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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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God’s Forgiveness
Psalms 32:1-5
Blessed [is he whose] transgression [is] forgiven, [whose] sin [is] covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
Psalms 85:2
Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
Psalms 86:4-7
Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
Psalms 103:3, 12
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;…As far as the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Isaiah 1:18
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Isaiah 43:25
I, [even] I, [am] he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
Isaiah 55:6, 7
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Matthew 11:28-30
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Colossians 2:13
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Hebrews 8:12
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Hebrews 10:17
And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
1 John 1:7-9
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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