It sounds like a wonderful idea...drifting along a slow current, on a lazy day...not too hot outside, with just a gentle breeze...until you realize just how far you have drifted from the shore. That moment when it becomes clear that you've got to row all the way back, suddenly snaps you into reality. The daydreaming is over; it wasn't so much fun after all. There have been times in my life that I have been caught-up in this "drift-along" effect, only to be startled into the real world again. There is one particular area that disturbs me greatly. It's an epidemic that is sweeping Christ's universal church. We are losing sight of the shoreline while we casually drift along, "merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily...like is but a dream." Our focus has dimmed and our determination has clouded.
I am talking about how far we have drifted from worshiping our great God. From the early days, thousands of years ago, when He revealed Himself to His chosen people, He has demanded worship from us. And reasonably so, for a god ceases to be a god when he is not worshiped and revered. To explain it another way: Buddha is not a god to me, personally, because I choose to not worship him. Without worship, he will never attain the status of a god figure at any level on my part.
Since I have chosen Jesus Christ, God incarnate, to be the object of my affection, it is easy to worship and adore Him. He is my God. I remember well, how exciting it was to go into "big" church and take part in the worship service. Even as a young child, I knew there was something very special about what went on in the sanctuary. But, as I got older, I also realized that we were locked into the "order of worship." I even remember the first time that I had an occasion to actually stand in the pulpit and look out over the sea of faces in the pews. The first thing that I noticed was that there was a big clock on the opposite wall, facing the pulpit, ticking down the minutes...hurry, hurry, hurry...you must not run over. I have even seen the minister actually remove his own watch and set it
up on the pulpit so he could monitor the time he was taking. Mustn't
run over...people are getting restless...short altar call. The Order of Worship is more sacred than our resolve to bring a true offering of thanksgiving. How far we are drifting away...
Think about it. When was the last time you were invited to sing the third verse of any hymn? It's usually the first, second, and last. Shaving off a minute or two...keeping the order of worship on schedule.
Or, when was the last time, you were encouraged to remain still for a few moments and just allow the Holy Spirit to wash over you with His great power of regeneration? How far we are drifting away...
Now I am not saying that we should throw caution to the wind, and become reckless with anything so holy as adoration and praise of our loving God. I am just suggesting that maybe, because the powers that be insist on getting out on time, just maybe we should be spending a lot more time at home, in our secret place communing with God on a personal level. Such a practice will never be time-wasted. In fact, I have discovered that the more time I offer Him in the morning, the slower the clock runs. It is as if time stands still for those minutes. I am always refreshed and renewed and ready for the day. There is a song in my heart, and even when it gets stuck in my brain and plays over and over again, all day long, I know that the Father is well-pleased, for He is jealous of my affection.
"Thou shalt worship no other God, for the Lord is a jealous God." Exodus 20:14.
As we begin another work-week, plunging headlong into the abyss of the rat-race, may we pause and purposefully take inventory of our personal worship habits and strategies. Whenever we make the time to "enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart, and His courts with praise..." we immediately step into a higher place...far from the madding crowd, as it were.
We are transported into His presence where the light of His holiness drives away all the darkness and shadows that are pursuing us. And that light becomes our beacon for the day. Nothing, nothing at all can separate us from His powerful love. We are born anew, refreshed and encouraged from His nearness.
Yes, as we begin a new week of work...take time to work on your personal relationship with your heavenly Father.
Monday, June 15, 2015
Thursday, February 5, 2015
once is never enough
These cold days in the bleak midwinter are perfect to reflect on the Word, spend more time in prayer, and really listen to the Holy Spirit as He reveals areas that He is concerned about.
As an intercessor, I am always striving to keep my hand on the Lord's pulse, so to speak, in order to be able to detect even the slightest "disturbance in the force."
In recent weeks, there has been an avalanche of warnings in the Spirit regarding a particular area in the lives of all believers. It is an area that we don't really want to talk about because we might have to admit that we've been missing the mark. But, it is crucial to our own well-being to make sure, absolutely sure, that we are conducting ourselves according to God's Word and His will.
This mysterious area is: forgiveness. The Lord has reminded me of something that I have been guilty of in the past, and the Church, in general, is in serious denial today. Case in point: we say things like, "Well, I'll forgive them, BUT..." My dear friends, there is no BUT in forgiveness. It must be absolute, and completely from the heart. Personally, I have had many occasions in my life when I needed to project forgiveness strictly by faith, because my flesh was not wanting to give up the injury so fast or so easily. But, thank God that His Spirit will continue to strive with us until we get it right.
