Advent: The Christ Candle

The final theme of Advent is light. The Hebrew word used in the Old Testament for light, 'owr, refers to light as the light of life, the light of instruction, and Jehovah as Israel's light. The Greek word used in the New Testament for light, phos, refers to a heavenly light like those that surrounded the angels, God's light, and truth and knowledge. According to Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, "Light always involves the removal of darkness," which is exactly why God sent His beloved Son to bring hope to all who believe. He let His light shine brightly!



"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.: Matthew 5:14-16

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"John 8:12

"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 27:1

 "For God, who said, 'let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6



This final candle of the Advent season is known as the Christ Candle. This candle is lit on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. It reflects that Jesus was born to be the light of the world. Over and over again, God watched the Israelites turn from him, get into trouble, be defeated by other armies, and cry out to God to save them. He had tried to rid the world of sin and darkness with the flood. Yet, sin and darkness still thrive in our world today. Jesus was sent to bring light to the darkness, hope to the lost, love to the unlovable. He taught His disciples God's truth so that they could let their lights shine and give hope to others.

When we light the Christ candle, we then take that light and share it with one another as we light our candles by passing the light on from one neighbor to another. The lights low in the sanctuary and all of these candles burning brightly. It is such a beautiful sight seeing the darkness dispelled by the body of believers.

We, as believers, are called to let our lights shine brightly so that others may see Christ shining in us. We are to follow and teach His truths, we are to be His hope and His love in a dark and hurting world. Let's give God a gift by allowing our lights to shine brighter than the colorful lights shining from the most decorated house in our neighborhoods.



Prayer:

Father God, thank you for Your glory that shone so brightly the day a tiny baby was born in humble circumstances. Though Jesus was the King of Kings, Your Son was found among the unlovable, the hurting, the sinners, the outcasts, the lost. Father God, help us to reach out to all of those who cross our paths with Your amazing love. May our lights shine brightly to bring You glory and honor. Amen!

Advent: Week Four

The theme for this, our fourth week of Advent, is Peace. In this crazy, chaotic, hurting, godless society we live in, we crave peace. As wars rage, politics are volatile, and hate runs rampant, we hunger for peace. In this earthly world, peace can seem elusive at times. Fear not, God has brought His indescribable, unfathomable peace to those who love Him. Peace was given when a tiny baby was born into humble circumstances. God sacrificed His One and Only Son so that we may have eternal peace, which is why Jesus is referred to as the Prince of Peace in Isaiah 9:6.



The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines peace as a state of tranquility, quietness, freedom from civil disturbance or war, freedom from oppression, a state of security, order, harmony, contentment. According to Bible Study Tools, the Old Testament word for peace is the word pes, which refers to freedom from war as well as freedom within our souls. The Hebrew word shalom refers to peace found in prosperity and good health. In the New Testament the Greek word for peace, eirene, translates similarly to shalom and was often used as a greeting. Yet, the peace God offers is much more than a mere greeting. It is a way of living in harmony with our Father God and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

"The Lord gives strength to his people: the Lord blesses his people with peace." Psalm 29:11

"The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:25-26

"Finally brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you." 2 Corinthians 13:11



The fourth candle of Advent is often referred to as the Angels Candle. In Luke 2, it is the angel of the Lord who brings "good news that will cause great peace for all people" when he shares the news of the Messiah's birth with shepherds in a nearby field watching over their flocks by night. Luke 2:13-14 tells us that "Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.'"

An angel also informed Mary that she would bear the Messiah and told Joseph that he would be Jesus's earthly father. Angels play an important role all throughout the story of Jesus from his birth and again at His resurrection as they reveal that the tomb was empty.



Prayer:

Father God, we ask You to quiet the chaos in our hearts and lives and help us to focus on the peace that comes from knowing You fully. Help us to focus on the true meaning of the Christmas season: the birth of Your precious Son. He is the greatest gift we've ever been given and His willingness to give His life for our eternal life is beyond amazing. Thank you for loving us so deeply, Father God. May our lives bring You glory and honor! Amen!

Advent: Week Three

The theme for the third week of Advent is Joy. I think of the old hymn chorus "I have joy unspeakable and full of glory." When we have God in our hearts, shouldn't we be filled with His indescribable joy? Let's be honest, though, sometimes it is difficult to grasp on to joy. According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, joy is an emotion, a feeling of bliss, a state of happiness, a cause of delight.

Joy is a choice. One way we can choose joy is to count our blessings: no matter how small or insignificant they may seem. Another way to find joy is to spend time in God's presence. When I open my heart to Him in worship and praise, He fills me with His wondrous grace. His joy is effervescent and fills me until it spills over. I can't contain it. And, I deliberately choose joy even as chaos rages around me and the storms of life threaten to overwhelm me. As the song says, "ain't nothing gonna steal my joy!"



