December 3rd, 2020
by Denee Bowers
by Denee Bowers

Thursday, December 3
1 Peter 1:3-5
Growing up I went on a lot of canoe trips with my family. We would pack up the canoe with ice chests with drinks and food, bags with extra clothes and equipment, and if we were going over night we’d include a tent. I learned on these adventures that one of the most important things on a canoe trip isn’t your water shoes or your ice chest or even your paddle. Instead the most important thing was the dry bag.
As the name implies, this was the bag that kept everything in it dry. We would pack things like matches, the first aid kit, some dryer lint to start a fire and maybe one set of clothes per person. This dry bag was critical because if your canoe tipped over, which happened more often than I’d like to admit, the things in the dry bag were safe. You could lose your paddle and find an alternative. You could lose your cooler and your tent and be ok. But the dry bag held the contents that could be the difference between surviving and not making it. With the contents of the dry bag you could still start a fire, have dry clothes and take care of a medical issue. The dry bag protected the most important supplies on the trip from whatever might happen downstream.
Today’s scripture reminds us that God has put the most important stuff in a dry bag of sorts. That no matter what happens in life, we still have this inheritance of hope and life that comes from God. I find holding onto that promise is even more important during this season. We have been through some rough waters lately. It might feel as though our canoe has turned over and we are stranded. The pandemic. The loneliness. The actual darkness and cold. But this scripture reminds us that the most important stuff, God keeps safe. That God still invites us into a new, generous way of living. That this is not the end of our story. That in Advent God entered into our darkness to show us how to live even in the most difficult seasons of our lives.
The promises and the presence of God withstand not only external challenges but also withstand our internal self doubts and negative self talk. It does not matter how we feel about God or how we feel about ourselves. God’s hope and love for us remains protected and true.
Challenge: Set aside 10 minutes to reflect on God’s love for you and God’s promise that your current reality is not the end of your story. Read the scripture three, four or five times, each time listening for God’s promises to you.
Prayer: God, thank you for your promises of a life filled with hope. Thank you for your grace, love and forgiveness that you offer me. Thank you that they are held safe and surround me no matter what happens in life.
Reflection by Matt Fulmer
1 Peter 1:3-5
Growing up I went on a lot of canoe trips with my family. We would pack up the canoe with ice chests with drinks and food, bags with extra clothes and equipment, and if we were going over night we’d include a tent. I learned on these adventures that one of the most important things on a canoe trip isn’t your water shoes or your ice chest or even your paddle. Instead the most important thing was the dry bag.
As the name implies, this was the bag that kept everything in it dry. We would pack things like matches, the first aid kit, some dryer lint to start a fire and maybe one set of clothes per person. This dry bag was critical because if your canoe tipped over, which happened more often than I’d like to admit, the things in the dry bag were safe. You could lose your paddle and find an alternative. You could lose your cooler and your tent and be ok. But the dry bag held the contents that could be the difference between surviving and not making it. With the contents of the dry bag you could still start a fire, have dry clothes and take care of a medical issue. The dry bag protected the most important supplies on the trip from whatever might happen downstream.
Today’s scripture reminds us that God has put the most important stuff in a dry bag of sorts. That no matter what happens in life, we still have this inheritance of hope and life that comes from God. I find holding onto that promise is even more important during this season. We have been through some rough waters lately. It might feel as though our canoe has turned over and we are stranded. The pandemic. The loneliness. The actual darkness and cold. But this scripture reminds us that the most important stuff, God keeps safe. That God still invites us into a new, generous way of living. That this is not the end of our story. That in Advent God entered into our darkness to show us how to live even in the most difficult seasons of our lives.
The promises and the presence of God withstand not only external challenges but also withstand our internal self doubts and negative self talk. It does not matter how we feel about God or how we feel about ourselves. God’s hope and love for us remains protected and true.
Challenge: Set aside 10 minutes to reflect on God’s love for you and God’s promise that your current reality is not the end of your story. Read the scripture three, four or five times, each time listening for God’s promises to you.
Prayer: God, thank you for your promises of a life filled with hope. Thank you for your grace, love and forgiveness that you offer me. Thank you that they are held safe and surround me no matter what happens in life.
Reflection by Matt Fulmer
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Archive
2025
January
Happy New Year // M-Note 1.4.2025Cancel the Noise // M-Note 1.11.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 1The Beloved Community // M-Note 01.18.2025Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 2What A Coincidence // M-Note 1.25.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 3Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 4The Original Influencer // M-Note 2.1.25
February
The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 1Exploring New Sites…And You’re Invited // M-Note 2.8.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 2Uncovering Implicit Bias // M-Note 2.15.2025A "Flurry" of Activity // M-Note 2.22.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 3The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 4
March
Beloved Community Action Steps // M-Note 3.1.25Vulnerability & Wilderness | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 1Trusting the Spirit's Lead | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 2Courageous Connection | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 3What's Your Emotional IQ? // M-Note 3.8.25The Spaces Between Us | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 4Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 1Jesus Weeps With You | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 5When Sadness Lingers | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 6Lurking in the Shadows | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 7Cycles of Life and Death | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 8Inked in Memory | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 9The Void of Grief | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 10Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 2Sending Forth // M-Note 3.15.25Journey Not Alone | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 11Friends Along the Way | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 12
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
May
Very Good News at the End of General Conference//M-Note 5.4.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2Announcing The Gathering’s Church Planters Lab//M-Note 5.11.24My (Hypothetical) Commencement Address // M-Note 5.18.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 3Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 4
June
July
September
Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 1Transitioning...to 47 // M-Note 9.7.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 2Invitations Work in Mysterious Ways // M-Note 9.14.24Students Stepping Up: Getting Involved in Ministry // M-Note 9.21.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 3A Stressful Season // M-Note 9.28.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 4
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