IN JOY
  • Home
  • work
    • monoprints
    • Dye manipulations
    • silk
    • quilts
    • etcera
    • Photography
    • graphics & ads
    • Exhibts and Reviews
  • worship
    • Worship spaces >
      • Worship Spaces >
        • Advent & Christmas
        • Framebending Faith
        • living the network
        • Salt Covenant
        • Seven Last Words
        • Brunswick Lenten Prayer Garden
      • Stoles
      • Banners
    • Words for Growing >
      • Family Bread Project
      • Thanksgiving Conversation starters with scripture
      • Road Map: a 6 Session interactive guide to Sharon Ringe & Fred Tiffany's, “Biblical Interpretation: A Road Map.”
      • Living the Net: Bible Studies for 2 settings
    • Luke's Nativity lessons and carols >
      • Graduation prayers
      • New Year Prayers
      • Genesis One for Many Voices
      • Calling Us Back to the Table
    • God Talk: Sermons
  • In Joy blog thoughts

In Joy:  Words of Wonder

Be.Not.Afraid.

12/19/2018

1 Comment

 
Picture




The first step can be the hardest, and often involves overcoming fear.  Luke’s gospel is full of first steps, beginning with the pre-nativity story. Again and again we see people confront their fear while God sends the words: 
 
Be.
Not.
Afraid.



Be not afraid, United Methodists when change looms and you lack answers. God is here.
The words ripple out from Zechariah’s priestly point in history; to his wife’s kinswoman; to the average joes in the field, through generations of Jesus’ followers.  
 
Be not afraid, Zechariah(Luke 1: 12)  
You will have joy and gladness in a son with God’s powerful purpose. 
 
Be not afraid, Mary(Luke 1: 30)
            You have found favor with God who is doing a new thing in and through you.
 
Be not afraid, out in the fields, doing your work far from home.(Luke 2: 10). 
            Share in the joy of the universe at who God has brought into the world. 
 
Questions come where fear stops us in our tracks:
“How will I know that this is so? 
From Zechariah, struck mute in his position of incredulous authority.
 
“How can this be?”
From Mary, singing from her humble position of vulnerability, and acceptance. 

Mary’s song (Luke 1: 47-56) is the song Jesus hears in the womb.  It is the song that will be thrumming through his being when he proclaims the reign of God is at hand. (Luke 4: 18)
 
Be.
Not.
Afraid. 
 
Do not be afraid, Peter, now you’ll catch people instead of fish. (Luke 5: 10)
Be not afraid, when you see the glory of God!  (Luke 9: 28-35)
Be not afraid to ask Jesus your questions.
Be not afraid to see.
Be not afraid to empty yourself. 
Be not afraid to knock on heaven’s door. 
Be not afraid to believe the humanly impossible. 
Be not afraid of those who could kill you. God values even each hair on your head.  (Luke 12: 4)
 
Be afraid (“woe to you”) only if you will not embrace God’s commandment to love God and others (even the ones who harm you, scare you, or place demands on you) as yourself. Be afraid only if these is no room in you for the authentic seed of grace to take root and flourish. 
 
Be as fearless as little children. 
Be fearless in your hunger for God
Be fearless in giving praise.
Be fearless in bearing witness to God’s realm breaking into our lives. 
 
Be not afraid, Jesus, when God asks everything of you. (Luke 22: 41-45)
            God has you firmly in hand (Luke 23: 46)
Be not afraid, Jesus’ friends, when you discover the living Christ in your midst. (Luke 24: 36-49).  He will help you understand.
Be not afraid world, your redeemer is at hand and love is released into the world with all its power. 
 
O come let us adore him, 
O come let us adore him, 
O come let us adore him
Christ, the Lord. 
 
 

Picture
1 Comment
Iris Fields link
12/20/2018 08:28:03 am

LOVE this! Christmas blessings to you and yours!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Karen L Munson

    A pastor and artist, I'm wondering while I'm wandering through God's marvelous creation.

    Archives

    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

  • Home
  • work
    • monoprints
    • Dye manipulations
    • silk
    • quilts
    • etcera
    • Photography
    • graphics & ads
    • Exhibts and Reviews
  • worship
    • Worship spaces >
      • Worship Spaces >
        • Advent & Christmas
        • Framebending Faith
        • living the network
        • Salt Covenant
        • Seven Last Words
        • Brunswick Lenten Prayer Garden
      • Stoles
      • Banners
    • Words for Growing >
      • Family Bread Project
      • Thanksgiving Conversation starters with scripture
      • Road Map: a 6 Session interactive guide to Sharon Ringe & Fred Tiffany's, “Biblical Interpretation: A Road Map.”
      • Living the Net: Bible Studies for 2 settings
    • Luke's Nativity lessons and carols >
      • Graduation prayers
      • New Year Prayers
      • Genesis One for Many Voices
      • Calling Us Back to the Table
    • God Talk: Sermons
  • In Joy blog thoughts