Category: Advent 2015

The Seventeenth Day of Advent

The Sixteenth Day of Advent

But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. Isaiah 65:18 – 19 NIV

“ . . glad . . . rejoice . . . delight . . . joy” Soaring, grand, beautiful words from the mouth of Jehovah, the God of the universe. The one from whom all of our joys flow. The one who sees the sorrow of his people and announces “good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10) when his Son makes his entrance into the world as a baby. But wait . . . He also is the one who takes delight in his own people – you and me! He sees our feeble steps; he knows the grief we bear; he understands our struggle with sinful habits – and yet he takes delight in us. In my imagination he smiles . . he chuckles . . . he even laughs with joy. It’s a relationship of mutual joy and delight. The God of the universe is rejoicing in you today. Rejoice in him!

Jean Nystrand

The Fifteenth Day of Advent

Luke 2:16-20New International Version (NIV)

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

“…which were just as they had been told.” Someone has remarked that joy is a sense of well-being that saturates the soul–a conviction that God will hear every cry, right every wrong, heal every wound–even though the present world stings us with sorrow. The shepherds praised and glorified God, because in the face of Jesus they saw the future despite the present. They now knew that God would do all he said he would do. As Julian of Norwich wrote long ago using words she heard in a vision of Christ, “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.” The name for such confidence is joy. The Bible tells us what the shepherds saw, so that we, too, might see the future. The world is not alright now, not by a long shot. But it will be. It will be.

Bryan Richardson

The Fourteenth Day of Advent

The Thirteenth Day of Advent

Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:32-33 (NASB)

If you read the headlines today, you will certainly find tribulation. Wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, pestilence, and famine…there is turmoil everywhere you turn. World peace may be the goal of many, but it is certainly not a reality. For generations, mankind has sought peace. When Jesus was facing imminent death, He gave His disciples a beautiful promise. He said, “…in Me you may have peace.” As we celebrate the birth of Christ here at Christmas, what better blessing could we give than “peace on earth, good will toward men.” Jesus Christ is true peace. As we celebrate His birth, we can give no greater gift to others than the blessing of peace in Christ.

The World ≠ Peace

The World = Tribulation

Jesus > World

Jesus = Peace

Larry Soape

The Twelfth Day of Advent

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”   John 14:27

Have you ever been in such dire circumstances that you longed for peace and comfort and saw no possible way to attain either? Perhaps many of us have been there, in that pit of despair.   But why do we linger there? In this passage, Jesus is assuring us that He gives us peace. But is He the first one we turn to in our longing for relief? Sometimes we do nothing. Sometimes we engage in self-pity. Sometimes we try to fix it ourselves. All of these strategies, and many others of the world, leave us longing still. But the peace our Savior here speaks of, nay, promises, is real, true and present. What a joy to be expectant of Jesus giving you peace in such trying times! Believe that He wants to calm your spirit. Trust Him and do not be afraid.

Shellye McNaughton

The Eleventh Day of Advent

Ephesians 2:12-22 The Message (MSG)

11-13 But don’t take any of this for granted. It was only yesterday that you outsiders to God’s ways had no idea of any of this, didn’t know the first thing about the way God works, hadn’t the faintest idea of Christ. You knew nothing of that rich history of God’s covenants and promises in Israel, hadn’t a clue about what God was doing in the world at large. Now because of Christ—dying that death, shedding that blood—you who were once out of it altogether are in on everything.

14-15 The Messiah has made things up between us so that we’re now together on this, both non-Jewish outsiders and Jewish insiders. He tore down the wall we used to keep each other at a distance. He repealed the law code that had become so clogged with fine print and footnotes that it hindered more than it helped. Then he started over. Instead of continuing with two groups of people separated by centuries of animosity and suspicion, he created a new kind of human being, a fresh start for everybody.

16-18 Christ brought us together through his death on the cross. The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility. Christ came and preached peace to you outsiders and peace to us insiders. He treated us as equals, and so made us equals. Through him we both share the same Spirit and have equal access to the Father.

