Advent 2024: The Tabernacle

“And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.” Exodus 25:8

“This Moses did; according to all that the Lord commanded him, so he did. In the first month, in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected. Moses erected the tabernacle. He laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars. And he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent over it, as the Lord had commanded Moses. He took the testimony and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark and set the mercy seat above on the ark. 

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” Exodus 40:16-20, 34-35

As a noun, tabernacle is defined as “a fixed or moveable habitation, typically of light construction.” (Oxford English Dictionary)

For the nomadic Israelites, this type of moveable structure for God’s dwelling place on Earth made perfect sense. They had left the slavery of Egypt and been led into the wilderness, still very much uncertain of what was next before entering the Promised Land. It’s at this point– this in between– that Moses climbs Mount Sinai to meet with the Lord. And it is here that Moses receives not only the Ten Commandments, but also very detailed instructions to build the tabernacle, a place the Lord could draw near to his chosen people. 

Maybe, like me, you get to the details of the tabernacle’s construction and you begin to skim, but pause here. Imagine in your mind the artistry and architecture involved. Every detail of its design was meant to draw the people to remember who God is, his history with his people, and also to point to a future together one day in eternity. Pause again and imagine the sight of a massive cloud of God’s presence settling down overhead. 

As I began to prepare for Advent, the tabernacle immediately connected with me. This temporary dwelling feels so relatable to me at the moment. We sold our home over the summer and are in the process of building our new home. In the interim, we are leasing. It took a few months after settling into our new home and a few moments of quiet in a full schedule to put my finger on the lowkey hum of what I had been feeling– the feeling of being in an unsettled place. In an attempt to limit what we unpack now only to have to repack in a few months, we still have boxes piled everywhere. Though not nomadic like the Israelites, I feel the temporariness of our current situation. Yet when I take the time to look, to pause and really look, I cannot help but see the many gifts God has shown us in these months, the gift of his presence woven through this time. 

I don’t know what you are carrying into this Advent. You may be moving, finding yourself in flux in a relationship or at work, having lost a loved one, or just uncertain what the next step God has for you is. But I’d venture to guess many of us can readily draw to mind some experience that leaves us feeling unsettled, waiting, wondering. As we draw nearer to Christmas Day, can I invite you to pause in that feeling? And as you do, to remember our God’s presence with you in that space. 

Earlier, I shared one definition of tabernacle with you. Allow me to share one more. Merriam-Webster Dictionary also defines the verb form of tabernacle. To tabernacle means “to take up temporary residence, especially to inhabit a physical body.” 

The same God who met Adam and Eve in the garden, Moses at the burning bush, led his people by pillars of cloud and fire, and came near in the temporary dwelling of the tabernacle is the same God who took up temporary residence here on Earth in the form of a baby. The tabernacle was a temporary, earthly dwelling for our infinite, uncontainable God, but it was just a hint of what was to come when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. This Christmas, may we find peace with us in our temporary and wilderness places, knowing that as he was for his people throughout time, our God is near. 

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Editor’s Note: Whether he walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden, spoke to Moses through the burning bush, led the Israelites through the wilderness, or let his presence dwell in the Tabernacle, our God has always shown his desire to have a relationship with his people. These instances found in the Old Testament, amazing as they are, are only shadows of what would come when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Each meeting brought us a step closer on the journey to Bethlehem, to the arrival of our Savior. 

Each week in our Advent reflections, we’ll take a look at one of the ways God drew near to his people leading up to Jesus’s birth.

Advent 2024: The Cloud of Smoke and Pillar of Fire

Imagine you look to your left, your right, before you, behind you, and all you can see are the thousands of people plodding onward into an unknown future. It’s a surreal feeling—you are leaving Egypt, the only home you have ever known, that anyone in your family has known for the past 400 years. You are leaving your job as a brick-maker, the only thing that ever gave you value in the world. And strangest of all, you are being led by a something so odd, you think your eyes must be playing tricks on you—a giant column of a cloud, which at night glows like fire. When it stops, your entire Israelite group stops and makes camp. When it moves, and where it moves, you pack up and follow. 

The whispers start to spread around camp one night, speculating about what even is this thing, as you nervously watch it in the distance. Glowing and waiting – almost like a shepherd watching over a flock. People start to remember some echoes of a story, a story passed down from generation to generation, nearly forgotten, like a candle about to go out. When you hear it, your heart beats faster and you immediately forget the weariness you’ve been carrying: “This isn’t the first time that the God of our people appeared like this”. 

You lean in close as you hear the story retold. The one chosen by God, Abraham, was also fleeing Egypt, and was in a place of doubt. He was losing faith that he could continue to trust God’s promise to him. Abraham asked God for proof—some reason why he could continue to believe. God responded in a strange way—that Abraham should set up a marriage covenant. 

And so Abraham did as he was instructed—gathering animals together and sacrificing them, using them to create a path. He knew what happened next. Two parties would take turns walking down this path of dead animals, declaring that “If I do not hold up my end of the promise, I deserve to be like these animals”. 

Abraham knew that it was now his turn. The less powerful party would walk first, followed by the more powerful party. But Abraham tarried. Maybe he was feeling the weight of what it would mean to make a promise with the One who placed the stars in the sky. As he waited, Abraham fell asleep.

He awoke with a start to a blazing light (could it have been the same one lingering over our camp right now?), and it was going down the path. It was as if God were saying “I promise to be your God, and you will be my people. If either one of us doesn’t hold up our end of the promise, I will become like these animals. I will pay the price”. 

The talk in camp dies down as people head off to sleep, but you lie awake pondering these things, the light of the fire ever-present in the distance. After 400 years of slavery and silence, are we really being saved by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? And could it be that this strange, mysterious force leading us and protecting us also cares for us, enough to make this marriage promise for us? 

Over a thousand years later, there was another family fleeing Egypt. This family arrived in Bethlehem, and a light in the sky again acted as a guide. But this time the light was guiding God’s faithful not to a place, but to a person. The Israelites had been again waiting 400 years in silence, waiting to be saved by the promised Messiah, the one God would send to reign on King David’s throne forever.  And he was here. His name is Jesus. He would say about himself “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12).” Could he be that same light from all those years ago? 

And ultimately, Jesus fulfills God’s promise that when we fall short of being God’s people, he would take the punishment and pay the price that we should have paid. 

