Advent|Dec.25th ~Celebrating our Rescuer's Coming!

Sarah & I would like to share with you one of our "first" traditions (if we can call it a tradition yet). We decided to get an Advent calendar for our Christmas season! 1. Because I don't remember the last time I ever went through an Advent calendar 2. Because it's cool and we live in Seattle 3. Because it's biblical (thought I should add this one). We are celebrating Advent, because the word means "coming," and reminds Sarah & I of the best "coming" there ever was! The arrival of our Rescuer, Jesus Christ!

December 25th! Day 25! Christmas Day!

In the middle of Christmas, somewhere between breakfast and gift giving, Sarah and I were able to read through Luke's account of Jesus' birth as a whole. It was great to see the whole story unfold once again, and to remember why we celebrate Christmas: Jesus!

What stood out to both of us, probably because we both love music a lot, was the singing involved. Apparently there may have been more singing then the text says, as some believe Mary's words of praise, Zechariah's prophecy and Simeon's blessing were actually sung. If this was true, couple those songs together with the angelic host singing of Jesus' birth and you have a good deal of singing in Jesus' birth account.

Doesn't this make sense though? Jesus was coming to rescue mankind from their sin! Why would this not be sung about? Who could stop the praise from happening? Heaven was breaking into the world that we know, and why not break in with music and singing? Why not create in hearts a new song? Why not give men a song to sing about for ages and ages to come?

Have you noticed that Christmas is probably the only time that the world begins to sing. They may not always be singing about Christ and His coming (often times it's about Santa and his reindeer), but this is one of the only times people "sing in" the holiday. The same is just not the case for other holidays such as Thanksgiving, Halloween (All Hollow's Eve), Easter and others.

And the songs continue to be written. We sing hymn after hymn of Christmas music. We have artists creating new Christmas songs. We have old hymns done in a new way. In many of these hymns there are amazing words! So, on the last day of Advent I thought it would be fitting to share the words of one of our most favorite Christmas songs, words that tell of all that Jesus' coming accomplished!

O Holy Night

....Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

...The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother.
And in His name all oppression shall cease.

...Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!


You can listen to Folk Angel's rendition of this song HERE.

If you're into history like I am you will find the original poem most encouraging and powerful. Below is the English translation of "Midnight Christians" from the French poet Placide Cappeau (1808-1877), the words to which "O Holy Night" is adapted from.

Midnight, Christians, it is the solemn hour,

When God as man descended unto us

To erase the stain of original sin

And to end the wrath of His Father.

The entire world thrills with hope

On this night that gives it a Savior.

People kneel down, wait for your deliverance.

Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer,

Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer!

May the ardent light of our Faith

Guide us all to the cradle of the infant,

As in ancient times a brilliant star

Guided the Oriental kings there.

The King of Kings was born in a humble manger;

O mighty ones of today, proud of your greatness,

It is to your pride that God preaches.

Bow your heads before the Redeemer!

Bow your heads before the Redeemer!

The Redeemer has broken every bond:

The Earth is free, and Heaven is open.

He sees a brother where there was only a slave,

Love unites those that iron had chained.

Who will tell Him of our gratitude,

For all of us He is born, He suffers and dies.

People stand up! Sing of your deliverance,

Christmas, Christmas, sing of the Redeemer,

Christmas, Christmas, sing of the Redeemer!

Advent|Dec.24th ~Celebrating our Rescuer's Coming!

Sarah & I would like to share with you one of our "first" traditions (if we can call it a tradition yet). We decided to get an Advent calendar for our Christmas season! 1. Because I don't remember the last time I ever went through an Advent calendar 2. Because it's cool and we live in Seattle 3. Because it's biblical (thought I should add this one). We are celebrating Advent, because the word means "coming," and reminds Sarah & I of the best "coming" there ever was! The arrival of our Rescuer, Jesus Christ!

December 24th! Day 24! One more day till Christmas!

Will tomorrow be a day that Sarah and I celebrate Jesus, or a day we ignore Him for many other distractions going on? In the second part of John's account of Jesus' coming, which we read today, John answers this question in what he writes to the people of his time.


"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us... He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."
                                                                                                    John 1:14, 10-13

The truth is, many in the world and many within Jesus' own community despised Him, rejecting Him and His message. They did not want to hear Jesus' words...

