Hope: The Message of Christmas by Carol Harrison

I have always loved the Christmas season. As a child, this time of year had a simplicity I never realized. Our family didn’t have much money and there were few presents under the tree and no lavish, over-the-top decorations. Yet I loved it – the time spent with family and extended family, the church services and Christmas carols, the concerts, and the Bible story from the gospel of Luke.

When I take time to reflect, I realize I grew up rich in relationships with a legacy of being shown the love of God in tangible ways by my family. My parents and grandparents lived out their faith and shared this with me.

But, this time of year can be stressful when the tough things of life happen. The messages bombarding us about the latest and greatest gift, the best way to entertain, or even the right décor can fill us with a feeling of not having enough or not being good enough. How do view this time of year, no matter what the circumstances we find ourselves in? Where is our hope? Why do we celebrate?

As I write this blog post late the night before it is time to post it, I think about these questions. I ponder Immanuel – God with us and what that means and has meant to me. Is there a significant time at Christmas where this came alive to me? Maybe I put off writing this post because I couldn’t think of the scenario to describe. Part of the procrastination happened due to the invasion of bronchitis and asthma for a few weeks. These unwanted guests didn’t want to leave and made life difficult. Maybe it is only because I never paused long enough to really think about how God is with me and all of us who follow Him at any time of year.

A couple of days ago I had the opportunity to travel to Prince Albert to speak at the Christian Women’s Club Christmas meetings in the morning and evening. I had promised them months ago to be their speaker. The topic was Life’s Tough but There’s Hope or as they changed it around a bit to fit the time of year it read Hope - the Message of Christmas. As the day drew near, the exhaustion from being sick for weeks made me wonder if I could keep the commitment and yet I felt a peace that God was wanting me to go.

My granddaughter offered to drive so all I had to do was the speaking and interacting with the ladies present. It gave us a special time together from early morning until late at night. I pulled out my notes. Yes, I love Christmas but sometimes it is a tough time for people. Health concerns – I have those in my own life and in my husbands too. Finances – I love giving gifts and the budget runs out long before I wish it did but I am more fortunate than many. Relationship issues – some are fragile while others can be toxic. Grief – death does not care it is close to Christmas any more than health related concerns. We all get the picture.

Life for me has been in a tough season due to many issues and yet I know God is still God. He promises new mercies every morning. He is my Rock, my Fortress, my Deliverer, and strength. I know this. I’ve experienced it many times. So I trusted Him for the words to say, the strength of voice to speak, and for open hearts to hear God and know He is our Hope and Joy. 

  God with us – Immanuel. Oh how I felt that a couple of days ago. Various ladies remarked about how what I shared must have been just for them and shared a bit of their stories – tough things with me. One lady said, “When I closed my eyes, your voice was beautiful and like and eighteen-year-old.”

Wow, only God could provide a voice for people to hear that had no trace of bronchitis or asthma to it. So I pause in the middle of tough circumstances and Christmas coming quickly and wonder at the goodness of God who loves me so much He sent Jesus to take my punishment. How can I not praise His name.

Merry Christmas and may Jesus, the Hope of Christmas, fill us with hope and peace as we trust in Him each day to use the gifts, He has given us. 

 

Carol Harrison loves to share stories and the good news of hope in Jesus with people of all ages and abilities. She enjoys speaking and writing as well as scrapbooking and making junk journals.

 

The Wonder of Immanuel, God with Us by Steph Beth Nickel

Wonder…

In the eyes of a child.

In the lyrics of a much-loved Christmas carol.

In the She Reads Truth Advent study.

But…

Is there wonder in my heart?

Is Jesus the focus of my days?

Am I captivated by His sacrifice?

Too often, this is not the case.

Why?

Familiarity too often diminishes the wonder of the season.

Busyness too often consumes my thoughts.

Distractions too often vie for my attention.

What can I do to allow the wonder of the season—and God’s never-ending presence—to sink in and motivate my words and actions?

Commit each task to the Lord.

Focus on the task at hand.

Embrace the quiet.

Meditate on God’s Word.

Commit portions of it to memory.

Fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ.

Share the wonder with those God’s brings across my path.

How can I embrace the wonder long-term?

Soak in the Truth.

Continue to develop a heart of gratitude.

