pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Monthly Archives: December 2014


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Prayer, Joy, and Good

Have you ever had a day when you were without sin?  A day when you felt in touch with God each moment of that day?  A day when God was all you thought about?  To spend a day 100% in God’s presence would be amazing but in my mind it seems almost impossible.

Our minds race from one thought to another so quickly and how often we think or say something unkind or judgmental.  It can be even more true in a season like this where the busyness of life seems to ramp up.

In 1st Thessalonians, Paul brings us words of wisdom for this time of year.  He calls for us to pray continully and to always be joyful.  We are encouraged to seek good.  And best of all, he reminds us that we are not intended to do these things on our own.  First, the Holy Spirit is there to remind us, to uphold us, and to help us grow in our relationship with God.  Second, we are there for our fellow Christians to nurture, support, encourage, and pray for one another.  Together, may we make prayer, joy and good the focus of this day.

Scripture reference: 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24


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The Gift of Faith

In Psalm 126 the people have returned from exile. For this they praise God joyfully.  But a hard reality also faces them.  No one was there the year before to plant crops and to store up grain.  In the midst of a joyous return they face a food crisis.

The people of Israel have just experienced the miracle of being freed from slavery.  They have seen God’s great power at work in their lives.  So they turn their prayers to the need at hand. They pray for food and a good harvest and are confident that their God will respond with a good harvest.  They have faith in His future blessings.

In our world today, many also have a hunger – a spiritual hunger.  During the time of Advent. as we draw nearer to Christmas, people are more aware of Christ and faith.  We have the food that the lost need.  We can offer them the great news of Jesus Christ – a morsel that always satisfies.  We are called to share what we have.  When we give away our faith, strangely enough it grows in us too.  Bless another today with the gift of faith.

Scripture reference: Psalm 126


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Spilling Out

As we draw near to Christmas and the celebration of the birth of Christ, our sense of hope and joy builds.  As we rest into the knowledge of God’s promises fulfilled through this holy birth, our sense of peace and love grows.  Advent is a season where we live close to God and look toward God’s future blessings.

The covenant relationship that we have with God allows us to live in His blessings.  We seek to be content and happy in our lives.  It is through the confidence in God as provider and in our attitude as thankful recipients of these blessings that we find true contentment and happiness.  Knowing that we are loved and cared for by God makes such a difference in life.

In this holy season God wants to meet all of our needs – physical, spiritual, and emotional.  As our thanks and praises to our creator who blesses us so richly grows, it spills out of our lives and into the lives of those around us.  As we spread the joy, hope, love, and peace, others are in turn blessed as well.

Scripture reference: Isaiah 61: 8-11


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Opportunities

After a long time of exile in Babylon, Israel returns to the promised land.  As the period of slavery ends, they return to a land that hand been laid to waste.  Free yes, but coming home to ruins.  Yet free always trumps slave.

Isaiah spoke into this situation with words of hope, with words of a brighter future, with words to restore the people.  But for the people, the prophecies seemed to eventually just become words.  Cities were still in ruins, life was still really hard.

Hundreds of years later Jesus comes along, reads from the scroll of Isaiah, and announces that the prophecy is no fulfilled.  Jesus did indeed preach the good news, heal the broken, bring life to the dead, share comfort with the suffering, and lead people from darkness.  He continues to bring all of these things to our world – just now it is through people like you and me, through his disciples.

In this holy season of Advent there are plenty of opportunities to share the Good News, to help others in need, to bring comfort and peace.  If we seek places and ways to bring Christ into this Christmas season, God is faithful and He will provide ways for us to be the hands and feet of Christ in our world.  Keep awake and alert.  Be prepared and willing.  With open eyes and loving hearts, be who we are called to be for our broken and needy world.

Scripture reference: Isaiah 61: 1-4


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Live Deeply

This season of Advent brings many things to mind – snow for a white Christmas, the star shining bright in the sky, the rough manger in the stable, the smell of animals and hay, the dream of peace and goodwill for all.  It is also a time of memories, built over a lifetime.

The season is a season full of love, joy, hope, and peace – all given and found in Jesus.  God’s steadfast love was poured out for us in the life and teachings of Christ.  The how-to guide Jesus Christ gave us brings these feelings of love, joy, hope, and peace to all the world.

God’s faithfulness that has always been demonstrated remains for us as well.  His faithfulness to Israel through all of her ups and downs is the same faithfulness that helps us through all of our trials as well.  It is through our knowledge of and experiences with God that we know He is faithful.  Because of this we know His promises will endure as well.  In this season of Advent, may we live deeply in love, joy, hope, and peace of Jesus Christ, living as shining children of the light.

Scripture reference: Psalm 85: 8-13


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God Calls Out Too

As Christians, at times we act counter to the larger culture’s norms.  Christmas is all that most people are aware of as we walk through the season of Advent.  Instant gratification and being super busy seem to be a natural part of the secular side of Christmas.  At times we can get caught up in that too.  It is hard to live in the world and to not get caught up in it once in a while.

