign.
Economic aspect to promised land, to God’s reign.

• I have a friend who is depressed, has pretty much given up, in good part because of the political and economic situation of the nation. What to tell him? Do what you can do. Even if what you can do is write letters from your house. Eagerly but not anxiously await The Coming. And work regardless of what YOU may achieve – the Israelites who left Egypt wandered in the wilderness for their children…

• Teach your children what’s important, by word and action.

Some factors in are in your control, (do what you can)  Others are not.

          And don’t stop at adversity

          Hello, Mary, Hello, Joseph. Years of scrutiny, behind-the-back whispers…

          Hello, Paul.  Prison, multiple beatings.

• Don’t stop @ adversity but worship. Do what you can, and don’t fret @ the rest. God is amazing, and God will bring the world to God’s completion.

• Closing song, Amazing Love (Christmas version)