Category: Advent

They Were the Talk of the Hill Country! Faithful God comes Through

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I love the account of John’s birth and naming. What a joyous scene with the family and neighbors gathered sharing in the circumcision and revelation that the son’s name would be John. Nobody in your family is named John they said but Elizabeth and Zachariah insisted which signaled the release of Zachariah’s tongue! He could now speak!

Luke 1:57-66 “ Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

The attribute I chose for this portion of our Christmas Story is faithful. God was faithful to keep His promises to both Elizabeth and Zechariah. God knows and loves each of us, and He will do all that He has promised. He has a plan to restore us to himself and we know God is true to His own plan. He is always faithful to forgive and uphold us no matter the circumstances. His plan brought His Son Jesus to save and restore us. Hebrews 10:23 is one of my favorite verses about God’s faithfulness, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” We know we can trust in God’s faithfulness. He keeps His promises.

The angel Gabriel had told Zechariah that he would not speak until the child was born and named. How does this event affect your belief in the faithfulness of God? Scripture says the people there were fearful, as in awe of God and His power to keep Zechariah from speaking until that moment and restoring his voice. They were the literal talk of the town as all who heard about it would have marveled that the faithfulness and power of Almighty God. They knew that the hand of God was upon John and wondered what he would accomplish for God. (We are fortunate to know the rest of the story as it unfolds for us in scripture.) Zechariah and Elizabeth were profoundly moved, marveling at God’s hand upon them and the blessed responsibility to raise John as the angel had ordered.

How have you seen God’s faithfulness in your life? Have you seen His provision, guidance, assistance in times of trouble or forgiveness? Deuteronomy 7:9 “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,” God is eternal and His faithfulness does not end. Lamentations 3:23-24 is a good verse to claim for God’s faithfulness. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Know that faithfulness is a part of God’s character and He will always be faithful. The same cannot be said of us, in 2 Timothy 2:13 “if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.” Praise God even in our moments of faithlessness, like Zechariah in front of Gabriel, God remained faithful to him. He will do the same for each of us!

Linda

Mary Praises Continue

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Mary’s Song of praise continues in Luke 1:46-49 as she looks to God in praise speaking of God’s care for Israel. Mary recognizes the power of God and His Sovereign nature.

Luke 1:46-49 “And his mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
    and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
    to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

Only a sovereign God could show His strength and power from generation to generation. He has moved kings and kingdoms, given good things, been merciful to his people and interacted personally with Abraham. Being Sovereign means God controls all things. There is nothing outside of God’s wise control, even to the timing for each individual. What God plans happens. When God allows evil, we can trust He has planned to use it for His people’s good and His glory. God had perfect timing for His Son to come the first time and knows the perfect time for His return. All God has planned will come to pass as He alone has the power to make it happen. His will cannot be thwarted.

Mary knew this about God. She has seen His strength and power in Isabel’s history. She would have known about Moses, the escape from Egypt after the 10 plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the walls of Jericho falling down to the trumpet of God, their first king Saul and his hatred for beloved king David, their constant idol worship which led them into captivity for 70 years and the return as God promised. Mary had heard these stories read in the temple and knew the power of Almighty God to move in history. She knew God to be merciful and caring. She knew He was sovereign over all things.

What do you know about God? Can you talk about God’s character and how you have seen Him in your life? Mary knew first hand that God was real and she marveled that God had chosen her. I too marvel at how God uses individuals to accomplish His work. Each of us is important to God and can be a part of His work. Paul spoke of the importance of each believer in Romans 12:4-6a “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us,” In Christ we are all part of Him and have a purpose for His work and for supporting other believers. We are all gifted by God to help lift up, encourage and build up one another. Who do you need to encourage today? Can you send an email, a card or call with a word to show you care? Be open to God, like Mary, and look expectantly for ways God will use you to show the love of Jesus to the world.

Linda

Peace through His Omnipotent Power

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This Second Sunday of Advent we light the purple candle of Peace. The peace here is the peace we have in Jesus. Jesus’ coming brought peace to the world and to each of us as believers. The attribute for today is Omnipotent. Only God in His great power could bring peace to the world and reconcile mankind to himself. God is all powerful meaning his power, authority and influence are unlimited. God is the source of life, energy, power and hope. All things would fall apart without God’s power. Nothing can stop God and evil and death will not win!

