Category: ADVENT DEVOTIONAL

I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY

Christmas Day 1862 Henry wrote in his journal “A merry Christmas” say the children, but that is no more for me.”

American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote these lyrics during a dark season. Two years previously his wife had been sealing envelopes with hot wax when the flame caught her clothes on fire.  Henry, burned badly as well, was too sick to attend her funeral.

NO MORE JOY FOR ME

For the remainder of his life, he covered up his facial scars behind a long beard. Christmas Day 1862 Henry wrote in his journal “A merry Christmas” say the children, but that is no more for me.”

GRIEF AT ITS DEEPEST

By 1863 the country was tearing itself apart in the Civil War.  Against Henry’s wishes (and fears) his son, Charles, enlisted in the army. No wonder Henry wrote: And in despair I bowed my head, ‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said, for hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men. In November, a bullet pierced Charles from back to shoulder, just nicking his spine. Henry traveled to Washington to retrieve his son from the hospital.  Arriving at home December 8th, Charles began his extended convalescence.  This was grief at its deepest. 

God loved Henry in the midst. His love had not run out. Slowly, Henry’s heart began to heal and turn back to God.  Along with everything else, he experienced a dry season in writing.  But then, sitting at his desk one morning he heard the church bells.  Henry’s heart began to resonate with the return of hope. 

THE RETURN OF HOPE

Hope for his son, hope for his family and hope for a nation torn apart by war.  God began to wake his heart when he wrote: Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: God is not dead; nor doth he sleep! The wrong shall fail, the right prevail. With peace on earth, good-will to men! God had not departed. The sinless One, Jesus Christ, came to bring hope: complete reconciliation between mankind and God. 

THE BELLS PEAL FOR ETERNITY

Because of this, Longfellow journaled: “I thought how as the day had come; the belfries of all Christendom had rolled along the unbroken song of peace on earth, good will to men.   That’s why the bells peal for all eternity.”  Will the bells peal for all eternity signaling that you have made peace with God via Jesus Christ?  Even when grief is at its deepest, God has not departed. The season of darkness can pass.  

In despair, I bowed my head. there is no peace on earth, I said, “For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men.” Then pealed the bells, more loud and deep God is not dead, nor doth he sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail with peace on earth, good will to men.

THE SAVIOR HAS COME

Remember the words of the 3-year-old.  “Jesus has come to be the Savior of the world!”

The beauty of a freshly cut Christmas tree adorned with twinkling lights.  The ornaments shimmer and sparkle.  Strands of tinsel, spools of bright red ribbon and colorful balls enhance the appearance of the finished creation. This project takes the better part of a day to complete. Is this how Jesus wants us to remember Christmas?

MY TINY HANDS PLACED JESUS IN THE MANGER

I am drawn to a simpler perspective. When I was in preschool at the age of 3, we were taught the story of Jesus’ birth with a felt board.  My favorite part of the lesson was to recreate the nativity scene and tell the story all by myself; in simple 3-year-old language. I always saved baby Jesus for last because He is the best part of the story.  My tiny hands placed baby Jesus in the manger and covered Him with the white felt cloth. I said, “The Savior of the world was born, and His name was Jesus.”

The story of Jesus’ birth; so simple that a 3-year-old can tell it, yet so powerful that our grown-up minds still struggle to comprehend its majestic meaning. Luke 2: 11-12 announces, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

AT AGE 3, THE MEANING OF THIS BIRTH CHANGED MY LIFE FOREVER

Shortly after learning the story in preschool, I made a simple craft for my Christmas tree.  A cracked walnut shell represented the manger.  My small hands found the perfect sized peanut shell to symbolize Jesus, and a rust-colored piece of fabric to swaddle the “baby”.  With fine-tipped Sharpie marker I drew simple face.  I chose to make the mouth of my baby Jesus smile since he really was the Savior of the world.  At the age of three, the meaning of this birth changed my heart forever.

THE ORNAMENT WITH JESUS TUCKED INSIDE

Fifty years later, I still have the walnut ornament with Jesus tucked inside. I see Its dull colors and the Sharpie black face has faded to gray. And yes, the peanut occasionally needs regluing. My once freshly cut Christmas tree is now artificial, but still beautiful.  I still have the twinkling lights and many beautifully colored ornaments. But my favorite ornament of all is the walnut shelled manger holding the peanut Jesus. It is front and center. What is your heart yearning for this Advent season?  May your hearts be filled with peace.  A peace that only the Holy Spirit can fill.  Simply slow down and be still.  Remember the words of the 3-year-old.  “Jesus has come to be the Savior of the world!”