I have also learned, again from personal experience, that oftentimes the very same person will do the very same thing that hurt me in the first place, and I am confronted with the need to forgive yet again. I want to scream, "That's not fair. I'm never going to put myself in this position again." Really?! The Father comes gently then, holds me while I rant and rave, waits patiently for me to calm down, and then He says,
"seventy-times-seven." I realize that this expression is the hard-fast proof that sometimes I am going to be faced with the decision as to whether or not I will truly forgive AGAIN. He reminds me that true forgiveness is not keeping a tally anyway, just like He has never kept a tally on all the times I have messed up AGAIN in the same area as before.
Never do I ever feel more like my blessed Savior than when I am able to truly forgive, and FORGET the matter (even when I know it is bound to happen again). Just like the way He regards my repetitious shortcomings with mercy and grace, and love that simply cannot be explained, I want to be enough like Him that I can do that, too. Why does He take me back? Why does He keep giving me another chance? Why doesn't He just kick me to the curb and say, "I am so done with her!" Why?! Because, LOVE will not allow Him to cut me out of the herd that easily.
He paid much too dearly for my life, my very soul, and He has been faithful to prove to me that I can never remove myself from His unfailing grasp. He would prefer that I walk along, quietly beside Him daily, but He is always prepared for the event that I won't. His forgiveness outweighs my rebellion. He just keeps showing me His love, over and over again.
Did you know that there is a reward for keeping a right spirit before God? When we forgive others with the same compassion and love that He has shown us, things start going in the right direction again. Our health improves, our finances improve, stress is reduced, and most importantly, our prayers are not hindered.
It is high-time that we call a spade a spade. When we are wronged, there is never a lingering clause or condition that allows us to treat the offender with anything except God-given mercy and grace. We are not even entitled to an apology. That's how faith works...no strings attached. One of the things that the children of God are marked with is His love. "You will know them by their love."
The Church needs to wake up and get far away from this whole notion of entitlement. We are not entitled to withhold forgiveness for any reason, we are not entitled to make conditions on the forgiveness, we are not entitled to keep a record of wrongs...unless of course, that is how we want the Father to respond to us.
After all, didn't Jesus teach us to pray, "Father, forgive us our debts as (just the same way that) we forgive our debtors." There is a saying that goes like this: Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. But, God says, even if it takes seventy-times-seven attempts, I will still forgive you.
When is once enough? Maybe never, maybe seventy-times-seven is a much more realistic number!
As an intercessor, I am always striving to keep my hand on the Lord's pulse, so to speak, in order to be able to detect even the slightest "disturbance in the force."
In recent weeks, there has been an avalanche of warnings in the Spirit regarding a particular area in the lives of all believers. It is an area that we don't really want to talk about because we might have to admit that we've been missing the mark. But, it is crucial to our own well-being to make sure, absolutely sure, that we are conducting ourselves according to God's Word and His will.
This mysterious area is: forgiveness. The Lord has reminded me of something that I have been guilty of in the past, and the Church, in general, is in serious denial today. Case in point: we say things like, "Well, I'll forgive them, BUT..." My dear friends, there is no BUT in forgiveness. It must be absolute, and completely from the heart. Personally, I have had many occasions in my life when I needed to project forgiveness strictly by faith, because my flesh was not wanting to give up the injury so fast or so easily. But, thank God that His Spirit will continue to strive with us until we get it right.
I have also learned, again from personal experience, that oftentimes the very same person will do the very same thing that hurt me in the first place, and I am confronted with the need to forgive yet again. I want to scream, "That's not fair. I'm never going to put myself in this position again." Really?! The Father comes gently then, holds me while I rant and rave, waits patiently for me to calm down, and then He says,
"seventy-times-seven." I realize that this expression is the hard-fast proof that sometimes I am going to be faced with the decision as to whether or not I will truly forgive AGAIN. He reminds me that true forgiveness is not keeping a tally anyway, just like He has never kept a tally on all the times I have messed up AGAIN in the same area as before.
Never do I ever feel more like my blessed Savior than when I am able to truly forgive, and FORGET the matter (even when I know it is bound to happen again). Just like the way He regards my repetitious shortcomings with mercy and grace, and love that simply cannot be explained, I want to be enough like Him that I can do that, too. Why does He take me back? Why does He keep giving me another chance? Why doesn't He just kick me to the curb and say, "I am so done with her!" Why?! Because, LOVE will not allow Him to cut me out of the herd that easily.