And so this Advent, we remember that the long-expected Jesus, this Light of the World, is worth following after. By his light, all other things become clear. The Light of the World, who God has sent, lights up the darkness in our world around us, and the darkness in ourselves. This Light of the World ultimately guides us to the peace that our wandering hearts have been longing for. 

References: Exodus 13, Genesis 12, Genesis 15, John 8:12

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Editor’s Note: Whether he walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden, spoke to Moses through the burning bush, led the Israelites through the wilderness, or let his presence dwell in the Tabernacle, our God has always shown his desire to have a relationship with his people. These instances found in the Old Testament, amazing as they are, are only shadows of what would come when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Each meeting brought us a step closer on the journey to Bethlehem, to the arrival of our Savior. 

Each week in our Advent reflections, we’ll take a look at one of the ways God drew near to his people leading up to Jesus’s birth.

Advent 2024: The Burning Bush

As we spend time waiting, once again remembering Jesus’ arrival on Earth to be with us, we also remember an earlier time where God was with his people, or rather, one of his people, for a moment, a sacred moment that sustained Moses for challenging tasks ahead. In Exodus 3: 1-6 and 11-15 we read,

“Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”

And Moses said, “Here I am.” “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God…[and then after God explains that He has heard the cries of the Israelites in slavery and is commissioning Moses to go free them, Moses asks] “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation. 

In Isaiah 7, the prophet tells of a future time when the Great I AM would come again to be with his people:

“Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

And in Matthew 1, we read how an angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph and gave him courage to stay committed to Mary, saying that the son she carried, Jesus, was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. He would truly be “God with us.” Think about how similar the word Immanuel is to the words “I AM”; God with us is the great I AM.

I’ve been thinking about how God is always with us. Some of you know that Dave and I host a community group that uses the liturgies from a series of books called Every Moment Holy. The premise is that God is in every moment of life, not just the obviously religious ones. When we notice that and invite His perspective and create a moment of worship, we can make any moment holy.

And so I have been thinking about the holy moments that we are having with our Afghan family. Each time when we enter their home, we take off our shoes, just like God told Moses to take off his shoes. And I think about how this simple act reminds me that my time there with them is a holy moment where God is present. Maybe you have the routine of taking off your shoes as you enter your own home. Think about this simple act. Pause and remember that because Jesus came to Earth and was Immanuel— the GREAT I AM is actually present.

The same God who revealed himself through a burning bush and would be born a baby in Bethlehem who would live with his people, is today with His people through His omnipresent Holy Spirit. He truly is the Great I AM and we are part of the generations through the ages who proclaim that to be so.

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Editor’s Note: Whether he walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden, spoke to Moses through the burning bush, led the Israelites through the wilderness, or let his presence dwell in the Tabernacle, our God has always shown his desire to have a relationship with his people. These instances found in the Old Testament, amazing as they are, are only shadows of what would come when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Each meeting brought us a step closer on the journey to Bethlehem, to the arrival of our Savior. 

Each week in our Advent reflections, we’ll take a look at one of the ways God drew near to his people leading up to Jesus’s birth.

Advent 2024: The Garden

Editor’s Note: Whether he walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden, spoke to Moses through the burning bush, led the Israelites through the wilderness, or let his presence dwell in the Tabernacle, our God has always shown his desire to have a relationship with his people. These instances found in the Old Testament, amazing as they are, are only shadows of what would come when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Each meeting brought us a step closer on the journey to Bethlehem, to the arrival of our Savior. 

Each week in our Advent reflections, we’ll take a look at one of the ways God drew near to his people leading up to Jesus’s birth.

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The Garden

Genesis 3:8-10 – “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.’ ”

I’ve often wondered what it was like to be Adam. First human being, first man, having the first woman alongside you for the ride. But more than that, I’ve often wondered what Adam’s relationship with the Lord was like and how I would have reacted if, on a cool, breezy, sunny day in that lush Garden all those centuries ago, God had suddenly decided to sidle up to me – as he did with Adam and Eve.

I would have been awestruck. Terrified. Diving for the nearest bush whether I was naked or not. I’d like to believe I would have realized the sheer magnitude and significance of that singular moment in time, but like Adam, I probably would have been ashamed, ignorant, or perhaps too self-involved to truly notice.

The Lord God’s stroll through the Garden that day marks the first time he was literally “with us.” Even though this remarkable appearance wasn’t in literal human form, God revealing himself to Adam and Eve as a sound – like that of an all-enveloping rushing wind – signified His desire to be with us, to share his masterpiece with us. After all, why would He have created us if he didn’t desire our companionship?

It's also important to remember that the Lord God, in all his infinite, boundless power and glory, could have lost patience with humankind right then and there, choosing to snuff out Adam and Eve and begin anew with more compliant, reverent models. But he didn’t. That incredible act of ceaseless love brings to mind the lyrics of an old hymn my childhood church used to sing quite often:

 “He speaks and the sound of His voice, is so sweet the birds hush their singing. And the melody that he gave to me, within my heart is ringing … And He walks with me, and He talks with me. And He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other, has ever, known!”

How magnificent is that? The Lord God of Adam and Eve still walks and talks with us today, and he does so because of another miraculous, selfless choice. He opted to come to Earth as an innocent, pure baby; experience all of the same highs and lows Adam and Eve endured; then sacrifice himself on the cross for their sins and those committed by every single human being since that day in the Garden. He opted to declare, for all to hear, that he desires us forever and without exception.

So as we march headfirst into the usual hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, take a moment – take a few moments – to remember why the Lord God did all that. He didn’t have to. He wanted to. He wants to walk with us, to talk with us, and to continually, forever call us his own. And that’s something worth singing about.

Christ Stories: Jesus, Our Immanuel

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”             Luke 1:31-33

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

    and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us).              Matthew 1:21-23

On this Christmas Eve, we are reminded of the birth of our Savior, Jesus. Jesus, whose name means “the Lord is Salvation,” was born in the humblest of circumstances with the greatest purpose already given to him. Many prophets spoke of this long-awaited king hundreds of years prior to this point. The angels heralded the news of the birth of the Son of the Most High. The star guided foreign seekers to Immanuel, God with us. God spoke through people, angels, and even stars to ensure we would not miss this unprecedented arrival of the Lord of our salvation, God with us. And yet, amidst all the fanfare, Jesus was born in a stable in a small village to a young virgin.

