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Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.     John 4: 13-14

 A string of sparkly pink letters hangs above the window in my eldest daughter’s bedroom. Anyone who enters her room would be hard-pressed to miss the large L-O-V-E that sways on a silver cord from a curtain rod near the ceiling.

 In this, the season of love, it’s important to remember how powerful those four letters are. All the teachings of Christianity can be summed up in this one word: Love. And Jesus is the greatest evidence of God’s love for us. On this day–the day of His birth–it is important that we thank God for Jesus. On this day–the day of His birth–we must remember to drink deeply of the water of God’s love so we will never thirst.  

 Today, as you celebrate the birth of Jesus, share God’s overwhelming love with all those around you. Tell those closest to you how much and why you love them.

 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”

 When Joseph got up from sleeping, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her but did not know her intimately until she gave birth to a son. And he named Him Jesus. Matthew 1:18-25

 Imagine for a moment what it would have been like to be Joseph. What did it feel like to learn that his bride-to-be is pregnant? His pride must have been wounded. He must have been concerned about how this would impact his social standing. He must have had a serious internal struggle about how to deal with this situation. The Bible doesn’t say how long Joseph considered his options, but I imagine that he didn’t come to a decision easily.

 After Joseph makes the decision to divorce Mary quietly, God’s angel appears to him and presents him with a different plan – God’s plan. The first thing the angel says to Joseph is “Don’t be afraid.” I used to read this and think the angel was telling Joseph not to be afraid of seeing an angel in the room. After all, that could cause quite a fright. But the more I read this passage, the more I think the angel was speaking to the fear Joseph would have in following God’s plan.

 Surely God knows that one of the biggest obstacles we face in following His plan for us is our fear. We’re afraid of failure. We’re afraid of rejection. We’re afraid that maybe we didn’t quite understand God’s plan in the first place. Maybe we’re even afraid for our physical safety. This fear can be paralyzing. What would have happened if Joseph had let his fear get in the way?

 At the age of 44, my mom got on an airplane for the first time in her life. She never did understand exactly how a plane can stay in the sky, but she went ahead with it anyway. And let me tell you – she was a nervous wreck. But the payoff was great.

 It’s amazing to me that the God of the universe actually wants us to participate with Him. What are you afraid of?

 Pray: Dear God, thank you for the example of Joseph, who was courageous enough to follow your will, despite his fears.  Help me to discern your plan for my life. Give me a spirit of courage and of boldness to partner with you in that plan. Amen.

 ³At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.   

- Titus 3:3-5

Day after day I click online to read the news, only to wish I hadn’t. Pain, injustice, indifference, confusion — they are all there in black and white, and often in colorful video. Nations at war, women enslaved, children abandoned…where is God in all this, we ask? Is He watching? Doesn’t He care?  It’s easy to pace the floor and wring our hands when God seems so very silent.

But he isn’t. He sees. He cares. Jesus walked among us and saw it all…the same suffering that we see every day. But, unlike us, He did not lose hope. He knew that although things down here were not perfect – are not perfect – there will be a day, and there is a place, where they are. And He knew he wasn’t going to be here for very long.

And so He did the work assigned to Him by the Father. He followed the Master Plan for His life…though it was fraught with sorrow and ended in agony. He trusted, honored and obeyed, to the bitter end. And today, He expects us to do the same. His death wasn’t an ending, but a beginning. And ours will be, too. But, in the meantime, there is work to do.

Yes, we must see and endure suffering. But, as believers in Jesus, we must share our compassion, prayers and hope. We must feed and teach about the Father, like Jesus did. We must heal, comfort and cry with others, like Jesus did. That is the Master Plan for our lives down here. We must trust, honor, and obey to the bitter end. He is there waiting for us…preparing a place for us where He is – fully alive. And rest assured that His Father is right there at His side, still on the throne, still in control.

Trust me, God not only cares, He loves. He loves so passionately, so utterly beyond description. He proved it long ago on a cross in a way that caused both He and His Son unspeakable pain. For us. With undeniable, unimaginable, unselfish love.

