Ocala First Connection

Matthew 25:35; Luke 8:40; Romans 15:7; Hebrews13:2; Prayer is a moment of incarnation God with us. God involved in the details of our lives.” ― Paul E. Miller, A Praying Life   We have been waiting to celebrate the coming of Christ and that day is almost— almost —here. It’s time to put the finishing touches on our hospitality (which is especially important considering Jesus’ previous experience): ·   “He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.” John 1:11 ·   “...there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7 So let’s change the story this time.   Let’s get ready to roll out the welcome mat in prayer: Welcome Christ IS Christ welcome? IS there room for God in your life? Where? When? Be specific. Think about where you typically go. Where you spend your time. Welcome Christ into those spaces… (here’s an example to get you started)   Jesus, you are welcome here. I inv...

Genesis 3:8-9; Exodus 29:45-46; Revelation 21:1-3 “The incarnation is "a kind of vast joke whereby the Creator of the ends of the earth comes among us in diapers... Until we too have taken the idea of the God-man seriously enough to be scandalized by it, we have not taken it as seriously as it demands to be taken.” ― Frederick Buechner From the very beginning, God has expressed a desire to dwell with humanity (see the above Scriptures). And Advent celebrates that, indeed, Christ is coming. Here. To dwell in this place— your place.  (Emmanuel: God dwelling with us)  “The very least we can say about Jesus is that he was present. Incarnational mission is exactly that: moving into the lives of those to whom we have been sent to serve… Nigel Barham is a young missionary in Toronto, Canada whose plan is deceptively simple: Simply move in (into a neighborhood) and pray. That’s it. That’s the whole strategy.  Let God make...