ADVENT MEDITATIONS - Part 12

DEC. 24 - (Милость Божья)
The focus of today's meditation was on the reason why Jesus Christ appeared to us -- and that reason was to save us from sin - to set us free from the bondage that keeps us in sin and to be an advocate for us with the Father.

I chose these verses - Titus 2:11-14 -- For the grace of God has appeared which offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say "no" to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.

This is a long passage; I chose it because it not only talks about why Jesus came the first time, but also because it declares that Jesus is coming again. Advent is preparation for our celebration of Christ's first coming, but also a time of remembering and preparing our hearts for His second coming.

DEC. 25 - (Подарки от Бога)
Today's meditation was kind of like a summary of the three main gifts that Christ gives to us through His incarnation.

1) Цель жизни (Purpose for living) - 1 John 3:23 -- And this is His command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He has commanded us.
2) Надежда в прощение (Hope in forgiveness) - 1 John 1:9 -- If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

3) Помощь (Help) - 1 John 4:4 -- You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one that is in the world.

There are no greater gifts that we could receive -- let's give thanks to God together!!

Merry Christmas!!

Here is the finished wall decoration -- I think I will leave it up for awhile as a reminder of the truths that I have hidden in my heart and also because it's pretty!!

ADVENT MEDITATIONS - Part 2

DEC. 3 - VISITATION (Посещение)
Today's meditation was about the fulfillment of a hope. Jesus' birth had been prophesied hundreds of years earlier and it was an event that everyone was eagerly anticipating, but it was not only different than what they had expected - it was more.

I chose John 1:14-18 -- "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about Him and he cried out, saying, "This is the One I spoke about when I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me, because He was before me.'" From Him we have all received one grace after another. The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and who is in close relationship with the Father, has made Him known."

I couldn't just choose one or two verses, because they didn't give the complete picture. Verse 14 talks about God coming to "visit" us in the person of Jesus Christ, but verses 15 to 18 explain who He is and what He came to do. And so I ask myself, as I meditate on Christ this season, what do I anticipate Him doing in my life? How do I see Him? And how do I live out the realization that He indeed dwells with me and shows me who God is?

DEC. 4 - GREATNESS (Величие)
Today's meditation contemplated God's greatness in light of how insignificant we often feel. What we are ultimately celebrating at Christmas is the advent of God's redemption plan - our Great Creator God making Himself like His creation in order to reconcile them to Himself. And God chooses to use the lowly and unexpected to accomplish His plan so that His greatness is magnified.

I chose Isaiah 57:15 -- For thus says the high and lofty One, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite."  And also Micah 5:2, 4 -- "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me One who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times." He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God. And they will live securely, for then His greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.

God often chooses to reveal Himself through weakness and lowliness so that we can better understand how great and awesome He is -- the focus is always Him, and never us. But we shouldn't feel insignificant either, because the fact that He chooses to use us is a demonstration of His great love for us.

Longing For HOME

The past couple of weeks, life in my shared apartment have me longing more and more for a place where I can really feel "at home", where I don't feel like I'm always in someone else's space. There's nothing wrong with wanting a place of my own, but as I deal with the tension between what I have and what I long for, I'm contemplating a couple of things:

• Although I can make a house or apartment or room welcoming and can call it "home", there is really no place on earth that will last or that even really belongs to me, because my real home is not here -- it's in heaven. And all that I have been given here is not for me to hold onto tightly, but to take care of for as long as God allows.

• No matter where I make my "home", there will always be things that are not exactly the way I want them, or unwelcome situations that I will have to deal with - that's just life here on earth. And I need to be careful that I do not let my desire for a place of my own turn me into a self-centered and inconsiderate person.

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit,

but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also 

for the interests of others. ~ Philippians 2:3-4

In a devotional I read the other day, I was reminded that there should always be a tension within me -- a gratitude and a willingness to make the most of what God has given me here, but a deep and intense longing at the same time for the far-surpassing treasure that He has stored up for me in heaven. And the most important part of longing for heaven is not the mansion that He is preparing for me, but the opportunity to be in the presence of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

"In My Father’s house are many mansions;if it were not so, I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come again and receive you to Myself;

that where I am, there you may be also." ~ John 14:2-3

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior,

the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body

that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working

by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. ~ Philippians 3:20-21

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away,

reserved in heaven for you ~ 1 Peter 1:3-4

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens

and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. ~ 2 Peter 3:13

It's been said that what makes a house a home is the presence of loved ones and the comfort of knowing that it is a place where you are loved, safe and cared for. And ultimately, that is why heaven is truly "home" for me - because that is where my Father is and where I will ALWAYS be loved, safe and cared for in a way that can never be truly realized on earth.

