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Peace … not as the world can give

Posted in christmas, tagged #advent, #christmas2021, #notastheworldgives, #peace, #peaceinthestorm, #peacenotastheworldcangive on December 5, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Peace …

a word that ignites images of a dove, an olive branch, the three lined peace symbol, paper cranes, an image of a lion and a lamb.

Today, this second Sunday in advent, it is peace that we consider, but …

not peace that the world gives

When we think of peace we immediately think of an absence of war, or conflict. This is garden peace. Peace that existed only in the Garden of Eden, prior to the entry of sin into the world, into the human condition.

The peace that the Messiah gives, this is not an absence of conflict or war, brutality or abuses. It is the presence of peace in the midst of conflicts, wars, brutalities, abuses and storms.

It is peace beyond our human understanding, for who can fathom a sense of peace while in the thick of struggle?

This is peace that comes from the knowledge that we are not alone in the storm. This is the peace that Jesus brought to the world, to us. Once he arrived and fulfilled his mission (which he is still fulfilling … in, through and in spite of us) he left us the Spirit, so that we would carry His peace with us.

What was promised in the Old Testament:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Was given in the New Testament:

“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you” (Romans 8:11).

As Jesus was speaking to his disciples on the night before his death (John 14), it is clear that they were feeling anxious about his communications that he was going away. It was clear too, that he wanted them to know that they would be okay (he was offering them peace apart from his physical presence). He was consoling them, encouraging them, equipping them for what was to come.

He was also doing the same for you and I today, reminding us that his death opened the door to the Spirit to be with us, at all times, in all circumstances.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27

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Prepare Him Room

Posted in christmas, tagged #advent, #christinourhearts, #christmas2021, #liveinastateofongoingpreparedness, #preparehimroom, #prepareourhearts on December 3, 2021| Leave a Comment »

This week we moved into our new home. A bit of a whiplash feeling hit me last night, as only two months before (to the day) we decided to just check out a place. Now, here we are in a new location, surrounded by boxes and disorder.

As I have been unpacking the kitchen I have been working hard to fit our goods into less cupboard space than we had previously. It has been a bit like playing Tetris to provide room for our stuff in this smaller kitchen. Believe me, this place has ample space, with a fantastic storage closet down the hall, I just need to prioritize what will take up precious room in the kitchen.

Odd, though it might sound, this process has encouraged me to be focused on a familiar phrase at Christmas and a song from church last Sunday.

prepare him room

This morning I was reading from the Gospels about Mary and Joseph, expecting to read about their preparations for the birth of their son. I am certain that they did prepare, but … they were on a road trip up until the time of the birth of their son. There was nothing noted about baby clothes (or cloths) gathered, prenatal classes, the construction of a cradle, or doctor visits. They simply followed the path that was laid out for them.

As if the preparations were within and completed over the years of their lives.

In this season we are preparing for the celebration of the birth of the Christ child. But, what preparations are taking our time and energies?

Decorations? Baking? Shopping and gift wrapping?

What if the past 365 days have been all the preparing that has been required of us? What if, each day of our lives, our hearts have been open to hearing God’s voice, his call on our lives. What if, like Mary and Joseph, simply living in blind trust of God was all the preparing we did?