The Fourth Sunday in Advent

 

     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, a 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.

"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!

 

Back to Hope and Joy

 

     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 going through today, would you fill us with that peace and deep joy as we hope and trust in You?

Amen

 

Jesus 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

Joy and Hope in Trials

 

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. Joy in the testing of our faith through trials and suffering? Perseverance through times of suffering can seem 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 somehow 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

 

Peace in His Refuge

 

     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

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 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

The Third Sunday in Advent

 

     The season of Advent brings great joy.On the third Sunday of Advent 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

Look Up

 

     How would our lives change if we viewed the world through spiritual eyes? How would we view our days if we have an eternal perspective and an ability to focus our gaze above us rather than around us?

     What if we truly could praise God even through our times of suffering and fear? Looking at Jesus with faith and love and listening for His voice in the midst of our days, allows Him to work. And as we look to Him, remember to watch for Him, too. He could come to bring us all home at any time. Death is not to be feared. We will live forever, so change your focus. Look up!

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  Colossians 3:2

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:18

     Jesus does not want us to fear when we see the turmoil and terror around us. The Bible prophesied everything we see, all of it. He is not surprised at the weather, at the violence, at the lawlessness. He told us to watch for it. Jesus talks about it in Matthew 24 and in Luke 21. End-time prophecies are all over the Bible including the books of Daniel and Revelation. What does He tell us to do as believers?

When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.  Luke 21:28

Jesus,

Teach us to use our spiritual eyes, to set our minds on things above, to see the eternal rather than the temporal and to continually watch and wait expectantly for You. We trust You with it all.

Amen

Follow the Shepherd

 

     Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

     Jesus often spoke in parables. In the parable of the sheep, He tells us in another way that He is the only way to heaven. There is one gate and it is Jesus. The gatekeeper (our Father) opens the gate to allow the sheep to enter.

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you. I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture.  John 10:7-9

     We are like lost sheep without Him. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is called the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd and the Chief Shepherd. If you are one of His, you know His voice. If you know His voice you will not follow the voice of the thief. (Satan)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.  John 10:10-11

     What beautiful words. Not only does Jesus bring us through the gates of heaven to eternity, but He offers the abundant life on earth. There is nothing like a life with the Good Shepherd, Jesus. He offers rest, comfort, peace, joy, and a never-ending supply of living water. His love and His Word will fulfill you in ways you never dreamed possible.

     Take a sip. Rest awhile in His green pastures. Let Him tend to your every need. He is your Good, Great and Chief Shepherd. He will carry you when you can’t go on. He will prod you along when you need a push. He will feed you with fresh spring water that will never run dry and He will keep you safe from the dangers of evil. What more could we ask? Will you recognize His call?

When He has brought out all His own, He goes on ahead of them and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice.  John 10:4

Jesus,

Your sheep know Your voice. There is no other voice in heaven or on earth like Your voice. We hear You. We follow You. We will listen for Your call.

Amen

Welcome Back

 

     Have you walked away or run away or hidden away from Christ? It is easy to move away when things get tough. Or when life gets busy. Or when the pleasures of life take precedence over what is best. The prodigal son ran away from his loving father. He squandered his inheritance on loose living (Luke 15:13) and ended up feeding pigs, the height of humiliation for a Jew, as pigs were considered unclean. (v15)

     And the Scripture says, “He came to his senses.” (v 17) When we belong to the Father and we run away, hide away or walk away, He is waiting for us to “come to our senses.” We know deep inside where we truly belong; under the watchful care of our shepherd, our Savior. He will tend to us and feed us with His Word, watch over us with protection and hold us in His loving arms. Listen to the reaction of the prodigal son’s father:

So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:20

     Are you ready to be welcomed back home? No matter how far away God seems, he is watching and waiting, filled with compassion for you. His arms are wide open. He is our forever home.

All those the Father gives Me will come to Me and whoever comes to Me I will never drive away.  John 6:37

Jesus,

Forgive us when we move away from Your love. Guide us back to You. We want to remain close to you and follow the path You have set before us. Take us in Your arms once again. Your compassion and mercy are new every day.

Amen

Rest in Him

 

     God commands us to love Him first, with all of our might, with all of strength, with all of our minds and with all of our hearts. Everything He commands is for our own good, isn’t it? How do we put that command into practice? Practice is a good place to begin. Practice giving Him thanks and praise first thing every morning.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.  Mark 12:30

     Practice praying throughout the day. If a friend or loved one comes to mind, there is a good chance it is the Holy Spirit’s nudging. Pray. Remind yourself that Jesus died for you and loves you unconditionally. Since He loves you so much, it isn’t hard to love Him right back. Your soul can be at rest, even when your mind and your body and your emotions are out of sorts.

