December 4

 One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.” Exodus 3:1-3

You might consider this a strange scripture for advent, but actually it’s a very important one. Walk with Moses as he is out tending the sheep. You’re in the desert, a desert not much different from Tucson. It’s a quiet day as you observe the landscape around you. As you sit on a rock, enjoying the warmth of the sun. You focus on a strange sight in the distance. You just sit for a while, trying to understand what it is you see. It’s a bush, and it’s on fire. The flames jump from the top, but the bush doesn’t burn up. The flames don’t reach to any other plants around. At this point you have a choice to make. You’re curious; do you go closer to see how this is happening? Or is it a trap of some sort and you’d best stay away? Moses chose to go closer, and it was the beginning of his relationship with God.

Father, as the season continues, please help me to remember to come close to You. Remind me how wonderful it is just to be in Your presence and to enjoy the warmth and light You radiate. Help me to remember I too have a choice, and I want to choose You! Amen.

Fourth-Day Activities

Take time to be with your family and friends. Maybe you could set some time aside to make Christmas cookies, or if you don’t have that much time, purchase some special ones. Visit a nursing home, and share your cookies with the seniors. Be with them, listen to them, and share the warmth of our Savior. If you have children, be sure to take them along. There is nothing sweeter than to see a senior with a small child. The joy in their eyes will be indescribable. But be sure to check with the nursing staff to make sure the cookies are okay for those you are visiting.

Tonight if you have a fire pit, fireplace, or access to one, sit around the fire; talk about how the bush didn’t burn up, about the warmth of the fire, the light of the fire, how we need to respect fire. Relate to your children how Moses must have felt, especially when he realized that God was speaking to him through this fire.

Where are Mary and Joseph tonight in their journey through your house? Maybe they could spend some time by the fire with your family.