What do you want to be when you grow up? How many times have you been asked that question? Vocation asks a different question. Instead of, “what job shall I choose,” the question becomes “what is God calling me to do?”

New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11

Have you ever heard people say, “God healed me.” “God spoke to me.” God fed me.”? What comes to mind when you hear these statements? The ordinary or extraordinary? The natural or supernatural. When we pray, “give us this day our daily bread,” how does God deliver? Vocation reveals that God has chosen to do His supernatural and extraordinary work through natural and ordinary people.

NTReading: Matthew 6: 7-15

The season of Advent is about watching and waiting for Jesus to return again. Acts chapter 1 tells us that Jesus will come again “in the same way you saw Him go into Heaven.” Furthermore, Jesus makes clear that no one knows the day or the hour of His return. All we know for certain is this, before Jesus returns, the world will be a bigger mess than ever. Jesus has, is and will return in the same way He has always come – into the mess.

Reading: Revelation 22: 6-21

Finally, all the presents are wrapped. The dinner has been purchased. The family is on the way. The preparation is done and now all we are left with are our hopes and expectations. But when does Christmas ever meet our expectations? Even Jesus, the Author of Life, couldn’t find a hotel room, the dirty shepherds crashed the party and Mary had a long and painful labor. Even though it might not meet our expectations, everything about Christmas happens according to God’s plan.

Reading: Luke 2: 1-21

Messy World

Reading: Isaiah 9: 1-7

Christmas is the season of light. Jesus, the light of the world, came not to show off His light but to defeat darkness.

Messy People

Reading: John 1:1-11

Jesus, the Word, has become flesh and is Immanuel, God with us. He has come to be with His own people, but His own people say, “Who are you?” How dark and deep must their mess be when they do not even recognize the Messiah?

Reading: Matthew 2:13-18

Christmas is a time for family reunions and family road trips. Do you remember a Christmas road trip that did not go as planned? Was it a mess? The road trip for Jesus and His earthly family was a hot mess. First, Mary is six months pregnant and walks 80 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Then, because Herod is a murderous maniac, Jesus and His family must make their way home through Egypt of all places. Matthew says, “this was to fulfill.” Imagine that, the plan and purpose of Almighty God is accomplished through a messy road trip.

Reading: Matthew 2: 1-12

From the beginning, God’s plan has been for the marginalized. Christmas is a time when we are reminded that the God of Heaven and Earth has come for the least, the last and the lost.

Reading: Matthew 1: 1-17

What does your family tree say about you? Is it a beautiful tree or one that has broken branches and bruised limbs? Chances are, there is part of your family tree that you are not very proud of. Part of your family’s checkered past has influenced who you are today. Through the incarnation, Jesus has come to set people free from sin, death and Satan’s grip. Sometimes the journey with Jesus begins with Him setting us free from our messy past.

Matthew 1: 18-25

Is your family messy? Mine too! In fact, God chose to reveal Himself in Jesus through His earthly family and they were also a mess. Jesus’ parents were considering divorce. The Lord of all was born to an unwed mother. Jesus loves messy families because messy families are all there are. Could it be that Jesus loves and has a plan for your messy family?