God had dwelt with his people before, first in the Garden—when humans were unstained by sin—then in the Tabernacle, and finally in the Temple— each place, while amongst his people, were still quite separate from them. This time, though, God chose to get dirty and humble himself to become the lowliest of people. He was no longer only with us when we were clean enough to enter his presence. No, Jesus’ humble beginnings illustrate that he now enters into our messy lives, truly “God with us”—in our pain, in our temptations, in our weaknesses and sorrows.

And he is our Salvation. Immanuel’s purpose is written in his name, “the Lord is Salvation.” He does not leave us in the mess to fend for ourselves. He gives us healing, resistance, strength, and comfort. He walks through the valleys with us. And after all that, he saves us from our sin. Salvation from sin and its conclusion is freely given to all who trust in Jesus. The gift of salvation is the greatest gift any of us could get.

This Christmas, let us remember God’s deep love for us in sending the Son of the Most High to take on human flesh to be God with us and the Lord of our salvation. Let us be generous with the grace given to us and extend that gift to others. May we praise him, the Son of the Most High, for joining us in our broken state and lifting us out of the depths of our sin and into his marvelous light.

Christmas Stories: Simeon & Anna

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29  “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;

30  for my eyes have seen your salvation

31  that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

32  a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” 

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” 

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:25-38

There isn’t much scripture devoted to the lives of Simeon and Anna. Simeon is described as righteous and devout, waiting for the Savior’s appearance, and that the Holy Spirit was upon him. He had been promised that he would see the Messiah before his earthly life was over. Anna is described as a prophetess of the tribe of Asher, widowed until she was 84, and did not depart from the temple, worshipping night and day.

Simeon and Anna were nearing the end of their lives. Both had spent their lives in love of and service to the Lord. They were each described in ways that seem to indicate they had close relationships with God. But we are left relatively in the dark over much of their life stories. Did they ever, in their decades of serving, wonder what God was up to? Wonder when his promise of a Messiah would be fulfilled? Did they ever grow weary of waiting? We don’t know about the years in between. The moments leading up to their meeting the Christ child probably seemed just as everyday… as every other day.

As I began my study of Simeon and Anna, I was working through a Bible study that included a study of the intertestamental time. In case you’re unfamiliar, the intertestamental time is the 400 years between the end of the prophets’ warnings of the Old Testament and Jesus’ birth in the New. It is sometimes called “the silent years”—a time seemingly without purpose, action, movement. 

But God was actually very much at work behind the scenes during this time. As the intertestamental period began, the Israelites were scattered and in exile, synagogues spread all throughout Asia Minor. It would be the creation of over 50,000 miles of roads and the spread of a common language, Greek, during this period—events that from a glance seem irrelevant to God’s plans—that would in reality be the work that would allow Peter, Paul, and other missionaries of the early Church to spread the Gospel.

Like the intertestamental years, at a glance, Simeon and Anna’s in-between years could be viewed as unimportant, without purpose or movement. But like the intertestamental years proved critical to the spread of the Gospel, I believe those long years of serving and worship were critical years to building both Simeon and Anna’s faith.

While we don’t get to see their “silent years”, we do get to see a pinnacle moment of their faith. Finally, that moment arrives when they each lay eyes on the promised and long-awaited Savior, and they are filled with praise. Their brief meetings with the young Messiah point us to a time of waiting fulfilled. It may not have been easy in the waiting, but this is their moment to celebrate. To hope. To praise.

Maybe you enter this Advent in a waiting season of your own. What will you do after school? Is there a new job or a much desired marriage or child in your future? How much longer before God shows us our new church home? Maybe life feels hard, or it could just be stagnant. You wonder what God is up to. I won’t discount the challenge and hard of silent times. But may we follow the lead of Simeon and Anna. May we serve faithfully and deepen our relationships with God. Trust that God is at work, though we may not know how it will all unfold. Take this moment, this day to remember, no matter what else is going on, even in whatever else is going on, our Messiah has come. Our Savior came here. He is Immanuel, God with us in the Now, and he is with us in the Yet to Come. 

Christmas Stories: Mary & Joseph

Editor’s note: The Christmas story is a familiar one, even if you never grew up in the Church. We see the Nativity scene in homes and yards, on billboards and cards. This Advent, we will look deeper into the people whose key appearances in the Bible take place in the time of Jesus’s birth. Some may be familiar, some less so, but each has a story, and each person’s story can impact our own lives and, hopefully, draw us closer to our Savior. Join us for Christmas Stories, our Advent reflection series!

Mary and joseph’s Story

“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!’ But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his Father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.  And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.”  And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”   Luke 1:26-38

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband, Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.” Matthew 1: 18-25

The Christmas Season is upon us again. For some, the arrival of December might have seemed to cut the fall a bit short and too quickly thrust us into the whirlwind of Western Christmas traditions! However, this season of Advent isn’t primarily a western holiday season, but first the Church’s season of preparation.

Advent is when we as God’s people dwell on the amazing miracle of God faithfully carrying out His promised plan to bring sinful man back into a relationship with a holy God. God’s promise of a Savior to the world was carried out though humble people, in particular, Mary and Joseph. They were not yet married. Both were told the news of Jesus in the quiet of being alone. In fact, Joseph was sleeping. Scriptures don’t tell us that they were blessed to receive the commission of birthing and raising the Savior in a community of people like Paul and Barnabas did when the Holy Spirit told them to go on a mission trip together in Acts 13.

So maybe there were moments when she was alone, afraid, and Mary wondered if she was crazy. Perhaps Joseph wondered if his dream was nothing. Didn't he just have a dream he was a bird last week? And when their small community found out, did she feel the urge to explain the angel’s “visit” over and over and over again? Did Joseph feel tempted to punch the disdaining looks off of the other men’s faces when he chose to stay betrothed to his “unfaithful” fiancée?  What did Mary feel when she walked through Nazareth pregnant before she was a proper wife? How did Joseph experience having a fiancée that was pregnant, but not by Him? We can imagine that they had confusing emotions just like we might. And still… they had listened to God and believed.

We can only speculate, but if there were moments like these, Mary still obeyed. And Joseph obeyed. They walked by faith into what God called them to do. When Mary was told of the miraculous conception and birth, she replied with faith and obedience, “Let it be done to me as you have said.” And Joseph obeyed. He stayed married, and named the baby Jesus as the angel had directed.

