Archive for month: December, 2023

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Luke 2:6-7 NIV

“And soon Edmund noticed that the snow which splashed against them as they rushed through it was much wetter than it had been all last night. At the same time, he noticed that he was feeling much less cold…In the wide glades there were primroses. A light breeze sprang up which scattered drops of moisture from the swaying branches and carried cool, delicious scents against the faces of the travelers. The trees began to come fully alive. …This is no thaw, said the Dwarf, suddenly stopping. This is spring. What are we to do? Your winter has been destroyed, I tell you! This is Aslan’s doing.

If either of you mention that name again, said the Witch, he shall instantly be killed.” (C.S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe)

As long as anyone could remember, the land of Narnia had been held in the dark, cruel reign of the Queen of Narnia. Young Edmund had betrayed his siblings and pledged his loyalty to the Queen all for a piece of Turkish Delight and the false promise that he would be a ruler. Finally, the winter would come to an end as Aslan began to move into the land. All would have been lost for Edmund had it not been for Aslan.
The moment finally came in C. S. Lewis’ novel when Aslan began to stir in the land of Narnia. The battle would continue to rage but spring was beginning to thaw the frozen land and hope was beginning to bloom. Edmund’s heart began to see the truth and the cost of his infatuation with following the Queen.

Though C. S. Lewis didn’t necessarily write the Chronicles of Narnia as an Advent story, it brings light upon the true Advent. However, God did write the real Advent of waiting and watching as He reminds us to, “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:22). Advent would be God’s story told through the lives of men and women through the centuries preparing for the coming Messiah. Stories that had been passed down from one generation to the next keep the flames of hope alive waiting for God’s timing. Then the moment came when:

“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.” (Luke 2:13-14)

The lowest of society left their flocks in search of this one bringing hope and peace. “When the angels had left, they immediately went into town to find the Messiah. “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child” … then “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2)

The highest of society were stirred by God to seek the Savior of humankind. The Magi left their comfortable and elite surroundings to go in search of the “one who has been born king of the Jews.” They embarked upon a rigorous and dangerous journey of months for one purpose, “We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2)

Long after the angelic host had ascended, the shepherds had returned to fields tending their sheep, Simeon had blessed the baby and a prophetic word spoken over the baby by Anna, a tired but excited entourage of seekers came to the end of their journey to find The Messiah.

Can you imagine Joseph looking out the window and excitedly telling Mary, come look at this? Unlike the shepherds, these were men of influence and power. They consulted with kings and military leaders regularly. They were dressed magnificently, carried themselves proudly, and possessed that air of importance. They were accustomed to people groveling in their presence.

They came into the house where Joseph and Mary were living and immediately, “they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

I found Greg Laurie’s thoughts about the Wise Men very revealing. He writes, “I have a question for you. Do you think these men went home disappointed? Do you think they left Bethlehem feeling deflated or let down or depressed? Far from it! I think this might have been the crowning event of their whole lives. Through all their years, they would talk about the star, the young King, and the opportunity they had been given to worship Him with all their hearts and offer Him gifts. Will we meet them one day in Heaven? Only God knows, but my guess would be yes.” (Heaven’s Light Breaking)

Advent has been a special time of waiting and desiring but now Christmas has come! It is no longer a time of waiting but of worship. The first Advent has come and now the waiting for the second Advent begins. We wait with expectancy and assurance for the One who promised He would return. Christmas will always be more than food, fellowship, and presents. It is a time that we stop and place the focus on Jesus. We learn from the Shepherds, the Wise Men, Simeon, Anna, Joseph, and Mary that it is a time of worship and reflection. Like Mary, our spiritual journey of Advent allows us to treasure all these things and ponder them in our hearts.

I have enjoyed being with you during this Advent season of waiting and desiring. Our improbable story of Hope, Faith, Joy and now Peace has become probable because of what God did on that night in Bethlehem when the angel announced, “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.”

What can I say Lord but thank you? It is in your tender mercy, abundant grace, and endless love that I can fully celebrate Christmas. Jesus is the one “called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Merry Christmas
God is great!

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

The improbable story of faith is more often born in the darkness and silence of life than in the light of certainty. The bright light of day allows you to see what is ahead to walk confidently forward. When the darkness comes and you see only dimly, your walk grows timid and shaky. Where am I going? What’s before me? You begin walking carefully, avoiding bumping into the wall or reaching out to find something familiar to hold onto. Spiritual faith is often walking in the darkness and silence of life, yet boldly reaching out to hold onto the promises and presence of God. Advent is the improbable story of faith.

The Vow of Silence has been part of numerous religious orders through the centuries. Though few orders require complete silence, they do encourage limited engagement. The story is told of a young man who wanted to become a monk and was accepted into the monastery. The abbot told the man, “You must take a vow of silence and can only say two words every three years.” The man agreed. After the first three years, the abbot came to him and said, “What are your two words?” “Food cold!” the man replied. The abbot made sure the meals were not cold. Three more years passed, and the abbot came to him and said, “What are your two words?” “Robe dirty!” the man exclaimed. The abbot ordered his robe to be washed. Three more years passed, and the abbot came to him and said, “What are your two words?” “Bed hard!” The abbot made sure the mattress got re-stuffed. Three more years passed, and the abbot came to him and said, “What are your two words?” “I quit!” said the man. “Well,” the abbot replied, “I’m not surprised, you’ve done nothing but complain since you got here!” (Jokes by BabaMail)

Malachi ends with the promise and warning that “I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.” (Malachi 4:5-6) Then the pages of the First Testament are closed and the silence begins. Often called the 400 years of silence as there were no prophets to speak for God, no kings to lead them, and no word of the coming Messiah. Yet the people, generation after generation, stayed faithful and hopeful. These faithful followers would keep the law, offer daily prayers, and observe the Sabbath.

However, far from silence, God was busy preparing the stage for His coming. “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” (Gal 4:4-5) “During these four hundred years, many aspects of the Jewish culture of the New Testament were established. Palestine was strongly influenced by the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans. This helped make the world more ready for the Messiah.” (African Study Bible)

When darkness seems to hide his face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the vale.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand. (Edward Mote)

These words from Edward Mote capture well the darkness yet give the hope we have in Jesus. Written in the 1800s, the song, The Solid Rock, may not be your normal Christmas Carroll unless you have lived through years of silence and darkness. Somehow the words express the hope of Advent in this season of waiting and looking. The improbable story of faith becomes probable because of God’s promises as we see the faint light of faith growing deeper and richer each day as we move toward the coming of Jesus.

Advent – the improbable story of faith became real after countless generations when an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah. God saw in an aging, childless couple the faith and hope needed to set His story into motion. Elizabeth and Zechariah’s faith had stayed strong because of the one they were holding onto in the darkness. This unlikely couple, chosen to be part of the coming Messiah, “He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:16-17)

Advent – the improbable story of faith became real for an old man simply described as righteous and devout. Simeon had held onto faith that God’s story of redemption would happen and as he held Jesus’ tiny body in his arms, he offered his prayer of praise over the baby. Words that he may have been writing for years in his mind and finally the day came when he could recite them over Jesus. “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32)

Faith is improbable only when we stop walking where God is going. Mary and Joseph were given only enough details to move forward. They didn’t have all the details, only enough. The most important detail was simply they had the name of Jesus. God took care of the divine element but as Greg Laurie writes, “the very human element began with a godly young girl who looked into the face of impossibility and said, “Whatever you want, LORD, that’s what I will do.”

Advent—the improbable story of faith is never improbable because of Jesus. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” (Hebrews 11:1-2)

God is great!