Advent: Dec. 9th

ADVENT WEEK 2 ~ PEACE

SEEN Luke 2: 17-18
"When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them
about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them."

EYES OF
OUR
HEARTS
I like verbs. Verbs are action words. The "do-er get 'er done" part of me likes action, especially action that leads to a Christ-centered result.    What are the verbs in the verse above?   What do all these actions lead to?    What focus and what feelings do they result in?
Jesus was just a baby, yet when they had "seen" him, the effect He had on them and others was that they were "amazed".   I believe God gave them eyes of faith, opened the eyes of their hearts, to discern His HOLY presence beyond his physical form. They could have easily arrived to find Mary, Joseph and just another baby amongst throngs of people and babies. Bethlehem was crowded, people everywhere, no room at any Inn. It is likely that Mary was not the only one birthing a baby there. There's really no reason for this ordinary occurrence to extraordinarily draw "men", and men from another culture, into and across cultural norms of a strictly religiously segregated women's role in birthing and infant care. Clearly, this was no ordinary baby. Jesus was already drawing ALL from far and wide across their homogeneous cultural divides into unity with Himself. Had the shepherds been of this culture's common ancestry they would have already been in Bethlehem to be accountable to the census decree ~ but they weren't. They were there at God's greater decree and accountability.

Philippians 2: 10-11
"that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow,
      in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
      to the glory of God the Father."

Have you seen God right there in front of you in the person you didn't expect? In the age you didn't expect? In the race or ethnicity you didn't expect? In the social-economic circumstances you didn't expect? Would you venture outside your culture and homogeneous comfort zone to meet with Him?

God is the same, yesterday, today and forever. He lives and is omnipresent. He is indeed, right in front of you. I believe with all my heart that we all can discern God's presence with us. Especially if we pray and ask God for faith, renewed faith, or increased gifts of faith. This is certainly a prayer in keeping with God's will, and what a great gift to receive this Christmas! Scripture says we have not, because we ask not. Ask and you shall receive; knock and the door shall open.

PRAYER:    Lord, hear my prayers ...

BLESSED ARE YOU Matthew 13:16
But blessed are YOUR eyes because they see, and YOUR ears because they hear.

MY PRAYER LORD, give me eyes to see you, ears to hear you, and a heart to follow you, always and forever. I want all that you have for me, and for those I know and love. Pour out great gifts of faith in unending measure to me and all your children Lord. Help me see how amazing you are and to live every moment in the wonder of You; in the pulse of You. ~ AMEN!

Traditions From Around The World

India

Only a small percentage of the Indian households celebrate the Christmas faith, and yet decorating for the season seems to permeate even non Christian households in every village. Houses are typically decorated in greenery, mango leaves, strings of light and the “Star of Bethlehem” is hung inside the home. Small personalized gifts are the norm and are exchanged even in non Christian homes.

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Psalm 19:14

SEEN	Luke 2: 17-18 "When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them."
EYES OF OUR HEARTS	I like verbs. Verbs are action words. The "do-er get 'er done" part of me likes action, especially action that leads to a Christ-centered result. What are the verbs in the verse above? What do all these actions lead to? What focus and what feelings do they result in? Jesus was just a baby, yet when they had "seen" him, the effect He had on them and others was that they were "amazed". I believe God gave them eyes of faith, opened the eyes of their hearts, to discern His HOLY presence beyond his physical form. They could have easily arrived to find Mary, Joseph and just another baby amongst throngs of people and babies. Bethlehem was crowded, people everywhere, no room at any Inn. It is likely that Mary was not the only one birthing a baby there. There's really no reason for this ordinary occurrence to extraordinarily draw "men", and men from another culture, into and across cultural norms of a strictly religiously segregated women's role in birthing and infant care. Clearly, this was no ordinary baby. Jesus was already drawing ALL from far and wide across their homogeneous cultural divides into unity with Himself. Had the shepherds been of this culture's common ancestry they would have already been in Bethlehem to be accountable to the census decree ~ but they weren't. They were there at God's greater decree and accountability. Philippians 2: 10-11 "that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Have you seen God right there in front of you in the person you didn't expect? In the age you didn't expect? In the race or ethnicity you didn't expect? In the social-economic circumstances you didn't expect? Would you venture outside your culture and homogeneous comfort zone to meet with Him? God is the same, yesterday, today and forever. He lives and is omnipresent. He is indeed, right in front of you. I believe with all my heart that we all can discern God's presence with us. Especially if we pray and ask God for faith, renewed faith, or increased gifts of faith. This is certainly a prayer in keeping with God's will, and what a great gift to receive this Christmas! Scripture says we have not, because we ask not. Ask and you shall receive; knock and the door shall open. PRAYER: Lord, hear my prayers ...
BLESSED ARE YOU	Matthew 13:16 But blessed are YOUR eyes because they see, and YOUR ears because they hear.
MY PRAYER	LORD, give me eyes to see you, ears to hear you, and a heart to follow you, always and forever. I want all that you have for me, and for those I know and love. Pour out great gifts of faith in unending measure to me and all your children Lord. Help me see how amazing you are and to live every moment in the wonder of You; in the pulse of You. ~ AMEN!