Being able to respond by faith in the way that they did didn’t just happen. I believe it makes sense that they were prepared to receive God’s call for them by having hearts that walked by faith before the Lord called them to this “assignment.”

I think they were prepared. Hearts that are tender towards God are hearts that practice daily obedience and communion with Him. As the calendar barrels towards Christmas, in our season of Advent we can prepare to celebrate Jesus by being obedient in the small and big things He has laid before us to do. Are we working? Then we are to work faithfully and excellently, filled with the Spirit. Are we in school? Then we can prayerfully study and use our minds for the glory of God. Are we parents? Then we can gently and truthfully point our children to the grace of Jesus. Are we single? We can rejoice in our friends and the ways God uniquely uses us in the lives of others.

Two lowly and humble people were part of the plan to do the miraculous— that is, to allow the Savior of the world to be born, grow, and eventually die for the souls of men and women who were lost in darkness.

How can you prepare your heart to celebrate the coming of Jesus as a babe? We don’t know what God will call any of us to do in the future, but our daily obedience, Bible reading, confession, and prayers are the tilling of the soil of our hearts so that God might use our lives for His glory.

The ripple effects of God’s plan being carried out by these two lowly people changed the course of mankind for eternity. Their hearts obeyed because they were prepared. Oh, Lord, let us obey because we, too, are preparing our hearts to celebrate your coming and for whatever you may call us to. Amen.

Advent 2022: His Peace

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Editor’s Note: The theme for this year’s Advent reflections is Immanuel, Jesus has Come Here. God has always been present in the world, but with the coming of Jesus as an infant, he is also made present with his people. Our sin separates us from God, but through a baby, Immanuel, he draws us close.

This week, as we explore the blessings of Immanuel, God with us, we finish our Advent reflections by thinking on the peace that comes from Jesus.

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Sometimes the carols from our youth hold a message for today. I feel that way about Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”

You may not know that the poem which is now set to music was written by Longfellow on Christmas Day 1863, two years after his wife had died, in the depths of the Civil War, while nursing his soldier son. Longfellow was an abolitionist and was deeply depressed following his wife’s horrific death, but somehow the church bells that Christmas morning reminded him of a deeper truth, a truth that was stronger than his depression and pain.

One of the verses begins, “In despair I bowed my head; ‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said; ‘for hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace on earth, good-will to men.’” 

That’s often how I feel. Peace and good-will are platitudes that are thrown around, but people don’t have the courage, or perhaps the example to follow, to make that a reality.  How can we?  It is not human nature to offer good-will to others, especially when they are outside our group, outside our understanding.  But it is in God’s nature to do so. He is the one who sent His son from heaven to earth to show us a way of peace. The song continues, “Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: ‘God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good-will to men.’”

This verse is a lyrical hint of God’s redemption described in Jesus’ own words in John 16:33,

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Jesus has overcome the world!

As we come to this last week—this last day—of Advent, on Christmas Eve and are once again confronted with the unbelievable accounts of Jesus’ birth—His coming—let us not make it a puzzle to be somehow cleverly solved but rather take a moment to peacefully ponder(1) all that was, all that is, and all that is to come, proclaiming again, with great confidence that Jesus is our peace.

(1.      Dr. Natasha Duquette, Vice-President Academic and Professor of Literature, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College, Barry’s Bay, Ontario, Canada, https://ccca.biola.edu/advent/2022/#day-nov-29 )

Reflection:

1. Write in a journal some things that cause you stress, that take away your rest.  Then in a prayer, say “Jesus, ______________ is taking away my peace.  But I know that you are greater than this. It does not surprise you. It does not overwhelm you like it does me. I am claiming your peace, knowing you have already overcome this. Help me to rest in you.”

2. Find a bell, not a jingle bell, but something louder, deeper. If you can’t find a bell, make one. Fill a metal container with some water and strike it. Ring it and remember that God is not dead. He does not sleep.  Read aloud Psalm 121. If you can’t find or make a bell, go for a walk and listen for the carillon of a local church to remind you of the truths of Psalm 121.

3. Invite your family to sit and experience the quiet.  Pause with your eyes closed. Say “Jesus” and then let yourself lean into the silence for 60 seconds. Open your eyes and do a silent group hug. This may be the only quiet you get in a chaotic, celebratory week.  Enjoy it!

Advent 2022: His Perfection

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Editor’s Note: The theme for this year’s Advent reflections is Immanuel, Jesus has Come Here. God has always been present in the world, but with the coming of Jesus as an infant, he is also made present with his people. Our sin separates us from God, but through a baby, Immanuel, he draws us close.

This week, as we explore the blessings of Immanuel, God with us, we reflect on Jesus coming here and the gift of his perfection.

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One of my sons has inherited his mother’s unfortunate tendency towards perfectionism. When he tries but fails to master some new concept in school or in play perfectly, the frustration, shame, or defensiveness—or some combination of feelings—threatens to pull him down. But just as I know he will never be perfect, our heavenly Father knows he, nor I, nor any one of us, will ever be perfect. In fact, that inability to measure up to a 100%-perfection-all-the-time-every-time standard is the very reason Jesus came.

“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:20

Prior to Jesus, the Israelites measured their right-standing with God through adherence to the Mosaic Law. The Law had many purposes, such as to set the nation of Israel apart from other nations, but chief among them was to reveal to God’s chosen people who he is and who they were— people who fell short of his standard of perfection, and were, therefore, in need of saving. For the people of the Law, that saving came through prescribed sacrifices, which needed to be regularly offered to the Lord.   

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoptions as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5

“For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14

Immanuel came down to a broken world full of imperfect people, the spotless lamb. He faced earthly temptations, experienced the realities of this world, knew the exacting nature of high standards, and yet he remained without sin. His perfection covers our imperfection. And even more mind-blowing is that the driver behind this greatest act of all time, as identified for us in John 3:16, is God’s love for us. Timothy Keller famously says,

“The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”

From one recovering perfectionist to anyone else out there that struggles under the weight of something that is impossible, nor was ever meant to be attained, let us give endless praise to the One who has always been, is always, will forever be Perfect.

This Advent season, let us push off the weight of guilt and shame set by impossibly high standards, not as an excuse to continue in sin, but to fall headlong into his arms of grace. He came. Jesus came. Immanuel came.