It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heaven’s all-gracious King.”
The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing.
For lo! the days are hastening on, by prophet seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold
when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling,
and the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing.

O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL (HIS NAME SHALL BE)

But just who is it that we are singing to? What is his name? 

I do not remember a lot from my childhood about Christmas, except for the secular traditions that brought great excitement to my young life. The presents were always a big part of the day as well as eating with all my relatives. I especially looked forward to the baked lima beans, they were my favorite! And if it snowed on Christmas, well, that was the cherry on top. But I do remember sitting in church and really liking the hymns. I know, that’s kind of weird for a 10-year-old, but I enjoyed the sound and the words. “O come all ye faithful” was one of my favorites.

This beautiful Christmas hymn invites everyone to come to Him.  Come to worship Him, come to adore Him, come to powerfully sing the songs of heaven so that His name is exalted. But just who is it that we are singing to? What is his name? 

HIS NAME IS WONDERFUL!

About halfway through the song the writer tells us exactly what His name is. First, he says it is Wonderful. When I think of things that are wonderful, I think of a car I used to own that would start every morning even when the temperature was so cold that my fingers stuck to the steering wheel. I think of a job I used to have that paid me more than what I thought I was worth yet God graciously provided me every day with the ministry tools I needed. It was wonderful. And then of course I think of that special meal my wife made me for Father’s Day. It was unbelievable; it was wonderful.

HE IS IMMANUEL

When I think of things that are wonderful, they usually bring warmth, a sense of accomplishment, and of course, satisfaction. Christ brings all of these because He is wonderful. But He has another name, He is the Counselor. Jesus is someone that I can trust to tell my story to, even though He already knows it. He still wants me to come to Him and pour out my heart to Him. His name shall be Wonderful, Counselor, Everlasting Father. His name is also Prince of Peace and Mighty God. But that last one really gets me. His name shall be Immanuel. Wow! That name means “God with us”!

WHO ARE WE SINGING TO?

Everyone is supposed to sing: the choirs of angels, the citizens of heaven, and all on earth. I cannot imagine that leaves anyone! And who are we singing to? Immanuel. God with us. There are so many religions out there that promise people the moon, but they never follow through, because they cannot. In Christianity we find answers to life’s problems because we worship the God who understands each of us. He is the God who is there with us, to care for us all the time, and He invites us to enjoy his presence daily. Yes, we will praise His name forever because He is Christ the Lord!

His name shall be Wonderful, Counselor. His name shall be Everlasting Father. His name shall be Prince of Peace, Mighty God. His name shall be Immanuel. O come, let us adore Him Christ the Lord!

FROM BLACK AND WHITE TO TECHNICOLOR

The pinnacle is Scrooge’s tale of redemption

I am one of the thousands who love A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.  To be honest, I never read the book beyond the first chapter, but I’ve watched every version of the movie that has crossed my path including The Muppets’ version and my childhood favorite, Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol. 

THE BLACK & WHITE STAGE

Knowing my passion for A Christmas Carol, my husband surprised me with a tickets for a local performance. When the play started, I wasn’t sure what to think.  At first, the stage was bare. The actors doubled as props (to see actors contort themselves into a bed is extraordinary).  The choice of lighting created the appearance of a black and white film. I quickly became engrossed.

A CHANGED MAN

During the scene with the Spirit of Christmas Past, some actors pulled people from the audience to participate in Fezziwig’s Ball.  To my delight, I was selected!  I’d say that dancing on stage with the cast was the highlight of the evening, but in A Christmas Carol, the pinnacle is always Scrooge’s experience of true redemption.   My favorite line of Scrooge is when he pleads with the Spirit of Christmas Future. He explains he is a changed man and pledges, “I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.”  He is transformed!

COLOR BATHES THE STAGE

At the end of the play Scrooge awakes. He discovers he is alive and has not missed Christmas. His previous dark heart is filled with joy. He now longs to give whereas before all he wanted to do was steal. At this point in the stage production, the stage is no longer just black and white. Color now bathes the actors as Scrooge crosses over from death to life.  Scripture gives us beautiful example of this in Ezekiel 36:26, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

HE HAS RESCUED US

I love this play because it is a great illustration of true redemption freely available to all of us. Is there anything sweeter than knowing we can come to God, through his son Jesus any time we need forgiveness? God is always ready and available to hear from us. All this is made possible through the blood of Jesus Christ.   “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13, 14).

