Advent Thoughts #8 - December 7

This the second Sunday of Advent, and, we get (woohoo!) to light the second candle on our advent wreath, which represents peace.

Here's what the angels came declaring to the shepherds that star-filled night of Christ's birth:
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased (Luke 2:14)."

On that one night, Peace was born. It didn't take long for the world to try to wipe Him out. We say we long for "peace on earth." We hear those words often, in our war-filled world. Yet, it makes me wonder if we really want it? Why do we, the human race, continue to stir up the proverbial hornets nest? Are we afraid of Peace? Perhaps...perhaps, so! Here's what seemed to pop into my mind as I began to ponder peace: To want peace contradicts our desire for control! One of our greatest fears is being out of control. Yet, peace is only found in surrender - surrender to the Prince of Peace, Jesus.

Surrender is God's invitation to contentment and everlasting peace.

Truly, there will be no "peace on earth" until the Prince of Peace returns at His second Advent, and every knee bows and every tongue proclaims Him Lord! Advent is near!

Advent Thoughts #7 - December 6

Yesterday, as I was working in the kitchen and listening to a little Christmas music playing in the background, I began singing along to an old Christmas-favorite, "Oh, come let us adore Him! Oh, come let us adore Him! Oh, come let us adore Him! Christ...the Lord!" 

Advent - a season to focus on adoration of our Savior and Lord... So, I refreshed my memory on just what it means to "adore" someone. I'll refresh your memory, too. It means "to love intensely, to worship, speak words of admiration and reverence; to regard with feelings of respect and reverence; to consider as hallowed or exalted (I can't credit any one resource as this is a combination of Hebrew, Greek, and the WordBook Dictionary App)." It was the words I italicized above that struck my heart - to speak, out loud, words of adoration. The realization hit that I seldom do just that... I have gotten in the habit of being thankful; but that's not adoration. Adoration involves character - WHO YOU ARE. Adoration means I tell you just what I love about you. It's not what I love about what you do FOR ME, but who you are TO ME! That's a big difference. It seems lately, that there's been this big push on gratitude (and rightly so, we do tend to be an ungrateful people); but, so much focus, that perhaps we've forgotten adoration.

I read this statement a couple of years ago in a book on marriage, and it stuck: "We can't love someone intimately, when we are always thinking about them, or talking about them, negatively." ** Not only is this true in marriage, it's true in all relationships, especially our relationship with Jesus. Remembering to speak words of adoration will always lead us to deeper intimacy! And, I long for the delights that come with exploring the depths of my relationship with my Savior!

So, as I sang out those words, "Oh, come let us adore Him," there was a quiet Spirit-whisper of invitation - "Come..." I did. In the midst of a meal preparation, I stopped and sat at my table, and began to work on an activity I learned years ago in Mom's In Touch: write a list about who God is for every letter of the alphabet. And, I began to speak it aloud, looking heavenward. Gotta admit, it felt awkward. That just speaks to how foreign adoration has become. Oh, that it may not be just a random, Advent event. May this become the spirit of my soul, to long to come, often, and adore Him...Christ the Lord!

I wonder this morning...might this be our Lord's response when we come?

*(I'm sure I'm not quoting this exactly, but thank you, Paul David Tripp - these words have served me well!)

Advent Thoughts #6 - December 5

Hearts prepared. Advent is a time of preparation. That was another "job" of John the Baptist (Jesus' personal fore-runner). He lived to "turn the hearts of Israel back to their God (Matthew 1:16)." Israel had lost her focus. Israel had lost her zeal. Israel had buried truth, and commitment was, well, comfortable. Perhaps, we live to turn the hearts of the church back to our God.

In many ways, the bride of Christ has the same problems we read regarding God's Chosen. Yet, readiness starts with me! As I look toward the Advents of Christ's birth-celebration, and the Advent of His return, I want my heart, my mind, my soul to be ready. I sing, "Let every heart prepare Him room!" However, I should sing (if I could get them to fit the melody), "Let every intent of my heart be to prepare Him room!" Right now is a great time to re-set my soul, to ask some hard questions, and to repent, re-focus, and re-commit.

Am I doing what I can to be "internally fit" (a meaning of the Greek word for prepare)?
Am I mentally packing away truth I might need for the journey ahead (readying myself)?
Am I learning to love & live in wisdom and righteousness (turning my heart)?
Am I seeking to live justly (one who observes divine commands; and, who is "thinking, feeling and acting as one wholly conformed to the will of God")?
Most of all, do I recognize my brokenness, my NEED of a Savior, and LOVE HIM, APPRECIATE HIM, for whom He was born to die: me! When I do, all of the above become acts birthed out of grace, not law!

May John's mission be contagiously caught by all as we prepare room for our Savior, once again! And, may we catch the vision of fore-running....all the way to Christ's return. Advent is near! 