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him. Psalm 62:1

     Practice saying, “I love you Jesus,” every night before you go to sleep. If you are too tired to pray that is a good way to give your cares to Him. He will watch over you as you sleep. Practice His presence. Remind yourself of His consistent companionship. Love Him right back. Have faith.

I love the Lord, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy.  Psalm 116:1

Father,

Let Your Spirit nudge me throughout the day. I love You, my triune God. I love Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Remind me to practice praying, listening and recognizing Your blessings throughout each day. I praise You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Trust

 

     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)

     He comes to you right where you are, right now, this moment. Remember Jesus experienced those diseases, agonies, sufferings and temptations 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

The Second Sunday in Advent

 

     On the second Sunday in December, the second purple candle was lit on the Advent wreath. 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 bringing 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

An Ordinary Night

 

     It was an ordinary, quiet night for the shepherds; leading their flocks through the mountain fields, tending to their needs, keeping them safe. There was nothing unusual at all, until the heavens opened up around them, that is. I will let the beautiful words of Scripture remind you of the familiar story.

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. This will be a sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger.” 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 to those on whom His favor rests.” Luke 2: 8-14

     I love this! God chose Mary and Joseph, an ordinary couple from humble homes. Now He opens up the heavens with a host of angels praising God to a group of shepherds. What did they do? Just like the wise men, they went to find the baby. And when they found Him, when they understood, what did they do next?

When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  Luke 2:17-18

     Something about meeting Jesus makes us want to talk about Him. We cannot help but speak of all we have seen and heard. (See Acts 4:20) Have you amazed anyone lately with stories about Jesus? Filling up on His glory, recognizing the heavenly hosts surrounding us with protection and sustenance, finds us unable to keep it to ourselves. This kind of news needs to be shared.

     And for all of us who have encountered the Savior, one day the heavens will open up for us and we will witness the heavenly host of angels saying, “Glory to God in the highest.” And we will be singing and shouting right along with them.

Dear Father in heaven,

Thank you for showing Yourself to ordinary folks like us. Your glory is beyond anything we can imagine and one day we will be in the midst of it. One day that will last forever. Each day of our lives is precious on this earth. Let us make the most of them, as we speak of the Good News. A child is born in the city of Bethlehem. He is the Messiah, the Lord, the Christ.

Amen

A New Way

 

     The wise men from the East saw the star. Not many did. How did they know? What was it about that star that brought them in search of the Messiah? Were they familiar with Jewish Scripture?

“A star shall come out of Jacob, a scepter shall rise out of Israel.” Numbers 24:17

     It is ironic that King Herod, the king of the Jews, calls a secret meeting with the Magi. He had consulted with his advisors and teachers of the law. He asks the three men to seek out this child and report to him, and they go on their way.

     God leads them to Bethlehem. That same star is just ahead of them.

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, and having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.  Matthew 2:10-12

     The virgin birth, the town of Bethlehem, the star rising, and now the gifts of the three Magi, all prophesied hundreds and even thousands of years earlier. Statistically impossible by human standards. But with God, nothing is impossible.

“Herds of camels will cover Your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah and all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praise of the Lord.” Isaiah 60:6

    The wise men were watching the skies, waiting for the Messiah. Are you? Jesus could return at any moment. Wise men still seek Him. And maybe, like them, your route will change. Worshiping Him, seeing Him up close and personal, often moves us in a new direction. The three travelers were moved out of the way of a scheming King.

     Which way will He lead you? Away from a poor choice, away from weariness, away from all-encompassing anxiety? After meeting Him for the first time, we turn from despair and move to expectant joy and hope. Just as His mother clothed Him in swaddling clothes, He clothes us with His righteousness. He wraps us in His loving arms and we will never be the same. Keep your eyes fixed on the skies. We are heaven-bound!

Dear Lord,

The stories surrounding your birth astound us. From the ordinary birth in a manger to the brightest star spoken of so long ago, all leading us to You. Keep our minds and hearts focused on You during this season and every single day thereafter.

In Jesus name

Amen

And There Was Light

 

     Joseph and Mary have heard from the heavenly host. They are carrying the Son of God, the future King, the Savior of the earth. What would you expect with this kind of news? The offer of a palace with satin sheets and lavish banquets? A parade filled with all of the fanfare expected to herald the arrival of a King? Birth announcements embossed in gold? No.

Rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  Philippians 2:7

     Around the time of Christ’s birth there came a decree from Caesar Augustus. Everyone was required to register in their hometown. Joseph happened to be from Bethlehem. Micah knew where the Messiah would be born. He wrote about it hundreds of years before the event.

