Advent Day 18 - Prepare the Way

Week of JOY

“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.  MALACHI 3:1-2

Prepare...

We prepare for many things in life...  school...  athletic events...   musical performances...  interviews...  important events...

In this season of advent, the year is 2013.  We await the celebration of the birth of the Messiah and remember God's faithfulness.  He had been promised long ago and arrived just as God promised. 

Advent is a season that reminds us to prepare for the coming of the Lord - - the coming of His birth - - and His second coming in the fullness of God's time.

God's consistent faithfulness in the past gives us assurance of his faithfulness in the future.  The things he has promised that have not yet been fulfilled.  We can trust that what the Lord says is true and He ALWAYS does what He says He will do!

We live in a culture that no longer waits patiently.  

There is JOY in waiting and preparing for good things to come!

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  2 PETER 3:8-9

Let the season of Advent be a reminder of to wait expectantly and in so doing, 

prepare for the relationship with Jesus that will last for eternity!  

Advent Day 17 -Being Sought After

Week of JOY

The Lord is searching...

“‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.  As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.  EZEKIEL 34:11-12

Imagine being pursued and courted by someone who loves you and desires your love in return.  This is the story of romance.  This is God's story for humanity!

The Lord is searching for his precious people.  His foremost desire is that all people would come to know Him.  It's as if we're buried under the rubble after a massive earthquake and the Lord is searching...calling out...waiting for a response...

Rejoice!  The rescue team has arrived!

The Lord "wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time." 1 TIMOTHY 2:4-6 

In the season of Advent, we are waiting and anticipating the birth of the king!  This king is not merely sitting upon His mighty throne, he is in the rubble searching.  

Every person is being sought after!

The Lord of creation calls out...and when we answer...there is rejoicing in the heavenly realms!

Then...the Lord says:
They will be called the Holy People,
    the Redeemed of the Lord;
and you will be called Sought After,

    the City No Longer Deserted.  ISAIAH 62:12

It's the third week of Advent... the king is coming!

Respond and Rejoice!

Advent Day 16 - Rejoice! Rejoice!

Week of JOY

The third week of Advent is focused on joy...rejoicing.

The Advent wreath typically features a pink candle during this week of rejoicing!

How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
    who bring good tidings,
    who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
    “Your God reigns!”   ISAIAH 52:7

Mountains are representing nations - - where people from different tribes and races will hear the Good News.  People who have received the Good News...God's loving-kindness, His grace that brings us back into a right relationship with Him...proclaim it to all the nations!  This Good News is available to all.  God says "receive my gift!"  

...and I give thanks that God came down as Jesus, the Messiah, to be the ultimate sacrifice for the sin of the world.  I give thanks for the Good News that God did not leave humanity in her desperation, but in compassion and love, did what humankind was unable to do for themselves.  This is certainly Good News!

Just as Jesus became part of humankind and shared the Good News,
those who have received this Good News now share it with others!

Generations have been rejoicing at the Good News of Jesus Christ, Savior of the Nations!

"Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel. Shall come to you O Israel."

Israel - the literal meaning is "one who struggles with God."
He welcomes the struggle, and when we yield to God, He gives us peace.

Rejoice this week!

Advent Day 13 - For ever and ever...

Week of PEACE

Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
    a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.  PSALM 45:6

The Hebrew word used for God in this passage is Elohim, meaning the strong one, the supreme God.  This same reference is used in Genesis: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  It is stated in the plural, not referencing multiple gods; rather  indicating plurality within the Godhead - Father, Son & Holy Spirit.

..."for ever and ever" points us to time that is concealed, past and future, beyond what we know as "time."  It presses us to know that there is something beyond what can be fully seen in this world.

Father, Son & Holy Spirit...

 ALL present at creation and reigning for eternity!

Can you hear the assurance Jesus is giving to His disciples and to us when He says:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. 

In this world you will have trouble. 

But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  JOHN 16:33 

God continually gives us temporal illustrations of eternal truths!  A scepter...a ceremonial or emblematic staff held by a royal representative that represents divine power. 

Divine power, bringing justice... making everything right...straight...even!  He will make it right, and pleasant, and prosperous in His kingdom. The consistency of his faithfulness in the past gives us assurance for His faithfulness in the future.   We're called to trust that He will do everything He promises to do!  

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.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;

    fear the Lord and shun evil.  PROVERBS 3:5-7

He promised peace in Him, not necessarily peacefulness in this broken world.  Waiting is often hard.  This season of Advent is a reminder that we are still waiting for the promises of God that are still "not yet."  This time of waiting begs us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding.  

