Advent: Week of Love

God has great love for us. He sent His only Son to be born in a manger and endure the emotions, pains, hurts, sickness, joy, and love that humans experience. The gift is becoming part of His family. The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying:"I have drawn you with loving-kindness." Jeremiah 31:3

"Christmas is not a day or a season, 

but a condition of heart and mind. 

If we love our neighbors as ourselves; 

if in our riches we are poor in spirit 

and in our poverty we are rich in grace; 

if our charity vaunts not itself, 

but suffers long and is kind; 

if when our brother asks for a loaf 

we give ourselves instead; 

if each day dawns in opportunity 

and sets achievement, however small; 

then every day is Christ's day 

and Christmas is always near." 

~James Wallingford

Gift of Peace

No gift on Christmas morning is greater than celebrating the birth of Jesus. It is God's gift to us and for us. Without this gift there is no reason for this festive season. The celebration of Christmas is to praise Emmanuel! God with us! The spirit of Christmas...the presence of peace...the gift of peace...

"God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:17

"Until one feels the spirit of Christmas, there is no Christmas.

All else is outward display ---so much tinsel and decorations.

For it isn't the holly; it isn't the snow. 

It isn't the tree, not the firelight's glow.

It's the warmth that comes to the hearts of men 

when the Christmas spirit returns again." ~Unknown

Advent: Week of Peace

"Glory to God in the highest 

and on earth peace to men whom his favor rests." Luke 2:14

The gift of peace... Prince of Peace... and only through Jesus Christ will we have true peace of mind and soul. Faith in Jesus brings peace with the Father.The peace of Christ guides, comforts, and provides for us every day. Remember the peace in your heart at this Christmas season and why it is there.

"What makes Christmas?"

I asked my soul,

And this answer came back to me:

"It is the Glory of heaven

Come down in the hearts of humanity---

Come in the spirit and heart of a Child,

And it matters not what we share

At Christmas; it isn't Christmas at all

Unless the Christ child be there."

~Unknown

The Gift of Light

The lights slowly begin to twinkle to life in the early evening. As each glow glimmers down the street children's eyes widen with wonder. But there is only one hope and one light that is important at Christmas...

"To us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

We rejoice in the light,

And we echo the song

That comes down through the night

From the heavenly throng.

Ay! we shout to the lovely evangel they bring,

An we greet in his cradle our Savior and King.

~Josiah Gilbert Holland

Keep Christmas Beautiful

Enjoy the season. Slow down for a moment and take in the sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas. Let Christ enrich your life. So may your hope and your spiritual journey endure. "...which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27

"Let us keep Christmas beautiful

Without a thought of greed,

That it might live forevermore

To fill our every need,

That it shall not be just a day,

But last a lifetime through,

The miracle of Christmastime

That brings God close to you."

~Ann Schultz

Our Hope

"I am the way and the truth and the life. 

No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14: 4

 Our hope is in Jesus. Celebrate today His perfect love, His wonderful grace, His tender mercy, His almighty power and majesty. Be thankful and give praise for what Jesus has done in your life. I had the wonderful privilege of talking with my nephew about salvation today. He had to write a paper about speaking to someone about the plan of salvation. He has been asking questions for several years now. He loves to read his Bible, but I wasn't sure whether he understood what salvation was. I asked questions. I had him look up the Scriptures in his Bible and read them aloud. Again I asked him questions. Did he understand what it meant to be a sinner? He easily answered. Still I wondered if he truly understood what it meant to become a Christian. His beautiful answer was written in his lesson. he has learned his ABC's (Admit, Believe, Confess)! "If you don't follow these three rules, you will go to a place that you don't want to be at," he writes. He has a long list of things he wants to talk to Jesus about when he gets to Heaven someday, but first he says he just wants to give Jesus a hug and thank Him. It brings tears of joy to my eyes. So beautiful.

"The present is the ever moving shadow that divides yesterday from tomorrow. In that lies hope." ~Frank Lloyd Wright

Advent: Week of Hope

This week is all about the reason as Christians we have hope. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" John 1:1. But it doesn't end there as the Scripture continues, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" John 1:14. The Word is Jesus!

Our spiritual journey begins the moment we believe in this extraordinary hope, and it lasts through all eternity. Continue your advent week in discussion of those things that you hope for with your family and with yourself.

"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul 

 And sings the tunes without the words 

 And never stops at all." ~Emily Dickinson