Even better than Scrooge, we can experience eternal redemption. Is your life full of God’s life in eternal technicolor? Are you redeemed from the darkness?

God rest ye merry gentlemen let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r when we were gone astray
Oh tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy!

ONCE UPON A TIME

The Advent, not an imaginary tale

As a child, I read countless children’s stories beginning with “once upon a time”. I loved tales set in an imaginary world: “Snow White”, “Hansel and Gretel”, and “Cinderella”.  Sadly, most people think any story that begins with “once upon a time” is fiction.

NO IMAGINARY WORLD

What if we agreed to use the phrase to simply designate something which happened a long time ago? It is not fiction. Our Advent story does not take place in an imaginary world, but it is a real event that took place on planet earth.

NO DWARVES NEEDED

However, there is a wondrous element to this historical record. The God of Love decides to redeem mankind to Himself.  No dwarves exist in this story, no children wander through the forest following breadcrumbs, and no carriage is transformed from a pumpkin. The account of the Advent fulfills prophecy foretold at the dawn of history.

THE BEST ONCE UPON A TIME

In this best once upon a time, there is a bed of straw where the Son of God slept as a baby.  The Gospel narrative later describes the splintered cross where the adult Jesus dies to rescue us:  All of our shame and sin was nailed to that tree with Him. Then there is that brilliant third day in which Christ the Conqueror rises from the dead.

God cannot lie and He cannot fail. This once upon a time is based on the truth of God Himself. That is why we can join the multitudes of angels and creation in singing, Praise to the King of kings! Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, our Messiah, Name above every name, gloria in the highest!

This once upon a time is enough for me. Is it enough for you?

Once upon a midnight clear…Born now in Bethlehem. Once upon a bed of straw slept the Sovereign Son of God. Once upon a splintered cross Jesus died to rescue us, all of our shame and sin nailed to the tree with Him. Christ the Conqueror was raised. “Praise to the King of kings!” Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, our Messiah, Name above every name, gloria in the highest

THE DAY SANTA AND I PARTED WAYS

She said, “God is good. He’s almost as good as Santa Claus!”

“That’s a pretty tree. God made that tree. That’s a pretty cloud. God made that cloud.”

HE’S ALMOST AS GOOD AS SANTA CLAUS!

My heart swelled with pride as I listened to my 3-year-old daughter utter those statements while looking out the kitchen window.  Such wisdom from such a tiny child. I must be doing this mothering thing right! And then without warning my bubble burst as I heard her next sentence:

“God is good. He’s almost as good as Santa Claus!”

I put aside the chores and rushed to her side. Taking her on my lap I said, “Honey, there’s something you need to know. SANTA CLAUS IS NOT REAL!  He’s just make-believe. But God is REAL.”

I went on to explain to her how God made the world and everything in it; how He made us and her daddy and her little sister. I told her the true meaning of Christmas…the one with the REAL GOD and His gift of Jesus being born in a manger. As we talked more of God and His Son, Jesus, she became fascinated with the Bible stories and the fact that they were all true.

TELL THEM TO YOUR CHILDREN OVER AND OVER AGAIN

I couldn’t help but recall the verses in Deuteronomy 6:4-7: “The Lord our God is the only true God! So love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. Memorize His laws and tell them to your children over and over again.  Talk about them all the time, whether you’re at home or walking along the road or going to bed at night, or getting up in the morning.” How easily we recall the fairy tales of our youth; the real stories from the Bible should be just as easily recalled.

THE STORY REMAINS TRUE

Were my children devastated and traumatized by Santa’s demise? Not in the least! We continued to make-believe about him just as we did about Goldilocks, Sleeping Beauty, and all the other obviously pretend characters. And my children carried the true Christmas story with them into adulthood, teaching it to their children and their grandchildren: the story that remains for all of us now and into eternity.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed; the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay. The Little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus no crying He makes. I love You, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky and stay by my side until morning is nigh.

THE LEAF THAT DREW ME TO CHRIST

I discover a leaf lying on the bottom of the bag.  I grab it impatiently, but on my short journey to the trash can I notice its beauty.