Reflection:

1. Do you tend to hold yourself up to an impossible standard or do you use grace as an excuse to continue in sin?

2. Spend some time reflecting on who Christ is and the fact that Immanuel, the Son of God, was both without sin and came to cover us with his righteousness.

Advent 2022: His Pursuit

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Editor’s Note: The theme for this year’s Advent reflections is Immanuel, Jesus has Come Here. God has always been present in the world, but with the coming of Jesus as an infant, he is also made present with his people. Our sin separates us from God, but through a baby, Immanuel, he draws us close.

This week, as we explore the blessings of Immanuel, God with us, we reflect on Jesus coming here and the gift of his pursuit.

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“There is a crack in everything, it’s how the light gets in.” ~ Leonard Cohen

Another season of Advent is here—a season of hope, peace, joy, and love—the most wonderful time of the year. And yet, with each passing year, it seems easier to focus on all the cracks and brokenness that permeate this busted up world. 

A former student of ours, Sarah, a young wife and mother, passed away the day after Thanksgiving. We prayed for healing. We prayed for a miracle. But that healing came in a different way than we had prayed for. My mind drifts to the passage in Luke 24 when some of the disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus, and Jesus walks with them, though they do not recognize him. They talk about all the events of the crucifixion and the events leading up to it, when they say these three words, ”We had hoped...” So much of the sentiment of those words resonate with my heart and maybe yours as well.

We had hoped... you would heal Sarah.

We had hoped...you would restore that relationship.

We had hoped... for different test results.

We had hoped... you would give us a child to love.

We had hoped... for my family member to finally be free of addiction.

We had hoped... for a time together with family without another blowup.

“We had hoped He was the Messiah, who had come to rescue Israel.” Luke 24:21.

His very own disciples and closest friends doubted who Jesus was. And yet, I think about how even in the midst of their grief, disappointment, cynicism, or doubts, He walks with them. He listens. He reminds them of all that was promised to them. He is WITH them.

And isn’t that what Christmas is all about? God sends love down, putting on flesh, to pursue and get up close and personal with His prodigal people. Our cynicism doesn’t phase him. Our bitterness doesn’t deter him. Our doubts don’t scare him. He gives us the freedom to choose our own way over His perfect ways, and His love for us remains steadfast and limitless. But far too often we chase the fleeting pleasures of this world when “it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom” (Luke 12:32). And His vast love and pursuit goes far beyond saving us to actually wanting to adopt us as His dearly beloved children, to share His inheritance with us, to experience eternal life and His kingdom now.

My grief and doubts may still sometimes blind me from recognizing Him in the moment, but as I look back on my life, I can still see His pursuit of me, his unending love, his goodness and faithfulness to me. For when His hope and my heart burned within me, I can see how He was with me all the way (Luke 24:32).

So yes, there are still cracks in everything, but I pray this Christmas, and always, that we would allow the light and love of Jesus to permeate those cracks of our broken hearts so that hope, joy, and peace would shine through us. And rather than continuing to say “We had hoped,” we can now proclaim with confidence, “We have hope” — in Jesus, our Messiah, and He has really come to rescue us. Amen.

Reflection:

1. What are the “cracks” in your life?

2. Where do you see, amidst the cracks, the Lord’s pursuit of you this holiday season?

Advent 2022: His Presence

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Editor’s Note: The theme for this year’s Advent reflections is Immanuel, Jesus has Come Here. God has always been present in the world, but with the coming of Jesus as an infant, he is also made present with his people. Our sin separates us from God, but through a baby, Immanuel, he draws us close.

This week, as we explore the blessings of Immanuel, God with us, we reflect on Jesus coming here and the gift of his presence.

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Isaiah 7:14 - Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign; Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”

Name him—Immanuel. It means God is with us.

Have you ever noted that sometimes it’s not the pain or seriousness of an injury that matters in the end? I have more traumatic memories from my childhood of splinters and scrapes than the concussion I sustained from gymnastics. And my first sickness, a cold, as a freshman in college was worse than the flu I had had at home with my parents in high school. The difference between each scenario was that I was alone with the lighter, seemingly easier afflictions, but held and comforted by my parents with the more serious maladies.

It is curious that Immanuel is the name God chooses for His Son in this passage. He could have named himself “Chesed,” (grace), “Shalom,” (peace), or “Hesed,” (love). God is in fact all of these things. Other places in the Bible God calls Him these exact beautiful words and more!  But when His Son was to be born, it’s almost as if God just didn’t want us (and Israel, the original recipients of this sign) to miss it. “I have come near. I am here. I am with you. You are not alone.”

During Christmas time there is both a beauty and magic about the celebration of Jesus’ arrival. Yet, there can also be sadness and grief. Perhaps you feel the loss of someone you love to sickness, or you have a wayward child, or a much desired expectation wasn’t met in your life.

The name God gives His Son tells us you are never by yourself in both these delights of the season—lights, gifts, food, friends—nor the strange heartache. He is with you. He is near.

Jeremiah 23: 23-24 “Am I a God who is near,” declares the Lord, “And not a God far off? Can a man hide himself in hiding places, So I do not see him?” Declares the Lord, “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” Declares the LORD.

Psalm 139: 7-10 Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, Thou are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there thy hand will lead me, And Thy right hand will lay hold of me.”

When the God of the Bible draws near, it is to be like a balm to cracked skin. When Moses asked God to go with them as they travelled through the desert, it was to be a strong protection over the Israelites. And when Jesus came near as a baby who grew into a man who willingly died for people who would reject Him, it was to bring healing to our broken, rebellious and hurting souls. When God sends His Son to be “with” us, it is a very very good thing.

So when you feel alone…

•    When you have met yourself as a new Mom for the first time and are bone tired

•    When you have your grown children living outside your home for the first time.

•    When you are working with your difficult child NOT for the first time.

•    When you are up late studying for that impossible test and you’re running out of time

•    Or up late working on a budget that just won’t stretch any more

•    Or even up late flirting with temptation to sin and you just can’t walk away and you already feel the shame that inevitably comes when we choose sin.

