Romans 12:12. Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.
The songbirds, the crocuses, and the buds of the forsythia are welcome signs of Spring after Winter especially an icy windy one. These are signs of hope that after the cold, tiresome days of Winter there will be the warm sunny days of Spring. A gardener understands this sense of hope when he plants bulbs in the Fall. He sows them in the cold ground knowing that he will have to wait until Spring to see them burst out of the sun-warmed soil. He patiently waits through the endless frozen days of Winter confident that when the temperatures rise and the ground warms, the crocuses, daffodils, and tulips will explode in fireworks of color, a spectacular reminder of God’s majesty and creativity.
We as children of God need this patience too as we pray for God’s will to be done during this time of uncertainty in our lives. We plant the bulb of prayer in times of struggles and trials in ground that appears to be frozen. We must be faithful and patient knowing that in God’s time the Spring will come, and the bulb of prayer will burst forth. So, as we wait in our Winter of struggles and trials, we know that we are sustained by God and that Spring will come. In Colossians 1:11, the Apostle Paul writes, “God will strengthen you with his own great power so that you will not give up when troubles come, but you will be patient!” Our patience and faith will give us an abundant display of beauty. May these words from Thomas Chisholm strengthen us through those winter days of prayer as we look to Spring and the end of our uncertainty.
Pray on! Pray on! Cease not to pray,
And should the answer tarry, wait;
Thy God will come, will surely come,
And He can never come too late. — Thomas Chisholm
People brought little children to him, for him to lay his hands on them and say a prayer. The disciples turned them away, but Jesus said, “Let the little children alone and do not stop them coming to me; for it is as such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” Then he laid his hands on them and went on his way.
In the 30 years that I taught in a Christian preschool, some parents would confide that the most difficult story to tell (or NOT to tell) their children was the story of Christ’s death on the cross. Easter was “fine and dandy with sugar candy”, its commercialized Easter Bunny, and egg hunts. Families enjoyed dressing up and going to church on Easter Sunday, and would maybe add Palm Sunday to the list, if they were not frequent churchgoers. The topic of the cross and the events of Holy Week were put on the back burner, and oftentimes, left to the preschool to teach.
But what to tell the little ones? Especially if some parents really didn’t know what they believed, which seemed to be the real crux of the problem if the subject arose. How do you talk about the events of Holy Week without recognizing the force of evil in the world, and its specific target of God Himself? After a little digging, most of these questions arose from those who didn’t really believe that there was such a thing as sin in the world. Therefore, why the need for a Savior, Christ, to die for it? In other words, “Let’s just skip to Easter…”
As for the little ones, they were fascinated with Children’s Bible stories of the Last Supper, the washing of the disciples’ feet, and the Garden of Gethsemane, all of which we reenacted. Whenever we talked about Jesus on the cross, we always followed up with the sentence- “BUT, He didn’t stay dead… Three days later, what happened? HE ROSE AGAIN!” In this way, the events of Holy Week ended with the victory, anticipation and joy of Easter morning, which we celebrated the whole week afterwards with stories like “The Road to Emmaus” and “Breakfast on the Beach”.
It is easy to take the road that the disciples took when the children really wanted to know who Jesus was- keep them in the background, don’t let them get close to the Truth, and “this is serious business, we have no time for play….” But Jesus said, “Let them come to Me- this is what I want my kingdom to be like. Questions and all…”
When looking to the season of Lent, one can look at Joel 2:12-13, which states:
“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.”
If you look back in previous weeks, this passage is one that comes up continually, for good reason, as this passage relates well to this season.
Lent is a season of preparation; one of two such seasons in the Christian year, the other being Advent. This season is one where the faithful are called upon to prepare to meet the Resurrected Lord on Easter. Early in the church’s existence, this was also a time when new members would practice the spiritual disciplines as they prepared to be baptized at dawn on Easter.
All too often today we are tempted to use this season as a means of kicking a bad habit. We talk about what we are giving up for Lent, often then indulging on Easter. I am guilty of doing that very thing when I would give up donuts for Lent, only to over indulge on Easter morning.
The reason for giving something up is meant to help us grow closer to God. As the prophet Joel noted, the reason for the fasting, weeping, mourning, and the rending of hearts and clothing was to draw closer to God. The giving up of something is meant to free us to draw closer to God. This idea is why some would take on a new spiritual practice instead of giving something up.
At this point, we can see that Easter is coming. Now is a time to intentionally draw near to God. Take the time, either through refraining from something or taking something new on and seek God. As the prophet said, return to the Lord your God. For though we do not deserve it, God is reaching out to us and gives us hope through the suffering, death, and ultimate Resurrection of Christ.
