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2011 Advent of Joy Thursday
Luke 15:10 is the completing sentence of the second of three parables about the lost coming home. "In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
God is telling us when Joy happens in His world. When one sinner repents and comes home. When one sinner trusts that God loves him and has been seeking him. When one sinner surrenders her pain and takes up God's gift of life instead.
When the sinners (and we all are sinners) come into the presence of God.
What happens? Joy.
So when do you find joy? Same time? When you see someone come into God's presence, is rejoicing your only response?
As it is in Heaven, so let it be here.
God is telling us when Joy happens in His world. When one sinner repents and comes home. When one sinner trusts that God loves him and has been seeking him. When one sinner surrenders her pain and takes up God's gift of life instead.
When the sinners (and we all are sinners) come into the presence of God.
What happens? Joy.
So when do you find joy? Same time? When you see someone come into God's presence, is rejoicing your only response?
As it is in Heaven, so let it be here.
2011 Advent of Joy Wednesday
Being with God is the source of joy.
Loneliness tends to rob us of our passion and desire. We find it difficult to swim in uncharted waters when nobody is found on the shoreline cheering us on. We ask, 'Is there purpose if I am the only one to see it?'
Going alone is difficult.
This is why the words of the angel spoken to Mary in Luke 1:28 are so valuable to us.
"And coming in he said to her, 'Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.'"
It was a difficult pregnancy, no doubt. The life that followed could not have been simple either. But we all recognize the joy in Mary's eyes.
A Child is born. The Lord is with all of us.
2011 Advent of joy Monday
In John 15:11, Jesus tells us the answer to the question.
"These things I have spoken to you that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full."
Full joy! Being full of joy! Seems like a dream, doesn't it. Will I ever be filled up with God's joy? When will I see that?
In the proceeding verses, Jesus reminds us of the importance of following commandments and continuing with a restored relationship with God. The word He uses is "abide".
Abiding is rarely easy and never our first reaction. We want to go out on our own. We want to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. It is me against the world!!!
But what happens when we abide in Christ? In God's word? In God?
Jesus gives us the answer in John 15:11...
Joy.
2011 Advent of Hope Thursday
The Advent of hope can be elusive. We ask, 'Has hope really come; because the world still seems so hopeless.'
As with much in life, perspective plays a key role.
Today is Thanksgiving in America, but you still have the choice as to whether you would like to be thankful or not. You also chose for what you will be thankful and Who you will thank.
The same is true of hope.
As you look around your world today, will you see it? Will you notice it? Will you look where the rest of the world has missed?
There stands Jesus, the hope of the world.
1 Thessalonians 2:16-17, "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, gwho loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hhope through grace, comfort your hearts and iestablish them in every good work and word."
2011 Advent of Hope Wednesday
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that hope, once accepted, saturates our lives.
Does hope fill you? Are you found in hope? Do you have hope for your family that will not subside? Is hope for your future waning or increasing?
Hebrews 6:19 says, "[The hope set before us.] This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which endures within the veil..."
Hope anchors our soul; it keeps us in this world but does not let us give up on this world.
Hope endures within the veil. Great image here. The veil, in our tradition, is the one that separates us common folk from the Holy of Holies - the mercy seat. So hope endures behind that veil, but until when?
When Christ died, that veil was torn down the middle. Hope is released.
Christ's life, ressurrection, and death bring us hope.
That hope has endured, which means that it was waiting for us - meant for us - long before we received it.
Does hope fill you? Are you found in hope? Do you have hope for your family that will not subside? Is hope for your future waning or increasing?
Hebrews 6:19 says, "[The hope set before us.] This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which endures within the veil..."
Hope anchors our soul; it keeps us in this world but does not let us give up on this world.
Hope endures within the veil. Great image here. The veil, in our tradition, is the one that separates us common folk from the Holy of Holies - the mercy seat. So hope endures behind that veil, but until when?
When Christ died, that veil was torn down the middle. Hope is released.
Christ's life, ressurrection, and death bring us hope.
That hope has endured, which means that it was waiting for us - meant for us - long before we received it.
2011 Advent of Hope Tuesday
When hope comes to my heart, the entire world changes.
It changes because of the way that I look at the world.
It changes because my heart, now full of hope, changes whatever it touches.
It changes because my heart changes me, and I change the world.
Then where does this all start? The life-changing, world-changing, everything-changing hope - from where does it come?
Colossians 1:27 says, "to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
The hope of glory!
When we focus on the advent of hope, the coming of hope, we would do well to remember first from where that hope is born.
Look first to Christ, hope will always follow.
