Peace and Merry Christmas!

 

     The fourth and last purple candle, often called the "Angels Candle," represents peace and will be lit on this Sunday, the last in Advent.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men." Luke 2:13–14

     On Christmas Eve, which falls on the last Sunday of Advent this year, the white center candle may be lit. This candle is called the "Christ Candle" and represents the life of Christ that come into the world. The color white represents purity. Christ is the sinless, spotless, pure Savior. Those who receive Christ as Savior are washed of their sins and made whiter than snow:

"Come now, let us settle the matter," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Isaiah 1:8

Lord,

Let this season bring hope, faith, joy and peace to our hearts. Give us reminders of the great blessings you bring each day as we look forward to the New Year with anticipation. Bring us closer to You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Merry Christmas!  Happy New Year!  You are loved.  See you in January!

Glorious Joy

 

     Deep joy is a promise to believers. It is available to us along with the other fruit of the Spirit. (See Galatians 5:22-23) Joy in Jesus does not depend on our circumstances or even our feelings and emotions. It is the constant presence of Jesus within. Feel His joy in your spirit today. Let the joy be complete and steadfast throughout the rest of your life. Jesus brings spiritual joy.

I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:11

     Believe, just believe and experience spiritual joy, deep and rich and overflowing.

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:8

     Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with that inexpressible and glorious joy. It is beyond earthly boundaries, heaven-sent.

Jesus,

We do ask You and Your Holy Spirit to fill us with the deepest joy that only You provide. We pray for our hurting world, that You would come into the hearts and minds of those who do not yet know You. Let Your joy shine in our lives so others may see You.

Amen

Consider It Pure Joy

 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance> let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

     The verses above are a challenge to us. The testing of our faith through trials and suffering? Perseverance through times of suffering often seems utterly impossible. The tears flow, the anxiety appears time and time again. We fret and fume. We ache for relief. We pray for a miracle. We pray for peace. We long for comfort and hope. And somehow, we persevere. Some days are easier than others, as we place one unsteady foot in front of the other. The wisdom of God grows slowly but surely as we face our trials head on and persevere through the wait.

     God listens as we cry out to Him. The verses challenge us to place our focus on Jesus. To trust Him and believe we will get through this. There will be a purpose and a plan and He WILL work this for good and for His glory. Place your faith in Him and offer it all into His mighty hands, the hands that hold the whole world as He continues to fight our battles and bring us to victory.

     May those who are suffering in this season, feel His presence, believe in His protection, find hope and find love.

Father,

Please give comfort to those suffering right now. Surround them with a hedge of protection and give them comfort and hope in You. Fill us with that deep spiritual joy that only comes from Jesus.

Amen

Joy and Strength

 

     Joy. Have you experienced joy? Where do you find joy? Is it elusive and rare? Joy-filled times in my life are etched forever in my mind. A new bicycle. Dancing until the wee hours of the morning. Weekends with good friends. Long summer days. The times I still had my mom and dad around to love me unconditionally. The day I said, “I do.” The births of our daughters and watching them grow. Their weddings along with loving and spending time with our grandkids. The list is endless, isn’t it? Joy-filled times are most often found as we share life with friends and family and with our true love, if we are lucky enough to have them.

     But Biblical joy draws us deeper. Jesus-type joy is not rare or elusive. It is available each and every day. Deep-seeded joy grows in our life with Christ, as we are rooted in Him. If everything in life is falling apart, Jesus is there to help put it back together. He is here, there, everywhere. He is near. He is available and we will be with Him one day forever and ever. Let this joy give you strength. This is a favorite of mine:

“This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10b

     You are walking on holy ground with Jesus. Let His deep kind of joy fill you with strength to take on the day. His joy is your strength.

Jesus,

Your joy is soul-deep and available each day. Fill us up with spiritual joy as we go about our tasks today and teach us to savor the moments of earthly joy as we travel through life.

Amen

Advent Brings Joy

 

     The season of Advent brings Joy. Yesterday was the third Sunday of Advent when the pink, or rose-colored candle is lit. This pink candle is customarily called the "Shepherds Candle," and it represents joy:

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:8–11, NIV

     I pray you will find joy as we anticipate and prepare for Christmas. We find it in the eyes of our young children, in the hearts of family and friends, in the memories we savor and the memories to come. Treasure each moment.

     Ponder the ways of God over this time and picture the majesty of our God. He offers new life now and forever and all He asks is that we believe in His Son, Jesus, in his birth, life, death and resurrection from the dead.

