Colors of Love

"For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16

I've been looking around my house at the decorations lovingly placed in their customary places at this time of year. I notice everything is done in reds, whites, green, silver and gold. That got me to thinking about what those colors mean to me.

Red: the color of our sin. Also, the blood our Savior shed for us.

"Come now, and let us reason together,' saith the LORD, 'though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow..."  
Isaiah 1:18

White: the color of our hearts cleansed from sin by the blood of our Savior. Also, the color of the robe of righteousness with which He will present us without flaw before our Father.

"I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For He has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness."  Isaiah 61:10a

Green: Hope in the newness of life, the blessed hope we have in Jesus Christ.

"And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousnesss, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed."  
Titus 2:12-13

Silver and Gold: metals that become precious when they go through the refiner's fire.

"And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness."
Malachi 3:3

And purification speaks about our faith that is refined and strengthened through trials.

"So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."  
1 Peter 1:6-7

Soon we celebrate the advent of Christ entering this world through the body of a baby. Immanuel--God with us, never to leave us again. As we look around at the beautiful colors that immediately make us think of Christmas, let us remember His birth had a purpose. His death and resurrection accomplished that purpose.

"For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom He paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God."  
1 Peter 1:18-19

May we each be blessed this Holy Season with a deeper appreciation of what God has done for us.

by Marilyn Allison

Uplifting Diversion - Book Review

Christian author, Michelle Griep, has written the beginning book of a new yearly Christmas series called "Once Upon A Dickens Christmas." Her first book, Twelve Days at Bleakly Manor, is a good read and only 182 pages. It is set in the Victorian Era--1850--a time that appeals to so many of us.

Seven guests receive a mysterious invitation to spend Christmas at an English manor home, Bleakly Manor. Whichever guest is still remaining at the end of twelve days will receive what is promised them in the invitation. Each guest is struggling in some manner in life and this makes for an interesting, sometimes quirky, interaction of the characters. The book is one of mystery, romance, danger, and second chances. 

The two main characters in the book are Clara Chapman and Ben Lane who were to have been married nine months earlier. On their wedding day, Clara was left at the altar to endure the shame and whispered comments of the guests. One week later, Clara's family wealth and business were stolen and she now believes Ben is responsible.

Ben, who had been on his way to the church and looking forward to his wedding day, never arrived. Their love was stolen from each of them, but why? These past nine months Clara has been living in poverty with her aunt, who took her in, and Ben was imprisoned unjustly. Each of them arrives at the manor unaware the other has also received an invitation and a promise.

Every day at the manor brings new challenges and dangers to the guests. There is no master of the house, yet nothing happens at the manor that is not well thought out and planned--a mystery for the guests that only leaves them with questions and mixed responses. Ben and Clara's faith shines through as it guides their behavior, their actions, and their words. At one point of the story, Ben responds to Clara's questions with the statement:

"Sometimes all we have are questions. But there's really only one that matters. Is God in control or is He not?"

Isn't that a question for each one of us this day? Do we have faith that God is in control even when life doesn't make sense...when it brings suffering and pain...when it doesn't seem right or fair?

If you are ready for a break in the midst of your Christmas shopping, wrapping, baking, and cleaning, this book is worth the reading. I think it is one you would choose to read even a second time.

by Pat Tingwall

Simeon: A Promise Kept

"And then he took Him into his arms and blessed God and said, 'Now Lord, You are releasing your bond-servant to depart in peace according to your word." Luke 2:28-29

I wonder how Simeon lived his life, wondering day to day “Is this the One? I think he lived as he always did, serving God in the Temple. God made him a promise and Simeon knew that God doesn’t lie and that was enough for him.

"So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us."
Hebrews 6:17 & 18

And when that day came I can only imagine the unspeakable joy that must have filled His heart. Here at last was the Messiah!

"For my eyes have seen Your salvation."  Luke 2:30

Simeon was not surprised that salvation came as a baby. He read the scriptures and believed them. Simeon lived and worked and slept; confident, assured that God’s word would come to pass.

"For a child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders and His name will be ‘Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of peace."  Isaiah 9:6

God made us a promise too. And I believe with all my heart that God,who doesn’t lie, will keep His promise. Will I worry I might miss it or that it’s not intended for me? I think not.  I pray I will live my life loving and learning, sharing and working until the day that Jesus my Saviour, whom Simeon saw as a baby; calls me home.