He paid much too dearly for my life, my very soul, and He has been faithful to prove to me that I can never remove myself from His unfailing grasp. He would prefer that I walk along, quietly beside Him daily, but He is always prepared for the event that I won't. His forgiveness outweighs my rebellion. He just keeps showing me His love, over and over again.
Did you know that there is a reward for keeping a right spirit before God? When we forgive others with the same compassion and love that He has shown us, things start going in the right direction again. Our health improves, our finances improve, stress is reduced, and most importantly, our prayers are not hindered.
It is high-time that we call a spade a spade. When we are wronged, there is never a lingering clause or condition that allows us to treat the offender with anything except God-given mercy and grace. We are not even entitled to an apology. That's how faith works...no strings attached. One of the things that the children of God are marked with is His love. "You will know them by their love."
The Church needs to wake up and get far away from this whole notion of entitlement. We are not entitled to withhold forgiveness for any reason, we are not entitled to make conditions on the forgiveness, we are not entitled to keep a record of wrongs...unless of course, that is how we want the Father to respond to us.
After all, didn't Jesus teach us to pray, "Father, forgive us our debts as (just the same way that) we forgive our debtors." There is a saying that goes like this: Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. But, God says, even if it takes seventy-times-seven attempts, I will still forgive you.
When is once enough? Maybe never, maybe seventy-times-seven is a much more realistic number!
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Advent - week four
The Time of PEACE
The final week of Advent leaves us thinking about the very
reason that our Savior came; He came that we might have peace with God. Begin your celebration by relighting the
first three candles and pausing a moment to think about what each one means.
Hope
Faith
Joy
When
our hope is rekindled, faith rises up anew, the darkness (of our condition) is
scattered and joy is restored. What a
loving Father we have. He always leads
us step-by-step until we are exactly where we can receive the fullness of His
love toward us.
Lighting
the final purple candle, we invite “the peace of God which passes
understanding,” (Phil. 4:7)
to
envelope us and comfort us, even through times of great uncertainty, sorrow,
and stress. This candle is referred to as
the “Angel’s” candle. We are told that
the angels in heaven rejoiced when earth received her King. “Glory to God in the highest,” they
sang. Two thousand years later, their
carol is the same!
Why
is that? Because every day another
person is born, God comes anew into this world to unite us with Him. Every day that “morning has broken” we are
presented with new opportunities to bless Him with our love and faithfulness,
quietly carrying out His will in our lives…touching others, one at a time, just
as Jesus did. And likewise, each new day
brings opportunities for Him to bless us.
As with any doting Father, He loves to surprise us with gifts of love
and mercy and grace. He loves to hear
our songs of praise and hear the joy in our voices when we sing. He yearns for us to find Him early, each and
every day, so that His peace may accompany us no matter what happens as the
minutes tick away. What better way to
stir His heart, than to sing joyful Christmas carols as we go through the day?!
To
be at peace with God is everything. When
there is a bond of peace between us, nothing, absolutely nothing can dim our
Hope. It is that hope that renews our
faith, and faith realized…brings JOY.
When joy is present, peace cannot be far behind.
This
week, as the days glide into that glorious of days, Christmas, look for
opportunities to slow down and allow peace to prevail. There is no reason that the weeks leading up
to Christmas should be harried and stressful.
I believe that allowing unrest to prevail in our hearts and lives,
causes the Father great sadness. After
all, He sent His beloved Son in order that we might be reunited with Him once
again.
When
you think about it, there is no possible way to truly honor God and celebrate
His Son if we are not fully engaged in an active pursuit of His love and peace.
This
week, consider these scriptures:
Psalm
34:14, Psalm 119:165, Prov. 16:7 (one of my favorites), John 14:27, Gal. 5:22,
James 3:18
And
there are so many others. Make a list of
your own favorites.
Psalm
85:10 is probably my favorite passage regarding PEACE.
Listen
to what the psalmist revealed to us:
“Mercy
and truth are met together;
Righteousness
and peace have kissed each other.”
In
Jesus, we have been given a door that brings us directly into the presence of
our Father.
Here’s
how we open it:
When
the Truth of our woeful condition and the very state of our lost condition
collides with the extravagant Mercy of our great God, then His Righteousness
becomes our righteousness, and we have Peace with God. Hallelujah!
Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other!!!
No
need for mistletoe; the Father has made a way for us through Jesus, the
beloved.
Enjoy
these and other special Christmas songs:
“Silent
Night, Holy Night” “Still, Still,
Still”
And
whatever else you find to do…take time for peaceful moments! A moment here and a moment there could make
all the difference. Peace be unto you!
Friday, December 12, 2014
Advent - week three
The Time of JOY
The third week of Advent celebrates the good news that was first delivered to shepherds in the field. Appropriately then, the third candle is called the Shepherd's candle.
This week we will re-light the first candle, the Prophecy candle, and the second purple candle, the Bethlehem candle, followed by the one pink candle, the Shepherd's candle. We celebrate the great joy of our living Lord. (some scholars say that the shepherd's candle is pink to symbolize the humanity of the mortals)
"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you GOOD NEWS of great JOY which will come to all the people." (Luke 2:10 AMP)
""So they went with haste..." (Luke 2:16)
"And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen..."
(Luke 2:20)
TAKE JOY
I salute you! There is nothing I can give you which you have not; but there is much, that, which I cannot give, you can take.
No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in it today.
Take heaven.
No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present instant.
Take peace.
The gloom of the world is but a shadow; behind it, yet, within our reach, is joy.
Take joy.
And so, at this Christmas time, I greet you, with the prayer that for you, now and forever, the day breaks and the shadows flee away.
~~Fra Giovanni
A.D. 1513
The message is clear---JOY is for the taking. It is the fruit (Gal. 5:22) of the Spirit of our Living Lord. We choose to be joyful. We are NOT intimidated by the circumstances. (See Deut. 30:19 and Deut. 28: 1-14)
"But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. 12) For thou, Lord, will bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield." (Psalm 5:11,12)
Many examples of joy can be found throughout the Word of God. Two stand out mightily. The account of Job, and the chronicled life of Paul, the Apostle.
"While he was yet speaking..."BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Everything gone, in a moment of time. We cannot even imagine such devastating events. However, consider Job's response: "Then Job...fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21) And said, 'Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.' 22) In all this, Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." (Job 1: 20-22)
"Thou he slay me, yet will I trust Him..." (Job 13:15)
"And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before." (Job 42:10)
"So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning..." (Job 42:12)
And what about Paul?
[while they were in prison] "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26) And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bands were loosed." (Acts 16: 25-26)
Paul walked the talk!
"Rejoice evermore. 17) Pray without ceasing. 18) In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19) Quench not the Spirit." (I Thes. 5:16-19)
The Shepherd's Path (a life of JOY)
J Jesus first Deut. 6:4-7 Matt. 7:12 Matt. 22: 36-40
O others next John 13:34 John 15:12
Y yourself last Romans 12:1
Remember, there are 366 instances in the Bible where we are told, "Fear not!" So, instead, let's take JOY and choose LIFE!
When you listen to the Christmas music this week, pay attention to the words in "The First Noel," "Angels From the Realms of Glory," and "Joy to the World." Be joyful, today and always!
The third week of Advent celebrates the good news that was first delivered to shepherds in the field. Appropriately then, the third candle is called the Shepherd's candle.
This week we will re-light the first candle, the Prophecy candle, and the second purple candle, the Bethlehem candle, followed by the one pink candle, the Shepherd's candle. We celebrate the great joy of our living Lord. (some scholars say that the shepherd's candle is pink to symbolize the humanity of the mortals)
"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you GOOD NEWS of great JOY which will come to all the people." (Luke 2:10 AMP)
""So they went with haste..." (Luke 2:16)
"And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen..."
(Luke 2:20)
TAKE JOY
I salute you! There is nothing I can give you which you have not; but there is much, that, which I cannot give, you can take.
No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in it today.
Take heaven.
No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present instant.
Take peace.
The gloom of the world is but a shadow; behind it, yet, within our reach, is joy.
Take joy.
And so, at this Christmas time, I greet you, with the prayer that for you, now and forever, the day breaks and the shadows flee away.
~~Fra Giovanni
A.D. 1513
The message is clear---JOY is for the taking. It is the fruit (Gal. 5:22) of the Spirit of our Living Lord. We choose to be joyful. We are NOT intimidated by the circumstances. (See Deut. 30:19 and Deut. 28: 1-14)
"But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. 12) For thou, Lord, will bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield." (Psalm 5:11,12)
Many examples of joy can be found throughout the Word of God. Two stand out mightily. The account of Job, and the chronicled life of Paul, the Apostle.
