I wonder how close you are to Bethlehem today? Right now! Right where you are, in the middle of a million things, a million thoughts, and a million worries? In the middle of COVID, and its conundrum of threat, fear and anxiety that’s come and nestled quite rudely into our Christmas celebrations? I wonder, can you reach out and touch the town sign that says its name, “Bethlehem,” or are you feeling veered off, lost and off track? Has the perplexity and complexity of it all gotten in and taken your hope, your joy and your peace down the garden path?
See it there then today, with your soul eyes. “Bethlehem!” Ah yes, there it is….
I wonder if you remember or even know the Hope born there that night in that crude stable, is as close as your heartbeat? Does the awesome gift of Hope from God resonate and radiate within you and from you? Does it affect your everyday living? Your thinking? Can you feel the depth of its magnitude deep in your soul, or have you sunk deep into that horrible conundrum of busy-ness and COVID chaos?
What a sweet gift the baby “Jesus” presented to the world in that wretched manger of straw surrounded by everything ‘less than perfect!’ Grasp, if you will, that picture of Hope for a broken and imperfect world! Not a COVID world but a sin world! Then reach out to receive a fresh touch for you! Thing is, it’s so much more than Hope isn’t it? Hope brings a joy and a peace of mind and a really gentle hug from God to message us that it’s ok. Everything really is ok”, and in that “million and one things” to do list, His gift of Hope is the stable banner at the top to get you through.
Hope in Jesus, our Saviour? Yeah, it’s our salvation for the soul of us in these crazy days and the help for our day ahead, no matter what’s on the plate.
Because He came, Hope is our gift to receive and recycle to keep on giving. So you see, it’s all well and good! The birthing event of our Savior in Bethlehem, even though so long ago is really very close because the Hope He gave to the world that night, is His promise to us and still ours to receive! It’s a sweet gift that keeps on giving to our soul time and time again. So So amazing too, is that as we can share it with others so they can be brought closer to Bethlehem in their journey of chaos, broken and hopeless. When Hope wells up within, don’t underestimate the power of it within your circles of influence! It’s contagious! It’s lovely and it’s peaceful! Oh so peaceful!
❤
#Advent #GiftofHope
So ’tis the season to be jolly?
Remember Him? He’s the Saviour of your day! Your life, your week, and your busy season of life. So, ok, beautiful one, as His child, whatever season you’re in, you can know He’s walking with you! Right along beside! So whatever you do right now, collect your messy thoughts and usher your busy, crazy world right into His sweet and powerful presence for some healing and some quiet. So now, there you are with your whole heart, smack dab in the presence of your amazing God, Maker, Creator, Savior, and Lord. What now? Well, just savour the Saviour and find His grace enough to dissipate those fears hidden in the shadows of that darkness! Yeah, You’ll find enough peace there for the hectic, enough mercy there for miles you’ve trod, enough healing to rejuvenate the weary! You’ll find enough grace there too, for the moment, enough Light there for road and enough hope there to keep you on keeping on! Oh yeah, and that ‘goodwill “To Do” platter? Well, relax with it, it will be full and running over, just like your heart of joy and gratitude to the One who cares so deeply for your beautiful soul. So, beautiful you, while COVID runs crazy and the busy gets up and running wild in the days ahead, take a time out to get alone with the One who knows you upside and downside and confirm with the Psalmist as he pens in Psalm 97: 10 b, “He protects the lives of His godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked. Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right.”Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
#becauseofBethlehem
The Good news is, the King can! The One Sovereign King can do it! He’s got the broken pieces! He’s got the skills! He’s got the plan! He’s got the mercy! He’s got the grace! His life was broken too, so yours wouldn’t have to be. Because He was crushed for you, He’s got life for you! And while He holds you in those arms that carried His cross of death, He’s got you in those skilled hands that took the nails! Those same divine hands that healed the sick, and yeah that raised the dead to new life. He’s in the business of putting lives back together again. Reach out to Him! Get with His program and let Him teach you! Allow Him to work His custom plan from the ground up in your life! God’s words through His prophet, Isaiah, to a stubborn and rebellious people, are words for us today in Isaiah 48:17,
Although it’s a promise first spoken to Israel, It’s a relevant message for those of us travelling this journey of life in need of guidance and help along the way. For those of us who’ve done Humpty Dumpty’s off the wall. So, those broken pieces are fixable, our part is to simply and humbly bend down to pick them up and hand them over and let our Sovereign King do the transforming work in us!
Hope and Healing In Hard Places 