But Jesus' message was to bring joy and hope and laughter, inviting all to come to Him for life. Instead, His message offended a lot of people. The world did not know Him, ...and His own people did not receive Him (v. 10-11) For the irreligious, they didn't want to be told that they were in rebellion, since they were proud of their own achievements. For the religious, they didn't want to be told that they couldn't clean themselves up, since they were proud of their own righteousness. 

But Jesus came with good news to all! For the rebellious who run away, He was the good shepherd who would come after them; and for the morally good who didn't think they needed help, He was their freedom from constant failure and guilt. 

Jesus still calls out, "To all who receive Me..." (v. 12)

Everyone needs a Savior; everyone needs forgiveness from their sin. His message is not exclusive but inclusive. To all who receive Him! This promise isn't temporal, unreliable or mysterious. It doesn't come from a man but from God. He has promised and He will make it come to pass. Receive Him today and become a child of God, a son or daughter of the King of kings :-)
 
By God's grace alone Sarah and I have received Jesus, so tomorrow will be a day we celebrate His coming! Our hearts will be filled with great gratitude for all that He has done and continues to do for us!  

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
                                                                                                        Colossians 1:15-20


 

Advent|Dec.23rd ~Celebrating our Rescuer's Coming!

Sarah & I would like to share with you one of our "first" traditions (if we can call it a tradition yet). We decided to get an Advent calendar for our Christmas season! 1. Because I don't remember the last time I ever went through an Advent calendar 2. Because it's cool and we live in Seattle 3. Because it's biblical (thought I should add this one). We are celebrating Advent, because the word means "coming," and reminds Sarah & I of the best "coming" there ever was! The arrival of our Rescuer, Jesus Christ!

December 23rd! Day 23! Two more days till Christmas!

Because of the small break Sarah and I got, we were able to spend some time in the morning these last few days doing our Advent reading before the day started (a nice holiday break always has some great perks). It was great getting the extra time in the morning to be with the Lord. 

Today's reading came from John's account of Jesus' birth. I guess if you could compare readings, Matthew and Luke zoom in to the trees of the forest, giving the reader every detail. John's perspective comes from one who has zoomed out and sees the whole forest. He tells the reader the bigger picture of why Jesus came. This too is just as important, and why I wanted to make sure Sarah and I read through it.

    "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..."   
                                                                                                                                 (John 1:1-5, 14)

 Jesus Christ, the God-man, existed before time even began. He was with God the Father from the beginning, making all things created by the word of His mouth. He brought things to life as the Bread of Life. He brought light into the darkness as the Light of the World.This Jesus, who existed with God from the beginning decided to humble Himself, enter into our world and become man! 

   " ...(Jesus) who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
                                                                                                                                 (Philippians 2:6-11)

This very passage describes what is so shocking about the Advent story, about God's Story. God, who created everything in the universe, entered into our world to rescue us! He left His glories to be born a man and walk upon this broken world, and to love and bring back to life sinners lost in darkness.

The beautiful thing about all of this is in verse 5, "and the darkness has not overcome it." Jesus' victory over Satan, sin and death is final. There is no more that needs to be done. He has rescued His kids, He has finished His mission, and He will one day call us home. His first coming paved the way for Him to come again, and to reclaim what is rightfully His :-) This is why God has given Jesus the name above every name, so that at His name every knee will bow and every tongue will confess, "He is Lord!"




 

Advent|Dec.22nd ~Celebrating our Rescuer's Coming!

Day 22! December 22nd! Three days till Christmas!

After getting up, packing and safely traveling down to Hood River, Oregon, Sarah and I got to end the day reading the final words from Luke's account of Jesus' birth.

"And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him." Luke 2:39-40

Jesus returned to Nazareth, a humble town a few days journey north of Jerusalem. It wasn't a popular town, it wasn't noted for much of anything. In fact, the saying was thrown around by some, "can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Apparently it wasn't a place you would assume the Son of God to be raised, but He was. This was His town. He knew the people, the places, the culture and community.