"While he was yet speaking..."BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Everything gone, in a moment of time. We cannot even imagine such devastating events. However, consider Job's response: "Then Job...fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21) And said, 'Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.' 22) In all this, Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." (Job 1: 20-22)
"Thou he slay me, yet will I trust Him..." (Job 13:15)
"And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before." (Job 42:10)
"So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning..." (Job 42:12)
And what about Paul?
[while they were in prison] "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26) And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bands were loosed." (Acts 16: 25-26)
Paul walked the talk!
"Rejoice evermore. 17) Pray without ceasing. 18) In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19) Quench not the Spirit." (I Thes. 5:16-19)
The Shepherd's Path (a life of JOY)
J Jesus first Deut. 6:4-7 Matt. 7:12 Matt. 22: 36-40
O others next John 13:34 John 15:12
Y yourself last Romans 12:1
Remember, there are 366 instances in the Bible where we are told, "Fear not!" So, instead, let's take JOY and choose LIFE!
When you listen to the Christmas music this week, pay attention to the words in "The First Noel," "Angels From the Realms of Glory," and "Joy to the World." Be joyful, today and always!
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Advent - week two
The Time of PREPARATION and FAITH
You may recall that the second purple candle is called the Bethlehem candle. Now we have a "what" and a "where" in the divine mystery. What: the prophecy concerning Jesus Christ, the long-awaited Messiah. Where: Bethlehem.
This week we will re-light the first candle, the Prophecy candle, and we will then light the second purple candle, the Bethlehem candle, as we continue to prepare our hearts for the anticipated Light of the world.
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord." (John 1:23)
The prophets foretold the special place that Bethlehem would have in history. (see Micah 5:2)
Now, listen to this! "Bethlehem" literally means House of Bread. How fitting that the Bread of Life would first appear on earth there! He has prepared a feast; He has called us to come and dine; what hinders us, then?
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20)
Room for Jesus
"Have you any room for Jesus?
He who bore your load of sin...
As He knocks and asks admittance,
Sinner, won't you let Him in?"
"Room for Jesus, King of Glory...
Hasten now, His Word obey,
Swing your heart's door widely open-
Bid Him enter, while you may."
"And the Lord said, 'My Spirit shall not always strive with man...'" (Genesis 6:3)
"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price." (Isaiah 55:1)
"And Jesus said unto them, "I am the bread of Life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." (John 6:35)
Oh, yes! Celebrate with all your heart! Celebrate with great anticipation as you truly prepare a place within your hear for the King of Kings!
As you listen to your Christmas music this week, pay attention to the words of "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem." The Bread of Life came to the House of Bread; why should anyone, anywhere ever go hungry again!
You may recall that the second purple candle is called the Bethlehem candle. Now we have a "what" and a "where" in the divine mystery. What: the prophecy concerning Jesus Christ, the long-awaited Messiah. Where: Bethlehem.
This week we will re-light the first candle, the Prophecy candle, and we will then light the second purple candle, the Bethlehem candle, as we continue to prepare our hearts for the anticipated Light of the world.
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord." (John 1:23)
The prophets foretold the special place that Bethlehem would have in history. (see Micah 5:2)
Now, listen to this! "Bethlehem" literally means House of Bread. How fitting that the Bread of Life would first appear on earth there! He has prepared a feast; He has called us to come and dine; what hinders us, then?
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20)
Room for Jesus
"Have you any room for Jesus?
He who bore your load of sin...
As He knocks and asks admittance,
Sinner, won't you let Him in?"
"Room for Jesus, King of Glory...
Hasten now, His Word obey,
Swing your heart's door widely open-
Bid Him enter, while you may."
"And the Lord said, 'My Spirit shall not always strive with man...'" (Genesis 6:3)
"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price." (Isaiah 55:1)
"And Jesus said unto them, "I am the bread of Life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." (John 6:35)
Oh, yes! Celebrate with all your heart! Celebrate with great anticipation as you truly prepare a place within your hear for the King of Kings!
As you listen to your Christmas music this week, pay attention to the words of "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem." The Bread of Life came to the House of Bread; why should anyone, anywhere ever go hungry again!
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Advent - week one
The Time of ANTICIPATION and HOPE
This week we'll light the first purple candle, the Prophecy candle, and celebrate Christ with anticipation and hope.