Joel 2:12. “Yet even now,” says the Lord, “Turn back to Me with all of your hearts and with fasting, weeping and lamenting. Rend your hearts, rather than your garments, and turn back to the Lord your God for He is gracious, and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and renouncing punishment. Who knows but He may turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind for meal offering and drink offering to the Lord your God?”
The Lenten season begs more introspection of our spiritual state than any other church season of the year. Instead of celebration, fasting and mourning help us concentrate on Jesus’ short life and the events leading to His impending death. The “why’s” of what He had to suffer are made clearer, His substitutionary death on the cross for us, made more personal. And yet, the surprise of the Resurrection, available to all, on Easter! This poem was written last year during Lent as I read the words from Joel:
At 88 years old I have some very fond memories of Lent. Growing up in a relatively small town, it was a very different time. Church was important to most people. The Blue Laws were still in affect which meant all stores closed around 5:00 PM on Saturday and remained closed until Monday morning. Going to church on Sunday was the main and only event for most families.
One of my memories concerning Lent, started with Ash Wednesday. The churches would have Wednesday afternoon services and high school students could be excused to attend, with a note from the parents. I remember walking from High School on 16th street to down town with friends to attend the services at Church. The services explained the meaning and reasons why and how we celebrated the Lenten season. On Good Friday the services changed to an earlier Friday service, and we were excused earlier in order to be in time for the services at 3:00, the time Christ died on the cross.
One particular Friday Service left a lasting impression on me. As we were walking, the skies changed from a beautiful sunny afternoon to a dark cloudy sky. The closer to 3:00, the darker the sky got. By the time we arrived at church it began to lightening across the dark sky. We all looked at each other and discussed how this was probably how the sky had turned dark as Christ died and the Temple curtain split on that Good Friday Christ died for each of us. This experience made this Good Friday Service more meaningful and special for each of us.
Matthew 18:10. “Tell me. Suppose a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays; will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go in search of the stray? I tell you solemnly, if he finds it, it gives him more joy than do the ninety-nine that did not stray at all. Similarly, it is never the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.”
The music of Lent is somber, reflecting the steps that Christ took towards Jerusalem in His final days. We cannot fully comprehend the love that drove Jesus to the cross. We cannot fully understand His sorrow as He looked over Jerusalem and wept for His people, as He still must today.
As a musician, God sometimes brings songs to my mind. The melody was the simplest He has ever given- almost childlike, which seemed fitting to the scripture.
Your Love For Me
Wretched sinner though I am, still You love me, Lord.
I have often turned away, from Your Holy Word.
Though I’ve wandered far from You, You’re still there with Me.
Like a sheep I’ve gone astray- come and rescue me!
There are paths I should not take, things I should not do.
Then I hear Your kind voice say- just to trust in You.
Through the valley, it is dark; still I move ahead…
Till I see Your glorious light through the fear and dread.
Lord, I am Your little lamb- hold me in Your arms.
Save me from my wandering, save me from all harms.
Bring me back into the fold, safe and warm and free.
Gentle Savior: thank You, Lord, for Your love for me.
Many Christians approach Lent considering that they must give up something. Surrendering something to remind us of the upcoming Easter Season can be important for enriching our faith journey. A discipline that you may want to consider is one that goes back for years and years but is seldom practiced today, that is fasting. Please ponder these Scriptures today.
Joel 2:12 “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” (NIV)
Matthew 6:16-18 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (NIV)
For those that are familiar with the history of John Wesley may know that for many years he practiced the discipline of fasting for 30 hours each week. His fast lasted from Thursday afternoon through Friday at supper time. The rationale was to mimic a time to remind the observer of the Last Supper, the trial, and Crucifixion of Our Lord. From time to time, youth groups have added a 30 hour fast to their retreats. Have you ever considered adding a fast to your spiritual walk?
On a personal note, I have tried to follow a fast like Wesley off and on, especially over Lent for several years. It is not as intimidating nor as uncomfortable as most people expect. People may claim they could never do that, or it would be too unpleasant. I can assure you from personal experience that fasting for 30 hours is not impossible. It is important to continue to drink sufficient fluids and remain hydrated. A pang or two of hunger can prompt us to think about our Lord’s sacrifice. You might want to use the time gained from skipping a few meals for added prayer or study Scripture. Put a smile on your face when you feel a little hungry. Rather than longing for food perhaps it would be better to long to feel God’s love, to long to be more like Jesus, and to long that the Holy Spirit would use you to reach those lost or hurting.
