Third Week of Advent -Joy

Luke 2:14
 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Hebrews 12:2-3 
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

A prayer of Thanksgiving for the Joy of the Cross

Holy Father,

     We thank you for the Joy we experience at Christmas; the joy in giving and receiving, of Christmas present and the most Holy Christmas past.
     In these verses we read about the gift of Jesus to us on the night of His birth and we read about His death and suffering on the Cross. It is through the Cross that we received the undeserved gift of Grace, that we received the Holy Spirit, and through the Cross that You, Lord, receive us. Jesus endured the Cross, at Your will, knowing the joy set before Him. It is through the Cross that Jesus sits at Your right hand. And it is through the cross that we have an example of the Joy set before us, that is our hope in glory. It is through the Cross that You removed every barrier for all those who believe.

We praise you and thank you, in Jesus name.

Amen

Thank God for Snow Days!

Psalm 51:7 NLT

http://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/psalms/51-7.html

7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

We have this ugly scene in the back of our yard. It really doesn’t matter that it’s at the back of the yard because it dominates the view. It’s an ugly telephone pole with ugly wires going in all directions supplying power, cable TV, and phone services to the homes linked to it through the branches of and even uglier tree.

Behind the pole is the tree. It’s an ugly tree that abundantly sheds fluffy cotton seeds in late spring, floating through the air like snow, menacing any outdoor plans we might have. It drops its share of leaves in the fall, too. On one side there is only one big, dead limb that the woodpeckers have been having fun with for years, so much so that it doesn’t produce leaves anymore.  Despite its looks, it still has one redeeming quality. On the other side it produces shade-supplying leaves providing a pleasant relief on sunny summer days. On those days we don’t notice the ugliness quite so much, but it’s still there. It’s not quite the backdrop you would like for outdoor parties, but since we can’t cover it up we’ve learned to live with it for many years now.

Just like the ugliness of sin in our lives (and everybody sins), we might try to cover it up, but we can’t so we learn to live with it. Sometimes, like our tree, we live with it long enough that we don’t notice it as much, but it’s still there. The consequences of sin surface in your relationships, health, finances, or emotions bringing up feelings of unworthiness, pride, guilt, bitterness or shame.

You don’t have to have that ugly view in the back yard of your life. Jesus paid the price for our sins. His sacrificial death on the Cross gave all who believe in Him the undeserved gift of grace. When you accept Jesus into your life, as your Lord and Savior, you are redeemed! He washes you clean -- whither than snow.

A few weeks ago I woke up to see a snow covered yard. That ugly tree had faded into the background and the telephone pole was covered. It had been transformed into a beautiful snow-covered cross. This is just a humble example of what can happen to you. Seek Jesus and you, too, can be transformed.

Thank God for the snow days!

Reference information:

David wrote Psalm 51 psalm after the prophet Nathan came to him, after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

Bibliography Information

Smith, William, Dr. "Entry for 'Snow'". "Smith's Bible Dictionary". . 1901.

Encyclopedias - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Snow

SNOW

(6) Snow is the symbol of purity and cleanness, giving us some of our most beautiful passages of Scripture:

"Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow" (Psalms 51:7); "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18). Carrying the figure farther, snow-water might be expected to have a special value for cleansing: "If I wash myself with snow-water" (Job 9:30). The most common use in Scripture is to denote whiteness in color and implying purity as well: "His raiment was white as snow" (Daniel 7:9; Matthew 28:3; Mark 9:3; Revelation 1:14).