Just as a child waits expectantly for the "big" day, so our hearts yearn for His Coming.
The scriptures reveal to us that this has been the plan, all along. God would become flesh and dwell among us!
Just as those of long ago waited in anticipation for the coming of the Christ Child, we celebrate His birth while looking beyond it to His glorious reappearing. And we prepare our hearts and minds for His return.
"Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come." (Mark 13:33)
From the Old Testament to the New Testament and back again, the great event was recorded.
"O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord." (Isaiah 2:5)
"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined." (Isaiah 9:2)
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6-7)
"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, 'I am the light of the world: He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.'" (John 8:12)
"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." (Isaiah 60:1)
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2) In my Father's house are many mansions: (if it were not so, I would have told you). I go to prepare a place for you. 3) And if I go and prepare a place for you; I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:1-3)
"...'Surely I come quickly'...Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)
There are many other passages that you might enjoy studying this week:
Matthew 24:37-44, I Thessalonians 4:14-18, John 1:1-14, and I Thessalonians 5:1-6.
Now is the time to dig out your Christmas CDs. Listen to "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" and think about the exciting times that we live in today, knowing that Christ could return at any moment! Are you ready?
Think about the little things you do for a long overdue visit with a precious friend. When you learn that they are coming, you clear the calendar and make time for them. You savor every moment, and sigh when they must leave. The best part of His return is, even though we have waited a long time, this time He's not leaving us behind. No teary goodbyes for us. We're going with HIM!
This week we'll light the first purple candle, the Prophecy candle, and celebrate Christ with anticipation and hope.
Just as a child waits expectantly for the "big" day, so our hearts yearn for His Coming.
The scriptures reveal to us that this has been the plan, all along. God would become flesh and dwell among us!
Just as those of long ago waited in anticipation for the coming of the Christ Child, we celebrate His birth while looking beyond it to His glorious reappearing. And we prepare our hearts and minds for His return.
"Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come." (Mark 13:33)
From the Old Testament to the New Testament and back again, the great event was recorded.
"O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord." (Isaiah 2:5)
"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined." (Isaiah 9:2)
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6-7)
"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, 'I am the light of the world: He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.'" (John 8:12)
"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." (Isaiah 60:1)
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2) In my Father's house are many mansions: (if it were not so, I would have told you). I go to prepare a place for you. 3) And if I go and prepare a place for you; I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:1-3)
"...'Surely I come quickly'...Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)
There are many other passages that you might enjoy studying this week:
Matthew 24:37-44, I Thessalonians 4:14-18, John 1:1-14, and I Thessalonians 5:1-6.
Now is the time to dig out your Christmas CDs. Listen to "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" and think about the exciting times that we live in today, knowing that Christ could return at any moment! Are you ready?
Think about the little things you do for a long overdue visit with a precious friend. When you learn that they are coming, you clear the calendar and make time for them. You savor every moment, and sigh when they must leave. The best part of His return is, even though we have waited a long time, this time He's not leaving us behind. No teary goodbyes for us. We're going with HIM!
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
an overview of ADVENT
ADVENT
"ADVENT," The beginning of an adventure!
Perhaps you have noticed that Christmas is coming sooner and sooner every year. This year the decorations were on display before Halloween! No wonder we get so frustrated and tired of the whole thing. Deep inside we are yearning for a spiritual holiday. And no wonder that we do, after all, it was God who "set eternity in our hearts." He is always interested in our spiritual posture, temperature, and general good health. Maybe Advent is just what you need to redirect your focus on the living Savior this season.
You may believe that you don't know much about Advent. But, that's probably not true! You may know more than you think. For example, have you seen or used an Advent calendar in your home during the Christmas season? If so, what was the purpose of the calendar? Most likely, it was to 'count down' the days to a climax...Christmas day.
The Church's celebration of Advent dates back to the 4th century A.D. when it lasted six weeks. Sometime in the 6th century A.D. it was established to include the four Sundays prior to Christmas day. Subsequently, it begins on the Sunday nearest to November 30th, and continues through Christmas day. It all leads up to the most glorious celebration of all...our Savior's birth.
