The Waiting Game

But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine. (Isaiah 43:1)

Advent is our season of waiting. We wait for a baby to appear on the scene. As Christians, we know the significance of this baby. Before we were followers of Christ we still waited. Waited for Christmas, for Santa, for shopping to be finished or for payday so we could finish gift hunting.

Little did we know then that the greatest gift of all was soon to make an appearance. Our dark world would soon be lit up. Truth would make an entrance, and nothing would ever be the same again. Even our 'waiting' would change.

About nine years ago I was waiting for Jesus in a different way. My husband received a terminal diagnosis and we waited to see what God would do. I was waiting for Him send a cure, instead He sent a Savior to take my husband back home with Him.

Because of Advent, that time of waiting for a Savior--a Redeemer, my waiting was not a hopeless time, but a time of growing in faith and endurance.

Imagine Jesus' mother, Mary, and her time of waiting. Again, a time of waiting for a Savior, a Redeemer. As I am starting to learn, waiting is not a negative state, but a state of pregnant expectation.

Each year we begin this season waiting and anticipating what God will do for us, with us, and sometimes despite us, in the coming year. How are you spending your ‘waiting’ time this year? Please share in the comments below, or feel free to email me here.

Isaiah 43:1-13

AWE of the Redeemer

Read Galatians 4:4-6

Our AWE usually doesn't happen all at once. There's MORE to AWE; it unfolds, expands, and grows in our lives. One AWE leads to another, and still another. And there are times when the awe just erupts in a big way.

Paul makes a huge awe-statement about Jesus -- "in the fullness of time." Jesus has come to redeem and save and restore and MORE. God's timing for Jesus is perfect. God's timing for everything is always right. The Baby in the straw turns out to be more and more, even in our daily lives with Jesus. We discover by faith that Jesus always has more for us. Our awe of His mercy and grace just grows and changes.

Think about how you used to view Jesus and your relationship with Him. Then consider how Jesus has grown bigger and more in your life with Him. "In the fullness of time" in our lives, Jesus will be more and more for us. And Jesus will come where we are and show us new grace and joy. And AWE can happen again, some more, all the way to Heaven. What a great future we have . Happy New Year!

QUESTIONS:

1. Can you think of a specific way your perspective of Jesus has changed becoming more in your life? What happened that helped this come about?

2. Have you prayed for the awe of more with Jesus? Think about what else you need and want with Jesus, and ask for it.

PRAYER:

Jesus, as we move into this New Year, thank You that You're ahead of us already. Help us to look for AWE in 2019. Amen.

Paul Ulring

The Redeemer

December 25                                                                                             

Scripture Reading
Read Galatians 4:4-7 and reflect on the passage.

Merry Christmas! As you greet others or look around today, you are likely to hear and see greetings that include “peace,” “joy,” “hope,” or “love.” What you are unlikely to have mentioned in word or print are “adoption,” “redemption,” or “freedom.” No, these words are not popular greeting card sentiments or trending Christmas hashtags.

In today’s Scripture reading, Paul reminds us that through the birth of Christ our full adoption and freedom as believers was initiated. In God’s perfect timing, Jesus was born to be our Redeemer! Now, as children of God, we are no longer orphans, but full heirs with a rich inheritance.

Over the last two years, some extended family members of ours have fostered two children. These sweet children clearly sought to please their foster parents…not a bad thing, but also quite exhausting. This fall they found their forever home. I imagine their endless striving may be replaced by a blessed sense of freedom, acceptance and family.

As believers we are no longer orphans, but redeemed by Jesus! May we rest in our being Children of God and rejoice in the freedom of our Abba Father’s rich love and inheritance.

Questions

What does it mean to you to be an heir of God?

Are you living more as an orphan (endless striving and works) or as a Child of God (resting and obeying out of love)?

Prayer

Lord, thanks for the birth of Jesus this Christmas and His redeeming power and freedom for us. Glory to the newborn King! Amen.

                                                                                                                                    Jessica Efird

Right in Front of our Eyes

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
    Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
    righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)

Anticipation is often as much fun as the actual awaited day. Sometimes we fill our head and our hearts with such images of grandeur and happiness, that reality takes a hit; disappointment overtakes us.

As we walk through the season of Lent, observing in whatever fashion is our norm, we reflect on Jesus and all His coming means. We think of the different lives we live because of our salvation. We are blessed because we are His; He claims us as children and heirs. I am reminded of the words to a song which go like this: "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow," and my heart is filled with expectancy.

Jesus entered Jerusalem, fulfilling the prophecy of 500 years ago in Zechariah. The King arrived and bondage was over. They celebrated and honored Him with a parade to end all parades! But their love and affection became short-lived. The got what they wanted, what they anticipated for centuries, but they didn't recognize the blessing in their midst.

Isn't it often that way? Don't we get what we desired only to be filled with disappointment or regret? The Jewish nation, was looking for a King, a military leader who would free their physical bodies from oppression, one who would wage war and kill their enemies.

What did they get? The King of Kings who would free them from sin, rode before them on a donkey. What they got was a Redeemer King who would set them free for all time. What they got was more than they could ever have imagined dreamed, and they missed it!

Let's conclude our Lenten preparations and enter Jerusalem with Jesus this year.  Let's be part of the joyous crowds shouting, Hosanna! Let's welcome Jesus as our Savior - the One who will free us forever; the One who will be with us in eternity. Let's not miss it.
Zechariah 9:9-17

Matthew 13:47-49

I have posted the text in it's entirety below.  There are three verses, but they are powerful words acknowledgeing how the world is made up of many different types of individuals.  We look different, act and think different as well as talk different and process in our own unique ways.  

Variety is valuable, but this verse is also highlights how there are good among us as well as evil.  We will be sorted, not by our looks, feelings, or any of the things that make us individuals.  We will be sorted by our hearts; those who love God and follow His Son, our redeemer and those who don't.  Simple isn't it?

The Parable of the Net

 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous



Read the Matthew 13:47-49 text here.