Prayer Card Portraits!

We really appreciate you joining us in prayer about our portrait session! It was a real challenge to get all four us to look decent in the same frame, but it turned out well- here's a sneak preview! If you would like a prayer card and haven't given us your address yet, we would love to add you to our mailing list- just e-mail us (kellyhallahan(at)gmail.com) your address! It is starting to feel more real, thanks for being a part of our journey!

Join us in Giving Him No Rest

"For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace, for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns. The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name. You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the Lord delights in you and your land shall be married... And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night. You make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest until He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.... And they shall call them The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord; and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken." -Isaiah 62:1-7, 12

Uganda has been called the "Pearl of Africa"- it is a gorgeous country: awash with vibrant colors, balmy, tropical temperatures, and warm, loving people. There is much to love about this amazing country. And yet the world looks in on Uganda, and Africa as a whole, and sees only war lords, poverty, aids, malaria, and orphans. But God sees Uganda as a country of promise and potential! He won't rest until she shines with His righteousness- and neither should we! The world sees danger and poverty- but we see hope.

God has HUGE plans for Uganda- and WGM is on the front-lines training local pastors to reach their own people. It is so exciting to be on the cusp of such a grand adventure! We still aren't sure yet what our specific assignment will be- but as we wait and listen for God's specific calling- we covet your prayers. Whatever God calls us to do, we will need your prayers and your financial support. We need men and women who will "never hold their peace day or night, who will not keep silent, nor give Him rest", until He does all that He longs to do in and through Uganda. Thank you for joining hands with us!

So many good gifts!

Merry Christmas! This year has been full of many good gifts! We added Seth to our family in June, and Kelly was able to become a stay-at-home- mom, in November Caleb turned 2, and we welcomed Baby Tim (my brother Scott's first!) to the Rambo family, and in December we were accepted by World Gospel Mission!

There is much to be grateful for- but most of all- the blessed gift of God's Son, who broke into our world and clothed His deity in human flesh, out of His great love for you and for me! Wow. I am still sitting by the manger in awe of His humility and love today... it is a sweet place to be. And yet, He calls us to move on, and live in the reality of His presence with us today and everyday! And so let us walk hand in hand with the One who brought light to our dark world, and enter the New Year with His power and joy!

Merry Christmas &
a Happy New Year,
from the Hallahans

Like John the Baptist

Today's reading: Luke 1:67-80

"And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." -Luke 1:76-79

The act of speaking a word of blessing over your children is a Hebrew cultural tradition. But it is one that would be of great benefit here today! I don't think parents take the time to speak God's blessing over their children's lives enough- and if we did, perhaps they wouldn't struggle so hard with the voices of curse so loud in our culture! This is a powerful and Spirit-filled blessing over John's life- one that would be fulfilled completely!

God sent John to prepare the way of Jesus- to get the people ready for His coming! And like John, we as Christians also have the responsibility to prepare others for His second coming! There are so many who don't know the way of salvation- and aren't even sure they want to be saved because of the poor example of so many "Christians"! But we, like John, are called to give knowledge of salvation to the people around us, to be His merciful presence in the world, to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide their feet into the way of peace.

Are you ready to imitate John the Baptist in our world today? Let us resolve to speak blessings, to be merciful, and to give light this Christmas holiday!

Awaiting our Glorious King!

As we have said before, Advent is not only a time to anticipate/remember the coming of the Christ-child, it is also a time to anticipate and prepare for the second coming of Christ. And this time He will return like the King they expected when He came as a baby! I don't know about you, but I want to be ready when He comes, and I can't wait for Him to make all things new! Today I will be blending my own thoughts with the online advent devotional, Following the Star ( www.followingthestar.org ).

Today's reading: Revelation 21:1-7

"Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, 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... Behold, I make all things new." -Rev 21:2-3, 5

What a day that will be! I can imagine that when Jesus came, people didn't fully realize that God had come to dwell with them in human form. But when He comes again, there will be no mistaking it! What a joy and delight it will be for God to dwell with us, and for us to truly be His people! He will make all things new!

There is a newness to love every time we experience it. No matter how long we live, love never grows old. So in Advent we experience love again as we anticipate the coming of the Christ-child. And we never tire of his coming. Feel the warmth of that love again, made new in Christ's advent, new in every experience of God's nearness.
May this be our advent prayer today as we await His glorious return!

Dear Savior haste; come, come to earth,

Dispel the night and show your face, and bid us hail the dawn of grace.

O come, divine Messiah! The world in silence waits the day

When hope shall sing its triumph, and sadness flee away.

Simon J. Pellegrin

Our Anniversary (Warning: mushy post!)

