A Christmas Prayer

Every year I try to find a Christmas prayer that will help in my preparations and there are a lot of lovely prayers out there. However, there is one that keeps on cropping up, and it comes from an unlikely source - it is from Robert Louis Stevenson. I offer it to you again and pray that you may have a blessed Christmas. 

“Loving God, 
Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate
and open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift
and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing 
which Christ brings,
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning 
make us happy to be your children,
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds
with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, 
in Jesus’ name.” – Robert Louis Stevenson 

John 8:12 - Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Living in Grace

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The Waiting is almost over

The waiting is almost over. Christmas is about to dawn again, and we eagerly await the birth of Jesus.

What is the longest you have waited for something to happen? A few hours? Days? Weeks? Months or Years?

How about 84 years? Well, this is how long we believe that Anna waited for the coming of the Messiah. 

"Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem." - Luke 2: 36-38

"During the night we must wait for the light." - Francis de Sales

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Faithful

"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments." - Deuteronomy 7:9 

God is faithful. 

God keeps his promises. 

God shows up, when all else looks grim and bleak.

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again." - John 3:16-18 (The Message)

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Forever

In a world where nothing is built to last, it is important for us to reflect on the gift that God gives to us - it is a LOVE that will last forever. If you don't believe me, please read the words of Ethan, in Psalm 89.

¹ I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever!
    Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.
² Your unfailing love will last forever.
    Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.

³ The Lord said, “I have made a covenant with David, my chosen servant.
    I have sworn this oath to him:
⁴ ‘I will establish your descendants as kings forever;
    they will sit on your throne from now until eternity.’”  - Psalm 89

Thought: Let us be mindful of the precious gifts that last more than one Christmas season.

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Let every heart prepare Him room

Isaac Watt’s grand hymn: Joy to the world. The Lord is Come! is one of my favourite Christmas songs. In the opening verse of his song Watts makes a powerful call for all of us to prepare room in our hearts for the birth of Jesus.

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.”

As Advent begins, how will we make space for the Lord? 

What have you found helpful in your spiritual journey?

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A short Christmas blessing for you all

As we welcome the gift of Jesus, I know that everyone responds to this miracle in different ways. Regardless of how you celebrate Christmas, please receive this short blessing as my prayer for you. Thank you once again for your support in taking the time to read these reflections.

"May you be filled with the indescribable JOY of Christ,
The unshakeable HOPE that comes from knowing Jesus,
The PEACE that passes all understanding,
and the unconditional LOVE of God, that shakes the whole world. Amen."

Luke 2:9 - "Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

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We can't always figure Christmas out - we just need to enter into the gift that it is.

If you are entering the final few days of Advent, trying to figure out the mystery of the birth of the Messiah, then I invite you to give up trying to figure it out and rather to enjoy the gift of Jesus' birth. There are some things that we can intellectually comprehend, while there are others that we only come to 'understand' in the depths of our being. 

1 Corinthians 1:27-28 – “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are…”

God still chooses the weak things of the world to shame the strong. Humility and availability are more important to God than our pride or even our talents. Of course, God, we still use these for his glory, but he would prefer us to approach the manger on our knees in worship. 

Luke 1:37 – “For nothing is impossible with God.”

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Surprise recipient of the message

Luke 3:1-2 – “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

God's word could have been given to the Roman Emperor, Tiberius Caesar, who was the most powerful person in the Roman world at that time. But it was not!

God's message could have been given to one of the 4 Tetrarchs: Herod, Pontius Pilate, Philip or Lysanias - the second most powerful men in the political realm at that time. But it was not!

God could have decided to pass on the Good News via the established religious leaders in the Synagogue- The current high priest Caiaphas, or his predecessor, Annas. But it was not!

In the end, God's word came to the eccentric John the Baptist. John didn't live in a palace, or worship in a grand temple. He didn't wear fancy clothes or even eat the finest cuisine, yet God chose him to be the person to prepare the way for Jesus. God takes delight in turning the world's standards upside down!

Thought: Never think that you are unworthy for God's plan or purpose to be revealed through your life. Remember the young woman, Mary? No one would have chosen her to be the mother of Jesus, yet God saw things from a totally different perspective. 

