December 4th, 2023
by Pastor Madi Denton, Online & Young Adult Pastor
by Pastor Madi Denton, Online & Young Adult Pastor
Scripture
"Why, I ask myself, are you so depressed?
Why are you so upset inside?
Hope in God!
Because I will again give him thanks,
my saving presence and my God." - Psalm 42:11
Reflection
The fall transition to shorter days, longer nights, always hits me hard.
Now, don’t get me wrong, fall is my favorite season. I love the changing leaves, and that crisp, cool air. But, daylight savings always seems to swoop in, bringing what I like to call the “seasonal sads” along with it.
For some of us, those sad, depressive feelings are a result of grief. We’ve experienced a loss or transition that has made this season heavier to navigate. For others, the lessening of sunshine makes it more difficult to find joy in our day. We’re a little more sad and energy is a little lower. And then there’s the rest of us, who lack language or explanation for our heavy feelings. We just know that they’re there.
When those low feelings begin to kick in, I have to actively seek the small things that bring me hope. It can be easy for all of us to fall into the gloomy places within ourselves. As those feelings begin to rise up, we can turn to God, clinging to hope like an anchor.
Hope keeps us rooted. It reminds us of the good in those colder, darker days.
As we navigate through the fall and winter seasons together, I invite you to consider where you experience the hope of God. Perhaps it’s in the beauty of the sunset, or the miraculous joy of an extra cozy sweater.
When those heavier, harder holiday feelings begin to arise, keep an eye out for the small things. Pause to notice them. Say a quick mental prayer of thanks for that gift of hope, and allow that moment to remind you that God is present with you.
Prayer
God, help me to notice the small but meaningful ways you make yourself known to me during the hard days and holidays. As I notice, may hope increase in me. In Jesus name, Amen.
"Why, I ask myself, are you so depressed?
Why are you so upset inside?
Hope in God!
Because I will again give him thanks,
my saving presence and my God." - Psalm 42:11
Reflection
The fall transition to shorter days, longer nights, always hits me hard.
Now, don’t get me wrong, fall is my favorite season. I love the changing leaves, and that crisp, cool air. But, daylight savings always seems to swoop in, bringing what I like to call the “seasonal sads” along with it.
For some of us, those sad, depressive feelings are a result of grief. We’ve experienced a loss or transition that has made this season heavier to navigate. For others, the lessening of sunshine makes it more difficult to find joy in our day. We’re a little more sad and energy is a little lower. And then there’s the rest of us, who lack language or explanation for our heavy feelings. We just know that they’re there.
When those low feelings begin to kick in, I have to actively seek the small things that bring me hope. It can be easy for all of us to fall into the gloomy places within ourselves. As those feelings begin to rise up, we can turn to God, clinging to hope like an anchor.
Hope keeps us rooted. It reminds us of the good in those colder, darker days.
As we navigate through the fall and winter seasons together, I invite you to consider where you experience the hope of God. Perhaps it’s in the beauty of the sunset, or the miraculous joy of an extra cozy sweater.
When those heavier, harder holiday feelings begin to arise, keep an eye out for the small things. Pause to notice them. Say a quick mental prayer of thanks for that gift of hope, and allow that moment to remind you that God is present with you.
Prayer
God, help me to notice the small but meaningful ways you make yourself known to me during the hard days and holidays. As I notice, may hope increase in me. In Jesus name, Amen.
