December 22, 2019, Lectionary
By this time next week, this year's longest night will be over. Isaiah said by the time this child is eating solid food, the current threats to the kingdom will be past. Isaiah 7:10-16
Psalm 80 opens with "Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel," and then proceeds to picture Israel as a vine. That's an interesting mix of metaphors. Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Son of David by human birth, Son of God declared so by his resurrection, has called you, you also! Romans 1:1-7
Matthew cites the part of Isaiah's story that can immediately apply to Jesus, but there's more to Isaiah's story, about trusting God to do big things. Matthew 1:18-25
Thoughts about Listening
To what are you counting the days this year? The shortest day? The longest night? The return of the sun? Or something else? Isaiah 7:10-16
Who is there that frustrates you because they don't seem to hear what you're saying? Could you simply (without "attitude") ask that person for five minutes of focused attention? Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
I want to consider my words today. Who or what gets the most publicity in my words? Romans 1:1-7
What do you do to enlarge your employees' thinking, empower them to raise their sites and take on a huge project? Matthew 1:18-25