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Life is more pleasant when you have something to look forward to!

In a Peanut’s cartoon Lucy and Linus were sitting in front of the television set when Lucy said to Linus, “Go get me a glass of water.”

Linus looked surprised, “Why should I do anything for you? You never do anything for me.”

 
“On your 75th birthday,” Lucy promised, “I’ll bake you a cake.”

Linus got up, headed to the kitchen and said, “Life is more pleasant when you have something to look forward to.”

Advent is the season of the year that should heighten our awareness of the gift of Jesus. Not only does the expectation of Christ's birth (and second coming) make life more pleasant, but it should also give us a deep Hope and a Peace that passes all understanding.

Are you able to look forward to Christmas with the joy of the Lord in your heart? Remember, that we are not looking forward to the gift of a cake (When we turn 75), but we are peering into the future, waiting for the miracle of the Messiah.

“This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled.
If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place.
It will not be delayed.” – Habakkuk 2:3

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The sparking of enthusiasm

"So, the Lord sparked the enthusiasm of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the enthusiasm of Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the enthusiasm of the whole remnant of God’s people. They began to work on the house of their God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies..." - Haggai 1:14

Zerubbabel is mentioned as the son of Shealtiel in a number of places in the Bible (see Matthew 1:12) and we note that he was filled with the Spirit and began to restore the house of the Lord, when the people returned from exile. The verse (above) mentions that the Lord 'sparked his enthusiasm' and this led to him doing remarkable things.

We can use different words to describe something similar: 

our hearts being strangely warmed;
filled with the Spirit;
prompted by the Lord.

But they all imply the same thing. God does something in our hearts and spirits, that leads to a changed life.

May we all encounter the renewal of our spirits this Christmas time and may we be 'sparked with enthusiasm' for the things of the Lord. I know that many of us feel as if we truly need it. 

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"After the Babylonian exile: Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel." - Matthew 1:12

Light is about to break upon us...

“And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us..." - Luke 1:76-78

In these moving words from Zechariah, I have noted a number of powerful thoughts:

1. John's mission is to show people how to find salvation through the forgiveness of sins. Our salvation will not come from our righteousness, but rather through the grace of God and the righteousness of Jesus.

2. We may not understand why God allows things to happen, but it is important to remember that God is full of tender mercy.

3. The beautiful morning light is about to break upon us - the time to celebrate the birth of Christ is very close.

As time draws us closer to the birth of our Lord, may we look out for His Light and Mercy. 

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Come thou long expected Jesus

When Charles Wesley wrote the words of the hymn 'Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus', in 1744, I wonder if he grasped the legacy of his words. I am sure he wanted Christians to proclaim their desire for the return of Jesus, but did he think that we would still be singing his words in 2023? I am not so sure!

Anway, regardless of Charles Wesley's wishes, we are still singing this powerful song and I believe that each word holds the incredible grace and truth of God's love for us all. 

As we read these words again today, may they become our deepest prayer for this Advent season. 

Come, thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us;
Let us find our rest in Thee
Israel's Strength and Consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart

Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.

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The Lord is ....

In times of great uncertainty and distress it is good to hold onto the promise that God IS our guiding Light and the One who comes to our rescue. There is no question about it - this is a true reality of Christ's birth, and the miracle is that we are invited to be a part of this gift. 

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid? - Psalm 27

May you know the guidance of the Light of the World this Christmas season and may you find God's strength carrying you into the New Year.

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Invisible Light

“Light,

Light,
The visible reminder of Invisible Light.” - T.S. Eliot

“I am the world’s Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in.” - John 8:12 (The Message)

This is such a beautiful promise for us all to digest again. Jesus is the Invisible Light, that T.S. Eliot speaks of and Light of World, that John mentions. May the light of Jesus fill your heart and soul this year. 

Karoline Lewis - "John understands that God’s promise to be with God’s people wherever they go has now taken on a different representation in Jesus."

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What shadow do you cast?

In reflecting on the presence of Jesus this Christmas, I have noted how wherever he went, Joy seemed to follow him. It was as if JOY was his shadow. 

