#AdventBookClub: Day 17

Do you love me? (from The Return of the Prodigal Son)

I read the Bible verse first … and this is certainly a more consoling thought … in the world we spend so much time “doing” (whether that be work, image, etc.) in order to gain approval, that we forget that all human love is conditional (except maybe parental love… we are their kids, whatever we’ve done – which is what God’s love tends to be compared to). There’s that oft quoted phrase – a ‘human being, not a human doing’, which we need constant reminders of (though I don’t think it’s an excuse to spend all our time on the sofa scoffing jelly beans…). There’s an interesting mention of looking for your ‘true self’ in a world of conditional love … where does that leave e.g. life coaching – which I believe helps us to be the best ‘me’ that God made us to be…

It’s been amazing at work, feeling rather overwhelmed by all the ‘shoulds’ in my job description – to be told that the most important thing is that I am well… and that the work will emerge from a me who has had enough sleep, got down the gym & eaten well (my known needs, rather than conditional needs!!)

Only Choose: Deuteronomy 30:15-18

Well, that’s a cheerful reading. But a good reminder that God is not a ‘fluffy’ God, a slot-machine who provides exactly what people want, when they want it … that we have responsibilities now we’ve chosen the Christian walk…

Coming back to this, having written the above – does “to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase” tie in with the idea that if we fit with God’s natural laws – e.g. eating/sleeping healthy – we will be the best ‘me’ that we can be…

Prayer: That we be open to God’s love, rather than questioning God as to whether he loves us…

Advent Action: “Spend the day in a conscious effort to comprehend the fact that you are God’s beloved.”

Now let’s see what Pam said (and aren’t I glad I cut & pasted the content into an email… otherwise would have gone… troubles with wifi… phew!)