     One perfect God was born in a manger. One perfect man took the blame. He suffered the consequences of a fallen world. He took it all on the cross, over many hours of excruciating pain and agony. And He lives today. I pray you will give Christ a chance and open your hearts to Him. The gift is there waiting for you. Is it time to receive it? The answer waits in your longing heart. The fear of death can be vanquished forever and your life can be transformed with peace and joy forevermore. 

     Ponder. Treasure. Marvel. Pray. Find joy. He is real and He is waiting for you.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Jesus,

Thank You for Your saving grace that offers us eternal life. I pray all those who are turning away from You will open their hearts to Your truth. This world is wasting away and falling away from You and we ache with sadness at all that is to come. We pray many will come to salvation.

Amen

 

Ask, Seek, Knock

 

     68 years of life brings perspective. God has been faithful. There were times I doubted His goodness, or lost sight of Him altogether. Funny thing is, it turns out those were exactly the times He was working behind the scenes. Darkness often leads to searching. Light appears. A rainbow peeks through the clouds. We ask questions and when we seek, we find.

“Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

     Wondering about God? Is He there? Can He help? Search the Scriptures if you are seeking answers. Ask God and He will bring light to the darkness. Knock and Jesus will come into your heart. His presence is available 24/7. The path for you will be clear in time. He is right there, working for you.

He will not let your foot slip-He who watches over you will not slumber. Psalm 121:3

Find faith and hope again.

Father,

We seek You. We ask for Your help. We knock on Your door. You never slumber. You are there. You watch over us and make a way for us through the darkness into Your glorious light.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Trust In Him At All Times

 

     God loves it when we reach out to Him. Whether we are busy, or struggling with pain, or just getting through our ordinary days, He longs to be a part of it, all of it We end up worrying, fretting, moving through the days, trying to figure everything out on our own.

     He is there. Ask for help and guidance. It can be a simple prayer on the way to work, “God I can’t see the way. Help me,” or “Jesus, give me peace right in this situation,” or, “Give me the right words.”

     As we release our burdens to Him, and ask for His guidance, can we trust Him to work? Yes! He is working ahead of us, making a plan, finding people, finding answers, getting us through the pain with His love and His word, giving comfort and compassion.

     When the dark clouds are hovering nearby, seek His light and His hope beyond it all. His light will reappear, often in the most unexpected ways. His love will wash away any fear. He has conquered everything for us and He understands.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet He did not sin. Hebrews 4:15

     The one and only sinless man, tempted in every way, the one who suffered all of those temptations, the trials, the horrors of evil on His very own shoulders for you and me. He gets it. He is above all else and He can and will figure it all out, all of it, because He understands. Trust Him. Have faith.

Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8

Surely God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord Himself is my strength and my defense. He has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2

Father,

Give us the ability to trust You with every fiber of our being, no matter what. Even when we can’t see the road ahead, we look to You as You make a new way for us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Faith From First to Last

 

     God’s love, His faithfulness, His grace and mercy will never fail. He will never, ever leave you. His promises are eternal and all will come to pass. His plans for you are good and His will is pleasing. All He asks of us is to trust Him, to have faith in Him above all else.

For in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed-a righteousness that is by faith from first to last-just as it is written, “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:17

     We become right with God when we believe in Jesus as Savior. That is all it takes. The verse above tells us. It is all about faith, from first to last. Faith is the foundation of it all. God will remain faithful to you and to me. Let’s trust Him above all else with faith after faith. When doubt and fear rise up, have faith. When grief overwhelms, have faith. When you are lost, have faith.

     Our energetic, sweet, handsome gramdsons slept over recently.  After Gramps read them, “Green Eggs and Ham” time after time, one of them said, “It just gets funnier and funnier every time.” There is nothing sweeter in the world than the sound of their belly laughs.

     Right after that, Gavin taught me a lesson about faith.  It was time for bed. I tucked them into their bunk beds ready for a story and prayers. I talked about Jesus in the manger, how God had come from heaven to live a life here on earth, how the angels surrounded Him and the shepherds and wise men worshipped Him, ready to share the good news.

     Gavin stopped me and said, “Nana, do you know what the best thing is?” I askd, “No, what?”  He replied, “It’s a true story!”  The faith of a child. Jesus told us just that.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

     Have faith. It’s true!

Father,

The gift of faith in You is a miracle that will keep us secure until we reach heaven. Show us Your love as we continue to trust and have faith in Your Son, Jesus and in His name we pray.

Amen

Lean On Him

 

     Fear and worry, sadness and grief, anticipation and joy, depression and hopelessness, elation and happiness, contentment and peace, unrest and sleeplessness, love and desire, trust and loyalty, mistrust and rejection. Did any of these words hit home with you? There are times when my emotions hit several of the above within a twenty-four-hour time frame.

