Houston Trinity News

Friends,

How can we have walked out our front doors over the last week and not seen God alive in our world? The beautiful blue skies, the calm north breeze, the cool temperatures, the bright sun and the full moon. What wonderful reminders of our creator God still working in the world. How can we have celebrated a month-long anniversary celebration and not found our God sitting in our midst, moving us forward, reminding us of our gifts and talents given over the course of our 27-year history.

How do we miss God when we are surrounded by this wonderful creation and by the love of our friends, family and our community of faith? Unfortunately, it is easy. In much the same way that we miss the saints around us, we miss God in our presence. We let our busy-ness refocus our minds and hearts. We let the troubles we are facing cloud our vision and drown the whispers and words of comfort that are offered us. We let the chaos of the world stand in the way of our seeing what is truly important. We let the ways of the world cloud our truths.

We are given daily reminders by our God. The fresh cool breeze that greets us in the morning when we walk out the door. The clear blue skies in the middle of the day. The starlit night and bright moon of evening. We are given daily reminders. A smile from someone we don’t know. A pleasant wave from someone across the street as we take our morning walk. The kind, comforting voice of someone close to us.

As we move toward Advent, I encourage you to stop, take a deep breath, then look around at God’s creation. How can we not find the glory of God all around us?

God bless you. See you Sunday

1 In the second year of King Darius, in the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the prophet Haggai, saying: 2 Speak now to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, and say, 3 Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Is it not in your sight as nothing? 4 Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the LORD; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; take courage, all you people of the land, says the LORD; work, for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts, 5 according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit abides among you; do not fear. 6 For thus says the LORD of hosts: Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land; 7 and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the LORD of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts. 9 The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts; and in this place I will give prosperity, says the LORD of hosts.

Haggai 2:1-9 (NRSV)