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”  Micah 5:2

    Yes, Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem and God knew exactly where Joseph and Mary would be on that glorious night. The trip would be long, about 70 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Where would Joseph and Mary stay at the end of this long and bumpy road? In the presidential suite of the town? Well, not exactly.

     The sounds they would hear on that particular night would not include the voice of the hotel manager bringing them fresh towels and warm food. In fact, there was no room for them. The silence would have been deafening beyond the cries of childbirth. But I am sure they could hear a soft moo, a hushed whinny, a squeaky baa, as the animals, created by God, witnessed the birth of their Creator Himself in human form on that very special eve.

     How about you? Overwhelmed with a long and tiring journey? Is there a long recovery ahead, an unanswered prayer with no end in sight? Have you been squeezed out by divorce or a family feud? How about your stable mates? Or should I say, stall mates at work? Are they a little stinky, noisy or ill-mannered?

     Imagine a glorious end to the journey, a new birth in a relationship or a witnessing miracle at work. Anything can happen when the Savior is near. You may recognize a change in your outlook, a peace in the wait, a hope in your heart, a new way to cope. When He appears, anything becomes possible. And then there was light.

Dear Jesus,

The story is miraculous. The characters, regular folks, in the most ordinary of surroundings. No hoopla, just humility. Your birth. The wonder of it all. We sit in awe of You.

Amen

 

Holy Spirit Miracles

 

     Joseph was engaged to the young and devout Jewish girl, Mary. Can you imagine his thoughts, his reaction to the news? She was expecting a child. The Bible tells us, “…before they came together, she was found to be pregnant…” (See Matthew1) As was right according to Mosaic law, Joseph was going to petition for a divorce from the betrothal. God had other plans. He often does. God not only chose Mary to carry the Christ. He chose Joseph to raise the child.

     Joseph was a decent guy. He did not want to disgrace Mary. He had in mind to divorce her quietly. No Facebook page announcing the single girl’s pregnancy. No, “How could she do this to me?” Just a quiet exit from a devastating shock. Instead, Joseph had a heavenly encounter with an angel.

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21

    The virgin birth reminds us that this very news fulfills a prophecy written by the prophet Isaiah hundreds of years before Christ’s birth. (See Isaiah 7:14)

     God chose Joseph and Mary. He chooses you. He saw you before the beginning of time and He sees your path. He will step in and use you to fulfill His purposes on earth. Joseph obeyed. He took Mary as his wife and they named their newborn son, Jesus. Mary had been told her precious son would be the Son of God and His kingdom would have no end. (See Luke 1)

     Tomorrow we will journey with Joseph and Mary as they, unknowingly, fulfill another prophecy written 500 years before their child’s birth, and we will sit with them in their unusual surroundings as they and we get ready to greet the Messiah.

Dear Lord,

Your humble beginnings speak to us. Your servant’s heart shows us. The people you chose give us hope. Speak now. Show us today. Choose us. Fill us with that same Holy Spirit that gave birth to the Christ, the same Holy Spirit that resurrects the dead. The Spirit that changes us.

Amen

Expectation and Great Joy

 

     December is here, ready or not. The church’s calendar is turned to the beginning of a new year. The four weeks leading up to Christmas are celebrated as the season of Advent. It is a time of anticipation, expectation and preparation. Sort of fits in with our cultural relationship with Christmas, doesn’t it?

     Could these weeks be a time to fill our hearts with joy and gladness? The light of the world is coming! The Word is about to become flesh and dwell among us! The God of creation is about to humble Himself. He will be born in human form to become a servant to all. Yes, His first coming is a time to celebrate the miracle that changes everything. Emmanuel, God among us, is about to be born.

     Let’s take a peek into the cast of characters surrounding this great event. We will see how God worked through the most ordinary people to show His glory. He does the same with us. He can use the craziest circumstances, the darkest of days, the most challenging journeys and suddenly show up in the most miraculous of ways.

     Put your feet up. Take a few minutes each day as we revisit Joseph on his difficult journey, the Magi taking a completely different route after seeing Jesus, the shepherds retelling the tale after witnessing the heavenly host. Will you recognize Him and be changed?

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 2:10-11

Dear Father,

Walk with us through the greatest story ever told. We listen with expectation as we await the celebration of Your Son’s birth. Let the joy and gladness seep into our very souls over these next few weeks until we are changed forever. The light of the world has come. Oh, come let us adore Him.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

The First Sunday in Advent

 

     Today is the first Sunday of Advent. On this day, one of the purple candles of the advent wreath is lit. This candle is typically called the "Prophecy Candle" in remembrance of the prophets, primarily Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ:

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 hope or expectation in 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. Renew our hearts this season with the gift of hope. We anticipate the celebration of Your birth and wait for Your second coming.

Amen