Well, Advent begins next Sunday, and I will tell you that I am very ready for the journey that Advent takes us on. Within the last month I have attended two funerals of young people, and it has been a year in which I found myself officiating the funerals of beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. It's cold and rainy outside, its depressing, yet hope is on the way, the light will shine, and hope will be illuminated to the world.
We have witnessed events of devastation on this earth as well as violence locally and around the world, but yet we find ourselves more then ready for the season of Advent. Last week our church talked about Christ's second coming and God's promise to his people in which Christ paid the price for us on the cross. While we wait with joy for "That Great Getting Up Morning", we place our faithfulness and trust in the fact that Christ will return when God is ready.
While we wait for the sound of glorious trumpets and Christ descending from the clouds, we also gather in expectation of the coming of the Christ Child that Christmas brings. "Yes" I'm more then ready for Advent and as we gather the first week of Advent (Hope Sunday), I'm needing the true illumination of Christ's shining light to fall on me, to envelop me with it's radiance of love and promise.
And again, Isaiah says, "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him." May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 15:12-13).
My prayer is that those of you that have experienced loss, distress, and hopelessness, allow yourselves also to be illumined by the light of hope that the Christ child brings. Bask in God's promises revealed and kept, and let it restore you with the hope that only Jesus Christ can bring.
Let The Son Shine This Christmas
Pastor Tim
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