It's All About Jesus

 

     Tomorrow, on Christmas Eve, the white center candle may be lit. This candle is called the "Christ Candle" and represents the birth and life of Jesus. 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!

Advent and Peace

 

     The fourth and last purple candle, often called the "Angels Candle," represents peace and was lit yesterday, the last Sunday 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

     Ask God to give you His kind of peace over the next busy week of Christmas.  Remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Let His hope, joy, and peace give you the faith to move ahead in the coming year with Him as your guide.

 Lord,

We praise You for sending Your Son to save us. Keep us filled with peace as we remember what this season is meant to celebrate.  We love You, Jesus.

Amen

 

Advent and Hope

 

     Jesus returns us back to hope-filled joy. During the crisis times in our lives, the times of deep suffering, we often lose our faith. Where is God? How did this happen? And why? We have all been through so much, especially those of us who have lived many decades. If you have known Jesus for a while, you know He provides a way through, a way out, a reversal in circumstances, a fresh beginning.

     Hope, faith and joy. I pray this beautiful season of Advent will be joy-filled for you. If it is a difficult time right now, hang on to hope and Jesus. Here is my prayer for us in the weeks to come.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

     Trust Him with it all and allow His peace to wash over you with hope for the future. May His joy be complete in us.

Jesus,

The joy of the Spirit is unlike any other joy in life. It is eternal and it is filled with hope. No matter what each of us is facing right now, would you fill us with that peace and deep joy as we hope and trust in You?

Amen

 

Advent and 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 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

 

Advent and Joy

 

     Sitting in the presence of the Lord brings joy and peace. Be still and know that He is God. (Psalm 46) Let His presence fill your hearts with what the world is unable to fill. He protects and loves us. Listen to the words of the Psalmist.

But let all that take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You. Psalm 5:11

You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. Psalm 16:11

     The poetic words above are written to comfort you, to bring you joy, to remind you of the eternal gifts of our God, so deeply felt as we sit in His presence and feel His joy.

Father,

Your words are beautiful to our ears and lift us up to the heavens. Let them sing in our hearts as we go through our day, recognizing who You are and all You have to offer those who love You. We take in the joy of Your presence and Your protection.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Advent and Joy

 

     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 precious 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 graces our lives and grows in our lives 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 yesterday, today and forever. 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 and Joy

 

     The season of Advent brings great 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, just 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