Only God could have brought about bringing His Son to earth with a mission to redeem us. Job reminds us in Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” The passage in John 3:16-18 is very familiar and reminds us of why God sent His Son on this mission, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

So this second Sunday of Advent as we light the Peace Candle, do you have the peace of Jesus in your heart? John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Will you take His peace today and place your trust in our Omnipotent God? Remembering Matthew 19:25-26“ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, , “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” and Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Revel in the God of peace today and the one who came to reconcile us to the Father and bless us with His peace! Salvation in Jesus brings PEACE!

Linda

What would your Song to God sound like?

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Mary’s response to a greater realization of God’s favor upon her after being with Elizabeth is recorded in Luke 1:46-54. The first section is 46-49 which we will look at today. This portion of scripture is known as the Magnificat as it takes its name from the first line-magnifies. Mary begins by praising God and recognizes God is her Savior.

Luke 1:46-49 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.

Mary praises God and tells Him how much she is overjoyed to be His servant. For Mary God is accessible and she can talk directly to Him. Being accessible means God is near and wants to have a relationship with each of us. Mary knew this and calls Him her Savior. She marvels at how God has enlightened and enlivened her soul and blessed her with this child to come. She does not look down or back, but up to God. She knows He alone is Holy God, loves and cares for her and the child she carries. Mary knows that God hears her prayers and humbles herself before God in a prayer of thanksgiving and praise.

How accessible is God to you? Do you take advantage of prayer and spend time communing with God? Is praise on your lips as you think about God and bow before Him? We know God is accessible to us through our faith in Jesus. He is accessible as our Savior, John 14:6  “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” He is accessible to me anytime I have need, Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” He is accessible to me when I am in need of forgiveness, Hebrews 10:22 “ let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” God promises to be near me if I come towards Him, in James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. ” What is keeping you from God? He is always faithfully waiting for us to come to Him.

Do you have a song of praise for God today? Mary knew the joy of communing with God. It lead her to praise and joy in her soul. Join her in drawing near to accessible God in a song of praise!

Linda

Invisible, Yet Present!

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The events that take place next warm my heart. Mary decides to leave right away and travel to her cousin Elizabeth’s house, in the Judean hills. There could be various possible reasons for Mary’s decision: the angel had told her that Elizabeth was expecting and Mary, knowing her cousin was older, may have thought she could be of help, she may not have wanted to stay around Nazareth as her pregnancy would become known and she would be a source of gossip and ridicule or she knew Elizabeth to be a godly woman and was seeking support and wisdom. Whatever the reason, immediately upon being greeted by Mary, this takes place.

Luke 1:39-45 and 56 “At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her! verse 56 ”Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Scripture tells us an important fact about John in Luke 1:15b “and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.” So when Mary arrives and Elizabeth greets her, the baby, John, leaps in her womb. His spirit recognizes the Holy Spirit within Jesus. The meeting produces joy for the mother’s to be and their babies. The attribute I have chosen for today is Invisible. God is with us each and every moment of every day, and yet we do not feel or see Him. God is Spirit and we cannot see spirit. Just as we cannot see or feel sound waves, energy or atoms, we know they exist. God did make himself visible to us in His Son Jesus. In this story, we have the time before Jesus is born and and see and feel through the events the presence of our Invisible God. His Holy Spirit indwelled both John and Jesus! John reacted to the presence of Jesus and the joy was immediately transmitted to Elizabeth and Mary as joy.

I’m sure being together both women would felt more supported about their part of God’s plan. I would imagine that Mary’s presence was of great help and comfort to Elizabeth and Elizabeth’s wisdom, faithfulness and compassion would have helped Mary as she grew in her pregnancy. The timing of staying 3 months would mean that Mary stayed until John was born and named. When she returned home she would have been about 4 months pregnant and through the first possibly difficult months.

Invisible God made himself known to the Israelites in the Old Testament. God appeared to Moses in a burning bush and spoke to him. God led the way as they crosses the desert using a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to show His presence. Paul wrote in Romans 1:20 “ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” We can see evidence of God through His creation and wonder at it. God assures us in Deuteronomy 31:6 that even though we cannot see Him, He is there! “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Thankfully, God saw fit to give us more, something tangible we could depend upon and see. Colossians 1:15 “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” Hebrews 1:3a “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” We have proof that Jesus lived and was seen by others, died for our sins and ascended back into heaven. Jesus was visible proof of our invisible God! Praise God for His provision of Jesus.

Today as you go about your day, see where you can see our invisible God at work. He is there with you just as He was with Mary and Elizabeth.

Linda

God Knows Mary and He Knows Me too!