Prayer
Dear Lord, may this Lenten season be a time when we think deeply about your sacrifice on our behalf. Please draw us closer to you, may our lives become better reflections of you. Amen
Philippians 4:4-7 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonablenessbe known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Have you experience the peace which surpasses all understanding? It’s easy to have peace when everything is peaceful. I’ve experienced some wonderful times of peace, but they have come on so few occasions in my life. I remember one of my first experiences of peace came during a retreat at a camp when I was off by myself in prayer experiencing God’s presence in a very special way. I recall on a vacation trip to visit our daughter and family in Colorado, Marcie and I stopped in Wyoming at Devils Tower (of all places) and sat peacefully relaxing on a bench while we watch two climbers climb the tower. I’ve experienced peace on several occasions relaxing on the beach with a book while listening to the waves lap on the shore. Probably, one of my most relaxing days of peace occurred on the first working day after I retired and I could totally relax on our porch with all the pressures of work off my shoulders. But do these experiences of peace come anywhere close to the “peace of God which surpasses all understanding” that Paul mentions in Philippians 4:7?
Isaiah 9:6 states that a child would be born whose name would be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Jesus stated to His disciples in John 16:33 that in Him they may have peace. In the world they will have tribulation. But they should take heart because Jesus said “I have overcome the world.” In Romans 15:13, Paul state “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Notice that in this one sentence Paul uses three of the meanings of the Advent Candles – hope, joy and peace.)
Paul was familiar with the people living in Philippi, having visited there as described in Acts 16, where he baptized Lydia and other new Christians. But he and Silas were also attacked, beaten with rods and thrown into prison. While in prison, he and Silas must have experienced the “peace that surpasses all understanding,” since it was there that they were praying and singing hymns to God, when suddenly there was a great earthquake, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. It all turned out well for Paul and Silas with the jailer and his family being baptized, with the charges against Paul and Silas being dropped, and the officials apologized before letting them go (in peace).
Is not the same peace available for us today? Can we experience the same peace which surpasses all understanding as we deal with all the problems, frustrations and unexpected delays with planting New Life Global Methodist Church here in State College. I believe we can, because God is ultimately in charge, is totally on our side, and knows exactly what is going on. Our troubles are minor when compared to those of many Christians around the world. This Christmas we can greatly thank God for His peace.
Prayer Forgive us Lord if we’ve let any of the obstacles, frustrations, disappointments and troubles of life take away from us Your peace that can, and does, surpass all understanding. Help us always to be connected closely to Jesus, knowing that He is the way, the truth, the life and is the ultimate source of your perfect peace.
See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.” With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation! In that wonderful day you will sing: “Thank the Lord! Praise his name! Tell the nations what he has done. Let them know how mighty he is! Sing to the Lord, for he has done wonderful things. Make known his praise around the world. Let all the people of Jerusalem shout his praise with joy! For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you.”
The Advent theme of joy is celebrated during this week. If you were raised in the Roman Catholic Church and your local parish used the Latin Mass, you might remember that this Sunday is known as Gaudete Sunday, a Latin term meaning “rejoice.”
Of course the word “advent” implies that there is or was a coming event of significance. Like “We lived on a farm near Potters Mills before the advent of rural electricity!” The early Christian Church determined that there was a spiritual and pragmatic need to create a season of preparation before the celebration of the Savior’s birth. They believed that it would be far too easy to make this celebration into something that tried to simply create a time of feeling good without any real connection to the spiritual reality that was the real meaning and significance of this holiday! Perhaps some might seek to make money off of these good feelings without any understanding or appreciation that this baby would be born to eventually redeem all of humankind from the power of Sin with a capital “S”!
In Luke 2:10, the angel announces Jesus’ birth to the shepherds, saying, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” This message captures the joy of Advent: God’s promise fulfilled in the birth of Christ.
Advent joy calls us to pause and appreciate the presence of God in our lives, looking forward to the fullness of joy that Jesus Christ Himself brings into a human life! This joy isn’t merely happiness—it’s a profound, resilient gladness that is rooted in God’s love and His promises.
So why should we rejoice beyond the reason for the season? I mean it looks like the world is going, as the phrase goes, to Hell in a “handbasket”?? By the way, that phrase did not originate with the 2011 CD of the same name by Meatloaf! It may go back to the days when the guillotine was used to execute criminals who were presumed to be on their way to Hades. But, I digress.
Are not you tempted to despair at the moment if you ever watch, read or listen to the news?? I mean when we look at any area of our society aside from genuine science, it seems that someone has opened the doors of the asylums and that the inmates are now running the place. For instance, why can’t a letter go from our area to Harrisburg without going to Altoona and Pittsburgh first??
Why does a young guy without a medical degree get to decide if a procedure that my doctor has deemed necessary, will be paid for by my health insurance? Seems to me that my doctor, with 10 years of training and 20 years of practice experience, should have the last word! That some kid fresh out of college gets to make the call on whether my insurance company will pay for this procedure is just plain nuts!
Oh, and even more insane, is that fact that some people are calling the young man who shot an unarmed man in the back on a Manhattan Street a “hero”?!? He is no hero by any stretch of logic! What has our nation come to when anyone could call a cold blood murder of an unarmed man a “hero”??