"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him." Psalm 28:7

"But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them that those who love your name may rejoice in you." Psalm 5:1

"Splendor and majesty are before him [God]; strength and joy are in his dwelling place." 1 Chronicles 15:27



The third candle of Advent is often referred to as Mary's Candle in honor of the virgin mother. This is why the third candle is rose or pink in color. Mary's trust in God is amazing! According to Jewish tradition, she could have been as young as twelve when she was betrothed to Joseph. We know she was a virgin because of Luke 1:26, 27 which state "...God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary." Furthermore, Mary asks the Angel Gabriel how she can have a child in Luke 1:34; "'How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, 'Since I am a virgin?'"



Mary's faith and trust in God are evident in Luke 1:38; "'I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. 'May your word to me be fulfilled.'" Wow! A young, teenaged Mary doesn't balk at what God is asking of her. In those days, unmarried women who became pregnant could be shunned by family and friends or even stoned to death for their sins. Yet, Mary had a strong faith in God. She believed His promises to be true and knew He would never leave her nor forsake her.



The third candle of Advent is also referred to as the Shepherds Candle, which makes sense since the angels brought the shepherds news of great joy. "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 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.'" Luke 2:8-12 I love that the first people to hear the good news of Jesus's birth are the lowly shepherds in the fields. Kings felt threatened by this tiny baby but to others Jesus symbolized God's promises fulfilled, hope, and joy.



Prayer:

Father God, we thank You for the precious gift of Your beloved Son. We are grateful that Mary chose to believe in Your love for her and the mighty plans You had for her life. Help us to remember her complete trust in You. Father, we thank you that the good news of great joy is still true today. Help us to prepare our hearts for the birth of Your Son. When our world gets chaotic and we feel overwhelmed, help us to choose Your joy. Remind us of Your amazing blessings in our lives. Fill our cups to overflowing and let Your joy in us be contagious. For our hope is in You, God! Amen!

Advent: Week Two

Welcome to the second week of Advent. This week's Advent theme is Faith. Faith is believing in things that cannot be seen but still trusting. For Christians, faith is trusting in God's love for us even when we are unable to see His hands at work in our lives. The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines faith as a firm belief in something for which there is no proof and as belief, trust in, and loyalty to God.

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart." Proverbs 3:3

"Blessed is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill her promises to her!" Luke 1:45

"Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken." Psalm 62:1-2

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see This is what the ancients were commended for." Hebrews 11:1-2



The second Advent candle is often referred to as the Bethlehem Candle. Bethlehem is the city in which the infant Jesus made his entrance into the world. The King of Kings was born into humble circumstances because there weren't any guest rooms available. His mother was a young virgin girl whose faith in God's promise was strong despite the dangers having this child created for her. She could have lost her life. His father was a carpenter.

Bethlehem is a town that is approximately six miles south of Jerusalem. Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem because of a census. While there, it became time for Mary to give birth to our Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus's birth in Bethlehem fulfills the prophecy foretold in Micah 5:2: "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."



Prayer:

Father God, Thank You for working in our lives. Help us to trust in You even when we can't see Your hands at work. Help us to believe in the depth of Your love for us. Remind us of the wonderful plans of hope You have for us. We know you long for what is best for us. Help us to never forget that. Please help us to make room in our hearts for Your precious, beloved, Son: Jesus. When we spend time in Your presence, when we are still, when we listen to Your still voice with open hearts, when we praise You through the storms, when we worship You, when we spend time reading Your word strengthen our faith in You. All honor and praise be Yours! Amen!

Advent: Week One

Today marks the start of Advent: a time of anticipation and expectation. Advent is one way we can prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.

The first candle of Advent represents Hope. When life seems overwhelming when the storms threaten to blow us down when we feel we can't press on one more step, God sent Jesus to be our hope. Hope is trusting that someone [Jesus] will be able to help us, It is also a feeling that something good will happen. (Merriam Webster Dictionary)

"Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day lone." Psalm 25:5

"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord." Psalm 31:24

The first candle for Advent is also referred to as the Prophets Candle for it was the prophets of old who foretold the birth of a Savior.

"When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son." Hosea 11:1

"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 old, from ancient times." Micah 5:2

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations." Isaiah 42:1

"In his name the nations will put their hope." Matthew 12:21

Prayer:

Father God, we thank you for the amazing plan you had to save us from our sinful ways and give us Your hope all of those years ago. We thank you for coming to earth in the form of a tiny, humble, vulnerable baby. We thank you for sacrificing your one and only Son, Christ Jesus, to bring us hope and give us life eternal. Thank you for your deep love for us. Help us to keep our eyes focused upon you and the hope you provide us. Fill our hearts as we prepare to make room in our hearts for your Son. Let us celebrate our hope in you through Christ Jesus this Advent season and beyond. Amen!

