Making a Way

When I was a little girl I was very afraid of the dark; not so much while in the bed and getting ready to go to sleep, but more when I had to walk into a room that was dark.  Even before anyone thought much about saving energy, my dad was a stickler for turning off lights when you left a room.  (Instead of “do you live in a barn?” associated with open doors, we heard “why is the house lit up like a Christmas tree?!”) 

I remember many times coming home from being out all day- probably at the ball park- to a very dark house.  Knowing I had to walk down that lonely dark hallway to my room made my stomach jump.  There were periodic light switches down the hall before getting to my actual room, where I could also turn on a light, but that didn’t calm my fears.
 
Enter my hero daddy.  Yes, he was the one that made me turn out the lights in the first place, but he was also the one who didn’t make me feel silly about being scared, but instead came to my rescue.  Before I put one foot in the hallway, by dad was in front of me.  He led the way…more than just into the dark- through it.  The dark didn’t seem as if it would envelope me like it did when I thought of going in alone.

My dad went before me.  My dad was with me. 

This Advent season, we are focusing on Immanuel- “God with us.”  How, when, and where is God with us?  This past Sunday we introduced the idea that God prepares a way by going before us.  In much the same way that my dad’s frame cut through the dark, our Heavenly Father makes a way for us. 

Imagine the Israelites following a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, knowing that God was leading the way.  Imagine their fears of leaving Egypt and heading into the unknown desert being overcome by the knowledge that God was going before them.  God was with them. 

As we get ready for Christmas, let’s not forget that our Immanuel- our “God with us” goes before us too.  He cuts the dark. 

My God goes before me.  My God is with me. 

This Week’s Announcements:PARK STREET TEACHER APPRECIATION
We will honor, encourage, and thank the teachers and staff at Park Street Elementary with a breakfast on Monday, December 8. To see how you can help, visit www.signupgenius.com and search under my email: penny@stonebridgemarietta.org

GIVING TREE
If you were here on Sunday you may have noticed a Christmas tree in the foyer with lots of ornaments on it. This is our "Giving Tree." There are items listed on each of the ornaments that will benefit families at Park Street Elementary, MUST Ministries, and Cobb Pregnancy Services.  Please take an ornament from the tree and purchase the item listed on the tag. Donations may be dropped off at the church and placed under the tree on or before Sunday, December 21st.  Items should not be wrapped. Please attach the tag to the item for easier distribution.

What God is Teaching Us:
This section will have links to the previous Sunday’s lessons.  Feel free (I encourage it!) to open, read, and review with your children.  Click on the links below to view our lessons from 11/30.
This link is no longer available

Funny Things Kids Do and Say…
After sitting for several minutes with her knees curled under her, a first grader announced that she couldn’t stand up.  I asked what was wrong, and if her legs had fallen asleep. She said, “No they aren’t asleep- they have fireworks in them and it hurts!”  (Best description of the stinging tingles I get when my legs fall asleep)