Are you waiting? What are you doing in the mean time? Are you sharing the Good News? Are you teaching your children and grandchildren who Jesus is and the hope that we have in Him? Are you living in a way that honors Him? Are you clothing yourself with dignity and truth? Is your hope in the promises of God? I remember a saying that I’ve heard many a Christian say “Here, there or in the air." Are you waiting? Are you ready? Jesus is coming!

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."  John 14:3

Maranatha!

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful."  Hebrews 10:23

by Eve Montano

 

Courage in the Circumstances

"Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?" Esther 4:14b

E is for Esther the beautiful queen, 
Born to reign over Persia with Xerxes the king.

S is for subtle, the danger she’d find,
What would she do in this battle of the mind?

T is for terror, her people would die .
Nothing could stop it--if she didn’t try.

H is for Haman, who hated the Jews.
He planned to exterminate each one from his view.

E is for evil and eagerness, too,
that threatened God’s people--
What could they do?

R is for righteous, that was Mordecai’s life.
He trusted God to use Esther, to put an end to the strife.

For “such a time as this” 
Esther “stepped up to the plate”,

Will we do the same or is it too late?

No! Never too late! 
God’s will, will be done.

So put on your “gospel” shoes, Ladies...
We have a race to run!

by Darla J. Short~ Lewis 🌺

Keeping A Quiet Heart

"In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, 'Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you." Luke 1:26-28

We see her first, that little Mary, as a simple village girl in a poor home in an out-of-the-way place. Suddenly the light changes. A dazzling stranger stands before her with a puzzling greeting. He calls her "most favored one" and tells her the Lord is with her. She is stunned. She discerns at once that this has to do with things infinitely larger than herself, far beyond her understanding.

The angel does not weigh in immediately with the stupendous message he has been sent to deliver. He first comforts her. "Don't be afraid, Mary." ...Mary... She is not a stranger to him. He is assuring her that he has the right person. He explains what she has been chosen for--to be the mother of the Son of the Most High, a king whose reign will be forever.

She has one question now. Not about the Most High. Not about the Eternal King. But, about motherhood. "How can this be? I am still a virgin!" 

He does not really explain. He simply states a mystery: "The power of the Most High will overshadow you." He goes on to tell her of another miraculous pregnancy, that of her cousin, Elisabeth. "God's promises can never fail," he says. They won't fail for you, Mary. Rest assured.

How does she respond? At once she is available to her Lord. She knows the visitor is from Him. Whatever the mystery, whatever the divine reasons for choosing her, whatever the inconveniences--even disasters which she may be required to face--her answer is unequivocal and instant. "Here I am. I am the Lord's servant. Let it be as you have told me." Anything, Lord.

We see her next with Elisabeth. They don't sit down over coffee and chatter about what people are going to say. Mary sings her song of gladness--of complete acceptance of the gift--of trust in the Mighty One.

We see her sweating in the cold of the stable, putting her own life on the line, as every mother must do, in order to give life to somebody else.

We see her with the tough shepherds, breathlessly telling their story of the glory of the Lord.

We see her in the temple handing over her infant to old Simeon, to whom the Holy Spirit has revealed the child's amazing destiny. But, to Mary, he gives the far deeper message of suffering. Her son will suffer. He will be a sign which men reject. She, his mother, will suffer. She will be pierced to the heart. No question or answer from her is recorded. We know only her quietness.

We see her, once again in Bethlehem, with mysterious travelers from the East bringing their lavish gifts. She says nothing as they kneel before the child she holds in her arms.

We see her on the round-about trip to Egypt because Joseph has been given a secret message in a dream. She does not balk. She does not argue. She is quiet, treasuring all these things, pondering them deep in her heart.

In Scripture Mary has no witness, no limelight, no special recognition of any kind. Whatever she comprehends about her son, she knows He was given to her. She remembers how. She treasures all this. She ponders things in the quietness of her heart.

I thank God that unto us a Child was born. I thank Him also that there was a pure-hearted woman prepared to receive the promised Child with all that motherhood would mean. I thank Him for her silence, her humility, her faithfulness, her quiet heart.

I want that Mary heart. The deep guarding in her heart of each event...mulling over its meaning... waiting in silence for His word to her. Not Mary HAD a little lamb, but Mary WAS a little lamb--wholly dependent on her Shepherd. I want to respond in unhesitating obedience as she did. Willingly, quietly, steadfastly in the midst of the raucous, noisy, busy, contentious world around me. The world that Jesus loved.

A quiet heart is content with what God gives--and especially with who God is. It is enough. All is grace. 

by Connie Grosse