So, while you are here, be Jesus’ arms to a grieving mother, be His eyes to a blind man, be His lips when you kiss a hurting child. While you are here, be Jesus to someone who needs Him in their life.  Be His pure and amazing love at Christmastime…and every single day of the year, for the rest of your life.

Where is God in all of this? He’s in You, my friend. He’s in You.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father:

Help me to “be Jesus” to those who need him so desperately in this world. Let me be His arms, His eyes, His hands, and to do the work you’ve given me while I live this life You gave me. Let me show Your love to others, so that they see Your Son; and let Your salvation be the most precious gift they receive this Christmas season. Amen.

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”   (Luke 1:26-28)

 Greetings you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!

 With this, the word of God comes to Mary. How difficult to think that God could favor one young girl so much that she would be chosen to bear the Savior of the world. 

 But what did this “favor” look like?

  A teenage girl had to deal with misunderstanding and scorn for bearing a child conceived without a husband. A young woman had to carry the burden of knowing that her son was not like other boys. A new mother had to deal with uncertainty as her son grew to speak of a heavenly father. She would grow to learn that while other mothers would release their sons to loving and beautiful brides to bring would bring them children and joy that her son would be released to world that would reject him despite his undying love for it. A mother watched her son suffer embarrassment, humiliation, and death for a cause that seems so lost. How unfair to the rest of humanity that God showed such favor toward Mary.

 Is a blessing a blessing if it is not shared? As Christians, how do we hear the words “greetings you who are highly favored.” Too many times we hear those words and think that being set apart and favored by God means that we have somehow earned a place that sets us above the drunkards, the pornographers, the fornicators, the greed of the market, the bigots, the poor, the illiterate, the prisoners, the thieves. But a blessing from God on me doesn’t make me better, it makes the world better. We pray for favor from God, we ask his blessing too often as nothing more than a selfish plea to give me a life of comfort, safety, prosperity. We should say, give me any life you wish for “I am the servant of the Lord, may it be unto me as you have said.”

 Advent is a preparation for the coming. Christ born into the world, Christ born in us. May you take the favor of the Lord as Mary and gladly bear the burden of Christ and the burden of His cross for a joy that transcends this world.

 Dear God, as you promised your servant Abraham that he would be greatly blessed so that through him and his offspring the world would be so blessed, may we seek your blessing that our cups may overflow with your love into a world in need of salvation.

“Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord…”

Luke 1:13b-15a (NIV)

      Have you ever found yourself waiting for a fresh word from God? When reading this section of Luke, one can only imagine that Zechariah and Elizabeth had been waiting for a long time to hear from God concerning their prayers for a child. Luke tells us in verse six of today’s passage that both Zechariah and Elizabeth were upright in God’s sight, yet God had not blessed them with children.

     Maybe after many years of marriage they wondered if there was something they had done wrong, some undetected sin one or both of them had committed that kept God’s favor from resting on them. From verse 25 we see that Elizabeth felt disgraced by the social stigma associated with her barrenness. Yet Zechariah and Elizabeth both continued to observe the Lord’s commandments and regulations year after year as they waited. As time passed they must have dealt with tremendous pain and disappointment. Perhaps they had given up not only their hope of a having a child, but also their hope of hearing from God. This seems possible considering Zechariah’s reaction to both Gabriel’s presence and message when he appeared to Zechariah in the Temple.

     Yet, despite any doubts that may have crept into the hearts of this couple, God did hear their prayers. He did care! When the time was right he blessed Zechariah and Elizabeth more than they ever could have imagined. God gave them a son who was not only a joy and a delight to them, but also a great prophet who helped to prepare God’s people for the coming of the Messiah. Though Zechariah and Elizabeth may have felt forgotten at times, God had loved them all along.