Consider the meaning of the word, advent. Other than its strictly religious sense (coming of Christ), it means "coming arrival" [example: the advent of Spring]. The original word is from the Latin for "to come to." Compare advent with its cousin, adventure, which means "an exciting or remarkable experience." Now that makes sense! Shouldn't our walk with God and our quest to be conformed to the image of His dear Son be an exciting and remarkable experience every day of our lives? If you have ever wanted more, especially at Christmas, you need to prayerfully consider adding the Advent celebration to your Christmas traditions. Right now, you may be thinking, "Oh, great! Just what I don't need: one more thing to squeeze in between now and the end of the year." But, if the Holy Spirit directs you, you will be eager to start the adventure!
Advent is rich in spiritual (all scriptural) symbolism. If you don't like symbolism, then you need to start ignoring every rainbow in the sky. God works through symbolism, and we can learn much from it.
First, let us consider the Advent Wreath. Traditionally, it is a circle. The circle symbolizes God's eternal plan---from our birth to our rebirth to eternity in His presence, a never-ending circle of love. The wreath is dressed with evergreens. They symbolize God's undying love for us.
Within the wreath, the four candles are placed. The light of each candle represents Jesus, the light of the world. Nowadays, the four candles are purple (the color of royalty---depicting the reverence due the King of Kings.) Some churches use royal blue (another "royal" color) candles. However, from the earliest times, three purple and one pink candle have been used. I prefer this arrangement for several reasons. First, I like the tradition of it. But, even more importantly, the strange arrangement, of necessity, begs for an explanation. Just sitting there quietly, they become the topic of conversation, and behold! the doors swing open for witnessing opportunities. With that in mind, let's continue to examine the meaning of each separate candle.
The first week of Advent is commonly called the time of "Anticipation or Hope." The candle of the first week is purple. We are anticipating the arrival of the King of Kings. He is heavenly royalty personified. The first candle is referred to as the "Prophecy" candle. The studies (individual, family, or group) that the first week of Advent revolve around concern the prophecies that the King would come. But, Advent takes you one step farther. You never stop with the coming of the infant child king; you pause long enough to absorb the wonder of the virgin birth, God incarnate. Then, you examine the King's coming into your own heart. But, that's still not all! Finally, you look forward, with joyful ANTICIPATION, to the return of the KING! What a way to refocus on the season of seasons! It may be noted that some groups refer to the first candle as the "Hope" candle. What you prefer to call it is your decision. The name is not as important as the reality. The reality must be that you not only believe that He came once, but that He's coming again and you're looking forward to it!
The second week of Advent is called the time of "Preparation." The second candle is also purple. (The second candle is usually referred to as the "Bethlehem" candle.) As Bethlehem was foretold to be the place chosen to prepare for the coming King, we were admonished, ourselves, by John the Baptist, to "prepare [ye] the way of the Lord." During the second week of Advent, we focus on the preparations that need to be made daily to receive a King into our very lives. (On the second Sunday, you re-light the Prophecy candle first, and then light the Bethlehem candle.)
The third week of Advent is called the time of "Joy." The third candle is the pink one. It is traditionally pink (rose-colored) to signify that Jesus is the Rose of Sharon. (It is often called the "Shepherd's" candle.) After all, the good news came to the shepherds and they left all and came with great joy to find their Shepherd King. The symbolism is so very rich here. God became flesh and presented Himself to the lowliest of society. What does he have to do today, in our lives, to restore such heartfelt joy among us? Allow His Holy Spirit to guide you as you encounter fresh joy "unspeakable, and full of glory." (On the third Sunday, you re-light the Prophecy and Bethlehem candles and then light the Shepherd's candle.)
The final week of Advent is called the time of "Peace." The fourth candle is the last purple candle, (commonly called the "Angel's" candle.) And of course, the angels in heaven rejoiced that earth had "received her King." Peace was born that day, on earth, and every man is able to be at peace with God. Study His Word, let it rise up in you, and guide you into perfect peace this blessed season. (This final Sunday you will re-light the Prophecy candle, the Bethlehem candle, the Shepherd's candle, and then finally, you will light the last one, the Angel's candle.)
There remains a single, white candle in the center of the wreath. This is the "Christ" candle, and it represents His purity. You may light it on Christmas eve and again on Christmas day to symbolize the light of the world!
Have you ever arrived someplace only to discover that you "just missed" a beloved friend or family member? That's what Advent is all about. We may have missed His first coming, but He has come into our own lives, and indeed, He's coming again to take us home. Our hearts are filled with peace and reconciliation while we wait, hopefully anticipating the love of God, and His eminent return to restore us into His family forever. If that isn't reason enough to lift Him up daily, and especially at Christmas, then I don't know what is.
LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN!!!
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