We Wonder

O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel,

you open and no one can shut; you shut and no one can open:

come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,

those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. 

Today’s reading is Isaiah 9:1-3, 6-7

I wonder: are there times when I feel like I am stuck in the dark? When it feels dark in my heart, or in the world around me? Can I talk to God about that feeling?

Can I be honest: do I sometimes get used to the dark inside of me? Does it sometimes feel like I will always be angry, or sad, or lost? 

This is the good news: God does not wait for us to find our way back, or to turn on the lights ourselves. God comes to us in our darkness, because God loves us -- not because we love God. Can I let that good news soak into my heart right now?

This passage from Isaiah tells us that God’s good kingdom is coming to us because of his great love. I wonder: can I see that great love in the face of the child Jesus, as we wait to celebrate his birth this Advent?

I wonder: what dark places in my heart need God’s light to shine? What dark places in my world need God’s goodness and healing love? Can I believe that God wants to make all of these things new?

We Wonder is written and hosted by Sarah Dahl; produced by Richard Clark; and engineered by Nick Thompson and Noah Kirby. You can keep in touch with us on Instagram and Twitter by following @wewonderpod, or read more at wewonderpod.com. Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel,

you open and no one can shut; you shut and no one can open:

come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,

those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. 

Today’s reading is Hebrews 10:11-12, 19-23

What do I see, when I picture the curtain hanging in the temple, closing the way to God’s presence? Can I imagine myself in the temple, waiting outside while the priest enters the Holy of Holies?

I wonder why God’s presence was separated and behind a curtain? I wonder why only the priest could come close?

Jesus is the one who opens the way into God’s holy presence. Jesus died and the curtain was torn apart so that I can come through; now Jesus is alive and sits at God’s right hand. A human being dwells in God’s presence, and will bring us all safely there. What do I want to say to Jesus about what he has done for me?

We can come close to God now, but sometimes it still feels like God is far away or behind a curtain. Advent is the time when we wait and hope for Jesus to be with us again, and for God’s presence to fill all of creation. I wonder: can I ask God to help me hope and long for that time?

We Wonder is written and hosted by Sarah Dahl; produced by Richard Clark; and engineered by Nick Thompson and Noah Kirby. You can keep in touch with us on Instagram and Twitter by following @wewonderpod, or read more at wewonderpod.com. Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel,

you open and no one can shut; you shut and no one can open:

come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,

those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. 

Today’s reading is Isaiah 49:6-10

I wonder: what picture do I imagine when I hear the name “Key of David”? Can I ask Jesus to show me something good about himself, as I hold this picture in my mind?

Isaiah says, “The LORD sets his people free.” Are there places in my life where I feel trapped? Does my heart sometimes feel closed and hard, and I can’t make it open? Can I talk to Jesus, the Key of David, about that right now?

Or, have I ever wanted to be close to God, but wondered if God wanted to be close to me? Can I believe, right now, that Jesus opens up any closed doors or barriers between me and God, no matter what? That there is no door too strong to keep God’s love out?

Is there anyone or anything in my world that I worry about? Is there anyone I know who needs Jesus to come to them and lead them into light and love? Can I talk to God about that right now?

We Wonder is written and hosted by Sarah Dahl; produced by Richard Clark; and engineered by Nick Thompson and Noah Kirby. You can keep in touch with us on Instagram and Twitter by following @wewonderpod, or read more at wewonderpod.com. Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

O Root of Jesse, standing as sign among the peoples, 

before you kings will shut their mouths,

to you the nations will make their prayer:

Come and deliver us, and delay no longer! 

Today’s reading: Luke 1:26-33

I wonder how Mary felt, in her body and in her heart, when God’s messenger appeared? I wonder how his words sounded in her ears?

Have I ever heard very good news? How did my heart feel inside? 

I wonder: can I sit with Mary, right now, and hear how good Gabriel’s words to her are? What do I want to say to God about this good news?

Jesus’ name means “God saves.” In Advent, we look inside and notice all of the ways we need God to save us. We look at our world and feel sad for all that is broken, and for all of the things we need God to come and deliver. I wonder: can I ask, and hope, for Jesus to come and do his saving work in me, and in my world?

We Wonder is written and hosted by Sarah Dahl; produced by Richard Clark; and engineered by Nick Thompson and Noah Kirby. You can keep in touch with us on Instagram and Twitter by following @wewonderpod, or read more at wewonderpod.com. Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

O Root of Jesse, standing as sign among the peoples, 

before you kings will shut their mouths,

to you the nations will make their prayer:

Come and deliver us, and delay no longer! 

Today’s reading: Psalm 72:1-14

I wonder what Solomon hoped for, when he wrote this song and sang it to God? What was his dream for his kingdom?

God’s king will save needy people who cry out to him; he will save those who are hurting and have no one else to help. I wonder: how am I hurting or needy today? What do I want to say to God?

I wonder: who do I know, or who do I see in my city or town, who is needy or hurting? Can I cry out to God for them right now?

Solomon prayed that all nations and leaders would bow down to God’s king. I wonder: can I imagine a day when the whole human family is joined in singing praise to Jesus? I wonder what that will sound like? Can I rest in that very good hope right now?

We Wonder is written and hosted by Sarah Dahl; produced by Richard Clark; and engineered by Nick Thompson and Noah Kirby. You can keep in touch with us on Instagram and Twitter by following @wewonderpod, or read more at wewonderpod.com. Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

O Root of Jesse, standing as sign among the peoples, 

before you kings will shut their mouths,

to you the nations will make their prayer:

Come and deliver us, and delay no longer! 