     The people of Israel had also been waiting a long time to hear from God. It had been 400 years since God had spoken to His people through a prophet, so the birth of John the Baptist was not only an answer to the prayers of Elizabeth and Zachariah, but also a long awaited answer to the prayers of the Jewish people. John’s ministry would herald the promised coming of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

     Maybe you’ve been praying, but you’ve given up hope that God will answer your prayer, or even speak to you at all. Perhaps you feel forgotten by God. May this inspired account bring you hope. Hear God speak a fresh word to you through the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Hear Him remind you that He is with you, that He loves you, and that He has a magnificent plan for your life.

 Prayer: Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your Word, which continues to speak to your people today. Thank you for the miraculous work you did in the lives of your servants Zechariah and Elizabeth. Thank you for answering their prayers, even when they had given up hope. Help me hold on to the hope that you will answer my prayers. Help me to listen to all the ways in which you speak to me. Amen

We have everything we need given to us by God.  He has provided us a most beautiful place to live, a wonderful congregation of which to be a part and most importantly, his Son.  His amazing love for us is a gift and we are richly blessed.

 We do not need to look or want for anything-it has already been given.

 In this season, hold this truth close to your heart.  Let us rest in knowing that His grace is sufficient for us.  Savor the fact that we are beloved by God.  He desires you just as you are.

 God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.  Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.  John 3:16 

 Distractions are abundant and the world provides many.  Take time to reflect on God’s love and to sit and let his light shine down and through you.  Let His light warm you throughout.  Imagine the light as the love God has for you.  Bask in the light and then spread it around to others.

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’  Matthew 25: 40

There is no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behavior, like the wish to scatter joy and not pain around us. ‘Tis good to give a stranger a meal, or a night’s lodging. ‘Tis better to be hospitable to his good meaning and thought, and give courage to a companion. We must be as courteous to a man as we are to a picture, which we are willing to give the advantage of a good light.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

 “Scatter joy and not pain around us.”  This week our theme of Advent is Joy.  (Joy-the emotion evoked by well being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires; a state of happiness or felicity; a source or cause of delight.)  As we reflect on Joy this week, take a moment to think about what it is that brings joy to your life.  Is it success, people that surround you each day, or is it material objects.  When I think about what brings joy to my life, I think about how success, people, and material objects all bring joy to me.  But when I think about how long the joy lingers, I know that the joy provided by success and material objects does not last as long as the joy brought about by the people in my life.  Think also about the mission of the church and our expectation to bring joy to others.

 “The mission of the church…is the sum total of the life and work of each member.  When a person joins a church, a congregation increases its mission; when a person leaves a church, a congregation decreases its mission.  The church’s mission can be defined as what church members do during the week in their life and work-in their families and in their occupations…[and] in their volunteer work….

            A lean church structure sets church members fee to live out their lives in the world.  Active members will not spend a lot of time in the church building.  They are to take up their residency in the world.”

Gustav Nelson

 Read Matthew 25:  31-46

 Meditate on the call to the church to see and respond to “the least of these” with whom Christ has united himself. 

 What prevents you from seeing the people that Jesus names?

 What practices would enable you to see them?

 What would help you to see those Jesus saw, be present to those for whom Jesus was present?

 Pray tonight for eyes to see and the heart to respond.  Pray that your response will bring joy to the hearts of others and that they may see the heart of God through you.

 “Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 

And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.”    (Rev 5:11-16)

Now is the season of great joy – The King is born:  Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace – Savior!!

 But often this season, we may find ourselves focusing on very earthly concerns: presents – family – meals – cards to send – lights to put up – ornaments down from the attic – clean the house!

 Fortunately, the real joy of the season is a gift given to each of us – every day of the year. We have a savior to worship, to adore, to give ourselves to completely. The very act of worship is the very purpose for which God made us. So, let us rejoice in worship, knowing that we are in good company – thousands of thousands – millions – of angels!

 Gather near the burning advent candles, and have one person say out loud the 1^st and fourth verses of “Joy to the World”, while everyone thinks about what it means to worship, with complete joy, our savior, the King of kings:

 Verse 1:

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

 Verse 4:

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

 Now sing the two verses together, as an act of worship, and joy!