Readings: Micah 5:2-4 (NIV)
2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."
3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.
4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.
Isaiah 55:1-13 (NIV)
1 "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
3 Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.
4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples.
5 Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor."
6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed."
An Advent Reflection
Did you notice in the readings how God’s promise is to change that which causes sadness and loneliness into something that is joyful and secure. How?
“He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.”
“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”
Is Advent a season of rejoicing? Is it – for each of us personally – a time of security and a time of peace?” For many, it is not. Christmas can mean nothing but stress, busyness, a time of running until we’re exhausted trying to meet the expectations of everyone else…missing the most important part – a celebration of God’s coming.
Here’s an Advent Reflection from Jack Hayford:
“Christmas month begins. And again I find myself wanting to reach out to help people who can’t, by themselves, “unwrap” Christmas. It is, you know, “wrapped” for many:
• Wrapped in the bandages of bygone hurts and disappointments
• Wrapped in the plastic of sophistication which shuns childlike wonder
• Wrapped in the tinsel of materialistic binge
• Wrapped in the confetti and streamers of empty partying
• Wrapped in the busy-get-ready preparations
The ghost of Christmas Past returns to haunt numberless now-redeemed members of the Father’s forever family, but without the beneficial results produced by Scrooge’s specter.
The wrappings represent the cluttered residue of a man and woman’s childhood pain. Christmas ruined in other times, at other places. Sadly, the impact carries on, souring year after year. I’m speaking of people who –
• Had a heartbreak in their family one year and now associate Advent more with the pain than with Christ.
• Have been burned out over family stresses surrounding the holidays, so that now these days are dreaded instead of anticipated with joy.
• Have become wearied with the carnality of superficial gift giving and the have-to-get-something-for…. That becomes dread instead of joy.
How many people? How many varieties of death wrap a God-appointed celebration of faith and hope and love?
I come to you today, my disappointed friend, in Jesus’ name. And I come with this word: “BE FREE!”
Confront and reject these false thieves of the past. Through Jesus – the baby become King, the Son become Lord, the child become Christ – in his mighty name, lay hold of this season by faith. Refuse to let the prince of darkness smother this season of light. The one who sought to murder the Baby in Bethlehem now seeks to ruin your celebration of HIM.
Resist him with JOY, with resting in the security of His mercy, His love, His grace.
Be untied. Be unfettered. Be Unwrapped!
Take my hand and together let us “go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”
A Prayer:
“Lord Jesus, I come to you to say “thank you” for the gift of your coming. In this Advent season I turn my heart, my soul, my mind intentionally towards you. Father help me to be aware of those around me for whom Advent is not a season of joy, or a season of peace. Where there is pain, past or present, bring healing in the name of Jesus. Holy Spirit help me to especially be aware of those around me that I might be a minister your grace to bring that healing and faith back. This I pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”
2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."
3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.
4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.
Isaiah 55:1-13 (NIV)
1 "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
3 Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.
4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples.
5 Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor."
6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed."
An Advent Reflection
Did you notice in the readings how God’s promise is to change that which causes sadness and loneliness into something that is joyful and secure. How?
“He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.”
“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”
Is Advent a season of rejoicing? Is it – for each of us personally – a time of security and a time of peace?” For many, it is not. Christmas can mean nothing but stress, busyness, a time of running until we’re exhausted trying to meet the expectations of everyone else…missing the most important part – a celebration of God’s coming.
Here’s an Advent Reflection from Jack Hayford:
“Christmas month begins. And again I find myself wanting to reach out to help people who can’t, by themselves, “unwrap” Christmas. It is, you know, “wrapped” for many:
• Wrapped in the bandages of bygone hurts and disappointments
• Wrapped in the plastic of sophistication which shuns childlike wonder
• Wrapped in the tinsel of materialistic binge
• Wrapped in the confetti and streamers of empty partying
• Wrapped in the busy-get-ready preparations
The ghost of Christmas Past returns to haunt numberless now-redeemed members of the Father’s forever family, but without the beneficial results produced by Scrooge’s specter.
The wrappings represent the cluttered residue of a man and woman’s childhood pain. Christmas ruined in other times, at other places. Sadly, the impact carries on, souring year after year. I’m speaking of people who –
• Had a heartbreak in their family one year and now associate Advent more with the pain than with Christ.
• Have been burned out over family stresses surrounding the holidays, so that now these days are dreaded instead of anticipated with joy.
• Have become wearied with the carnality of superficial gift giving and the have-to-get-something-for…. That becomes dread instead of joy.
How many people? How many varieties of death wrap a God-appointed celebration of faith and hope and love?
I come to you today, my disappointed friend, in Jesus’ name. And I come with this word: “BE FREE!”
Confront and reject these false thieves of the past. Through Jesus – the baby become King, the Son become Lord, the child become Christ – in his mighty name, lay hold of this season by faith. Refuse to let the prince of darkness smother this season of light. The one who sought to murder the Baby in Bethlehem now seeks to ruin your celebration of HIM.
Resist him with JOY, with resting in the security of His mercy, His love, His grace.
Be untied. Be unfettered. Be Unwrapped!
Take my hand and together let us “go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”
A Prayer:
“Lord Jesus, I come to you to say “thank you” for the gift of your coming. In this Advent season I turn my heart, my soul, my mind intentionally towards you. Father help me to be aware of those around me for whom Advent is not a season of joy, or a season of peace. Where there is pain, past or present, bring healing in the name of Jesus. Holy Spirit help me to especially be aware of those around me that I might be a minister your grace to bring that healing and faith back. This I pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”
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