It is a hectic season. Responsibilities with work, family and church overflow my days. Unloading my work tote, I discover a leaf lying on the bottom of the bag.  I grab it impatiently, but on my short journey to the trash can I notice its beauty. Something makes me stop to look more closely at the leaf. It is deep burnt orange and bright crimson swirled together, so incredibly rich, like a sunset in my hand.  The crisp, jagged outline and stem, so perfectly crafted by The Creator. 

THE INVITATION TO CONNECT WITH HIM

I realize God placed the leaf in my bag to draw my attention to Him in the middle of my hectic life.  The Creator and Sustainer of the universe intentionally reaches out to me with an invitation to connect with Him. So, I pause and decide to accept His invitation. I am seen, loved, cared for by my Beloved. He asks me to linger. It is wonderful to be fully in His presence. In those moments, the words from Psalm 46:10 sink deeply into my soul: “Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God” comes alive in me. I carefully place the leaf aside, as a remembrance of this time of heart-to-heart connection with God. 

THE LEAF LOST ITS BEAUTY

Days later, I picked the leaf up again, but the leaf in no way resembles its previous beauty. It is an ugly blotched brown, dry, shriveled and crumbling. How disappointing!

CONNECTED TO THE VINE

Oh Lord Jesus, is this what you mean when you tell us to stay connected to You, The Vine?  When I take time to connect with You, my spirit is alive, vibrant, and beautiful.  But when I discard time with You and focus only on the cares of this world, my spirit quickly becomes dry, brown, and crumbled. I do not resemble the creation You intended me to be and cannot do the things You created me to do.

I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing (John 15:5).

DRAW US TO YOU EVERY MOMENT

Jesus, in this season when we prepare to celebrate Your coming to earth, draw us to You every moment. Help us keep our eyes and heart fixed on You, not on the temporal distractions swirling around us or the trappings of the season. Help us remember that we are the branches, and You are the Vine. Apart from You we can do nothing.

All is calm and all is bright; everywhere but in your heart tonight. They’re singing carols of joy and peace, but you feel too far gone and too far out of reach.

Somewhere in your silent night, heaven hears the song your broken heart has cried. Hope is here, just lift your head, for love has come to find you somewhere in your silent night.

From heaven’s height to manger low; There is no distance the Prince of Peace won’t go. From manger low to Calvary’s hill; when your pain runs deep, His love runs deeper still. He has always loved you, child and He always will.

Somewhere in your silent night, heaven hears the song your broken heart has cried. Hope is here, just lift your head for love has come to find you, somewhere in your silent night.

Lift your head! Lift your heart! Emmanuel will meet you where you are. He knows your hurt,
He knows your name and you’re the very reason that He came.

Love will find you! Ooh, love will find you! Love will find you.

MARY DID YOU KNOW?

Looking back, I reflect with clarity God’s hand on my life, but I cannot see what lies ahead.

I am excited about retiring and look forward to the next chapter of my life. Yet, unexpected emotions pop up, regarding the end of a season and the beginning of a new season. Looking back, I reflect with clarity God’s hand on my life, but I cannot see what lies ahead.

My job with my current employer began as a short-term temporary assignment, but circumstances offered me a greater role. God gave me a boss who was also my biggest cheerleader. She prompted me to further my education, launching my career path. My entire 23 years was like that. God gave me people who had a larger vision for my future than I did. God always has the larger plan in mind.

CHANGING SEASONS

Recently, in what could have been my final promotion, I blew an interview.  Although it was 100% my own fault, God allowed it.  He knew then what I know now: the promotion would have added more years to my career. According to God’s timeline, this season is ending and the unknown (from my vantage point) looms on the horizon. Do you also find it challenging to change seasons?

UNCERTAIN AND CONFUSED

How do you think Mary and Joseph felt as they walked over to the final hill into the town of strangers, Bethlehem? God had figured everything out, even though the young couple were uncertain and confused. He had a greater vision for their future than they could ever imagine. Their story through their seasons is like no other’s.

HOW PERPLEXED THEY MUST HAVE BEEN

Over the course of the years came major events. A king tried to murder Mary and Joseph’s first born. Then there was the occasion when they lost their special twelve-year-old in the large city of Jerusalem. The frantic parents discovered their young son Jesus teaching old men in the Temple. How perplexed they must have been. As an adult, Jesus became a teacher, who was both honored, revered, vilified, hated, and spit on.

Then came the cross. None of Jesus’ disciples understood the magnitude of what His death meant for the entire world. Even though Jesus had told them about it, they had no clue regarding the upcoming resurrection.