Advent Thoughts #5 - December 4

This is enough to reflect on today as we think of the Advent of Christ's birth:

How much do I value my Savior? The way I wait is telling... Yet, what a promise in the midst of the waiting!

For since the world began,

no ear has heard

And no eye has seen a God like you,

who works for those who wait for Him!

Isaiah 64:4

Advent Thoughts #4 - December 3

I received an e-letter from a friend of mine. This friend is a "global worker" (we used to use the "m" word to describe this gal, but we can't anymore). She works in an undisclosed 10-40-window-country. That means I can't tell you where she is serving. However, her neighborhood has become a war zone in recent weeks: bombs, rifles, grenades (you get the picture). Her e-letter can't be reprinted, but I can tell you some of the contents. The day before she wrote this missive, five brothers-of-the-faith had been martyred for their beliefs. One dad, along, with his two teenage sons, she and her husband knew very well. Their little Christian community was rocked and deeply grieving, but, she said, "Not without hope!" They all know that these modern-day-martyrs were not swallowed up in death, but to LIFE. It's why Jesus was born, so He could die, to bring new hope of everlasting LIFE. It doesn't mean life will be easy or happy. It does mean we all have a better something to look forward to in the midst of such tragedy. Hope is not deferred even in this tragedy, making the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12)

Last Saturday, my daughter-in-love and I, took my four little grand-treasures to Focus on the Family. They were showing a free movie (with free popcorn and drinks), and the bookstore had a 25%-off-the-entire-store sale. Since I am focusing on Advent, I bought a beautifully carved Advent-wreath. This week we've lit the first candle, which represents HOPE. I understand the need for HOPE so much more after pondering and praying over my friend's note. As I prayed, I found myself in the middle of Jeremiah's Lamentations. Everything in his life had been stripped away. Yet, in the middle of the loss, Jeremiah KNEW and DID NOT FORGET hope. That's because he knew the only source of hope. Here are his words:

Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:
The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is His faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each and every morning.
I say to myself, "The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!"
The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.
So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.
And it is good for people to submit at an early age to his yoke, to sit in silence beneath His commands.
Let them lie face down in the dust, for there may hope be found...no one is ever totally abandoned by the Lord.
Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion, because of the greatness of his unfailing love. Who can command things to happen without the Lord's permission? Does not the Most High send both calamity and good?
Instead...let us turn back to the Lord, and lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven...
(excerpts from Lamentations 3:21-41)

Again, may we be reminders of the HOPE that is found forever in the faithfulness and mercies of our God. He will, as Jeremiah goes on to remind us, be true to His promises regarding His chosen, His beloved Children; and, He will come again! Advent is near!

Advent Thoughts #3 - December 2

I've been thinking a lot about the waiting that comes with Advent. Waiting is imperative with the coming. Waiting says there is something better ahead...and, so, with the waiting there has to be hope. The two join hands and walk together towards the coming. Hope is that little flutter that keeps the waiting alive, and nudges my ability to press on. There are days it is hard to stay steadfast were it not for hope (especially over the holidays). We need to be reminded of hope: hope that with the coming there will, indeed, be change. So many feel stuck and hopeless during the holidays. Sometimes, it's almost impossible to sense that little flutter and keep going.

That's why we need fore-runners. That's why we need prophets. That's why the Israelites, after 400 years of heaven's silence, had to have a John-the-Baptist. Hope was at a premium. Few had any hope-remnants left considering the conditions under which they were living - socially, politically, economically, environmentally, emotionally (all were a struggle), but particularly, spiritually. So, God gave a fore-running miracle in the birth of a new-kind-of-prophet. John's job? Prepare the way for the coming. Turn hearts. Ready the souls. Bring hope.

If I am a follower of Jesus, John's job is mine, too. This Christmas season, I'm to find ways to do the same. Nothing declares the specialness of the season like a hope-bringer. This Advent, it's my desire to renew hope by being someone's fore-running miracle. I was born again for just such a Joy.

You?

Advent Thoughts #2 - December 1

Advent gently reminds us of the “now” and “not yet” that comes with being people of faith. Advent reminds us of the importance of waiting. Advent whispers our need for a Savior. Advent teaches us God’s timing is always better than ours!

-M. Feinberg-

This morning’s focus is on the “waiting room” period that comes with Advent. There are several things I’m praying about, waiting on, and begging God to let me see their advent. Almost every one of importance has to do with people I love being in need of my Savior. As I reflect today on the Advent of Jesus’ birth, I pray for the timing of His "birth" in each of those hearts. With God, it is always about the occurrences we’re seeking, coming in the fullness of time. So, while I’m standing in the now, I’m looking for the time when the “not yet” is at an end, and God the Father looks at God the Son and says, “OK, now - go! Be born-anew in hearts that have seen the fulness-of-time!”

May we all use our current waitings as a means of preparing our hearts for the coming celebration of Advent...as well, as a look toward the second Great Coming!