Today is April 16th and I just heard what happened yesterday in Boston, Massachusetts. I hardly ever watch or listen to the news, because it always seems to be reporting something bad or terrible that has happened. I did read a couple of articles about it, and something struck me very profoundly that I feel compelled to share with you...

One witness said that the scene of the bombing was like something you see in a war zone, not on the streets of America. And right next to this article was the announcement of 5 people having been killed by a car bomb in one of the countries of the Middle East. What happened in Boston is indeed a tragedy, a horrific act of violence that none of us would ever wish to see or hear about, but the reality is that people all over our world live in the midst of that kind of terror and death and fear every single day. There are reports of deaths, violence and tragedy on the news every day from places where that is life for the citizens there and it seems like we hardly even notice it sometimes, but when it happens on our own turf, it's announced almost like the end of the world.

Please don't misunderstand me -- I'm NOT trying to downplay the horror of what happened, but just to keep it in perspective. *Christians in North America meet every Sunday in our beautiful churches to sing and pray and hear God's Word preached, but there are millions of believers all over the world who have to meet in secret because they could be tortured, arrested, imprisoned and even killed for simply meeting together. *People protest over the price of gas and it is sometimes challenging to deal with, but there are people living in refugee camps on one side of the border in a war-torn country who cannot cross even to see a loved one on the other side.

It's a matter of perspective, and it seems to me that the only way to make sense of these tragedies and the chaos that fills our world is to remember that this is not the ultimate goal. YES, by all means, let's try to make our streets safe for people and protect them as much as possible, but let us remember that this is not the end, this is not the final goal.

May this situation serve as a reminder of how privileged we are to live in a country where these things don't happen every day. May it also remind us to pray for and be compassionate towards those who face this kind of reality daily.

I watched a movie the other day and the lyrics to one of the songs really struck a chord with me -- it made me remember and feel again the deep, intense longing for my "real home" in heaven. Matthew West has written a song called "The Reason For The World," and here are the lyrics:

There are no words in times like these when tears don't hide the tragedies,

And all you want is a reason for the world.

No comfort in the greeting card, 'cause God is good but life's still hard

And your heart just wants a reason for the world.

For God so loved your broken heart He sent His Son to where you are

And He died to give a reason for the world.

So lift your sorrows to the One whose plan for you has just begun,

And rest here in the hands that hold the world...

Just keep your eyes on heaven and know that you are not alone...

No ear has heard, no eye has seen, not even in your wildest dreams

A beauty that awaits beyond this world...

Maybe the reason for the pain is so that we would pray for strength.

And maybe the reason for the strength is so that we would not lose hope.

And maybe the reason for all hope is so that we could face the world,

And the reason for the world is to make us long for home.

Lord Jesus, please remind me today to keep my eyes fixed on You and to find my security and strength and happiness in You alone. May I long more and more every moment for the day when I will see you face to face and know that I am truly "home."

Then I, John, saw the holy city...coming down out of heaven from God,

prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying,

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them,

and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes;

there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.

There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

~ Revelation 21:1-4

CELEBRATING ADVENT: Jesus Christ

INCARNATION

In the beginning when the world began, God was there -

He is eternal and unchanging, as the Scriptures declare.

The God who created everything by His Word alone

Chose to come to us and make Himself known.

And all those who believe and place their trust in Him,

His Spirit indwells and transforms them from within.

~ Darlene Koop, Dec. 31-2012 ~

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. ~ John 1:14 ~

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. ~ 1 John 4:9 ~

What a miracle, that the Son of God was supernaturally conceived and miraculously born of a virgin -- God come to earth in human flesh! For the One who spoke the whole world into existence, this was not impossible, and it was the way He chose to make Himself personally known to mankind.

Yet even more incredibly miraculous is the way that God, by the power of His Holy Spirit, can live inside us and change us from the inside out! This is why the incarnation is not confined merely to the celebration of Christmas -- because the greatest miracle was the redemption that Jesus Christ purchased for us when He died on the cross and rose from the dead.

And though Christ's incarnation is complete, we have not yet been fully glorified. This is why we eagerly await the second coming of our Lord -- when we will finally see Him in all of His glory and we will know Him and live with Him the way God intended it to be from the beginning.

Without Christmas, without the cross and the empty grave, this hope would not be possible. And so, although for many of us the celebrations are over for another year, I issue this challenge:

Let us celebrate the miracle, the incarnation of the One and Only King, Lord and Savior of the world, all year long, remembering that without Him we would be nothing. Let us eagerly await and pray for His return, always keeping it in view. And may we accept His work in our lives, allowing the Potter to mold us so that daily we become a little more like Him.

Father, please help us to keep this reminder in view and to live more like You each day. Thank You for the great and incomparable love that compelled You to send Your only Son to save us and bring us into fellowship with You. In Jesus' name, amen.