     God created us to experience desire and hope, to walk through grief and sorrow. In fact, our Father in heaven, sent His Son to experience all of it during His thirty-three years on earth. Throughout the Scriptures, we watch as Jesus weeps, (John 11:35) as He sweats blood in His agonizing prayer before His death on the cross, (Luke 22;44) as He displays anger at the money-changers in the holy temple, (John 2:15) as He sighs deeply, (Matthew 8:12) and, of course, as He suffers intensely for hours and hours on the cross. (See the Gospels and Hebrews 2:9)

     Is is meeting you right where you are, right now, this moment. Remember Jesus experienced those diseases, agonies, sufferings and sins for all of us. He endured it for the joy set before Him, which is us! (Hebrews 12:2) He overcame them all through His death and resurrection. Wherever you are emotionally, Jesus has felt it Himself and experienced it for you and me. Tell Him all about it. Let Him take the burden from you and replace it with His abiding peace and joy. Trust Him with the next step. Trust Him with your tears. Trust Him with your future. His agony brought about the joy of our salvation.

Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8

Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life.  Psalm 143:8

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6

Lord,

Teach me to trust You with my life and the lives of those I love. Listen to my prayer and make my paths straight into Your will today. Be my refuge and strength.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Advent Brings Faith

 

     Yesterday, on the second Sunday in December, the second purple candle was lit. This second candle represents faith. Some traditions call this the "Bethlehem Candle," symbolizing Christ's humble beginnings:

"This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:12, NIV)

     Again, the prophets foretold the birthplace of the coming Messiah.

But you Bethlehem, Ephrathah, though you are small among the class of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel whose origins are from of old. Micah5:2

     No other book or person has foretold the future with 100 percent accuracy. Over 300 prophecies came true at the first coming of Jesus and even more are written about His second coming. These prophecies were written over a span of thousands of years and written by multiple authors. Have faith! Our faith pleases Him.

And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

See the baby in the manger. The Messiah has come brining good tidings of great joy!

Father,

Our faith grows as we study Your word. Jesus is the word of God in the flesh and we praise You for the gift of faith.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Come Lord Jesus

 

     The guarantee of our heavenly home should provide all we need to get through all that life brings, the good, the bad and the ugly. Remember, we live in a fallen world. Even with our sins wiped clean in God’s sight, we will remain fallen, frail human beings until we receive our new bodies and live forever in heaven.

     The earth is deteriorating along with humanity. The Bible describes all that is happening right now in our world, in great detail. None of it surprises God. The earth waits right along with us.

For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. Romans 8:19

We know that the whole creation has been groaning, as in the pains of childbirth, (Matthew 24) right up to the present time.

Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, , the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8;22-23

     The creation waits eagerly. The birds rise each morning with a song. The sunflowers turn their stunning faces to the son. Let’s do the same. We wait eagerly. Some days seem impossible to navigate. But, wait!  We have hope. Always hope. And our Savior offers all we need to get through each and every single day.

     The older we get, the more we anticipate heaven, but even the younger generation should keep an eternal perspective. The end of this short life is only the beginning of all things new and perfected. Wait in eager anticipation. He is coming again to set up a new heaven and a new earth for you and for me. Come, Lord Jesus!

Lord,

The anticipation continues throughout our lives as we draw ever nearer to heaven. We eagerly await seeing those who have gone before us. We miss them deeply. But one day soon, we will see You and we will see them and the reunion will never end.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Above the Clouds

 

     Faith, belief, trust. Jesus asks us to believe in Him, to trust Him, to have faith in Him above all else, to be filled with an everlasting hope for the future. 

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:8

Maybe you have heard of Joni Eareckson Tada.  Over 50 years ago, as a teenager, she had a diving accident that left her as a quadriplegic. She has given her life to serving Christ.Through the years she has inspired millions. She is an amazing artist, painting painstakingly with her mouth. She is an author, and an advocate for those living with disabilities. Listen to this perspective from someone who has suffered so much

“I want to stay in the habit of ‘glancing’ at my problems and ‘gazing’ at my Lord.”

     Beautiful. Look above the clouds in your life to the glory of the Son. You can trust His promises. You can have faith that He knows what He is doing. Maybe like Joni, He will use your struggles to show His glory. What a privilege.

Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1

     When we look over our lives, when we are seated in heaven, the things we did for Christ will remain. Trust, believe, have faith in the One who is worthy and the One filling us with hope..