 Jesus grew up like all of us. He learned wisdom, made decisions about life, money, finances and more. He was a carpenter, with strong, skilled hands. He understood the value of working hard at something, and also found that things fall apart and break. He understood that work was hard, difficult and frustrating. But in all of his growing up years He never sinned. He never lied, never became jealous, never showed disrespect, never committed any of the sins we commit. As my sister put it so well in her own blog, "the King of kings and Lord of lords came as a servant... He grew weary, but never impatient; tired but never irritable; accused but never defensive..." He was God's Son, perfect Son, sinless Son, sent to grow up in Nazareth, a small town noted for nothing. Yet, here He was, sent to save His people from their sin.

Sadly however, we find out through reading John 1:11 that His own people did not receive Him. Luke also records this as well, as Jesus prophecies to His own town.  The good news would not sink into the hearts of His own people in the synagogue, but others far away and far removed from Nazareth This set Nazareth ablaze with anger towards Him, and His own words became true that day, "Truly, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown." (Luke 4:24, 28-30)

This is why it was vital for Jesus to know one thing amidst all of this: God's favor was upon Him. (v. 40) This kept Him going, this gave Jesus boldness, courage, hope and perseverance. This is how Jesus was able to live for 33 years and then die a bloody death for our sins on the cross. He knew He was doing His Father's will. He knew God was smiling down on Him in approval. He knew that He was completely loved by God. God's grace was upon His Son, from day one! This is how He continued on, when his own people rejected Him.

Do you know that this is true for you and I? In Jesus Christ, God is smiling down at you in approval. In Jesus Christ, God completely loves you and will never love you less. In Jesus Christ, God is for you and will see your life to completion! This is how Sarah and I can continue on, even if everything else is up in the air, mysterious, and unknown. What a peace and rest this brings during a season that promises peace from everything else but Jesus. May you cling to Jesus this Christmas and find your identity, value and worth is secure in Him!

"For our sake he made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21

Advent|Dec.21st ~Celebrating our Rescuer's Coming!

Sarah & I would like to share with you one of our "first" traditions (if we can call it a tradition yet). We decided to get an Advent calendar for our Christmas season! 1. Because I don't remember the last time I ever went through an Advent calendar 2. Because it's cool and we live in Seattle 3. Because it's biblical (thought I should add this one). We are celebrating Advent, because the word means "coming," and reminds Sarah & I of the best "coming" there ever was! The arrival of our Rescuer, Jesus Christ!

Day 21! December 21st! Four more days till Christmas!

After a late night wedding Sarah and I went to bed reading a little of Luke. Of course, I couldn't blog right then and there, but waited till Saturday :-)

Our reading from Thursday continued on with the story of Anna, but turned to the redemption of Israel.

"...She (Anna) did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem." Luke 2:36-38

Anna comes up to the temple and what does she see? Baby Jesus, the promised Messiah, the Redeemer, the King! What a day that must have been for her! Did she know ahead of time? Did she see this day coming? Did she know that today was the day? Salvation for Jerusalem and for all of Israel was finally here! But what kind of salvation was everyone hoping for?

If she had lived much longer she would have seen that the salvation she was speaking of did not happen through politics and war and bloodshed. This was not a physical kingdom that Jesus had now come to start. Jesus had an entirely different mission than this, for this time. He didn't come to win votes but to win hearts. He didn't come to build a house in Jerusalem, but a house in people's hearts. He did not come the first time to right everything wrong in the world, but to right everything wrong in the heart. 

Jesus' redemption of Jerusalem would begin with the people of Jerusalem before He would ever start on the land itself. He was here to change hearts and create a people of His own. This is still how Jesus is working to this day. His message is aimed and directed toward my heart and your heart. He is not seeking for those who do all the right things, or look changed on the outside. Jesus turns His love and affection toward the broken and contrite heart; the heart that confesses and believes. Sarah and I know this with all of our hearts, and we want the whole world to know this too, starting with Seattle.

"... a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
                                                                                                       Psalm 51:17

"... if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."
                                                                                                       Romans 10:9-10

Would you be one of those today who gets to experience the redemption that Jesus brought? Will you turn to Him, confess your sins and receive His grace and forgiveness. Jesus can be your Salvation, your Redeemer, today :-)

Advent|Dec.20th ~Celebrating our Rescuer's Coming!

