It’s Advent season which is my favorite time of the year. As I sit here prepared to write my blog of the week I have come to realize I have nothing to say. No topics come to mind at the moment, no stories or lessons to write about.
I just feel peace right now. Which is strange because November has been a really tough month.
So instead of trying to come up with something I want to offer praise to God.
I want to praise God for the highs, praise Him for the lows.
Praise Him for good health and bad health.
Praise God for the tough things that don’t seem fair, right or just. Things that hurt, make us sad, angry.
Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent. Our church had a wonderful service to kick off this season. (The service should be posted on here tomorrow.)
They’re four weeks of Advent and each has a candle with a theme.
The four themes are hope, peace, love and joy.
I also am starting a series today on the important aspects of Christmas leading up to the day that we celebrate the arrival of the “True Meaning Of Christmas”.
Let’s kickoff the series of by keeping with the theme of the first Sunday of Advent, hope.
Hope is so important to faith in God and it predates Christianity. The Jewish people long hoped for their Messiah. Jesus is that long awaited Messiah.
We as Christians have hope in Jesus, we have hope in the promises He has made to us, we have Hope in eternal life, we have hope in God’s Kingdom.
We have hope in it’s truest form because of our hope in God.
At Christmas we are reminded of this hope as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
It’s a time when we can look back and reflect knowing how difficult the circumstances were, are and will be that we can have hope in the One who was, is and yet to come.
If you’re reading this and haven’t put your Hope in God, do so today. I am not telling you that your life will become easier, in fact it probably will become harder but in the end it’s all worth it because we have hope in the imperishable, the eternal, the true and living God.
Let’s begin today with the story of Christmas from the ESV translation… The Birth of Jesus Christ
“2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,[b] who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.[c]
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 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. 10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”[d]
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”
In this tough time we can read this and remember we have hope in Jesus.
He came just like the Bible foretold.
He will come again just like the Bible foretells.
Our hope is in the Lord. Who will make all things new, stop suffering and be with us forever and ever. In the meantime let’s pray for one another and focus on the miracle of Jesus’ life and ministry.
Let’s rejoice at His birth and let’s try our best to have a wonderful day remembering Him.
The Good Word 