Father,

Teach us to gaze at Jesus with complete faith and trust. This short life is meant to be lived for Him. He is the missing piece. We were made for Him.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Treasure These Things

 

If you haven’t listened to the song, “Mary Did You Know?” I highly encourage you to do so. Many have sung it over the years. I love all versions and the song never fails to leave me with goosebumps and eyes filled with tears.

    Mary had an unexpected visit with an angel. Gabriel gave her the news straight from the mouth of God. Mary was highly favored in God’s sight. This young virgin would have the privilege of carrying the Son of God and raising Him. It was impossible for her to comprehend this message, nor understand all that was to come

     . Can you imagine her thoughts as this precious child grew within her womb, as she raised her face to the sky above the manger brightly lit by the star, witnessing the worship of the shepherds and the wise men, along with the full glory of the angelic host?

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19

     It is hard to fathom the thoughts and ponderings of Joseph and Mary as they raised their young Son. There is little written about the childhood years of Jesus, but as they traveled among their community from Jerusalem to Nazareth, Jesus stayed behind. He was twelve years old.

     When His parents realized He was not among them, they were worried and went back to find Him. Jesus told them they should not have been surprised to find Him in His Father’s house. The others in the temple had been astonished at His maturity and understanding.

The child’s mother and father marveled at what was said about Him. Luke 2:33

     Let’s take time over this season of anticipation and hope, to treasure all of these things in our hearts and ponder them, to marvel in all of God’s ways. How can we possibly comprehend all of the marvelous works of our God? After all, His own mother and father, His sisters and brothers, and His disciples could not anticipate all that was to come.

     Jesus continues to provide moments to be treasured, insight to be pondered, and acts in which we can marvel. Treasure the moments He gives you today.

Lord,

We can’t thank You enough for the word of God that brings all of our human frailties into focus. As we ponder Your birth, and treasure the truths of who You are, as we marvel at our salvation and all that is to come, let us praise You from the mountaintops!  Jesus Christ is born!  Hallelujah!

Amen

Hang on to Hope

 

     With the uncertainties in life, there is hope. Hope remains. At the end of the struggle, with the easing of grief, with remission after treatment, with recovery, with reconciliation and forgiveness, there is hope. At the end of this earthly life, all of our longings and hopes will be realized.

     In the meantime, hang on. Hope is there. Anchor yourself with hope today.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Hebrews 6:19

     Hang on to the anchor of hope in your soul. Jesus is guiding you through the uncertainties and struggles of life. He will never let you go. Your foundation is secure with Him.

Jesus,

Sometimes it’s hard to hang on to the hope you offer. Comfort and strengthen those with uncertain futures. You know the number of our days and we hang on to You.

Amen

 

Advent Brings Hope

 

     Yesterday was the first Sunday in Advent. The season of anticipation and preparation is upon us. A  purple candle on the advent wreath is lit. This candle is typically called the "prophecy candle" or “hope candle.”  The prophet, Isaiah, as well as many others in the Old Testament foresaw the coming Messiah. He fills the world with hope.  a

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.  Isaiah 7:14

     This first candle represents a hope, an expectation, an anticipation of the coming Messiah. The prophets of old longed for His coming. The disciples and the followers of Jesus saw those prophecies fulfilled in their lifetimes. They walked with Him and talked with Him and He will come again one day soon.

     In the meantime, there is hope. We celebrate His first coming during this wonderful season of hope.

“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in You.” Psalm 39:7

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

Lord,

We wait for You in hope. Prepare us for this season as we get ready to celebrate the miraculous birth of Jesus. Renew our hearts this season with the gift of hope. We also wait with hope for Your second coming. .

Amen

The Reason

 

     You may have seen or heard about the Advent tradition of reading through the Gospel of Luke beginning on December 1^st with Chapter 1 and ending on Christmas Eve with Chapter 24. It is always a good idea to revisit the Gospels and travel along through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. There is no better time than in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

     Refreshing our memories on all of the details of the life of Christ will lift us up, and fill us with renewed anticipation and expectation and celebration of all He has done and all He will do throughout our lives, and for the life ahead in our forever home.

     Maybe these verses will whet your appetite for more.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the City of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12

     The Son of God and His humble beginnings, leading to a life of service and sacrifice, leading to our redemption as He was raised to new life. Behold! A child is born. Glory to God in the highest!

Father,

Your Son brought new life and joy into this dark world. The brilliant star lit the night sky and led the shepherds and the wise men as they came to the miraculous sight of Jesus. Never let us forget. We anticipate the celebration.

In Jesus name,

Amen