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| Taking back Christmas - Isa 9:2, 6&7 |
The People walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the lands of the shadow of death a light has dawned. (Isa. 9:2 NIV)
Norman Sawchuck and Rueben P. Job in “A Guide to Prayer for all who seek God” write,
”Advent marks the beginning of the church year and lays before
us the pathway of faith for the year ahead. Advent initiates
once again remembering, retelling, and celebrating the whole
drama of God's Revelation.
Four weeks is the limit to this season that declares the truth
about a God whose love and resourcefulness have no limits.
"Advent" has its roots in the Latin word "adventus," or
coming. This season proclaims the coming of Christ in the
Birth of Jesus, in the Word and Spirit, and in the final
victory when God's kingdom shall be complete.
Our privilege as Christians is to receive the gracious gift
of God's presence in Christ. Our task is to prepare for His
Coming, so that we will not miss life's greatest gift.”
The Advent Season 2005 is upon us. Already the rush and bustle of the season has begun. We are busy preparing our gifts for family and friends as an expression of our love. Christmas is a wonderful time of the year.
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The Advent Season focus on the gifts that Jesus brings to us. We take back Christmas by celebrating the spiritual meaning of the event and discover anew the spiritual truth of the coming of Jesus into our world as God’s gift of love to us. This year accept the gifts that Jesus brings and share His love with others.
Taking back Christmas must be intentional on our part. It challenges us to rewrite our schedules to reflect the true meaning of the event. As the year draws to a close, family schedules and personal agendas fill with engagements, programs, parties and annual obligations. The carol “Silent Night” could not have been written at the end of the twentieth century. The title evokes a peace and stillness we can only imagine.
To reclaim Christmas we need to draw close to God who became flesh and lived amongst us. It is difficult to harmonize meditation and car pooling. How do we carve out moments of quiet and worship and open ourselves to God’s Presence? Perhaps we have to lower our sights from hours spent around hearths, Christmas trees, decorated halls and festivities to schedule quiet times when the family can sit together and contemplate what Christmas is all about.
The first theme of Advent is Hope. It is the first gift that Jesus brings to us. It is a bright light in a dark world. (Isa 9:2, 6&7) We continue to hope in God’s promise that Christ will come again to fill our world with love, joy and peace.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, speak to my heart during this season as you spoke to your prophets. Remind me again of the journey you call me to make and the work you would have me to do.
I am your servant, O Lord. Speak to me in this holy season and turn my eyes to watch for your coming.
About the Author
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Pastor Earl Batstone has pastored for more than forty years. He retired as General Superintendent of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Nfld in 2002. He and his wife Lily are presently active in Short Term Missionary work. They reside in Paradise, Newfoundland and may be reached at: earlbatstone@nl.rogers.com |
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Honored
Matthew 9:20-22; 27-30
And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour….And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
Matthew 15:28
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great [is] thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Mark 5:28-34
For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
Mark 9:23
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things [are] possible to him that believeth.
Mark 11:20-24
And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Luke 17:11-19
And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
Luke 18:35-43
And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
Acts 14:8-10
And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
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