Everything seemed to be going wrong that day. My mood had moved from bad to worse. The trouble began when I discovered that our water heater had sprung a leak and water was standing in the basement. Naturally, it was on a weekend--the worst possible time to get plumbing fixed. The rest of the day didn't go much better. I was still feeling less than civil when the phone rang.
When I answered the phone, a tender voice on the other end said, "Mom, I just wanted to tell you that I love you!" Those words turned my whole day around. The problems of the day still remained, but my mood surely changed. The unpleasant experiences are more tolerable when someone reassures you with loving words.
The words "I love you," spoken by one who cares about you, can be the most reassuring words in life. A home that is filled with love can survive many crises. Some family members say "I love you" to each other everyday. Others express it in words less often, but they show by their actions that they love each other. Actions, too, are part of love.
God's sending of His Son to earth was God's way of saying "I love you." God loved us enough to send His Son to show us the way to eternal life. He didn't promise we would never face hard days. God promised instead that His love would sustain us, even in the discouraging times. The coming of the baby Jesus symbolized God's love for us.
During this Advent season, let us thank God for showing us He loves us.
Thank you, God, for your gift of Love. Amen.
Mary Francis Owens
Give to the Global Missions Offering
Remember: Katie Dobbs (Florida--CBF)
Isaiah foretold God's Promise
to a forgetful people
walking in deepest darkness: a Son, Immanuel.
And so the ancient Simeon, waiting in the temple,
knew the Babe was the Promise,
a Light for revelation and a Glory to his people,
from Everlasting to Everlasting.
Dorothy Poole Spurr
Turn off all lights but those on the tree and enjoy
Joyce H. Catoe (France--SBC)
The Christmas tree in the office where I work at the Presbyterian Center is decorated in the same way each year: an evergreen (admittedly artificial) in whose branches are intertwined a collection of dolls from around the world. The various skin colors, expressions and costumes appear as a visual rendering of "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world; red, brown, yellow, black and white ...." Gradually, for me, the tree has come to illuminate not only those whom Jesus loves, but also those who love Jesus.
Isaiah's lyrical praise in 52:7-10 concludes with "and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God." What a glorious and unimaginable promise! Despite "the hosts of evil round us," my hope and sense is that this promise is coming true. We live in an amazing time of the burgeoning of God's Spirit, where people from all ends of the earth have come and are coming to love Jesus. No longer is the Church of Jesus Christ majority white and Western. It is now majority brown, yellow, black and Asian, African and Latin American. The churches in countries as diverse as South Korea, India, Ghana, Fiji, Nigeria and South Africa now send more missionaries than they receive. The churches in Brazil, Kenya and the Philippines will soon be doing the same. Ten of the twenty largest congregations in the world are in South Korea. Researchers have estimated the number of Christians in China between 30 and 75 million.
Admittedly millions, if not billions, of people in this world have never heard of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, we live in a time when more persons from all ends of the earth have seen "the salvation of our God." In this season, these ends of the earth join in celebrating the birth of our Savior 2000 years ago. As I see the family of dolls on that Christmas tree, I hear them giving thanks that the promise of Isaiah 52:10 is coming true.
Make us mindful Lord of our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world who labor to enable all to see your salvation. Amen.
Wyc Rountree
Re-read Luke's Christmas story around your tree
Remember: Bill Burkhalter (SBC)
Laura Adams
Listen for messages from God
Remember: Barton Starr (Hong Kong--SBC)
And so the child is born. The promise is renewed, again, as it has been so many Christmases before and will be next year and the next year and the next....
And perhaps, this day—when the tree has given up its presents, the dinner is over, and the children have settled down to see if they really did want what they thought they wanted--perhaps there will be time to give quiet thanks for the reality of the promise of God in your life.
"And she brought forth her firstborn son..." For Mary, you see, the realization of the angel's promise didn't mean a trouble-free life of quiet blessings. That's what many of us tend to think Christian peace ought to be. In many ways, that's the myth we associate with Christmas.
But as soon as we blow out the candles after singing Silent Night, we know that's not what it actually is, at least in your life and mine. Instead, for me Christmas turns out to be much more as it was for the mother of Jesus—laughter and hope that lead to heartache that lead to hope again when hope is gone.
And so we unwrap our presents, undecorate our trees and put the Christmas trappings away for another year. But if you and I have been watching with the eyes and listening with the ears of faith, then something has been born in us this season which all the troubles of the year ahead cannot extinguish. What Mary had when she pondered in her heart the events of this day. The hope that what God promised so long ago, and birthed among us in Jesus Christ, and brings alive anew in every believer, and reminds us on this day the simple assurance that you and I are loved of God will never die.
Amen
Merry Christmas.
Ron Sisk
Put out food for the wintering birds
Remember: Jan W. Langston (Botswana--SBC)
Return toFulfilling the PromiseAdvent intro page
Return to homepage
Consider being a part of us. Visitors are always welcome.
Crescent Hill Baptist Church
2800 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, Kentucky 40206
502/896-4425 Fax 502/896-9855
Last updated November 27, 1997