Redeeming grace

Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. *

In a world (and sometimes my heart) where resentment, discontent, anger, frustration, and ugly attitudes can abound, redeeming grace is an amazing gift that soothes my soul.

He redeems, renews, and refreshes …. God does it and then does it again.

and again and again.

God’s well does not run dry. He sent Jesus to restore, renew, redeem, remove, reveal, renovate, refresh, repair, reclaim, and replenish.

Some days I feel like I am a full time job for God! Of course, He is bigger than me and my flailings. He holds onto me while I argue and complain. He restores my soul. His redeeming grace is steadfast and true.

Redeeming grace.

Redeeming grace.

Redeeming grace.

Come, Lord Jesus!
Liz

*by Joseph Mohr, 1792-1848

All is calm…

Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright,
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing, Alleluia.
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Christ, the Savior, is born! *

For some of us, everything is ready and the house is relatively calm. But for others, there is a lot of last minute hustle on tap for today.

It all depends on what is happening in life at the moment. And yet, it is important to press the pause button and choose calm. I prefer less hustle, but that probably has to do with how busy things have been for the last six weeks helping everyone else get their Christmas gifts in order due to our business. It is a wonderful change in pace to go from long working days to just shipping out a package or two a day and spending more time with the kids and grandkids.

Nearly all is calm here in my neck of the woods. We don’t host a huge dinner because we don’t have the space. That’s okay with me because these limitations contribute to my calm. They also limit my distraction from the true celebration here. The gifts and family time are fun and precious. But…

Christ, the Savior, is born!
Christ, the Savior, is born!

When I ponder these words, the what is and what isn’t in my life takes a back seat. Christ, the Savior, is born! Christ, the gift for the whole world, is here. His salvation is a gift for me. And this so very personal gift from God is an incredible treasure to me.

Christ, my Savior, is born.

Come, Lord Jesus!
Liz

*by Joseph Mohr, 1792-1848

The Prince was born to bring your peace…

All you, beneath your heavy load,
By care and guilt bent low,
Who toil along a dreary way
With painful steps and slow:
Look up, for golden is the hour,
Come swiftly on the wing,
The Prince was born to bring your peace;
Of him the angels sing. *

Wow. The imagery of this verse is so strong. I see this person trudging along, weighed down by the situations and circumstances of life. All burdens are not created equal. And a heavy burden on the backs of two different people can look very different because everyone’s ability to carry burdens is different and how people “wear their burdens” is just as various. And, we don’t always know the whole story. We only see a small portion of the whole story.

But … the Prince was born to bring your peace!

Alleluia!

The sizes of our burdens vary greatly but they are burdens nonetheless. Even a small burden can appear to loom large depending on what else is going on. Today, I thank Jesus for being the Prince of my peace. He is the one who can calm the raging sea and calm the storm in me.

This life is always full of challenges and burdens. But I look to the one who came to give me His peace.

Come, Lord Jesus!
Liz

*By: Edmund H. Sears

Over all the weary world

Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats
Over all the weary world.
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever over its babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

The world is weary on many fronts.

And if I am too weary myself, I am of no use to others. It is important that I pace myself so that I have the time to help provide a meal, a word of encouragement, or some kind of help to those in need. Some of those among us have heavier burdens to bear and it is a good thing — even a God thing, to share a burden. When I am feeling discouraged about any circumstance in my life, I don’t have to look very far to find others who are in a much, much more difficult situation.

Who is weary in your life? Do you have an opportunity to provide relief? Can you be more mindful of their situation and offer assistance, prayers, and/or encouragement in some way?

Come, Lord Jesus!
Liz

* By: Edmund H. Sears

Solemn Stillness

It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, goodwill to all,
From heaven’s all gracious king.”
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing. *

It is difficult for me to carve out a chunk of time for solemn stillness, especially during the Christmas season. Our retail business is so very busy in November and December. This year was especially busy which was why I decided to do PrayerPoints for Advent. It isn’t that I needed one more thing to do, I needed to do this very particular thing.

I needed set aside time to consider the coming “all gracious king”. I needed to find some peace and calm in my day.

It works!

What I gain from “giving up” this time (I could be working on any number of business things) is a peace that extends through me all day. And I do appreciate that I wake up each morning, anticipating where God will take this devotional time. What I say in PrayerPoints may not be profound to you because I don’t always find the best words to express what God is doing in my heart.

I am so very thankful for His peace in my life. I encourage you to make time to enjoy His gift of peace today.