Be more cognizant of how I spend my time.

Examine my motives for the things I do.

Seek to do everything as unto the Lord.

Make Him known.

Pray more…much more!

Questions for Consideration

Is this time of year filled with wonder or overwhelm?

What one step can you take to increase your sense of wonder this Christmas season?

How will you continue to develop a sense of wonder in the new year?

God With Us by Ramona Furst

 

Kerosene lamps were being lit in the mission house. I heard my mother's voice speaking in a whisper to someone outside on the veranda. Later, the mission station's large generator started up the electricity for the compound and Baba, our much-loved African cook, coaxed me out of bed. My sister and I were to stay with another family while my mother had to go to the clinic. Our father, we were told, had been hurt.

 A rogue elephant damaging villager's crops and homes (in the Central African Republic near the Cameroon boarder) had been tracked down by a small group of hunters and my father, who had taken the lead, had been the elephant's chosen target when it turned and charged the group of hunters. Miraculously the elephant did the unthinkable, he picked up my father, crushed him against his chest but when he dropped him to the ground to trample him with a foot (which they often do) he stood briefly for a minute and then walked away. The stunned African hunters waited until the elephant was gone before rushing over to see if my father was dead. God had indeed been with him when he saved his life. Many of the villagers later began to listen to my parents speak about their God who cared enough to save this white missionary's life. 

Not until my father was recovering at home did my parents realize that our family was to be prayed for every February 11th throughout their time in Africa. 

My God encounters haven't been nearly as spectacular as my father's elephant accident, but I have always known when those tailor-made "I love you" moments from God have shown up. They have been timely, unique, suiting my personality and particular need. Even people outside my family who heard me say, "you won't believe what just happened" would often say, "Now that's a God moment for sure."

Unlike God’s presence with Israel, a presence that seemed to come and go, and unlike Jesus who walked with his followers for a limited time, I understand and give thanks for the work of the Holy Spirit who will be my constant companion. (John 14:16,17).

Jesus also said that this advocate would help me. The Holy Spirit does not just walk with me, he helps me to live a holy and godly life. He teaches me the things of God. And he empowers me for service in his kingdom. His help is indispensable for a follower of Christ.

What does it mean? It means that I am never alone. Even in my darkest times, he is with me. I can trust that no matter what might come my way, he will keep me safe. We can have no greater privilege than to have God with us. 

As Oswald Chambers says in My Utmost For His Highest (October 11): "When you cannot hear God, you will find that He has trusted you in the most intimate way possible - with absolute silence ..." 

With a recent and apparent season of silence, I give thanks and acknowledge the sign of intimacy that can be found in his silence. My response? As Oswald Chambers says it is to praise him.

"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen." (1Timothy 1:17 NKJV)

Ramona Furst can often be found out of doors with her husband and two Labrador Retrievers. If she is not hiking, skiing or kayaking Ramona is in her office writing or painting.

Intentional Wanderings by Lorilee Guenter

 Each year, when we put up a new calendar, we are bombarded with tips on goal setting, and on the value (or lack thereof) of resolutions. Each year, there is great discussion about taking the opportunity to evaluate where we have been and decide where we are going. I often find myself resisting this tug of our culture. I don't set goals and I don't like resolutions. However, I also do not want to wander through life aimlessly. Thankfully I don't have to.

God is always leading. He does not wait for a date on the calendar. He does not wait for us to put together a perfect plan because He already has. Sometimes He reveals His plan one step at a time, sometimes many steps. Sometimes we understand what He is asking, sometimes we don't until later. Always He promises He will be with us. Throughout Scripture we read "Do not be afraid for I am with you." In Ephesians 2, we are told He has prepared works in advance for us. As I meditate on this, I find myself more and more disenchanted with the whole new year, new you messaging. 

Sometime during the past fall, the word intentional started showing up in conversation, in reading and then in random ways throughout my day. I started to contemplate this word in relation to my activities and in relation to God's leading in my life. I found myself thinking about why I say yes or no to questions and opportunities. I found the tension surrounding goals disappeared when I ceased trying to set a plan and instead looked to take intentional action and leave intentional space letting God set the plan and the rhythm.

