Peace On Earth

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. Luke 2:14

The other day while checking out at the post office, the woman helping told me that she’ll try to be efficient because “I don’t need any more stress in my life this time of year.”

Something doesn’t seem right. The season of year that should be the most joyous and peace-filled can often be the busiest and most stressful.

Imagine the scene…imagine the stress two thousand years ago. Augustus had issued a decree that everyone must travel to their hometown to register. The roads were crowded, the city was crowded, everyone was in a hurry. Who had time to pause and recognize the birth of a baby in a smelly stable?

God reveals himself to those who have the time to listen. Could it be, perhaps, that lowly shepherds were the few people who weren’t too busy to pause and notice?

God’s peace entered the busy, stress-filled town of Bethlehem. Holiness dwelt in the midst of the hectic.

But did they pause to notice and consider the amazing gift God had given them? Will we?

“Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

Joy

My blogs have been sparse lately. I started a new job as our Children’s Ministry director. It's been great, although it has eaten up the little bit of “blog time” that I had.

This month our kids are learning about Joy: finding a way to be happy even when things don’t go your way. Sounds like a message for all ages, doesn’t it? When things don’t work out as we expect—we lose our job, experience health problems, it can shake our faith. We don’t even realize it, but we begin to base our joy on our circumstances instead of the faithfulness of God.

Even in the difficult, unexpected seasons of our life, we can have joy because God keeps his promises and nothing is impossible for Him. Sometimes our plan looks a lot different than God’s plan. That’s when we need to trust that He loves us and His plan is always best.

God’s message is good news of great joy for all people! He gave us what we need the most—a Savior! And because of that, we can have joy even when things don’t go the way we expected them.

The Purpose of Christmas

The Purpose of Christmas

This Sunday, we’re beginning our Christmas series, The Purpose of Christmas.

I love the Christmas season, yet it seems that there is a disconnect between the story of Christmas and the message of Christmas. The story is familiar and when stories become familiar, the original message can lose its power and potency.

When an angel of the Lord appeared before the shepherds the night Jesus was born, the Bible says they were terrified. I wondered why their first reaction was one of fear, yet then thought, would my response be any different? I used to dread getting in trouble at school. How about you? When your boss calls you into his office, is your natural response one of fear? 

Paralyzed by fear, the shepherds assumed God had bad news, but the news He had to share was magnificent. The message of Christmas is good news for all people! In spite of what you’ve done or haven’t done, God sent what you needed the most—a Savior. When you embrace the message of Christmas, God gets all the glory and you get peace. That’s good news!

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11

The Unfamiliar

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them… Isaiah 42:16

I don't like walking in the dark. I always bump into things and stumble around. I'd much prefer to see where I'm going...there's more security in that. 

Sometimes our life can feel as though we’re walking in the dark. We can’t see where the path on which we’re walking will end. It’s scary, unsettling. Yet, God says that He’s there with us, guiding us through the uncertain and unfamiliar. And we just need to trust Him.