CON YOU GLIMPSE THE JOY TO COME?

Mary knelt at the cross, lost in confusion and grief. Yet God’s favor on Jesus, was present every step of the way, every season, even into eternity. Mary, in your heartbreak, could you glimpse the joy to come?

O COME, ALL YOU UNFAITHFUL!

Everything hit her like a tsunami. It filled with her overwhelming guilt.

In an interview, Lisa Clow remembered the circumstances of the unusual titling of this song.  She was coming out of a year of pain comprised of a miscarriage of twins, financial worries and dealing with deep wounds of bitterness.  Christmas was coming. For the first time she told her church that she wouldn’t be participating in the music.  Lisa didn’t give them the reason; she just declined the invitation. 

EVERYTHING HIT LIKE A TSUNAMI!

And then came that ill-fated Sunday morning when they sang the traditional “O Come, All Ye Faithful”.  Everything hit her like a tsunami. Overwhelmed with guilt, she contemplated how her joy had run out and that she felt like a “triumphant failure”.  As she drove home in tears, she asked: “Is that really who is invited to come to Jesus? The faithful? The joyful? The triumphant? If so, then I am hopeless.” 

COME ALL WHO ARE WEARY

The Holy Spirit brought to mind “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).  This is an extremely broad call to the bitter, broken, fearful.  It summons those who struggle with guilt, who would prefer to hide under a rock and never be seen again. Jesus invites us to rest.  To rest in His life, death and resurrection.  We cannot find such a beautiful breathing space and respite with our own resources. 

HIS PROMISE IS PEACE

This call isn’t to those who think they have life all figured out and are self-sufficient.  It is to those of us who have dealt with reality and found we do not have the resources to go forward.  “We have nothing,” Lisa remarked. “His promise is peace for those who believe.”

HE JUST SAYS “COME!”

Maybe you are facing these holidays depleted.  You are running on empty. Your joy departed the scene quite a while ago.  Jesus calls to you in your state of poverty, regardless of whether it is emotional, mental, physical or spiritual.  He just says, “Come!”

Come, weak and unstable, Come, know you are not alone. See what your God has done. Christ is born for you. O come, bitter and broken, come with fears unspoken. Come, taste of His perfect love, guilty and hiding ones, there is no need to run.

MEMORY OF THE MANGER

It was standing room only. Yet, did we do justice to the birth of the Son of God?

After dinner on Christmas Eve, as children, we always attended church. Everyone dressed for the occasion. After all, we weren’t we celebrating the birth of The King? This goes much further than any earthly coronation. I saw men in suits and ties; women decked out in dresses and hats. It was standing room only. Yet, did we do justice to birth of the Son of God?

THE PROCESSION OF THE KINDS

The manger took center stage in the front of the sanctuary. The service began and everyone turned to the rear to view the stately procession of the robed Three Wise Men (Matthew 2:1-10). As they proceeded down the aisle, the men sang their theme song, each one soloing his own verse. All the congregation then slowly turned to the front as the “kings” reverently processed to the manger. At the feet of the sleeping baby Jesus, they lay their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

SURROUNDED BY WORSHIP

The voices of the choir encircled our hearts with beautiful Christmas music. We all joined in, singing the familiar carols. The stately pipe organ accompanied it all. I felt surrounded by emotions of expectation and worship, totally caught up in God’s greatest gift, the Lord Jesus Christ.

NO ONE WAS FORGOTTEN

Christmas Day, we attended a quieter service, followed by Mom’s sumptuous meal with a flaming English plum pudding, topped with sweet vanilla fondant for dessert. With full bellies, we then sat around the beautifully lit, fully decorated evergreen. Dad proceeded to read “The Other Wiseman“ and Luke’s Christmas story (Luke 2:1-20). Of course, we followed with our exchange of gifts. The day ended with delivering Mom’s homemade bread to our neighbors. Mom’s baking was a treat. No one was forgotten.

THE GREATEST GIFT

Christmas is a time of hearing God’s word; of feeling like actual witnesses to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. This is God time of giving. He offers the greatest gift: eternal life. Without the birth of Jesus and His love, there is no Christmas, no reason to worship, and no hope.

THE OPEN INVITATION

May the gift of love, grace and eternal life, which Jesus came to offer, be yours this Christmas season. Make an effort to share it, especially with those outside in the cold who long to be invited to the manger. There is always room for one more.

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.