In receiving His grace, we receive the keys to the kingdom...the now-in-part, and the not-quite-yet kingdom to come.  Hear it as we pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven...  MATTHEW 6:9-11

 Receive the PEACE of the Lord and share it with someone on earth today!

Advent Day 12 - Acts of Kindness

Week of PEACE

Shalom - completeness, soundness, well-being.

What are the small ways that we can bring elements of Shalom to our neighbors?

We've had back to back snow / ice / snow events this week.  It was just beautiful this afternoon, but then the work of clearing the walkway and driveway awaits!

Our neighbors are away, so while the rest of the neighborhood has cleared driveways, this one was still untouched.  The temperatures are due to drop, so tonight's soft snow will by tomorrow's icy  glaze.  My husband  and I cleared their driveway and walkway, so that as they arrived home late at night, they would not be burdened with that task.

Do to others as you would have them do to you. LUKE 6:31

We had the same blessing in 2009, the day we moved our son home upon completing a master's degree from college, during a blizzard in December.  This was the kind of blizzard that shut down major highways.  We were traveling through a mountain valley with a trailer in tow...not good!  The normal 6 hour drive took over 10 grueling hours, landing us at our home about midnight. 

Much to our surprise, our driveway had been cleared!  My brother-in-law and a dear friend had come to deliver this blessing for very weary travelers!

A friend wrote on his Facebook today: 

If you are going to do something nice make sure it proclaims Jesus 

We never know what small acts of kindness may open doors.  

Advent Day 11 - Weighted Down

Week of PEACE

The heavens opened two days and delivered the first frozen blessings of winter.  We received about 6 inches of snow topped by ice first, topped by another 3-4 inches of snow.  

Behind my home is a grove of white pines that stand 40-50 feet tall.  The boughs were hanging low from the weight of snow and ice that had accumulated.  Some were pinned to the ground from so much extra weight!

Do you ever feel like that?  

Where the cares,concerns and the burdens of life are weighing you down?  

Do you ever feel like your just pinned down and stuck?  

Then I heard it...

SNAP...crack, crack, crack... THUD!  

High up on one of the trees a limb snapped and took out a few more branches on the way down.  

Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  MATTHEW 11:28-30

During this week focused on PEACE, the weighted and the broken branches were a reminder of what happens when we carry more than we're meant to.  The regular matters of life can mount up, one upon another, and if we don't pay attention we're burdened, sometimes to the point of snapping and even taking others down with us.

Conflict, finances, grief, unforgiveness, physical pain, illness...
these can all weigh us down.  

Jesus' promise is that He will give us rest.  Our part is trusting Him enough to give Him our burdens. 

Just before Jesus arrest, he gave His disciples a realistic perspective that is important for us to remember also:  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  JOHN 16:33

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  1 PETER 5:7

Advent Day 10 - Uncontainable Joy!

Week of PEACE

Shout for joy to God, all the earth!
    Sing the glory of his name;
    make his praise glorious.
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
    So great is your power
    that your enemies cringe before you.
All the earth bows down to you;
    they sing praise to you,
    they sing the praises of your name.”
Come and see what God has done,
    his awesome deeds for mankind!
He turned the sea into dry land,
    they passed through the waters on foot—
    come, let us rejoice in him.
He rules forever by his power,
    his eyes watch the nations—
    let not the rebellious rise up against him.  PSALM 66:1-7

Shout in triumphant joy, all the earth!  

In this passage the Lord is calling all the inhabitants of the world that are capable of praising him, to do just that...imagine an ear-splitting burst that signifies triumph!  

This kind of joy comes from within...
bursting forth with every ounce of emotion that can be outwardly expressed.  

Those that have been in the trenches, participating in what the Lord is doing, are unable to contain this kind of joy!



We live in a media-hyped culture.  Magazine pages, airwaves, and the internet are filled with all kinds of information, good and bad, about the celebrities of our time.  It's easy to know a lot about a person, without actually knowing him or her.  It's the epitome of gossip! 

You might be wondering..."where did that come from?"  

The Lord is calling us to know him, personally...to join Him in bestowing grace to the world, to be witnesses to His wonderful deeds, so that when we share with others, it comes through as sheer joy!  When we're excited about something, people can sense it and are eager to hear. 

This kind of

"I have something so exciting to tell you, that I can hardly contain myself"

joy is contagious!

It's the kind of joy I think about expressed in they hymn "Angels We Have Heard on High"