ADVENT: Reclaiming Christmas: Day 2

ADVENT:  Day Two:  “Do not be Afraid”

Scripture:  Matthew 1:19-20:  “And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.  But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.’”

I think it is totally understandable for Joseph to be afraid when he understood the news that his fiancée was pregnant.  No one had ever experienced anything like this before.  I mean, when was the last time you’ve heard that someone got pregnant by the HOLY SPIRIT?  Yea, right!

GOD is at work in our lives and most of the time it is in ways we do not understand.  That makes us nervous and fearful.  He might be working through some extremely difficult circumstances in our lives . . . serious health issues, loss of work and income, death or other tragedy within our immediate family. 

The angel’s word to Joseph was, “Don’t be afraid!”  The LORD is calling us to rest in Him and to trust Him in the midst of whatever our circumstances might be.  It is a matter of faith for us to come to a place where we truly believe GOD is at work in whatever circumstances we find ourselves.

I believe this is a fundamental truth of Christmas.  In the midst of darkness, decay, and death, GOD became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us (John 1:14).  Regardless of what we are going through we can rest . . . we can embrace peace and joy . . . because GOD is present and He loves us and He is in the midst of it all.

ADVENT: Reclaiming the Significance of Christmas - Day 1

Day One:  “A Child will be Born”

Scripture:  “For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty GOD, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

I want to encourage you to be determined an  d intentional in keeping your primary focus on JESUS during this Christmas season.  Make certain your children truly understand the significance of this world-wide celebration . . . the Promised Messiah, sent by GOD Himself . . . for the salvation of the entire world . . . has been born!  How can we not be overwhelmed and how can we not celebrate wildly.  This is a time to be light in a dark world as we celebrate the coming of the Light of the World!  (Matthew 5:14-16; John 8:12)

Beginning four Sundays before Christmas, the purpose of Advent is twofold: first, it prepares us for the celebration of the birth of Christ and second, it reminds us that we are eagerly waiting for Jesus' return in glory.

Throughout history, the Israelites anticipated the coming of their Messiah. In the Old Testament, over 400 scriptures and prophecies outline His birth, life, death, resurrection, and return. God had a plan to redeem His people. He declared His plan to His prophets over the centuries and is fulfilling His Word even now.

"Prepare the way of the Lord" serves as a main theme of this season. As we get ready for Christmas, we should not neglect to prepare our lives for Jesus, who came as "the light of the world." His light penetrated a dark world, which allowed all to see their Messiah, and the hope of their future.

"The birth of Christ is the central event in the history of the earth -- the very thing the whole story has been about." -- C.S. Lewis

Same-Sex Attraction and the World  By Jeanette Howard, Bethany Ministries, Sussex, England

This week has not been easy. In the light of the drama, tragedies and horrors that dominate our screens and saturate the airwaves, I have found it difficult to see the subject of who's attracted to whom as little more than first world pettiness. The passengers of one airline lie undetected on the bottom of the ocean whilst human remains from another flight are scattered over the war torn Ukrainian countryside. Syrian and Iraqi Christians are being slaughtered in their hundreds if not thousands while the Israelis and Hamas continue to bomb the life out of each other. Nigeria still hasn't found their 'lost' school children and they, along with the likes of Sierra Leone, are being torn apart by violent terrorists. I could continue with the increasing numbers of countries being confronted by the deadly Ebola crisis, but you get the picture. Placed against the mountain of this awfulness I am left asking the question, Does what I do have any worth?  I weep, I pray, and I beseech the Lord to intervene in world events. I sign petitions urging those in power to 'do something' to help alleviate the suffering and trauma in various continents, but I still question my day job. Does what I do really have any bearing on the big picture? He [Jesus] went on: "It's what comes out of a person that pollutes: obscenities, lusts, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, depravity, deceptive dealings, carousing, mean looks, slander, arrogance, foolishness-all these are vomit from the heart. There is the source of your pollution." Matthew 7:20-23 (The Message) Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds [as shown by] because of your evil behavior. Colossians 1:21 (NIV, footnote included) The truth is that a world that is at enmity with itself is the only possible outcome for a people who refuse to acknowledge and submit to their Creator. We are designed to be dependent on God for all things, but insistence on living independently of Him can only result in more of what we are already witnessing around the globe. I may not be shooting air planes out of the sky or butchering people who don't happen to think as I think, but the truth is that I am more than capable of thinking murderous and slanderous thoughts or indulging in lustful imaginings. And that is why I need to continue with my day job. I can't change world events but I can help change the world in which I live. If, through the power of God's Holy Spirit I can help men and women bring their sexuality in thought and expression under the increasing Lordship of Christ, then I am fulfilling my part, however small, in ensuring that God's Kingdom increasingly invades and destroys Satan's Kingdom here on earth. We can live as men and women of the light who choose to surrender and submit our ways to the One who calls us back to our true self, that of being image bearers. In all things, however global or local: Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, here (in our hearts and) on earth as it is in Heaven. Amen. Photo: This is a variant on the Arabic letter 'N' you may have come across as some people's Facebook profile. This is to show solidarity with the many Christians who are currently being slaughtered in Iraq and Syria by the Islamic State. The letter is being scrawled on Christian homes and stands for Nasara (Nazarene).

