Illuminating the Divine Spark in Everyday Moments: A Christmas Reflection on God's Omnipresence

Where do you see the spark of the divine amidst the hum of daily life? Join me, Reverend Laura East, as I guide you through a Christmas reflection that might just reignite your awareness of God's constant presence. In this special holiday installment of Resilient Faith, brought to you with warmth from the Brentwood Presbyterian Church community, we unwrap the joy and hope that faith assures us, even when life whirls in disarray. Embrace the season with a heartwarming poem from Reverend Sarah Speed, "Everywhere and Always Right Here," which we've cherished during Advent and now in the celebration of Christmas Tide.

This episode is a tapestry of thoughtful musings, interwoven with the golden threads of God's love that show up in the simplest pleasures—pancake dinners, porch sittings, and the laughter shared with friends. As I share insights and personal stories, I invite you to become part of the conversation and contribute your own lines to this living poem. Reflect on where you've felt God's touch in your own experiences, and together, let's acknowledge the profound beauty of recognizing the sacred in our everyday lives. Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast for more enriching discussions on nurturing a resilient faith through all seasons.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:08):
Welcome to Resilient Faith, the podcast.
Opportunities to find deeperresilience within ourselves can
come when life seems mostchallenging.
This podcast is to help youdevelop that resilience and
connection with God.
Being resilient and havingpower starts with faith.

(00:32):
Welcome, friends, to ourResilient Faith podcast.
God bless you and thank you forbeing with us today.
I am Reverend Laura East, theAssociate Pastor at Brentwood
Presbyterian Church.

(00:53):
On behalf of myself and theentire BPC community, we want to
wish you and yours a very MerryChristmas.
During this blessed Christmastide, in the midst of the chaos
of our world, it remains soimportant that we are able to
find joy in God's love and God'smercy, that we are able to

(01:14):
share in the joy of God'spresence with us, the birth of
Jesus Christ in our world.
We really remain grounded androoted in the promises of faith
and hope and love that sustainus during dark times.
I wanted to bless us today witha poem by a colleague of mine.

(01:39):
Her name is Reverend SarahSpeed and we have been using her
poetry this season, this Adventseason and into Christmas Tide.
She provides poetry for aworship resource collaborative
called A Sanctified Art, andthis is a poem that she wrote

(02:02):
for Christmas Tide.
I explained in last podcastepisode about Advent being the
four Sundays that lead up toChristmas Christmas Eve,
christmas Day, and then, ofcourse, we are in Christmas Tide
for 12 days until January 6thwhen we are in Epiphany.

(02:25):
So here is a poem for ChristmasTide, the season that we are in
of Christmas, of celebratingthis newborn King who has come
into the world.
We are in a season ofcelebration that God is dwelling
with us.
So the title of this poem isEverywhere and Always Right here

(02:54):
.
That's where God is, in the sunthat turns our bedroom gold.
In the creeks of this old houseand in birthday candles on the
cake.
In clean sheets, sock feet andporch sitting.
In pancakes for breakfast andpancakes for dinner.

(03:19):
In the swell of a lit candle,in fireplace conversations, in
your grandmother's carrot cakeand the smell of evergreen.
God is in the seed starters onthe porch and the space between

(03:39):
my bones, in garlic butter,early mornings and twinkle
lights, certainly in dancing andlaughing in cups of coffee, in
the art hung on the fridge,snail mail, long phone calls and

(04:00):
, oh, how I love yous.
God is right here.
God pulled up a seat.
God has traveled all the way tothe heart.
Tell the next generation sobeloveds.

(04:34):
I do pose this question for usas we celebrate Christmas tide
when are you seeing God in yourlife today or in this season of
Christmas?
What is your example?
If you were to add a line tothis poem of where you are

(04:58):
seeing God, what would be youraddition?
I certainly hope and pray thatyou will be seeing God in things
, large and small, and friendsor family, or friends who are

(05:20):
family.
Sometimes it's the smallestthings in our lives that make
the biggest difference.
So, friends, I hope and praythat you are feeling God's
presence with you Right here,right now.
May it be so, amen.

(05:45):
Make sure to subscribe on yourfavorite podcast platform and

(06:18):
thanks for listening.