In those times this season, let the beauty of the lights, the music, the unique tastes of this season remind you that the presence of our gentle, kind, forgiving, powerful, perfect Savior is with you. Though your feelings may try to convince you otherwise,  your prayers are not just hitting the ceiling. You are talking to your Savior. You are crying with your Savior. You are fighting the good fight against sin with Your Savior. When it seems no one else cares about the strange heartache of things that didn’t materialize, or things that did, remember and believe that Jesus came to show us just how near He wants to be with us.

Immanuel.

Reflection:

1. Can you remember a time that someone’s presence with you in a hard time brought comfort or peace?

2. In what situation you are currently facing do you need to remember that Jesus came to be with you on this earth?

Advent 2021: Christ

God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay.

Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day

to save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray.

Oh tidings of comfort and joy!

Our Christ has come! The Greek word Christos, which we’ve translated as Christ, literally means Anointed One. Jesus, the Anointed One, has come.

A key ingredient in the sacred anointing oil used at the temple was myrrh, the very gift that the wise men gave to Jesus when they visited the one the star had led them to see. This holy oil was only to be used on priests—those in service to God—not on “ordinary people.”1 (Exodus 30:22-33) Did the wise men know they were offering the anointing oil to the Anointed One? What does it mean to be the Anointed One, the Christ? 

Only two types of people were anointed: priests, as mentioned above, and kings. Jesus was anointed as both our high priest2 (Hebrews 5:5-10) and our king3 (Matthew 2:2). To what purpose was Jesus anointed as king and high priest?

When Jesus first starts His ministry, recorded in Luke 4, He reads from Isaiah 61:1-2 and 42:7.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

    because he has anointed me

    to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

    and recovering of sight to the blind,

    to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

Jesus, the Christ, came to set all things right and to free us from being bound by sin and Satan’s power. This truly is something in which we can take comfort and joy. Jesus Christ was born to save us all from Satan’s power while we were still blind from sin. As our high priest, He offered the ultimate sacrifice to atone for our sins once and for all. As our king, He leads us into an everlasting peace, and His perfect kingdom will never cease. He is our high priest and our king forever.

Lord, I pray that we may remember the hope we have in the Anointed One beyond this Christmas season and in our daily lives. May we put Christ on the throne as our king, and may we go to Christ as our priest in our trials. Thank you for rescuing us from sin and leading us in the way everlasting. To you be all glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

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1. Exodus 30:22-33-- The Lord said to Moses, “Take the finest spices: of liquid myrrh 500 shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is, 250, and 250 of aromatic cane, and 500 of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil. And you shall make of these a sacred anointing oil blended as by the perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil. With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of the testimony, and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils and the basin and its stand. You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them will become holy. You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. And you shall say to the people of Israel, ‘This shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations. It shall not be poured on the body of an ordinary person, and you shall make no other like it in composition. It is holy, and it shall be holy to you. Whoever compounds any like it or whoever puts any of it on an outsider shall be cut off from his people.’”

2. Hebrews 5:5-10-- So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

3. Matthew 2:2-- saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Advent 2021: Love

Truly he taught us to love one another;

His law is love and his gospel is peace.

Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother,

And in his name all oppression shall cease.

This week in our Advent reflections, we turn to Love.

We all know someone, or maybe are that someone, who cannot wait for Christmas. No waiting until after Thanksgiving, all decorations and warm fuzzies are out the moment the temperature begins to drop. There are many things to love about the Christmas season. Maybe its spending time with the people you care about most, or it’s the trappings of Christmas you love—decorating, gift selecting, creating a feast—that set your hospitality-gifted heart on fire. Maybe you just love a good, easily predictable Hallmark Christmas movie.

Or maybe this time of year conjures up images of that green Grinch. Someone you’re in line behind at the store (or you, yourself) acts more like Scrooge as Christmas nears than Buddy the Elf. The past two years have been heavy. You’re dealing with struggle and hardship—this is not where you wanted to be. You’re wondering where God is in the midst of whatever it is you’re facing. Within your heart, everything about Christmas feels so very far from love.

I take comfort in knowing that God knew these days from before time. He knew the broken world He was sending His perfect Son into to be born of a virgin. He knew this decision would eventually lead to Jesus’ atoning death on the cross for our sins. He also knew that we would be sitting here at the end of 2021, after 21 months of a global pandemic, years of political vitriol, and decades of racial injustice, among other weighty matters.

I love how simply, but profoundly, Russ Ramsey puts it in his book, The Advent of the Lamb of God: “Only divine love makes sense of the world.” Think about this. There is absolutely nothing we can do in this world, no love we can find, no love we can give apart from Christ that could ever make sense of this world.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:16

So loved. Not “liked,” not merely “tolerated,” not “thought was pretty okay.” Take a minute this Christmas Eve to reflect that God sent Jesus to this Earth because He loves us more than we could ever hope to grasp. God loves me. God loves you. And He sent His one and only perfect Son on a rescue mission fueled by love to save us.

And it is through that love poured out in our own lives, we can in turn, as we abide in and are filled by Christ, pour out on a world desperately in need of divine love. This love was not meant to be kept to ourselves.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” John 15: 12-14

Do you need to be reminded this Christmas that you are dearly loved by the Savior of the world? If so, spend some time reflecting on His love for you.

Recognizing that divine, perfect love you’ve received, how can you show love to this world?

Dear Jesus, may we remember your arrival as a baby is not just a feel-good story; it signifies the start of the greatest love story this world has ever known. May we live with that Truth deep in our souls and share it with a world deeply in need of True Love. Amen

Advent 2021: Joy

Joy to the World, the Lord is Come!

Let Earth receive her King.

We’ll sing those celebratory words soon. And mentally, I add “Joy to the World, the Lord will come again!” That is our hope.

As we wait during this Advent to once again mark the birth of Jesus, we also anticipate a future time when He will come in glory and restore all things, a time where He will have ultimate triumph over evil, sickness, and death.

I can be a melancholy person and so, for me, I have to work at joy. I have to try to be more intentional about finding the joy and enjoying the moment, seeing God’s goodness right now, laughing and relaxing, and pausing to breathe in happiness right now. 

You may think this is weird, but I have written notes about what music I want played at my funeral, and one of the songs is called “Joy in the Morning.” A couple of years ago, I decided that the only chance I had of having that song actually performed at my funeral is if I made sure my kids all knew the song, so I ordered the sheet music, and our family learned it and sang it together.

The text of that song echoes promises in Revelation and Isaiah, that the earth and humanity will be restored.