It changes because of the way that I look at the world.
It changes because my heart, now full of hope, changes whatever it touches.
It changes because my heart changes me, and I change the world.
Then where does this all start? The life-changing, world-changing, everything-changing hope - from where does it come?
Colossians 1:27 says, "to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
The hope of glory!
When we focus on the advent of hope, the coming of hope, we would do well to remember first from where that hope is born.
Look first to Christ, hope will always follow.
2011 Advent of Hope
Happy Advent!
What is Advent? The word means arrival or coming. During Advent we celebrate the coming of Christ. It is all about Jesus.
We begin the season of Advent by specifically looking at the advent of hope.
Did Christ bring hope? Does Christ bring hope?
Ephesians 4:4 says, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling."
There is one hope...
Interesting. Seems like we often disagree. We think there are many hopes, or we think there is no hope.
Paul says that the ONE HOPE of the world is, and can be, experienced every day in our calling.
That is good news, because God calls all of us to Him.
Hope is on the way. Hope is here. Hope was born in a manger for the sake of calling us to Himself.
What is Advent? The word means arrival or coming. During Advent we celebrate the coming of Christ. It is all about Jesus.
We begin the season of Advent by specifically looking at the advent of hope.
Did Christ bring hope? Does Christ bring hope?
Ephesians 4:4 says, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling."
There is one hope...
Interesting. Seems like we often disagree. We think there are many hopes, or we think there is no hope.
Paul says that the ONE HOPE of the world is, and can be, experienced every day in our calling.
That is good news, because God calls all of us to Him.
Hope is on the way. Hope is here. Hope was born in a manger for the sake of calling us to Himself.
Ephesians 4:4
"There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;"
Paul continues to write to the effect of unity.
In fact, Paul is hoping to remind the Gentiles tat their connection with the Jews and with each other is familiar to them. They experienced it when they were called.
God calls all people to Himself. And God calls all people to Himself in the same way.
That way is Jesus. Jesus is the Way.
God calls us like this today as well.
Come to God is the same as come to Jesus!
Come to Jesus.
Paul continues to write to the effect of unity.
In fact, Paul is hoping to remind the Gentiles tat their connection with the Jews and with each other is familiar to them. They experienced it when they were called.
God calls all people to Himself. And God calls all people to Himself in the same way.
That way is Jesus. Jesus is the Way.
God calls us like this today as well.
Come to God is the same as come to Jesus!
Come to Jesus.
Ephesians 4:3
"Being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Paul is adamant about this word, 'unity'. Why?
I believe we are looking at the enemy of the powerlessness, ineffectual, directionless church. Unity.
The unity that Paul is talking about is described as unity created by the Spirit of God - even sealed, or bonded by the Spirit of God. Peace is its signature and it belongs, in responsibility (like a stewardship) to the church.
This is unity that holds two groups together. The two groups are the Jewish people and the Gentile people - two groups that would never have found common ground otherwise.
Unity is difficult to sustain, so Paul tells us that he is being diligent about it - and he implies that we be diligent as well.
Are you WORKING toward unity?
Paul is adamant about this word, 'unity'. Why?
I believe we are looking at the enemy of the powerlessness, ineffectual, directionless church. Unity.
The unity that Paul is talking about is described as unity created by the Spirit of God - even sealed, or bonded by the Spirit of God. Peace is its signature and it belongs, in responsibility (like a stewardship) to the church.
This is unity that holds two groups together. The two groups are the Jewish people and the Gentile people - two groups that would never have found common ground otherwise.
Unity is difficult to sustain, so Paul tells us that he is being diligent about it - and he implies that we be diligent as well.
Are you WORKING toward unity?
Ephesians 4:1-2
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love."
Here is Paul's plan for the rest of the letter:
Help the people of Ephesus walk.
In fact, this is every pastor's hope. Help the people of God walk in a way that is different than the word's walk.
How does Paul hope they do it?
First, remember your calling. Who brought you to this place? God. He calls us, we walk.
Next, love one another. Our walk is always going to be catalyzed by those around us. Our neighbors, our friends, our family... our relationships are meant to help us walk.
Walk in a manner worthy.
Here is Paul's plan for the rest of the letter:
Help the people of Ephesus walk.
In fact, this is every pastor's hope. Help the people of God walk in a way that is different than the word's walk.
How does Paul hope they do it?
First, remember your calling. Who brought you to this place? God. He calls us, we walk.
Next, love one another. Our walk is always going to be catalyzed by those around us. Our neighbors, our friends, our family... our relationships are meant to help us walk.
Walk in a manner worthy.