John 15:11 - I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Somehow, we seem to believe that all shadows are sinister or dark, yet when I think of how the shadow of a tall building or tree gives respite to those of us baking in the sun, then shadows become a gift. Not only does Jesus give us the gift of himself, but his shadow brings along further gifts of Joy, Peace, Hope and Love.

Matthew 2:10 – “When they saw the star they were filled with joy!” (NLT)

“There is strong shadow where there is much light.”  - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

If your life cast a shadow, what kind of shadow would it be? 

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The Joy of the Lord is your strength

"And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” - Nehemiah 8:10

At this time of the year, we long for joy and happiness, and we are willing to seek it in all sorts of places. In my experience, Joy is not something we can buy, earn or even claim. However, we can 'receive' it - as a Gift of the Spirit. 

This JOY sustains us through all kinds of turbulence, crisis and stress. As much we hope that Christmas will be a time without pain and suffering, we realise that we live a world where these exist in abundance. However, it is my prayer that we come to experience the gift of JOY this year, through God's gracious Spirit.

o  Luke 2:10 – “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

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Beautiful gifts come in small packages

"In telling the Christmas story, the Gospel writers remind us that when things seem darkest, joy can come in unexpected places and small packages. Children remind us of the joy of playing, giving, learning, and loving. In the presence of such joy, our inner child can awaken our Christ nature and then the Messiah is truly born.

Christmas is not an event that happens only in December or 2,000 years ago in Palestine. Christmas happens as we open to the possibility of hope, when we live in the understanding of peace, and when we give love." - Rev. Kevin Daigle

Luke 2:12 - This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

May we not fall into the trap of believing that the 'biggest gifts' are the best. The smallest of children have changed the world. One child offered hope to millions of people - his name is Jesus. 

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Jesus loves me, this I know!

                                         

When Anna Warner and her sister Susan teamed up to write the poem, “Jesus loves me”, I doubt they realised that it would have the incredible impact that it has had on the Christian community.

The lyrics first appeared as a poem in the context of an 1860 novel called Say and Seal, written by Susan Warner, in which the words were spoken as a comforting poem to a dying child. So, we can picture the scene in the story – there is a child who is lying incapacitated, vulnerable, and alone. The person who is caring for this little child, can think of only one person who could bring comfort to her and so she speaks:

Jesus loves me—this I know,
For the Bible tells me so:
Little ones to him belong, —
They are weak, but he is strong.

The refrain was written and added later many years later, but it certainly added to the overall power of the song:

Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
For the Bible tells me so.

And the Warner sisters are 100% correct – the Bible is filled with passages to point us to the truth, that God loves us. Arguably the entire Canon of Scripture is underpinned with this key thought: 

Jesus Loves Me!

1 John 3:1 - See how very much our father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! 

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True Inspiration

"God's inspiration does not come to those who sit with folded hands and lazy minds and only wait, but to those who think and seek and search. True inspiration comes when the searching mind joins with the revealing Spirit of God." - William Barclay

I think these words teach us a lot about the value of Advent. Of course, Jesus is not only revealed to those who reflect on his birth, but I do believe that the more we 'seek' Christ, the more we discover him. 

So, this is my prayer for you this week:

May we find Jesus in the words of Scripture.
May we discover Christ in the chaos of our world.
May we encounter the Spirit of God in the songs of Christmas.
May we comprehend his grace in the touch of a friend.
May we be reminded of his love in the smell of the scented candle.
May we appreciate his incarnation in the silence of the night.

As you search for Christ this season, may you discover how close he truly is.

"Search and you will find." - Matthew 7

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Paradise unlocked

"Come, then, let us observe the Feast. Truly wondrous is the whole chronicle of the Nativity. For this day the ancient slavery is ended, 

the devil confounded,
the demons take to flight,
the power of death is broken,
paradise is unlocked,
the curse is taken away,
sin is removed from us,
error driven out,
truth has been brought back,
the speech of kindliness diffused,
and spreads on every side,

a heavenly way of life has been ‘in planted on the earth, angels communicate with men without fear, and men now hold speech with angels." – St. John Chrysostom

When I read through these words of John Chrysostom, I was struck by the phrase - "paradise is unlocked."

As we accept the invitation to celebrate the Birth of Jesus, may we experience the beauty of a new paradise.

Revelation 2:7 - Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Living in Grace

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