Dec. 4 -Brian Eastman (Isaiah 64:1-9)

This passage speaks to me as a lamenting prayer offered up by the prophet Isaiah. He longs for Israel, God’s chosen people, to be reconciled with God yet again.  While the prophet fully realizes it is Israel’s inequities and transgressions that have left them in a place where they feel void of God’s presence, he still has the need to remind God these are His people and He is their Father.  The prophet further asks God to consider He is the potter and His children are the clay ready for His hand to shape them yet again.  Why? I believe the prophet is getting right down to the essence of the situation and illuminating the simple fact that Israel has indeed messed up, however that doesn’t change the fact that they are God’s chosen people.  They are His children – the work of His hands.  

Will this cycle with God’s people ever end?  Will we as God’s people ever truly figure out that when we don’t feel God’s presence in our lives that God hasn’t moved – we have?  Maybe we have put worldly things between ourselves and God?  I believe God wants us to yearn for Him, seek Him and wait in expectation of goodness, grace and mercy that can only come from Him. 

For me, this season of Advent is rooted in reflecting on a remarkable gift from God that is always near and ever present for the asking – forgiveness.  In these uncertain, contentious and unprecedented times I believe we all could use a bit of extra forgiveness in our lives.  In this season of Advent may we think about sharing the gift of forgiveness that God’s goodness, grace and mercy have made available to each and every one of us.

Peace Hope and Blessings to you in this Advent season!

Brian Eastman
Director of Facilities