Sarah & I would like to share with you one of our "first" traditions (if we can call it a tradition yet). We decided to get an Advent calendar for our Christmas season! 1. Because I don't remember the last time I ever went through an Advent calendar 2. Because it's cool and we live in Seattle 3. Because it's biblical (thought I should add this one). We are celebrating Advent, because the word means "coming," and reminds Sarah & I of the best "coming" there ever was! The arrival of our Rescuer, Jesus Christ!

Day 20! December 20th! Five more days till Christmas :-)

This was a special day for Sarah and I. We got to take a night off and have a little date in the middle of a busy week. We got to read the Advent, open a few early gifts and look ahead in excitement for our friends' wedding on Friday! 

Our reading from Thursday continued on with the story of Anna, but turned to the thought of her age.

"...She (Anna) was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem." Luke 2:36-38

Can you guess how old Anna was at this time? I don't know if I could give you the exact number myself, but the truth is: she was older than 84! I guess what I would like to ask her is: how long had she been at the temple, fasting and praying and serving the Lord? This is the question I would ask her if I could. What would you want to ask her?

What a long life for Anna the prophetess. How many prophecies had she told that had come true? What were they about? What kind of reputation had this older woman gotten from those around her? Did they all stop and listen when she spoke? Did she speak only ever so often? Was she more commonly known as a quiet woman around the temple? So many questions to ask....

I guess the phrase that speaks to her old age and the attitude of her heart is verse 38, "...to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem." She was just one of many who were waiting for the Redeemer to come. She had been waiting at least 84 years now! What struck for Sarah and I was the faithfulness to God that Anna exemplified, even into her old years. She loved Him with her whole heart and she knew of the prophecies that a Redeemer would come; so she waited... and waited... and waited... and when she thought she couldn't keep waiting, she waited some more...

And at last, at an old age she gets to see the promise of God fulfilled! The only thing that mattered to Anna, the one prophecy that she probably told to anyone who would listen, was actually happening right before her eyes. The redeemer of Jerusalem was finally here! God had come to save His people!

What about my heart? Do I get as excited as Anna got knowing the Redeemer has come? What about God's future promise that my Redeemer is coming again? Will I trust in God no matter what, even if I live to be 84? I pray the answer is a resounding, "Yes!" I pray that for both Sarah and I, as we remember His first coming. May God give us the grace to be faithful to His future promise as well, that He is alive and He is coming again!

Advent|Dec.19th ~Celebrating our Rescuer's Coming!

Sarah & I would like to share with you one of our "first" traditions (if we can call it a tradition yet). We decided to get an Advent calendar for our Christmas season! 1. Because I don't remember the last time I ever went through an Advent calendar 2. Because it's cool and we live in Seattle 3. Because it's biblical (thought I should add this one). We are celebrating Advent, because the word means "coming," and reminds Sarah & I of the best "coming" there ever was! The arrival of our Rescuer, Jesus Christ!

Day 19! December 19th!

Sarah and I enjoyed reading through the final sections of Luke's Advent story. After Simeon's blessing came Anna.

"And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day." Luke 2: 36-37

Here was Anna, of the tribe of Asher, one of the sons of Jacob. Her name would have been known in the temple through her connection with this wealthy tribe, Asher. I'm sure men would have been whispering, "There goes Anna," "Do you see her over there? That's Anna, the prophetess."

It seems that Anna, being a women amidst a lot of men, would have gone unnoticed. But she was a female prophet, a very distinguished gift that wasn't exhibited in many women in those days. As one of the older individuals in the temple, she would have been respected and revered, mostly known through what she said when she spoke. 

What I love about Luke's account of Anna, is that he zooms in on what she does privately vs. what she does publicly. Anna worships her God through prayer and fasting. She withholds from food to have more of God. She withholds from filling up her day with too many things and instead spends more time in prayer with God. God was worth so much more to her than other things, and because He satisfied her she was willing to do without other things. I think we can learn much from Anna in how she worshiped her God. 

What is worth cutting out to have more of God? What are we willing to do without to enjoy more of God? What are we willing to say no to so that we have enough time to rest and enjoy being with the Lord? These should be good things to ponder, since the end result is more time with God! This is what Sarah and I want, because we do know that He does satisfy our souls! Anna, Mary and many others understood this as well.

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42