Advent: The History and the Meaning

Advent Defined:

Advent, according to Merriam Webster's Dictionary, is derived from the Latin word adventus, which means coming, arrival, appearance. The Free Dictionary defines Advent as the arrival of an important person, thing, or event. Bible Study Tools takes these previous definitions to a Christian perspective by describing Advent as a season of preparation, anticipation, and celebration of the arrival of Jesus Christ: a tiny baby who would change the world in tremendous ways and impact lives for years to come.

History:

In the 4th century AD, it is believed that the Spaniards utilized Advent as a time to celebrate the baptism of new believers as the church prepared for Epiphany in January, which focuses upon God's coming to earth in the form of an infant or God's incarnation, the visit of the Magi, or wise advisors to the kings and the scholars of their day, to bring their gifts of Frankincense, Myrrh, and Gold to a young Jesus, and the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan by his cousin, John the Baptist. In the 6th century AD, the Roman people changed the view of Advent. They began the tradition of viewing Advent as the second coming of Jesus. (1)

Our current tradition of Advent was started during the Middle Ages during the Reformation: a period in history when the Protestant churches began because leaders were breaking away from the strict and sometimes corrupt leadership of the Catholic Church of that Era. (2) During the Medieval Times, the focus of Advent became a celebration of the birth of baby Jesus the Savior. (1)

It is also interesting to note that in England during the Middle Ages, nativity images or vessel cups, which held depictions of the holy family placed inside a box with a glass lid. This box was then carried around from home to home to bring good tidings of joy. The 18th century is noted as being the first time an Advent wreath was used. A Lutheran ministry missionary is said to have used the wreath as a visual tool to help people anticipate the upcoming arrival of Christ. In the 19th Century, German Protestants would count down to the holiday by simply placing twenty-four chalk marks on the door frame and erase one each day until Christmas. (3) (Neat, historical and inexpensive Advent calendar.)


Meaning of Advent:

The Advent Season is filled with symbolism. While the next four Sundays will detail that week's specific theme with an additional installment for Christmas Day, below is a brief insight into the meaning behind these traditional symbols.

Within the Christian Church, evergreen boughs in the form of a circle are utilized to represent everlasting life. They also represent God's unending love for us as a circle continues on forever. (1) (Please note that traditions may vary slightly depending upon the Denomination.) Typically, the wreath holds three purple candles to signify the royalty of Christ and the penitence of his people. The candle for week three is rose-colored to represent joy and Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. A white candle is often placed in the center of the evergreen wreath. This candle is lit on Christmas Day and is referred to as the Christ Candle. (4)

Are you ready to celebrate the coming of our Lord and Savior, our Redeemer, Jesus? We'll start the celebration tomorrow (December 2, 2018) on the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is not only a time to remember that Christ was born into humble beginnings to be our sacrifice, nor just to remember that He is coming again one day, but also to remember that He is in our hearts when we turn our messy lives over to Him. He loves us because we are His beloved children.

Prayer:

Father God, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Your one and only Son, Jesus, we ask that just as You prepared a place for His birth those many years ago that You help us prepare a place for Him in our hearts today. May this Advent season help us to focus on the true meaning of Christmas: a time to celebrate the birth of Your precious child, to appreciate the promise You not only made but kept with us to provide a Saviour, to be thankful for Your amazing blessings, and to know Your unconditional love for us. Holy are You, Father, and worthy of praise not because of what You've done but simply because of who You are. Amen!






Footnotes
1. Christianity.com
2. WesternReservePublicMedia.org
3. Crivoice.org
4. UMC.org

Happy Thanksgiving

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." 1 Chronicles 16:34

Acts of Kindness

Today, as I left the lab after having blood drawn, I came upon a praying mantis sitting in the walkway unaware of the potential danger surrounding him. Concerned that he would either be stepped upon by someone unaware of the mantis's presence or be injured by the automatic doors closing on him, I decided to relocate him. Crawling on my cane, he seemed to enjoy our short walk to a grassy area that was free of foot traffic and would provide him with camouflage from prey.

I share this story not to boast about my good deeds but to exemplify how even the smallest acts of kindness make an impact and can bless you in return.

Luke 6:31 states, "Do to others as you would have them do to you."

We are all God's creation, loved unconditionally by our Father God. Even those people who grate upon our last nerve should be shown kindness. In fact, Matthew 5:44 says, "...love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

When we have God's love living in us, His light should be shining through us. We should be a beacon of His love, His hope and His grace.

As I went about my day, I thought about how many simple opportunities we miss out upon because we fill our days to the brim or because we feel our small efforts won't make a difference in the grander scheme of life.

Today, I want to encourage you to ask God to place at least one person in your path to whom you can be His loving presence. Even the smallest act of kindness can have a lasting impact that not only touches one life but can in turn have a rippling effect when the person you showed kindness to in turn shows kindness to another person and the cycle continues.

Lord, We ask you to humble us and help us to be still amidst the busyness of life. Please help us to obey Your gentle nudges and to see the people around us through Your eyes. Please place one person in our path today to whom we can be Your love, Your hope, and Your grace. We thank You for the opportunity to serve others and glorify you. Amen!