Celebrate Easter Big -- EASTER SUNDAY

Scripture:  Luke 24:5

 

“Why do you seek the living One among the dead? 

            He is not here, but He has risen!”

JESUS is Risen . . . .  

                                      He is Risen Indeed!

Celebrate Easter Big -- Passion Week: Holy Saturday

Scripture:  Matthew 27:59-60

And Joseph took the body [of JESUS] and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in

his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock . . .

. . . And he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb.  . .

            . . . And went away.

Celebrate Easter Big -- Passion Week: Good Friday

The link below is the Lent/Easter Devotional for today, Good Friday.  It is one of the most powerful presentations on Good Friday that I have ever experienced. 

Be certain to watch the video at the end . . . enlarge it to full screen & turn up the volume!  Embrace the moment and prepare yourself for Sunday . . . it's comin'

“Sunday is a Comin’” by the late Dr. S.M. Lockridge http://t.co/RC7tgszcrp

Celebrate Easter Big -- Passion Week: Thursday

Scripture:  Mark 14:12-31 & John 13:1-20

Though I did not grow up in a Christian home and did not have much understanding about the things of GOD or who JESUS was our family had the traditional picture of a blue-eyed JESUS and I saw many pictures depicting the Last Supper.  It was many years after I had become a believer that I came to understand that what I had always known as the Last Supper was actually a Passover Meal and it has taken me years longer to understand the significance of this meal.

As I read Mark 14:12 today, I was impacted in a fresh new way by the statement:  “On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed . . . .”  Do you see the amazing picture taking place here?  It would be helpful to read the story of the first Passover especially Exodus 11 and 12. 

Every year, even to this day thousands of years later, Jews all over the world remember this foundational event by observing the Passover Feast which includes a Passover Seder (a retelling of the Exodus from Egypt).  There is also expectation of the coming of the Messiah who will re-establish the kingdom of Israel. 

In our scripture today we read of JESUS calling His disciples together to observe the Passover meal (Last Supper) as Jews everywhere were doing.  But this one was different from all the others.  JESUS took some of the bread they were eating during their Passover meal and said, “Take it; this is My body” (v. 22).  Then He took the wine they were drinking during their Passover meal and said, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many” (v. 24).  JESUS could not have done or said a more insulting thing to incite the religious leaders.  JESUS was clearly declaring that He was the long awaited Messiah . . . the Son of GOD . . . .  He was boldly declaring He was the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover Seder . . . He WAS the Passover Lamb!

In the midst of disciples’ pridefully clamoring about who might be the greatest or who might have the best position of authority and honor in the new “administration” JESUS declares His identity.  JESUS gives an example of the kind of king He is going to be and the kind of kingdom in which He will reign by washing their feet.  I don’t think they go it!

The religious leaders didn’t get it either.  They felt so threatened by JESUS they were ready to implement the evil plan of ending all of this . . . the irony of it all . . . they were playing a role in the redemptive story of GOD and they were being led by one of JESUS’ own.  He was present at the Passover meal with JESUS.  And JESUS, knowing all along what was coming down, washed his feet.  I am amazed!

JESUS is Risen . . . !

Richard Holloman