19-22 That’s plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul addresses hostility, division, and self-interest among the believers.  Newly converted Gentiles and Jews were wasting precious time and energy quarreling with each other. (Sounds a little like my Facebook feed.) Paul’s reminder to them is one we desperately need today:  Christ came to bring peace to those who will embrace Kingdom living. It doesn’t matter how we came to accept this; in fact, nothing matters unless we do. Jesus is God’s gift to us, and not any one of us can take credit for God’s plan of salvation. There are no “insiders” or “outsiders” in the body of Christ. Our Peace came in the form of a babe in a manger. Our Peace came through a crucifix and then an empty tomb. Our Peace comes when we unite and allow the Master Builder to place us, brick by brick, where He wants us to help build His Kingdom. Our world today, like Paul’s, is troubled, but we can find Peace. My prayer is that we will cease the divisiveness and join together, in Peace, to “see it take shape day after day– a holy temple build by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.”

Laura Aten

The Tenth Day of Advent

 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Luke 2:8-15  (NIV)

“… and they were terrified.”

When the prophet, Isaiah, was in God’s presence he cried, “Woe to me!…I am ruined!” Isaiah 6

During the transfiguration, at the voice of the Lord, Peter, James and John “fell face down to the ground, terrified.”  Matthew 17

When Christ in His glory came to John on Patmos, John “fell at his feet as though dead.”  Revelation 1

Prophecies throughout scripture speak of our magnificent God sitting on his resplendent throne reigning and judging with thundering power.  In His presence all fall on their face in worship and “day and night they never stop saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” Revelation 4

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.”

Because of Christ, our beautiful Savior, I am not ruined.  I am not crushed.  I am not dead.  I am covered with saving grace in God’s presence.

This advent I am especially thankful for my Savior.  His favor rests on me, covers me, casts out fear and has brought everlasting peace in the presence of our glorious, terrible God.

Rebekah Georges

The Ninth Day of Advent

“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 ESV).

Young woman + unexplainable pregnancy + family expectations   ≠   PEACE.

Well, not from a “reasonable” perspective…   However, God often sets up a scene from which we jump to a forgone conclusion…only to quietly insert the most splendid word – the tiniest word that turns impending disaster to something unexpected.    “But.”

Circumstances invaded Joseph’s world. Mature logic led him to action.   BUT.

“But, as he considered these things…” Joseph took time and in that moment became aware of the presence of God… the intention of God. And a new trajectory was established.

Circumstances did not change. All questions were not answered. Others would not agree. But Mary, Joseph, and God were at PEACE. Mary, Joseph, and God harmoniously living out “their” story.

What distressing events have entered your life? As you run full tilt down the “logical” path, will you take time to consider? But! Take time to feel the presence of God… to hear ONE voice above others.

Peace is not the absence of “disturbing” events. Peace is awareness of God and harmony with Him in the midst of those events. There is no greater peace than to be “with God” as the two of you live out your story.

Susan Kaminski

The Eighth Day of Advent

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Micah 5:2 (NIV)

The backdrop for history’s greatest story was a town named Bethlehem. It was small, lacking notoriety in the eyes of the world. The Message translation describes Bethlehem as “the runt of the litter.” Nevertheless, it was here God brought a Savior to the world.

Why did God choose Bethlehem, an insignificant town in Judea? He didn’t care that Bethlehem was an unequipped city… Its worldly stature was irrelevant; Bethlehem was a small city God knew had potential for something extraordinary.

Are there ever moments you feel like the runt of the world’s litter? You are not alone. God used David, Esther, and Moses (even as a baby), all of whom were undistinguished in comparison to others. He worked through willing hearts to accomplish astounding things. He does not care if you are an unlikely choice like Bethlehem. You can find peace, knowing your willingness will be answered with all the strength and endurance that’s necessary. God’s heart delights in empowering the insignificant to do big things.

Find peace in the midst of a broken world by placing your certainty in the Creator of your life’s story…a God who uses the humble for the extraordinary.

Anna Grace Salter

This week’s Re:Verse passage is Matthew 1:18 – 2:12