Oddly enough, Advent is a season where we are called to slow down, to be patient, to be in touch with the things of God.  As we decorate the tree, we should enjoy each other’s company and share stories.  As we shop, it is not volume we seek but to find just that right  gift for the ones we love.  As we wait in line or walk through a crowded store, we should be peace and love to those around us.

And God calls out too.  He seeks for us to be in connection with Him and with each other.  We are called to spend a little extra tie thinking about His promises – promises that are both in the future and now.  We are called to reflect on the gift of His Son.  We are called to offer the gift of His light to those walking in the dark.  We are called to be thankful for the many gifts He blesses us with.  And we are called to share those blessings with others in need.

Scripture reference: Psalm 85: 1-2


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Do we wait well?

Waiting can be hard.  Christmas is a season that builds anticipation well.  Once the tree goes up in our homes, we know the day is near.  If you use an Advent calendar, you really count down the days.  For some, simply looking at the presents under the tree is almost more than they can take – they want to peek!  No matter when we start our count – November 7, December 1… – we start out knowing that December 25 is a fixed date.  For the secular world, it is all over on December 25.

In Advent the focus is on the same date, but for Christians the purpose is different. We await the gift of Christ.  We celebrate Jesus’ birth not in and of itself, but for His whole life’s impact upon us.  It is in His death and resurrection that we gain victory over our own death and we find the strength to fight against the temptations and sins we face daily.

In Advent, our question is: do we wait well? As we ready ourselves for celebrating Christ’s birth, we also have an eye on His actual return.  That date is unknown.  Yet it is surely coming, one day closed today than it was yesterday.  As we wait, do we share our joy with others?  Do we share our hope?  Do we share our peace?  Do we share our love?  Waiting well involves all of these, plus sharing the greatest gft ever given, the reason for all of these other things we share: Jesus Christ, the savior of the world.

Scripture reference: 2 Peter 3: 8-15a


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Season to Share

I have friends who will record a ball game and do everything they can to avoid hearing the final score.  They do not want to know the outcome so that they can watch the game as if were “live” and enjoy all the ups and downs as the game unfolds.  On course, they do fast forward through the commercials!

In our faith, we know the end story.  We know how all of this will end.  Whether the second coming occurs during our lifetimes or not, once we begin to walk in relationship with Christ, we know where we will spend our eternity.  However, this is not a ‘free pass’ to fast forward to the end.

This knowledge frees us from all worry about death and allows us to live each day with hope, confidence, and a great story to share.  In this season where we look forward to celebrating Jesus Christ’s birth, we must also be keenly aware of the opportunities God gives us to include others on the journey.  Advent is a great season to share the good news.  CHRISTmas is on everyone’s mind.  Today and each day, may we make the most of our chances to bring Christ’s light into people’s lives.

Scripture reference: 2 Peter 3: 8-15a


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There to be Found

At times we all enter into periods when it seems God is not around.  It can be for just a short time or it can be for a season.  About the time we start to question God’s whereabouts, we realize that it was us who was missing because God is always present.  Maybe it is our choices that have led us away.  Maybe it is because we have allowed ourselves to become too busy with life.

Sometimes it is a challenge to stay connected to God during a busy time like Advent.  Seems counterintuitive, but it happens.  A famous theologian once said, “Today looks like a very busy day.  I better pray for two hours instead of one.”  His attitude is so spot on.  Advent calls us into a deeper relationship and commitment despite the increased business of the season.

God desires to speak peace, comfort, love, and strength into our lives.  He desires a close daily relationship with us.  And what does it require of us?  Simply time, an ear turned toward heaven, and a faithful heart.  He is there to be found.  May we each connect with Him this Advent season!

Scripture reference: Isaiah 40: 1-5


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Celebrate and Share

John the Baptist seemed to be focused in on one thing: repent of your sins.  Many people came to John to confess their sins and to be baptized with water.  But John also had a much bigger picture in mind.  His mission had much more to do with the “why” of people needing to repent.  John knew Jesus was about to change the world forever and he knew people’s hearts had to be right to accept Christ.

It is fitting to find this scripture and its message at the start of Advent.  In Advent we look forward with anticipation as we say, “Jesus is coming!”  The same feeling to need to be prepared for celebrating Christ’s birth is a part of our waiting.  We need to be at our ‘best’ to welcome into the world this newborn King.  He needs to find us ready.

So John’s message to repent calls out to us too.  In this challenging time of year where the world says to buy more, be busier, live it up, celebrate the presents – John says to slow down, focus in on Christ, repent of sin, prepare for the coming gift of Christ.  This gift comes bearing hope, peace, joy, and love.  He comes bringing justice, forgiveness, and inclusion.  May we be in Advent a vessel that is clean and full of all that Christ has to offer.  May we celebrate the gifts of Christ and share them with a world so in need.

Scripture reference: Mark 1: 1-8