This winter, in addition to the word intentional, I find I am meditating on and mulling over the theme of do not be afraid for I am with you. God tells His people at various times: I am with you. I am going ahead of you. I will show you. I am going to prepare a place. The theme of God with us is woven throughout His story and ours. I do not know what the next step is. I do know that God is already working out the details. When I pause long enough to listen to His guidance and take intentional action, but not so long as to let fear interfere, I will see the journey unfold in God's timing and it probably will be unlike what I would have planned. 

A Christmas Carol Brought to Life by Wendy L. Macdonald

 

A Christmas carol that was brought to life also brought tears to my eyes. Although we didn’t attend the Campbell River Baptist Church at the time, word reached us that they hosted the best Christmas event of the season. We anticipated the 30-minute drive to get there would be worth every kilometer. Some events are worth suffering a long lineup of waiting; this is how it was one December evening in 1994 as we attended their live Nativity.

A long line of couples, families, and singles waited outside the ancient “city of Bethlehem” that was carefully—and no doubt prayerfully—reenacted by a team of church volunteers. 

As our section of the lineup approached the re-creation of the little town where Jesus was born, we heard sheep bleat, smelled fresh baked bread, and spotted people dressed as though they’d just stepped out of the Book of Matthew. The night air was cold against our skin, but as soon as we entered the little town of Bethlehem, we were too distracted to mind. The busyness of the Christmas story came to life all around us. 

A man dressed in humble robes shouted prophecies about Jesus and about man’s need to repent. While he spoke words I recognized from Scripture, other actors and actresses bustled about selling food, wares, or tending to their livestock. My face no longer felt stiff from cold, but I felt the strain of my wide smiles as they stretched taut over thawing cheekbones. I inhaled and meditated upon the sights, sounds, and smells swirling before me.

We meandered through the crowd and cluster of commerce, for in those Bible days wages were desperately needed to buy goods, foods, and services for families struggling to survive during the oppression of the Roman Empire. 

Suffering comes in all sorts and sizes of circumstances; my cross at the time was a decade-long-journey of infertility.

 When we came to the end of the town, the beauty of the live Nativity packed a poignant punch. I sucked in a sorrowful breath and exhaled a serene sigh as my emotions threatened to trickle out through tears. But I held them back and chose to think beyond myself. I gazed upon the young mother and her newborn baby as if they really were Jesus and Mary.

My heart settled calm like a baby cradled in loving arms as I marveled afresh what God had done for mankind—for me. 

God with us is the most generous gift ever given and received. 

Yes, a child of my own would be wonderful. But a few months before this night, I had chosen to trust God with my desire. I had chosen to believe He would either take my grief away or fill my arms with a child of my own.

Emmanuel is a marvelous gift to us that reminds us anything is possible with God. Anything. He can settle a heart broken by barrenness. He can fill an empty womb. He can bring joy in ways we never hoped or imagined. God with us means we never need to suffer alone. We never need to pretend all is well; we can bring our sorrow to God’s always overflowing well of hope. He is with us to comfort us, to carry us, and to lead us with love.  

After twelve years of infertility, God showed me I could walk through this valley with palatable peace and sincere joy. 

For so long I avoided places that reminded me of my barrenness. I had stopped going to baby showers. I had refused to go to church on Mother’s Day, and I stayed miles away from young mothers. 

But one day God plopped me in the middle of a bunch of mothers-to-be and showed me I could survive the grief if I shared my sorrow with Him. For years I’d bottled it up. I feared feeling the sting and ache of empty arms. When I finally poured out my heart with unfiltered phrases and unreserved passion, God met me and filled me with a peace I couldn’t explain. It changed me. He changed me. God with us made me brave to face whatever would or wouldn’t be. 

What I didn’t realize while I was stirred by the live Nativity scene was that the life of my own child stirred inside of me. Nine months later my long lineup of waiting—of suffering—ended with the birth of my first son. God with us was indeed with me. He’d been there all along. I just needed to lean my head against His heart no matter what life brought or didn’t bring to mine.   

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:23 NIV

Christmas Blessings ~ Wendy Mac

I'm nosy-to-know if a Christmas carol has ever caused you to tear up in public? 

(Do you use Spotify? Please check out my podcast: Hope Walking. 

What's In A Name by Bob Jones

I distinctly remember the early September day in my Grade One class. For the teacher it was a routine question. For me it was transforming.