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said..."Oh, righteous Father! The world has not known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." ~ John 17:1a, 25-26 ~

CELEBRATING ADVENT: Hope

EXPECTATION
From before time began God had a marvelous plan;

The Bible is the story of His revealed glory.

Long years of waiting, His people anticipating - 

The day that would come, bringing the birth of God's Son.
And we are waiting still, for God's plan to be fulfilled:
When we shall see our Saviour, Jesus Christ, in whom is our delight.
~ Darlene Koop, Dec. 3-2012 ~

The celebrations and preparations that surround us at this time every year often give me pause...even as much as I enjoy the lights and the decorations and just about everything else associated with this season, what we truly celebrate at Christmas has so much more significance!!

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting." ~ Micah 5:2 ~

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." ~ Isaiah 7:14 ~

We live in the time after Christ's birth, so those prophecies have already been fulfilled, but there is still a sense of expectancy and hopeful waiting. Why? Because Jesus Christ is coming again!

The birth of Jesus Christ was the catalyst for the greatest miracle of all -- the miracle of bringing sinful broken people into reconciliation and relationship with their Creator God. But the story doesn't end there...God's plan is not yet complete.

Jesus Christ is coming again, and just like His birth, no one knows when it will be except God the Father. This second coming is the reason for our hope -- that one day we will see Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Let us not place our own expectations on when or how He will return, but simply wait and trust -- and let us give Him the honor and the worship He deserves. It is truly all about Him.

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us..." ~ Titus 2:11-14 ~

ALL FOR A PURPOSE

Romans 8:28 says this:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

Once this truth is firmly fixed in our hearts and we trust God to guide us in His wisdom, we will begin to see how the details of our lives are fitting into a specific plan that only a sovereign God could have designed. Even though we may not yet understand exactly what that plan is.

Yet along the way some circumstances don't make sense and we wonder, "Just how exactly does this fit into the big picture?" We don't always have the privilege of discovering the purpose of these events and we simply have to walk by faith, knowing that God will use them in some way. But sometimes a long while afterwards we can look back and see in reflection at least part of the reason why certain things happened in our lives.

Today I had two of those moments. The first came when I was reading email responses to my latest ministry update, and a special friend wrote these words to me:

"Remember once when you and I were talking,

and you said that you wished you had met the right man so that you could be married and have children because you love children so much? God always has a better plan,

better because He finds a way for Himself to be glorified and as a result we receive blessings too. 

Now you will have MANY children to love and care for, not just the one or two

that you could have naturally."

I still pray and believe that God has someone special for me someday, but what my friend shared is true. Had I been involved in a relationship, or perhaps married with a family, I probably would not be where I am today, preparing for full-time ministry to needy children in a country halfway around the world from where I was born. God knew that and He lovingly and carefully kept me for a special purpose that I could never have dreamed of and that now fills me with an inexplicable joy and hope!

The other moment came as I was doing my supper dishes. I have discovered that in Ukraine, things are done a little differently than what I'm used to -- here we use a sponge with a little bit of dish soap and some running water to wash the dishes. We don't fill up a sink with water, and there's no second sink to rinse in. And I have to wash up the dishes after each meal, because of the size of the kitchen and the relatively few dishes we have. Once the dishes are washed, they are put away in the cupboard - still wet - and left to air-dry. (I dry them sometimes anyway, because I prefer to do that.) Well, it occurred to me that God had prepared me for even this interesting change...

Back in 2005 when I moved to Cambridge, Ontario, I shared a 3-bedroom apartment with 2 other young women. I'm once again sharing an apartment with 2 other women, but that's not where the comparison stops. In that apartment in Cambridge, I quickly found out that my room-mates expected me to wash up my dishes and put them away after each time I used them, rather than letting them pile up on the counter or in the sink. At first that was a bone of contention with me because I was used to doing dishes only once a day. But it was her home, and I realized that I needed to accommodate her wishes.

I did not carry on that tradition over the past 5 years, but learning to do dishes in this way again has been a relatively easy adjustment -- in part because I had already developed the skill years ago. I used to think that was just for that time, but I realized today that even that living experience was preparation for what I would need to do 7 years down the road in another country! (Interestingly, back in 2005 I lived with a young woman named Tanya, and again, one of my apartment-mates is named Tanya!)

Psalm 139:16 says this:

"All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

None of these circumstances are a surprise to God, and let me tell you...it is a pure delight to be able to look back and realize how God has lovingly and carefully arranged the details of my life that most of the time I would deem inconsequential. Not only is nothing hidden from His sight, but He has planned it all before I was even born -- now that's amazing!

I hope this encourages you today that ALL that happens in your life is FOR A PURPOSE. Embrace it with faith and hope, looking to the Lord God, and you will be able to rejoice and give thanks "in everything."

ENCOURAGEMENT & GRATITUDE

"Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind."