Posted in Advent Devotional
Recent
Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 4
April 28th, 2024
General Conference Halftime Report// M-Note 4.27.24
April 27th, 2024
Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 3
April 21st, 2024
Shaping the Future at the UMC General Conference // M-Note 4.20.24
April 19th, 2024
Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 2
April 14th, 2024
Archive
2024
January
Clean Slate: Week 1 Discussion GuideStarting & Sustaining Change // M-Note 1.6.24Clean Slate: Week 2 Discussion GuideStarting Small, Dreaming Big // M-Note 1.13.24Clean Slate: Week 3 Discussion GuideTogether Towards Change...and Healthy Habits // M-Note 1.20.24Clean Slate: Week 4 Discussion GuideSlowing Down for God to Show Up // M-Note 1.27.24
February
More Isn't Always Better // M-Note 2.3.24Money Talks: Week 1 Discussion GuideAshes for Valentine's Day? // M-Note 2.10.24Money Talks: Week 2 Discussion GuideLenten Devotional 2024Money Talks: Week 3 Discussion GuideWhat's your legacy? // M-Note 2.17.24Strength in Numbers: Community in Ministry // M-Note 2.24.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week One
March
Entourage Discussion Guide - Week TwoUpdates from Clayton and Easter Invitation // M-Note 3.2.24Twenty Students Confirmed Last Sunday // M-Note 3.9.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 3How serving at Easter can really make a difference // M-Note 3.16.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 4Can You Know Joy Without Pain? // M-Note 3.23.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 5It's time for EasterSTL at The Factory // M-Note 3.28.24
April
Easter Discussion GuideScreen Time: Troubleshooting our Relationship with Technology // M-Note 4.6.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 1Springtime Reminders: Joy Comes with the Morning // M-Note 4.13.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 2Shaping the Future at the UMC General Conference // M-Note 4.20.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 3 General Conference Halftime Report// M-Note 4.27.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 4
2023
January
February
Explore - Week 1Explore - Week 2Explore - Week 3Explore - Week 4God is Leading Us Forward // M-Note 2.3.23SENT: Week 1 Discussion GuideSomething To Try This Weekend // M-Note 2.10.23SENT: Week 2 Discussion GuideWe're Doing Something Big! // M-Note 2.17.23SENT: Week 3 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 1Lent Devotional Day 2Lent Devotional Day 3SENT: Week 4 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 4Lent Devotional Day 5Lent Devotional Day 6Lent Devotional Day 7
March
Lent Devotional Day 8Lent Devotional Day 9Celebrating BEYOND // M-Note 3.3.2023Who Is Jesus: BONUS Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 10Lent Devotional Day 11Lent Devotional Day 12Who Is Jesus: Week 1 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 13Lent Devotional Day 14Lent Devotional Day 15Lent Devotional Day 16Lent Devotional Day 17The Evening Service is BACK!!! // M-Note 3.10.23Lent Devotional Day 18Lent Devotional Day 19Who Is Jesus: Week 2 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 20Lent Devotional Day 21Lent Devotional Day 22Lent Devotional Day 23The Most Important Sunday of the Year // M-Note 3.17.23Who Is Jesus: Week 3 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 24Lent Devotional Day 25Lent Devotional Day 26Lent Devotional Day 27Lent Devotional Day 28Lent Devotional Day 29Lent Devotional Day 30The Power of Easter and Invitation // M-Note 3.24.23Lent Devotional Day 31Who Is Jesus: Week 4 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 32Lent Devotional Day 33Lent Devotional Day 34Lent Devotional Day 35Lent Devotional Day 36Lent Devotional Day 37You Can't Miss This Part // M-Note 4.1.23Lent Devotional Day 38
Categories
Tags
1 Kings 3
1 Kings
1 Timothy
2 Corinthians 9:5-7
2 Timothy
Belden Lane
Beyond Simple
Celebrate
Change
Christ
Commit
Confidence
Denee Bowers
Devotional
Discussion Guides
Distractions
Divine Love
Doubt
Easter
Ephesians
Equity
Evangelism
Explore
Five Shared Practices
Focus
Frederick Buechner
Fresh Take
Friends
Generosity
God
Gratitude
Hebrews
Holy Ambiguity
Holy Spirit
Hope
Humanity
Identity
Inside Voice
Isaiah
Jesus
John 21
John
Joy
Kids
King Solomon
Lectio Divina
Lent
Life
Limitations
Longing
M-Note
Matt Miofsky
Matthew
Nadia Bolz-Weber
No Filter
Open
Parables
Parenting
Patience
Paula D'Arcy
Paula D\'Arcy
Paula D\\\'Arcy
Paula D\\\\\\\'Arcy
Paul
Privilege
Proverbs 1
Proverbs
Psalms
Purpose
Questions
Redeem
Rejoice
Righteousness
Sabra Engelbrecht
Second Chance
Self-Love
Struggle
Success
The Bible
The Church
The Gathering
Timothy
Uncertainty
Untethered
Vision
Weird
acts
adulting
advice
challenge
commitment
creation
deconstruction
deconstruct
faith
finances
fitness
forgiveness
forgiving
foundation
freedom
give
growth
kelley weber
love
meister eckhart
money
mystery
new life
opportunity
reconstruction
reconstruct
redemption
relationships
responsibility
simplify
sin
social
thomas merton
transition
truth
willingness
willpower
will
young adult
No Comments