Miss Marks asked me to write down my mother’s name. I’m sure she already knew the answer because all teachers have access to their students’ personal information. Maybe it was a writing exercise or something else mundane.

I wrote down, “Mum.”

In no way was I trying to be funny or sassy. Miss Marks clearly informed me that this was not the correct answer. “Your mother has a first name. Don’t you know your mother’s name?”

Confusion set in. What? I had only known her as “Mum.” My sister called her “Mum.” Even my dad called her “Mum.” What do you mean that’s not her name? 

“Your mother’s name is ‘Irene’.”

I was incredulous. “Irene?” No one had ever called her “Irene”. How could that be? Now I felt foolish.

After school, “Mum” welcomed me home me like she always did and before there was a moment to inquire, ‘What did you learn today?’ I asked her, “Is your name, Irene?”

Since then names have fascinated me. I’m intrigued why people were given their name, what their name means and how close their character and behavior come to matching the meaning of their name.

The name “Irene” means “peace.”That was SO her.

My name “Robert” means “shining fame.”

One of the prophetic names of Jesus - “Immanuel” - means “God with us.”

So rich in promise and provision.

Its not out of proper context to make the meaning personal – “God with me.” Jesus said “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

Whenever I feel alone in facing my problems, I think – Immanuel.

In the moments when the specter of despair raises its ugly head, I think – Immanuel.

Fear’s icy fingers around my heart? Immanuel.

Loved ones challenged by ill health? Immanuel.

Grieving the loss of love or cherished ones? Immanuel.

God is with you.
God will be with you.

Peace to you for the New Year and for all your days ahead. 

Bob is a recovering perfectionist, who collects Coca-Cola memorabilia and drinks Iced Tea. His office walls are adorned with his sons’ framed football jerseys, and his library shelves, with soul food. He writes to inspire people to be real, grow an authentic faith in Jesus, enjoy healthy relationships and discover their life purpose.

Follow his writing at Pointes Of View.

Giving Meaningful Gifts – Ramona Heikel

The first impression that immediately comes to my mind at the word “gifts” is wrapped presents. At Christmas time, the idea of presents sets in motion a line of thoughts: first, the excitement of opening presents with family instilled into me as a child; next, what kinds of meaningful presents I can give to family and friends.

Although I want my gifts to be useful, I am not excited at going out and buying a small appliance, an article of clothing, or a decoration for the house.  What I really want to do is give a special gift, something related to the loved one’s unique personality or interests, that speaks of our connection and my love for them.  Many a November has been spent considering various homemade gift ideas, and this one is no exception.

Giving such ideal gifts is much harder than flying through the mall and doing all my Christmas shopping in one afternoon.  So, many times I do opt for the easy way.  But I prefer giving the gifts from the heart, the ones that cost me more in time, effort and thought.

The original Giver gives gifts from the heart.  God didn’t just stop after he gave his children gifts of light, animals, plants, natural beauty, and all the wonders of this earth. He wanted to give more, to make it personal.  He came close to people, walking and talking with them.  He pursued them when they walked away, and set up various laws and constraints with the intention of protecting and caring for them from afar.  The history of his involvement with a people who often rejected him fills the Old Testament narratives.

And that still wasn’t enough.  In spite of their disinterest in him, God then came to live among them for over thirty years as a flesh-and-blood human being, Jesus. This was the only way to show them his true personality, so they could perfectly understand the depths of his love and tender care. 

God’s gifts cost him dearly, and he did not take the easy way.  His gift was the ideal gift, the perfect gift, a gift from the heart, tailor-made for his beloved.

No wonder we celebrate so joyfully at the occasion of Jesus’ birth! 

Merry Christmas all!

* * * * * * * * * *

Well, after almost five years, I am taking a break from my monthly contribution to this blog, so this will be my last regular article.  For now, I feel like I have said just about all I have to say about writing, and you may have noticed that I’m starting to repeat myself—ha ha!  I do plan to submit a book review or other special post to this blog now and then, and to contribute my voice—online, in print, or both—writing about my faith and prayer.  I am excited to see where God leads.  A million thanks and blessings to all of you bloggers here, for all of your insight, support and faith-building posts!

Ramona Heikel

Happilywriting.com