Come, Lord Jesus!
Liz

* By: Edmund H. Sears

Hark! The herald angels sing

Hail, the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth

Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!” *

We don’t use the word hark so much these days. But I could benefit from listening more. One of the things I love about this time of year is that there are so many reminders, mainly through song, of the Prince of Peace.

Even those who are struggling with their faith.

They hear the songs all over the radio. They might catch a line here or there that gives them something to ponder. These hymns have some great messages tucked inside.

Hark!

There are so many amazing Christmas hymns that are broadcast all over the radio and in stores. I love that it is the background music but I also need to let the messages come to the forefront and penetrate my heart. Thinking about some of these hymns, verse by verse, helps them sink in just a little more. I love to read a verse and then find one thing that strikes me in that verse and ruminate on it.

Do you have a favorite Christmas hymn?

Come, Lord Jesus!
Liz

* Words written by Charles Wesley 1707-88

Veiled in Flesh

Christ, by highest heav’n adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail the incarnate Deity!
Pleased as Man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel! *

I love how God works! He often takes the ordinary and does something amazing with it.

Our Redeemer was veiled in flesh.

And He dwelt among us. Who would have thought to look in a stable, amongst the animals?

When I ponder this plan it is both simple and complex:

So very rich and yet, so very poor.
So very dirty and yet, so very pure.
So very quiet and yet, so very loud.
So very vulnerable and yet, so very protected.
So very loved and yet, so very pursued.

As I think about the events that led up to the birth of Jesus, it is hard not to consider my own culture and experiences and make my own applications. I relate as I can but it doesn’t mean I have an accurate picture. Of course these things happened so long ago that it is hard to imagine the circumstances.

And so I trust that the One who has created the earth and all stars was able to execute the delivery of the Christ Child.

Come, Lord Jesus!
Liz

* Words written by Charles Wesley 1707-88

God and Sinners Reconciled

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!” *

I enjoy listening to Christmas hymns and songs. When I hear Christmas music “out of season” (for me that is before Halloween), it is unusual, but not offensive. I love the familiarity of the songs and the reminders of what we are celebrating: the best songs call attention to the newborn King!

We are desperate for peace on Earth. Sometimes we are even desperate for peace in our homes. I think it is safe to say we all have something that is out of place or causes our heart to ache. It could be a strained relationship or a hope that is unfulfilled. And we seek peace — sometimes in places where peace cannot be found. Our peace can be compromised by what we have done and by what we have left undone. And yet God desires for us to be reconciled to Him so much that He has made the way, through Jesus. He is our Peace.

God providing a way for our peace and for sinners to be reconciled to Him is a pretty big deal. And singing the words (even if your heart struggles) feeds your spirit.

Thank you, Father, for providing peace and mercy through Christ. His birth ushers in our path for reconciliation to You. Let us make space for Your work to be done in and through us.

Come, Lord Jesus!
Liz

* Words written by Charles Wesley 1707-88

Bid our sad divisions cease

Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

There are times unhealthy relationships are unresolvable. It can be an unfortunate, but sometimes there is a necessary division.

Any division is sad, but there are divisions over the smallest things: misunderstandings blown out of proportion, hearsay, conjecture, and assumptions — these are all a part of sad divisions. It’s sad because it is unnecessary. If people would just take time to clarify and understand and not jump to conclusions, probably a lot of heartbreaking divisions would not even be.

It is important for me to consider my role in relational divisions. How do I perpetuate problems? How does what I say or do cause a seed for division? Sometimes it happens and I am completely unaware.

As long as there is sin in the world and humans who operate in the flesh, there will be sad divisions. But I can still pray for peace and seek to share His peace with those around me. These divisions are just a part of a larger battle, but He is the King of Peace!

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹²For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ¹⁹and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. [Ephesians 6:10-20, ESV]

Come, Lord Jesus!
Liz

Oh, Come, Oh, Come Emmanuel
Translated: John Neal, 1818-66

Disperse the gloomy clouds

Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by your drawing nigh,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

The closer I am to God, the more joyful I am. I think it has to do with my perspective and how He shifts it to more of a Kingdom orientation. That isn’t to say there aren’t gloomy clouds, but when I am in His presence, the clouds are more easily dispersed.

I love how many spiritual songs and hymns are so relatable! It’s as if these authors have also struggled with similar life situations. We are all human and can learn from the experiences of one another. We are created by the Life-giver and we should be sharing life-giving words with one another.

The closer I am walking with God, the more encouraging I am. His Word fills me up and those words naturally spill out in conversation.

Come, Lord Jesus!
Liz

Oh, Come, Oh, Come Emmanuel
Translated: John Neal, 1818-66