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I love the story of the angel’s encounter with Mary. Can you imagine as young girl of about 16 coming face to face with a heavenly being and that you have conversation with him? She is such a young woman of composure that even in her fear, she is able to speak coherently. Being tongue tied would not have been out of the question for me at that age. Listen carefully to Gabriel as he shows compassion and understanding towards this young woman.

Luke 1:26-38 “ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

The attribute I have chosen for this scripture is Personal. God sends Gabriel to meet Mary and he calls her by name. She is known to the God and specially chosen for this holy mission. We know that God knows us but really that is hard to take in and understand. The God of the universe knows me? Jesus confirmed this fact in John 10:14-15 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” and John 10:27-28 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Jesus says those who believe in Him are known to Him and to the Father. We will respond to His voice and follow Him. No one can take us away from Jesus! I know this makes me feel loved, affirmed and special in God’s eyes. I can imagine Gabriel calling Mary by name and speaking personally to her made her feel loved, cared for, recognized and humble.

She does ask Gabriel questions about how this is possible as she in not married and has not known a man. Her questions are not like Zechariah’s as she is not asking in a disbelieving manner but with sense of wonder at the possibility. Being a good Jewish girl, she would have know about the prophecies of a Messiah to come. She would have understood who Gabriel was talking about and knew she was a descendant in David’s lineage. I’m sure she was amazed to hear that her cousin Elizabeth was having a child when she was known to be barren. Taking all of this in, Mary ends the passage saying she is and will be a willing and a servant of God.

What about you? Does knowing Jesus knows you, cares and loves you make a difference in your life? Mary was willing to step out in faith and trust God with her life and her future to serve Him. Does that describe you? If not fully, make it a matter of prayer and know God is personal and you make a difference to Him. I love 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” He wants everyone to come to faith in Jesus and belong to His family. Who can you tell about Jesus, a personal God who loves you?

Linda

Waiting with Anticipation

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Today we see Zechariah returned home, Elizabeth becoming with child and the fulfillment of God’s promises to them. Luke 1:23-25  “When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

God had granted Elizabeth the desire of her heart- a child. Being older, she was careful with her health and stayed in seclusion. Scholars are not sure why she did this but it allowed her time to honor God, worship him and revel in the miracle God had brought into her life. Her life had been one filled with disgrace due to barreness. I can’t even imagine the joy that possessed her with her pregnancy and the loss of her shame. She undoubtedly looked forward to the child and what God would do in and through him.

The attribute that I chose for today is Righteous. God is right in all He does. He has always been right and always will be right. His Words and actions are right. God’s timing for Elizabeth and Zechariah to have a child that would be the forerunner to Jesus was fixed by Him. So that it would be a special child of great significance, it needed to be long awaited and desired. God knew the love and devotion that John would receive from Elizabeth and Zechariah as their longed for child. He would need all the love and nurturing that they could give. I don’t know about you but when I wait for something a long time, it seems all the more precious. I cherish what I waited for and praise God over the rightness of His timing in my life.

During this waiting time, Zechariah could not speak. That would have added anticipation to their wait as they knew God had something special for both of them when the child arrived. I’m sure that Zechariah’s waiting time turned his doubt to belief that resulted in praise when the child arrived.

Do you doubt the rightness of God’s plan for your life? I know we all have times like Zechariah that we question God. The verse I claim when doubting the rightness and timing of God’s plan is Jeremiah 29:11. “ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I know that God keeps His promises and has plans that are for my good and His glory. God’s plans are perfect and right. Remember He is righteous and we can trust in Him always. Psalm 116:5 “The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.” God’s rightness, grace and compassion are without limit. How fortunate are we to be a child of His!

Linda

Zechariah Learns a Lesson

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Today’s portion of scripture is taken from Luke 1:8-20. We see Zechariah in the temple doing his priestly duties and is interrupted by the angel Gabriel who has a message from God. God knew it was Zechariah’s time to serve and He wanted him for a specific mission.

“Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was” serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” 19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

The attribute I have chosen for this passage is Perfect. God is Perfect in all He does and says. In this story we see God’s perfect timing. He sent the angel Gabriel at the specific time in Israel’s history to bring good news of this son that Zechariah and Elizabeth would miraculously have, even though they were older, to be the forerunner of Jesus. Zechariah’s son would be filled with the Holy Spirit before his birth and live a righteous life leading many to repent and turn to God. Zechariah and Elizabeth were the perfect parents to train and teach their young son about God and His Word.