Today’s reading: Isaiah 11:1-2, 6-10

I wonder: can I hold in my mind the picture of a tree that has been broken and battered by a storm? How does that image make me feel?

I wonder how God’s people felt, when they heard these words from Isaiah? I wonder if it was hard to believe that there was still life and promise in the roots of the broken tree?

Are there any ways that my heart is like this broken stump? What in me needs to be nourished by God’s love? Can I talk to God about that right now?

I wonder what it will be like, when Jesus, the Root of Jesse, comes to be with us again. Can I imagine a world where a wolf will live with a lamb, and no one will hurt or destroy? Can I imagine a time when everyone knows and trusts God’s love for them? What can I say to God about that time?

We Wonder is written and hosted by Sarah Dahl; produced by Richard Clark; and engineered by Nick Thompson and Noah Kirby. You can keep in touch with us on Instagram and Twitter by following @wewonderpod, or read more at wewonderpod.com. Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

Today is the second Sunday in Advent, and our reading is Luke 3:1-6, 15-18. Today is the second Sunday in Advent, and it is a day for spending some time with John the Baptist. 

I wonder what it was like to hear John calling out “Get ready!” by the side of the Jordan River. What do I see when I picture him? Can I imagine myself there in the crowd? How do I respond to John’s words?

Sometimes God can feel like a far-away king. Sometimes our world can feel like that forgotten corner of the kingdom. How does it feel to hear the announcement that God is on his way, and is coming close?

Advent is a season for getting ready. It is a time when we hear John’s words to “prepare the way for the Lord.” I wonder: is there anything I can do to get ready to welcome Jesus?

God is love. The king who is coming loves me. Jesus comes close to us, even when we are not ready, because God does not want us to be far away. Can I rest in that good news right now?

Loving God, you sent John the Baptist to announce that you are coming to us. You gave him your Spirit, so that he could call out to us to turn around, get ready, and see your coming light. Help us hear his words today and rejoice in your coming. Make us ready to welcome you, Lord Jesus; come and be with us again. 

We Wonder is written and hosted by Sarah Dahl; produced by Richard Clark; and engineered by Nick Thompson and Noah Kirby. You can keep in touch with us on Instagram and Twitter by following @wewonderpod, or read more at wewonderpod.com. Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

O Adonai, and leader of the house of Israel, 

who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush, 

and gave him the law on Sinai: 

come and redeem us with an outstretched arm! 

Today’s reading: Isaiah 52:7-10

Can I imagine sitting on the ruined walls of the city of Jerusalem, waiting for news about what will come next? What do I see? How do I feel as I wait?

I wonder how it feels to see someone come, and to realize that they are bringing good news? I wonder how it feels to know that God will come close again, after feeling so far away?

Can I imagine the ruins of the city around me being rebuilt? Can I imagine the broken stones singing for joy? Are there things in my life or my world right now that need to be rebuilt or made new? What do I want to say to God about that?

In Advent, we look around and see the ways that God feels far away or absent. What inside of me, or in my world, needs God to come close now? What needs to be saved and brought back to God? Can I ask Jesus to come and be near us again?

We Wonder is written and hosted by Sarah Dahl; produced by Richard Clark; and engineered by Nick Thompson and Noah Kirby. You can keep in touch with us on Instagram and Twitter by following @wewonderpod, or read more at wewonderpod.com. Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

O Adonai, and leader of the house of Israel, 

who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush, 

and gave him the law on Sinai: 

come and redeem us with an outstretched arm! 

Today’s reading: Isaiah 51:1-6

I wonder: can I remember a time when I needed to be rescued? How did I get into that place? What did that feel like in my body? 

Thinking back to that time: what did it feel like when I was safe again? How did my heart feel? How did my body respond?

In Advent, we look at ourselves and our world with clear eyes, and we notice all of the ways that we are trapped and cannot save ourselves. What do I see today? Where do I need God’s saving help?

I wonder: can it be true that the God who saw and saved Israel so long ago is looking at me with love right now? Can I believe that God promises rescue and comfort to me, too?

We Wonder is written and hosted by Sarah Dahl; produced by Richard Clark; and engineered by Nick Thompson and Noah Kirby. You can keep in touch with us on Instagram and Twitter by following @wewonderpod, or read more at wewonderpod.com. Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll see you tomorrow!

O Adonai, and leader of the house of Israel, 

who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush, 

and gave him the law on Sinai: 

come and redeem us with an outstretched arm! 

Today’s reading: Exodus 3:1-8, 13-14

I wonder what it was like to see that bush, wreathed in dancing flames but still itself? Can I see anything about God in that picture?

I wonder if God’s people felt like God had forgotten them while they were trapped as slaves in Egypt? I wonder if they were waiting for God to come save them, or if they had given up? Does it ever feel like God has forgotten me? What do I want to say to God about that? 

Can I imagine myself, safe and warmed within the fire of God’s love that will never go out?

In Advent, we remember that we are like God’s people in Egypt: we need our God to come and save. What do I want to ask God to see and to rescue, right now?

We Wonder is written and hosted by Sarah Dahl; produced by Richard Clark; and engineered by Nick Thompson and Noah Kirby. You can keep in touch with us on Instagram and Twitter by following @wewonderpod, or read more at wewonderpod.com. Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll see you tomorrow!