Isaiah 35 1-7 says “Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy!
The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon. There the Lord will display his glory, the splendor of our God. With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.” And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf.
The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the wasteland. The parched ground will become a pool, and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land.”

Are your hands tired? Are your knees weak?  Be encouraged. Rejoice. God will give you strength.

I hope that each of us can anticipate the announcement of Jesus’ birth with pure joy—the joy of a child on Christmas morning, the joy of a parent seeing a newborn for the first time, the joy of knowing that eventually all will be made well because the Savior has come.

This week as we inch closer to Christmas Day, I challenge you to find a time each day to pause and truly enjoy something miraculous that is happening right before your eyes. Linger in the moment and thank God for what you are enjoying.

Ask God to speak to you about what joy you are missing and how to turn your attention more fully to the joy He sends each day.

And if you are a singer, like I am, join with heaven and nature as they sing Joy to the World, because the Lord really has come.

Dear God, the Lord has come and we should be filled with joy that Your glory is around us and available to us, but we are missing it and the darkness sometimes drives our joy away. Help us this Advent season to reclaim the joy that You provide as we anticipate with childlike excitement the announcement of Jesus’ birth.  Help us to see Your presence and to rejoice in it each day. In Jesus’ precious name, we pray, Amen.

Advent 2021: Peace

“The people walking in darkness

have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness

a light has dawned…”

Isaiah 9:2

When we walk in darkness, we fumble and grasp for something to hold onto, looking for any sliver of light to lead us, guide us, and help us find our way. This year, I feel as though I come weary and limping into the Advent season. The heaviness and brokenness of the world we live in weighs on me. The brokenness, division, and disunity I see within the Church breaks my heart. The brokenness I see in myself, how often I mess up, fall short, disappoint those I love, and don’t reflect Jesus the way I want to. Everything just feels broken, heavy, dark, and I’m grasping for the light. 

And so, we light the Advent candle of peace today—and we wait.

We yearn and search for peace. God feels silent. We feel lost. We’re overwhelmed—burned out. Fear cripples us. Worry is our constant companion. We try meditation, self-care, setting intentions, vacations. We sedate, medicate, placate—all to find some relief from the heaviness of life. And while at times those things may be helpful and even necessary, there is only one source that can offer us true peace, Jesus, our Prince of Peace—my Prince of Peace.

And as the candle here offers a flicker of light in this great room, it only takes a flicker of His light to break through, pierce the darkness, and lead us home to Jesus, the light and source of true peace. 

“For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6

His light fills the cracks in my broken heart, infusing a peace that surpasses all understanding. His peace replaces the fear with trust, my worries with His promises. 

Emmanuel has come. God is WITH us.

Because He is with me, I will not be afraid.

Because He is with me, I will not be shaken.

Because He is with me, His peace surrounds and comforts me.

Because He is with me, I can rejoice.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:4-9

We still wait—for His second coming, for Him to establish His kingdom and restore all things.  But we should not wait passively. We can talk with Jesus, linger in His presence, allow His Holy Spirit to lead us. We can extend His peace and hope to others – offering Jesus as the light to the darkness. His with-ness allows us to bear witness to others the peace and joy that can be found even in the midst of pain and suffering. We can remind one another of His promises, found in His word. 

His peace is with me—His peace is with you—because the Lord is near. Emmanuel has come. So let us, this weary world, rejoice!

What areas of my life do I need His peace?

How have I felt His nearness lately?

How can I share His peace with others?

Dear God, thank You for the gift of Your Son, Emmanuel, God with us. When Your love came down, light broke through the darkness. Your nearness and with-ness allow us to withstand the storms of life, grounding our faith with Your supernatural peace that surpasses all understanding. When the weight of this world overwhelms us, or our circumstances feel out of control, may we run to You, Jesus, and not to the temporary band-aids this world offers. May we allow You to hold us, comfort us, and heal us with Your perfect love, which casts out all fear. Let us offer Him the rags of our sin and brokenness and allow Him to clothe us with His righteousness through Jesus. May we no longer walk in the shame of our failures and shortcomings, but may we walk in this world as Your beloved and dance to the songs You sing over us. Oh, Prince of Peace, be our Peace at Christmas, and always.  Amen.

Advent 2021: Hope

O come, O come, Immanuel,

and ransom captive Israel

that mourns in lonely exile here

until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel

shall come to you, O Israel.

Imagine having a mentor and friend who is determined to keep you on the right path.  For years, they spent time with you, listened, nurtured you and gave rock-solid advice.  They knew your deepest secrets and still made you feel loved and accepted. They were present in good times and in the bad and provided comfort and peace as only they could. If they knew they wouldn’t be around for any period of time, they sent someone – someone you could also trust – in their absence.  You never felt alone or lost. Then, one day, they disappeared.  You left voicemails, texted, emailed, and even dropped by their house.  All possible ways of reaching them resulted in the same thing – dead silence.  You trusted this person so deeply and you were ghosted. You wondered what you did wrong.  Maybe you even wondered if they were just pretending to have your best interests at heart.

In ancient times, the Israelites had God’s presence with them for thousands of years, whether His physical manifestation or an anointed prophet.  The Israelites had suffered through a division of the nation, multiple invasions from foreign tribes, and were eventually exiled from their home. He promised he would send a Deliverer and, over the centuries, the Israelites were reminded of that hope whenever their focus turned to earthly things or the troubles of the day:

Isaiah 7:13 - Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Micah 5:2 - But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.

Suddenly, God went silent. Wars and invasions assaulted them from every side, and the silence continued for 400 years. To put this into perspective, the pilgrims celebrated their first harvest festival with the Native Americans 400 years ago in 1621. Consider the number of generations and events that have passed since then. The Israelites had to wait and hope in the silence for deliverance.

As Christians, we are also waiting – waiting and hoping for His promised return and restoration of all that is broken. We have the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us and, for more than 2000 years, we still wait.

Hebrews 10:23 – Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful

1 Peter 1:13 - Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Advent is a season of preparation and focus on the coming of Christ.  As we reflect on the birth of Christ and its profound impact on humanity, let’s consider the hope that we have. God sent His promised Deliverer though Israel had to wait a long time and it wasn’t what they expected.

Reflect on the times when God sent you the deliverance or help you needed but it was in a manner or timing you didn’t expect. How does this bring you hope in this Christmas season and for the future?