I am always amused when I read about Zechariah’s boldness in questioning the word of the heavenly being Gabriel. His unbelief moved him to ask, how can I know this to be true? It is not surprising that Gabriel was offended at Zechariah questioning his integrity and his message from God. The punishment was also perfect. It was severe but not harmful to Zechariah’s person but to his pride. It also allowed others to see that he had indeed had an encounter with a God. Gabriel made the punishment time limited so that he would again have the message confirmed when it came to pass and know the power of God. God is perfect in his ways and they are not our ways as we are reminded in Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” God always has the perfect solution and His timing is flawless.

This coming John would be the forerunner, proclaiming the glory of God to come. Later when both men are grown, John has the privilege of baptizing Jesus and proclaiming Jesus’ purpose in the world. John 1:29 “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

I can rely upon God’s perfection in all His ways, plans and timing. I may not see or know the plan, but I can trust the planner. I don’t’ need to question the truthfulness of God’s Word as I know it is flawless and true in its perfection. Lean into God and trust His Word in a new way today.

Linda

A Walk of Trusting God

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We begin our Christmas journey with the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah as given in Luke 1:5-6.  “In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.”

Often we do not see the reason for our suffering. Elizabeth suffered socially and mentally with the burden of childlessness. It was thought that this was a curse from God as the ability to have children was a gift from God. Anyone who was barren was considered flawed and looked down upon. However, this did not diminish or change her character and both she and Zechariah were observant Jews and loved the Lord. Elizabeth did not know why she did not have children but as we will see, God had a plan and a purpose for them to fulfill. God is Omniscient. He knows all our circumstances, he is never surprised and there is no where in the spiritual or physical world that God is not. God knew about Elizabeth and Zechariah’s desire to have a child and their grief over being childless. However, they did not let their sorrow or grief turn to bitterness and kept faith in God and His plan for their lives.

I can relate to this story in so many ways. I, myself, waited 14 years for the arrival of my daughter. She arrived on December 1 to a family that was filled with anticipation, joy and thankfulness. Her name is also Elizabeth, after our grandmothers, and she is a constant joy in my life. Like Elizabeth and Hannah, I had prayed for a child and that did not happen naturally. God led us to an adoption agency that brought our daughter from Korea. I had prayed and claimed, as I’m sure Hannah and Elizabeth did too, Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” God in His omniscience knew the child He had for us, but I had to walk believing in Him and trust Him for the future. I had to trust in His plans whether there was a child or not in my future. When scriptures tells us Elizabeth walked with God and was observant, I translate that to mean she believed and walked with God no matter what the future held.

How about you? Are you walking with God trusting Him for your future. I claim Jeremiah 29:11 and hold onto God’s goodness. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God has plans for me and you, they will always be for our good and His glory. We may not see it today but we have to trust Him and know in His Omniscience His way is good.

As we see this story unfold, the of God’s goodness for Elizabeth and Zechariah is beyond their wildest imagining. The blessings will be multiplied and their trust in God magnified. May it be so with all of us!

Linda

Here Comes Advent… 1st Sunday of Advent 2025

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I am just like a little kid and have great anticipation when we enter the advent season. I love the lights, trees, decorations, gift giving, etc. but most of all I love the meaning for this season. Jesus came to earth to save us from our sins and reconcile us to God. He gave us a way to be right with Holy God and have a way to live with purpose that glorifies Him. This first Sunday of Advent we light the Hope candle. It speaks of this promised hope the Jews knew was coming in Messiah, Savior. They were looking forward to His coming and we are looking back as we know He has come.

Each day during the Advent Season, I will be blogging about scriptures that tell the Christmas Story. Each scripture tells us something about God and reflects His character. We can see God had a hand in the entire story and He is alive in each detail. As you read the scripture, ponder what attributes you see revealed. I have done so also and will be highlighting an attribute I saw. There is no right answer here as God’s character is vast and varied and He may show you a different aspect of who He is- that is good!

In the lighting of the Advent candle of Hope, I saw God’s patience and long-suffering towards mankind. The Jews were patiently waiting for God to appear. We know He has arrived when He sent His son Jesus. Jesus fulfills our greatest hope for mankind and the future we will have with Him. God patiently waits for as many as possible to turn to Him. While we wait, we are to tell others about Jesus so they too can partake in the Hope he provides. I claim 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” I claim this truth about God as I know God wants all to come to know Him.

As we enter this Advent Season, who do you know that needs Jesus? Perhaps this is the time to drop a well placed word, a card, or an act of kindness their way. God is patiently waiting for them to come to know Him. Be bold for Jesus as He is the reason for this season!

Linda