Advent?

 

 Jeremiah 23:5-6 (ESV)

⁵ “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. ⁶ In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

 

 

What does advent mean?  In general it means coming or arriving.  The Advent means the coming of Christ.  As we prepare for Advent, we are in good company.  The people in the Old Testament were preparing for the Advent from the time sin appeared on the scene.  They were told God was working out His plan to restore our relationship with Him.  That plan involved Jesus, God’s Son coming to earth to die for us.  So they all prepared for this event.  Many did not understand the plan, and most only knew a small fragment of the plan, but they talked about that part they knew and prepared and hoped for the day it would be fulfilled.

 

We prepare for Advent now, too, but it is with hind sight that we prepare to remember, and celebrate the fulfillment of the first phase of the plan.  We know what Christmas means, Jesus came!  We remember and celebrate that part of the plan each year.  We have added much to the celebration through the years.  In fact now we kind of push Jesus right out of the celebration.  We have fallen in love with the celebration rather than Jesus.  Just like a birthday loses its joy when we forget the person whose birth we are celebrating and celebrate the cake.

It is time to put celebration back in its place and focus on Jesus as we enter Advent.  Let’s do that today.  Focus on Jesus coming and find ways to celebrate that each day of Advent.

Decision Making and the Holy Spirit

 

Decision making is really hard.  Is it for you, too?  You see, I cannot see all the consequences of my decisions.  I make a decision thinking, “now that was mature,”  only to find it was not really very good and led to things I did not want, or were harmful.  See my sight is short.  My thinking is self-centered.  I am weak, but think I am strong.  That frequently adds up to disaster.  I really need help in these matters.

 

Good news!  I have that help at hand all the time.  Jesus left a helper to steer me through every minute.  The Holy Spirit -- Always wise, always right, always there!  I need to not be impatient but wait for that guidance which will come in due season.  I must slow down and take notice.  I must be ready to obey.  Not easy, but part of God’s plan for me.  So, Holy Spirit, what are we doing next?

Is Fall Coming?

 

Today fall is teasing us.  It has made a sneak appearance, bringing along cool nights, rain, and cooler days.  I am thinking a sweater may need to come out of hiding.  But I know this is just a little preview.  In a few days hot weather will return, making me long for fall. This is just a tease.  You see, I love fall.  The colors, the cool refreshing air, the lead up to Christmas.  This summer seemed long, and hot.  I find sleeping hard in this time.  I find my energy low and my mood is grumpy at best.  Little things irritate me.

Well, God made the seasons, every one of them.  Even hot, humid summer with mosquitoes, spiders, and such. The challenge is to maintain my heart of gratitude no matter what the physical circumstance.  I need to focus on Jesus who is the same all the time.  I need to go to the Rock!  

 

 

The Art of Communication

 

Today I again experienced the frustration of my inept communication.  It is a very rainy day as a typhoon looms off the coast.  This morning we were trying to reap the benefits of a bit cooler weather and open those windows that we could.  Dad was busy at work; Mom was fixing breakfast and I was supervising it all.  The rain increased and the wind shifted.  Now rain was coming in a large window.  I began saying, “It’s coming in.” over and over.  However my articulation was faulty and no communication was occurring. My dad even mimicked my words asking what I meant, but they were not getting it.  Suddenly my mom saw, and we got action!  That water was cleaned up and that window closed and mom said, “That’s what you were saying.” At last communication happened. 

 

Sometimes that happens to me.  It is frustrating and sometimes disappointing.  However, I must keep trying.  After that experience we discussed how I could enhance my ability. I need to take more initiative to be heard and understand.  Hanging back will not improve my ability.

 

On reflection I am reminded that God understands before I even try to speak.  He gets it every time.  No misses ever!  In Psalm 139:4 it says, “Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all.”  So, I may have many more communication misses here on earth, but with God it is a success every time.  Guess I will do more talking with God.  (And maybe listening, too!)

See You Later, Daniel

 

Recently I had to relinquish a friend to his heavenly abode.  I have known him over thirty years.  I have daily prayed for his healing for most of those years.  You see, he was disabled, unable to walk, or talk.  We rarely saw each other, but we were friends, just the same.  His life was hard.  He had many physical limitations, as well as intellectual challenges.  Yet he did his best to fulfill the purpose God had for his life.  I have no doubt he is responsible for pointing the way to Jesus for many.  His life on this earth was short, but it was not a waste.  It was exactly as God planned it to be.  Like you and I his days were planned by a loving heavenly Father long before he took his first breath.  He did not have to fight all the distractions we live with.  He just lived as God had made him to live. I will miss him, I rejoice with him today because he is now completely healed.  No more limitations. He lives with Jesus.  I am so thrilled for you, Daniel!

Thanks!

 

This week a young friend of mine had a birthday.  He turned three! He and I were both adopted into missionary families so we could find Jesus.  I sent him a greeting online. I admonished him to love Jesus with all he has.  I was completely surprised to get video reply.  There was his cute face and his shy reply, “thanks Jeffrey.”  I watched that over and over letting the joy it brought flood my heart.  I would have loved to hug him and receive a hug in return, but that was impossible at the time.  I was a bit sad I could not see him in person to give my small greeting.  However, God did something more.  I have looked at that video several times.  Each time it warms my heart.  I am slowly learning to give thanks in everything.  You see, that is what God demands. 

 

When I obey that command my heart is at peace.  God changes me; He shifts my point of view and gives me His best.  So today I watched that video again, and it reminded me to thank God again.  Are you thanking God for everything?  I sure hope you are.

Welcome Fall; Welcome Change

 

Fall has come to our area.  It gets cold, well cool, at night.  The days have a bit of coolness on the edges.  Sweaters are welcome.  It makes us sleep better, and be more excited about exercise.  Oh, I do like fall!

God dresses the trees in orange, yellow, red and brown.  Some flowers are spent, but others come along.  Nature is embracing the change.  Much as I dislike change, the change from summer to fall is one of my favorite events. 

This year has been a year of constant change and upheaval.  COVID has disrupted so many days.  It is not about to stop.  I need to learn to look change in the eyes and say, “ok”!  I do not willingly do that, but I must work toward that.  If I peacefully said “ok” to change I would save myself stress and pain.  I could more easily pray, “Your will be done, Lord.”  Jesus prayed that.  He is my example.  Sooooo…. It might be time for me to pray that!