Advent 2020: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

“In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army of angels praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.”

When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem, then, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen Him, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it were amazed about the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.” Luke 2:8-20 (NASB)

“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT)

 I’ve read this account of the birth of Jesus more times than I can count throughout the years. I’ve known it as a passage about the birth of a Savior, the Messiah, being revealed to lowly shepherds through the angels. Ordinary shepherds encountering the divine. I can only imagine how bearing witness to this would have changed their lives forever.

But it wasn’t until this year, that I sat with Jesus and let Him reveal the personal nature of this passage. This message was not just for the shepherds, not just for others, but also for me. This is “Good news of great joy…(for YOU, Amy)…there has been born FOR YOU a Savior… Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased. It’s much easier to give, do, and perform than it is to just be, receive, and humbly accept a gift, especially when it’s one we don’t deserve and can’t match even with our best efforts. Jesus was born a Savior for me. I am one of the “people with whom He is pleased.”

As we close this Advent season, imagine if we lived and walked as though we believed this message was for us. Jesus was born as Savior for YOU. He is pleased in you, takes delight in you with gladness, with His love He calms our fears, and rejoices over you with joyful songs. Our lives, like the shepherds would be changed forever. We would witness firsthand the good news of great joy the angels proclaimed and want to proclaim His light, life, and healing He brings with every person we encounter.

“Light and life to all He brings,

Risen with healing in His wings;

Mild He lays His glory by

Born that man no more may die

Born to raise the sons of earth

Born to give them second birth

Hark! The herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn king” 

1. Do I believe Jesus was born a Savior for me? Do I believe He delights in me with gladness and rejoices over me with joyful songs? If not, why do I struggle to believe it? 

2. Where do I need His love to calm my fears?

Jesus, thank you for coming near, for being a Savior for me, especially me. I often struggle with receiving your delight and pleasure in me because of all of the ways I know I continually fall short. And yet, that’s why it is such “good news of great joy” because you paid a debt we could never fulfill, allowing God and sinners to be reconciled, bringing your kingdom to earth and wholeness to our brokenness. May we be like the shepherds that first Christmas, who couldn’t help but share with everyone what they had seen and experienced in Jesus. May we walk as though we believe that we truly are Your beloved, and allow Your pleasure to radiate from our very beings. Amen.

Advent: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” Luke 2:14

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Tonight, in this fourth week of Advent, we consider the peace brought to us through Jesus. It is a peace that is not dependent on our situations, but rather one that goes beyond our understanding. When we look at the world around us, we see chaos, fear, anxiety, hate, grief. We may get caught up in the storm swirling around us—threatening to drag us down.

And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth, I said
For hate is strong
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead nor doth He sleep
The wrong shall fail
The right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men

At the moment we start to lose hope, Jesus is there, reaching to pull us out of the depths. We have peace because the baby who came over 2000 years ago overcame sin, death, and darkness. When we focus on Christ’s redemptive power, we can be led through the darkest valleys and come out victorious. Our peace comes from knowing that Love wins in the end.

1. Who or what am I focusing on this Christmas season?

2. How can I allow Christ to lead me in peace when going through hardship?

Lord, thank you for the peace we have in You that goes beyond understanding. May we be a people who draw close to you when life gets difficult, and may we receive peace in knowing that you have overcome the world. May we share that peace as a beacon of hope in a fallen world, just as Christmas bells ring out a reminder of your victory. I pray that we ring out your victory over darkness now and in our daily lives beyond this Christmas season. Amen

Advent: O Come, O Come Emmanuel

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.”  Romans 8:18-19

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

 Today, in this third week of Advent, we reflect on what it means to wait. For many of us, this season has involved a lot of waiting, hoping and expecting. We wait for when things will go back to the way they are supposed to be. We hope for a cure. We have expectations for a future beyond what we are currently enduring.

The Christian life is, and always was, centered on waiting, hoping, and expecting. Waiting for God to defeat, once and for all, sin and death and return things to the way they are supposed to be. Hoping for a cure for the world’s separation from God. Expecting that one day Jesus (Emmanuel, God with us) will come to usher in a future far beyond this present time, just as he did that first Christmas.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer

Our spirits by Thine advent here

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night

And death's dark shadows put to flight

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel

1. Do I I live with an undercurrent of waiting for, hoping on, and expecting Jesus’ arrival?

2. What does it mean to be sorrowful yet always rejoicing, especially around Christmas?

Father, we come in awe of how you opened the heavens and came down, sending Jesus on our behalf, to take upon himself the dark shadows of death that we deserve. But now we find ourselves in the “already, but not yet”. Through the cross, we see evidence of your victory, but still we wait. We already have the promise of all things being made new, and all sad things coming undone, but we realize, sometimes painfully so, that we’re not there yet. In the midst of our waiting, help us to rejoice with hope and expectations. Increase our faith in your arrival.

Amen

Advent: Go Tell It On the Mountain

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.  And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord’” Luke 2:8-11

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

This Advent season, all we have to do is look around us—in our neighborhoods, our work places, our communities, our nation— to see the weight of sin and brokenness, and the longing for healing and wholeness. Our world can look so divided; our conversations with and actions towards each other, so unloving at times. It is into this world our Father sent His one and only perfect Son on our behalf. The infant Christ left the perfection of Heaven for earth in the greatest rescue mission this world has ever known. Why? Because God so loved us.  If we allow that love poured out on us to transform our hearts and minds, that love will be poured out into our families and into our communities as well. This message of God’s great love for us in the gift of a Savior— lived out in our words, and evidenced through our actions—is exactly the love we all need most desperately.   

 Down in a lowly manger

The humble Christ was born

And God sent us salvation

That blessed Christmas morn.

1. Where do I see in myself the need for Christ’s true, perfect love to bring healing and wholeness?

2. Where do I see around me the need for Christ’s true, perfect love to bring healing and wholeness?

3. How can the reality of Jesus’ love for me be manifested in how I love those around me?

Jesus, we thank You that You came to this earth, exchanging the glories of Heaven for the brokenness and sin of this earth, because your love for us is so great. But that You did not just come to walk among us, but to transform us from the inside out with the magnitude of Your love. That it is only through recognizing the depth of Your love for us that we can begin to love those around us. May we be people who are marked by Your love, now at Christmas and every day. Amen