(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)
Let us consider the Holy Scriptures:
Micah 5:2-5a
5:2 But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.
5:2 But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.
5:3 Therefore he shall give them up until the
time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred
shall return to the people of Israel.
5:4 And he shall stand and feed his flock in
the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And
they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth;
5:5 and he shall be the one of peace.
5:5 and he shall be the one of peace.
Luke 1:46b-55
1:46b "My soul magnifies the Lord,
1:47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
1:48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
1:46b "My soul magnifies the Lord,
1:47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
1:48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
1:49 For the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
1:50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
1:51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
1:52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
1:53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
1:54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy.
1:55 According to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
As we
light the fourth candle we begin to think of the future and the things to
come. We are looking for our Messiah,
and the prophet Micah predicted that he would arrive.
Are you looking for the One of Peace?
Can you imagine what that will bring about?
It happened then as He came to us in the form of a child, and it will happen again as He comes to us in the form or a mighty King!
For many, these things came right before their eyes and they did not even notice. They had not been looking or seeking, and they could not see the miracle!
Let us be like the shepherds and angels and wise men who knew and understood and saw what was happening with wide-open eyes giving glory to God as each moment passed by and each miracle of God appeared on the earth!
Are you looking for the One of Peace?
Can you imagine what that will bring about?
It happened then as He came to us in the form of a child, and it will happen again as He comes to us in the form or a mighty King!
For many, these things came right before their eyes and they did not even notice. They had not been looking or seeking, and they could not see the miracle!
Let us be like the shepherds and angels and wise men who knew and understood and saw what was happening with wide-open eyes giving glory to God as each moment passed by and each miracle of God appeared on the earth!
Let us forget our fears and take
hope in what this means for our future.
For one to say they have lost hope is for one to say they do not believe in Messiah!
We must NEVER lose hope!
Hope will not come in the form of human governments; but it will come from a heavenly place in the form of a Mighty Messiah, with a government that is higher and above all that man could ever think, dream or do.
For one to say they have lost hope is for one to say they do not believe in Messiah!
We must NEVER lose hope!
Hope will not come in the form of human governments; but it will come from a heavenly place in the form of a Mighty Messiah, with a government that is higher and above all that man could ever think, dream or do.
Let us not look to the world around us but to heaven above us.
Let the hopeless human voices drown in the distance and listen carefully for the angel's songs.
He is coming!
Let the hopeless human voices drown in the distance and listen carefully for the angel's songs.
He is coming!
Let us try to reach the sad and hurting world around us by
displaying the joy of heaven to them in the specially wrapped package of friendship and love.
If anything can bring hope to the hopeless it is for those who have been saved by love to show that same love.
In this season of hopefulness let us share our hope by loving one another.
If anything can bring hope to the hopeless it is for those who have been saved by love to show that same love.
In this season of hopefulness let us share our hope by loving one another.
Let us take the attitude of Mary as she sang
her song to God in thankfulness and gratitude.
Have you found the joy that comes from the hope?
It is there and you MUST find it!
Mary knew joy and she lived it out every second of her life.
She found a way when there seemed to be no way to give glory to God and to be content to fulfill His destiny for her life.
Joy is knowing a plan of God is being fulfilled!
The greatest joy comes from realizing YOU are living right in the midst of it!
Every single second of time holds it's own wonder.
God is not wasteful. He created every moment for a purpose. You are a part of that purpose, just as Mary was.
There is a high and holy reason for each moment that you take air into your lungs. You must find that reason and let it happen!
Open your eyes and discover this miracle!
Mary did not consider her lowly state in the eyes of men, she looked at the miracle from God that she was allowed to participate in. Let us do the same on this fourth Sunday. Let us all be like Mary and humbly offer ourselves to the fulfillment of God's plan.
Let the fourth candle ignite a spark in our hearts that grows into a flame that brings hope and love to all the earth; the pure hope and love that rains down from heaven when God's people do God's perfect will.
Let us boldly proclaim the glad tidings throughout he land that a Savior is coming and all hope is not lost!
For this O God we are eternally grateful and we offer up our thanks and praise!
Have you found the joy that comes from the hope?
It is there and you MUST find it!
Mary knew joy and she lived it out every second of her life.
She found a way when there seemed to be no way to give glory to God and to be content to fulfill His destiny for her life.
Joy is knowing a plan of God is being fulfilled! The greatest joy comes from realizing YOU are living right in the midst of it!
Every single second of time holds it's own wonder.
God is not wasteful. He created every moment for a purpose. You are a part of that purpose, just as Mary was.
There is a high and holy reason for each moment that you take air into your lungs. You must find that reason and let it happen!
Open your eyes and discover this miracle!
Mary did not consider her lowly state in the eyes of men, she looked at the miracle from God that she was allowed to participate in. Let us do the same on this fourth Sunday. Let us all be like Mary and humbly offer ourselves to the fulfillment of God's plan.
Let the fourth candle ignite a spark in our hearts that grows into a flame that brings hope and love to all the earth; the pure hope and love that rains down from heaven when God's people do God's perfect will.
Let us boldly proclaim the glad tidings throughout he land that a Savior is coming and all hope is not lost!
For this O God we are eternally grateful and we offer up our thanks and praise!
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