How can we rejoice when living in such an upside down world? During a time where depression is at an all-time high, why in the world would we try to whip up anything resembling “joy”??
And yet the Apostle Paul would write to the church in Philippi: “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.” The first readers of that letter, probably expected that since Jesus was resurrected not too long ago that He would no doubt also soon come down from heaven to bring the Kingdom of God to earth. They did not realize that they and you and I were given a somewhat related job description: to make the Kingdom of God visible during our lifetimes.
Ok, now about those shepherds. I’ve never met a real shepherd? The shepherds of the first century were the no-bodies of their time. If you couldn’t get a job anywhere else—you could probably qualify as an apprentice shepherd. I bet that one or two of the shepherd’s in this scene were apprentices!
During the middle of the night, the darkest time, the sky became bright with too many angels to count and the shepherds encountered angels. So, this Sunday’s candle on the Advent Wreath is also known as the Shepherd Candle to highlight the joy the shepherds experienced when they received the good news about Christ’s birth. The no-body’s now had a champion—a Savior! Rome would be on the way out once this little guy grew up and they could finally rejoice—even the no-body’s!
You and I can rejoice too! In the chaos that is America in 2024-2025, you and I are preparing to celebrate the birth of the One whom we know as Savior and Lord! Even when we feel like we’re the nobody’s, we know that the angels came to proclaim blessings beyond imagination.
We can be confident that no matter how crazier things may seem in the coming years, there is One who has revealed Himself in the Book of Revelation with these titles:
Him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.
Him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.
Him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.
The Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze?
Him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
Him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.
If you realize that this is the Living God revealed as the Risen Son, The one to whom you have bowed your whole life—you can rejoice! You can look forward to hearing the words which we sang earlier: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” And again, I say, “Rejoice!”
Joy is the third week of Advent’s theme. It somewhat ironic because by this time most of us are lucky to be feeling tolerable let alone joy. We find that the weeks after Thanksgiving can seem more like a marathon than a time to prepare our hearts for Christmas. As we navigate these weeks filled with commitments, shopping, cooking, etc. we find that this yuletide season is a recipe to be Ebenezer Scrooge (pre ghosts encounters) rather than like the shepherds on that fateful night. It creates a recipe which gives us a joyless Christmas.
A Joyless Christmas
1 stick of neglecting prayer
½ cup of social media viewing
½ cup of lost time in meaningless activities
2 cups of endless shopping and preparations
2 teaspoons of envy
1 teaspoon of regret
1 teaspoon of frustration
1 cup of unforgiveness
Preheat. Cream the first three ingredients fully. Then add the remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly. Pour in a beautiful Christmas pan and bake until you are done or Christmas comes.
Yikes! That is often how it turns out since we have the best of intentions as we begin with our Advent devotional, a Bible reading plan, and other accoutrements of a Christian journeying with Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and then enters life hijacking our trip. The question is then how can we maintain our joy especially when the world around us is siphoning it out of us?
Let’s look to the shepherds to see joy. They were watching over their sheep that night when an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and they were terrified. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great JOY for all the people. (Luke 2:8-10) That Good News is joy! Knowing that we have a Father who loves us so much that He would send His only son to die for us is our joy. Yet, the realities of life overshadow it with a plethora of emotions that leave us lost and alone. So, what can we do to maintain and grow our joy? If there is a recipe for a joyless Christmas, I would contend that there is one for a joyful Christmas and all the days of our lives.
Joyful Christmas
1 stick of prayer
½ cup of Advent devotionals
½ cup of time listening to the Holy Spirit in daily life
2 cups of time in reading the Bible
2 teaspoons of gratitude
1 teaspoon of solitude with God
1 teaspoon of being salt to the world
1 cup of forgiving and repenting
Preheat the home, church, and community. Cream the first three ingredients fully. Then add the remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly. Pour in a beautiful Christmas pan and bake until a fragrant aroma is emitted. Then share with a broken and hurting world daily.
Amid the challenges of the days leading to Christmas and of our lives, we can find joy in these circumstances just as Paul did when he was unfairly imprisoned in Rome. Paul maintained his focus on the Lord while seeing the good that was the result of the trials as he was submitting to God’s will. Just as a cook must have skills to create a delicious recipe, we too as Christians should have in our repertoire to pray without ceasing, read the Bible daily, walk with the Holy Spirit, and other disciplines so that we will grow our joy. Our focus must always be on Jesus who came that Christmas day to die on the cross for our sins; that is our joy in knowing He is our Savior. Please join in this Advent prayer for joy.
Almighty God, We thank you for the season of Advent. May we be like the shepherds on that night so that we too may know and share the glad tidings of great Joywith all people. Help us to grow closer to You so that we will find joy in all circumstances, the good as well as the challenging. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