PHILIPPIANS 2:1-2

This past Sunday's message was - and consequently, our small-group Bible study theme was as well - focusing on the aspect of encouraging one another in the Lord. Encouragement is so necessary and yet so often neglected in our daily lives. Just today, one of my colleagues at work was expressing to me how it would make her job so much more enjoyable and rewarding if she occasionally heard a "thank you" or a kind word about what she has been working so hard to accomplish.

The really neat thing about godly encouragement is that one doesn't need to be a "super-Christian" or extremely talented in a certain area - just the fact that we are all part of the family of Christ is reason enough to encourage one another and express our thankfulness for each other.

And when we do, it's fascinating to see how the flower of encouragement blossoms and spreads throughout many other relationships! When we recognize that we are all equally loved and valued and when we desire to build up the unity among our Christian family, just hearing what God has been doing in someone else's life and how they have been encouraged is an encouragement to us!

I had a wonderful experience of this the other day with my dear sister in Christ. She shared with me what God had been speaking to her heart and that in turn encouraged me in the situation I was in. And when we  encourage one another, it doesn't need to be about achievements or what the world would term "worthy of praise" - we should encourage one another simply because we are family.

Encouragement and gratitude go hand-in-hand. You will find that the more you practice encouraging others, the more thankful you are for what we sometimes consider "the small things," as well as the people whom you live and work with. The other day, my employer gave me a huge compliment, which naturally encouraged me, but my response was simply to say "thank you". And then I found that I was so much more eager to encourage others and thank them for their contributions - it's a circle of life-giving nourishment.

As I was meditating on this the other morning, I was inspired to write a poem:

I cannot say I've got it all together;

And I'm not always happy with the weather.

I do not always look ahead with hope -

Sometimes I just seek for the easiest way to cope.

When there seems to be no other way

To deal with the issues, I bow my head to pray.

And it's then God gently helps me to see

The blessings that are all around me.

The Word of God is full of wisdom for all the ages,

And if I heed it, it will work in me miraculous changes;

And give me opportunity to encourage my friends,

To let them know their struggles - and mine - are not the end.

True peace comes from giving my burdens to the Lord,

And a happy smile when I share a few kind words.

If I always see the bad and not the good,

I will not act in the way that I really should.

And if I will, in true humility,

Allow God to make me what I ought to be;

Then those around me will clearly see

That trusting in God brings joy and sets me free.

"May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."

2 THESSALONIANS 2:16-17

ADVENT - A Hopeful Anticipation

It's been a little more than 2,000 years since Jesus Christ left the majesty and glory of heaven and came to the earth that He created, but the wonder of that event still amazes me.

A couple of weeks ago, I read a book called "Two From Galilee" by Marjorie Holmes, a fictionalized accounting of what it may have been like for Mary and Joseph that first Christmas in Judea. The book gave me much food for thought, and I've found myself pondering the circumstances surrounding this event in these days leading up to the celebration of Christmas.

What emotions would Mary and Joseph have felt? Exhilaration, fear, joy, hope, curiosity (what would this child be like - the Son of God?), wonder, incredulity...just to mention a few.

It was interesting to consider how the people of the community around them would have responded...they knew that the prophecy declared that the Messiah would be born of a virgin, but because of the sheer impossibility (apart from God's power) of a virgin conceiving a child, there would probably have been some who immediately dismissed Mary's claim, even though God had said this is how it would take place.

But there must have been also a weighty sense of anticipation and hope! And although Jesus Christ has already completed His work on the earth and is seated at God's right hand in heaven until the Second Coming, as we approach the celebration of this marvelous and life-changing event, we also should be waiting in hopeful anticipation.

• Hopefully anticipating the joy we will share in celebrating with family and friends.
• Hopefully anticipating what God will do in people's hearts as we proclaim His truth this season.
• Hopefully anticipating how this Christmas will touch our hearts again with the love of God.
• Hopefully anticipating the day when we will see Him face to face because of what He chose to do for us at that first Christmas.

This attitude of hopeful anticipation is expressed in Isaiah 9:2-7 (and other Scriptures also), a prophecy that was written long, long before the time when God would enter the realm of humanity...

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.
"For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
"Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this."

THANKFULNESS

Yesterday morning I had an epiphany of sorts as I prepared for the day ahead...God spoke to my heart about having a thankful heart.

Circumstances in life are rarely what we want them to be, and if my heart is not in the right place I will not respond in the way that I should as a child of God.

This is not a new truth, but one that I continually be reminded of so that I remain humble and open to the Word of God and His work in my life.

So, in a brief synopsis, this is what occurred to me during my quiet meditation:

Thankfulness does not equal happiness, but...
Thankfulness and trust together brings joy and hope.

I may not be happy in or about my situation all the time, but if I choose to be thankful and to trust that God is "working all things out for good in my life" because I love Him and have been called according to His purpose, then I will be able to go forth in joy and have hope for the future.