Advent Devotional | 2nd Friday in Advent | Year C | December 11th, 2015

/

Isaiah 12:2-6

Surely God is my salvation;
   I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the Lord God is my strength and my might;
   he has become my salvation. 

 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say on that day:
Give thanks to the Lord,
   call on his name;
make known his deeds among the nations;
   proclaim that his name is exalted. 

Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
   let this be known in all the earth. 
Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
   for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. 

Today's passage from Isaiah holds within it both proclamation and promise.

The author of this joyful text from the prophet Isaiah proclaims that God is her salvation; she will trust in God and not be afraid.

Imagine a joyful person testifying in front of the congregation to God's grace in her life.  She proclaims that God has been good to her.  No, that doesn't mean that everything has been easy.  No, that doesn't mean that there has been no share of pain or grief or suffering.  However, at the end of the day, God has been there with her through thick and thin.  She proclaims this with boldness because God, not some ephemeral being or entity, is her strength and might.  She has found her salvation; it is the God who has promised to be with her from the start.  Her salvation gives her joy and strength and wisdom and courage.  

Her proclamation then moves to promise.  "You heard me," she says, "what God has done for me God will do for you.  I promise!"

Even you, she promises, will draw water from the wells of salvation as she has.  Even you, in whatever darkness it is that you think captivates you, will feel the joy that she has.  And when that day comes, you will not remain silent.  When that day comes, you will shout for joy as she does.  You will give thanks to the Lord and call upon God's name!  You will join her in front of the congregation and make known God's deeds to the nations.  

"You're not there," she admits, "but you will be.  Trust me, because I've been where you are."

Friends, you and I need texts like these during the season of Advent.  We must be reminded that we wait on something because joy is on the way and light is coming.  What would you tell this prophet if she were to show up on your front door?

Prayer of the Day:
God of every promise,
help me to trust that you are coming.
Give me patience to wait and courage to believe in your word.
Give me ears to hear the prophet's promise,
that you will come in glory and bring faith's fruition.
This I pray in your holy name.  Amen.
 

/ / Comment
, ,
, , , , , , , , , ,

Stephen Fearing

Stephen was born in 1988 in Cookeville, TN, where his parents met whilst attending Tennessee Tech. Shortly after, they moved to Dalton, Georgia where they put down roots and joined First Presbyterian Church, the faith family that taught Stephen that he was first and foremost a beloved child of God. It was this community that taught Stephen that it was OK to have questions and doubts and that nothing he could do could every possibly separate him from the love of God. In 1995, his sister, Sarah Kate, joined the family and Stephen began his journey as a life-long musician. Since then, he has found a love of music and has found this gift particularly fitting for his call to ministry. Among the instruments that he enjoys are piano, trumpet, guitar, and handbells. Stephen has always had a love of singing and congregation song. An avid member of the marching band, Stephen was the drum major of his high school's marching band. In 2006, Stephen began his tenure at Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC where he majored in Religion and minored in History. While attending PC, Stephen continued to explore his love of music by participating in the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Jazz Trio, as well as playing in the PC Handbell ensemble and playing mandolin and banjo PC's very own bluegrass/rock group, Hosegrass, of which Stephen was a founding member (Hosegrass even released their own CD!). In 2010, Stephen moved from Clinton to Atlanta to attend Columbia Theological Seminary to pursue God's call on his life to be a pastor in the PC(USA). During this time, Stephen worked at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Silver Creek Presbyterian Church, Central Presbyterian Church, and Westminster Presbyterian Church. For three years, Stephen served as the Choir Director of Columbia Theological Seminary's choir and also served as the Interim Music Director at Westminster Presbyterian Church. In 2014, Stephen graduated from Columbia with a Masters of Divinity and a Masters of Arts in Practical Theology with an emphasis in liturgy, music, and worship. In July of 2014, Stephen was installed an ordained as Teaching Elder at Shelter Island Presbyterian Church in Shelter Island, NY. Later that year, Stephen married the love of his life, Tricia, and they share their home on Shelter Island with their Golden Doodle, Elsie, and their calico cat, Audrey. In addition to his work with the people who are Shelter Island Presbyterian Church, Stephen currently serves as a commission from Long Island Presbytery to the Synod of the Northeast and, beginning in January of 2016, will moderate the Synod's missions team.