Today is a special day: our 4th Anniversary! We celebrated last night at the cheesecake factory, with some lovely dinner... and some amazing dessert! I still have half of my outrageous chocolate cake in the fridge! But enough about the food!

I am just so blessed to be walking side by side with Josh as my husband! He takes such good care of me and our children. He picks up my slack when I've been mothering through the night. He makes me laugh! He keeps our finances on track. He is a great youth pastor. He has a passion for missions. And there is so much more that I love and appreciate about him! As we begin this new season of ministry I am just so grateful we are together! And I am praising Jesus for creating us for each other!

Who do you need Jesus to be?

These verses today are so beautiful... a lovely description of who Jesus is and what He came to do. Read on and be delighted by our wonderful Savior!

Today's reading: Isaiah 61

"The Spirit of God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." -Isaiah 61:1-3

Our Precious Savior... take a moment and just drink in the sweet word of God! As Jesus is described as coming to earth for the poor, the brokenhearted, the prisoner, those who mourn, those with heavy burdens... it convicts and challenges me and comforts me all at the same time! I know I am often the bound by bad attitudes and pride, and He came for me.... that is the comforting part. But the conviction comes at the realization of how far I am from being like Him! He came as a babe, into humble circumstances (probably circumstances I wouldn't lower myself to!) to spend all His time with needy people. Wow. That blows my mind! And yet stirs within me a longing to be more like Him- there is such joy in meeting people's needs, such reward in loving them with the love of Jesus- and yet my daily life doesn't reflect that!

As the reality of our call to missions sinks in, I am growing more aware of my inadequacy. There is so much Jesus has yet to teach me, so much I need to learn, so much compassion I fail to have, so much pride that needs to go! But the good news is, Jesus came not only for the needy in Africa, but for needy me! And He loves to equip, and empower His people to be His hands and feet! So I take joy in the fact that He will be all that I need Him to be- and make me all He needs me to be!

Today as Christmas looms closer, who do you need Jesus to be to you? Do you need Him to heal your brokenheart? Do you need Him to free you from some prison? Or to comfort you as you mourn? Or perhaps exchange your heaviness, for His light yoke? Whatever you need- He will be for you! And then, in return, He asks that you be His hands and feet to someone else! And not for your sake, or even for those you serve- but that HE MAY BE GLORIFIED! Amen.

That He may be glorified,
Kelly

Press pause

Christmas is just over a week away- and I am sure some of you are wondering how your to do list is going to get done in time. But even though it may seem counter-productive to sit a spend some time with Jesus when there is so much to do... I believe it will be the most rewarding time of your day, and indeed may even make you more effective!

Today's reading: John 1:14-18
"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...And of His fullness we have all received..." -John 1:14,16

Today I just want us to pause in the glorious, and gracious presence of our Lord. I know so many are stressed and busy- but I want you to put that aside, and just be. Do you believe that Christmas will still happen without you? Do you believe that life will go on if you fail to bake that last dozen cookies, or have to wrap a picture of a gift arriving late in the mail? It isn't Sabbath, but God does call us to pause each day and rest in Him. Trust Him enough to put your to do list on pause, and spend some time with Him.

Set your timer for 5 minutes! Behold His glory. Enjoy His sweetness. Receive all the fullness of His grace.

Magnifying the Lord

And Mary said: “ My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. -Luke 1:46-47

What does it mean to magnify the Lord? The image that comes to my mind is that of a magnifying glass. And a magnifying glass makes everything appear bigger than it really is. But how can we as humans make God appear bigger than He really is? We cannot comprehend all that God is- so how can we make Him appear bigger!?!? Take a moment to ponder that! But what I believe Mary was doing was putting the spotlight on God. She could have easily made it all about her... the first pregnant virgin! Or she could have become proud... yeah, God chose ME. But she did neither. She put all the glory on God. She pointed everyone to look at Him! And that is what I want to do in my life. I pray that I could be so humble. I pray that I would worship Him so fully that He gets the credit for every good thing in my life. And I pray that this Christmas the spotlight would be fixed on HIM!

Delighting in the King

I had some sweet time alone with Jesus this morning! I lit some candles, filled a holly mug with steaming coffee (there is something magical about Lenox holly mugs... I don't know if it's the gold rim, or the silky porcelain), and opened my Bible. Jesus reminded me that He is coming to me!

Today's reading: Zechariah 9:9-10

"Behold, your King is coming to you, He is just and having salvation, lowly, and riding on a donkey... He shall speak peace to the nations..." -Zechariah 9:9-10

Your King is coming to YOU. He is coming for you. He wants you. He is accessible to you- for He is coming as a lowly peasant, even though He is a mighty King. Consider the fact that He is coming again- He will return for His bride and take her home to a heavenly banquet prepared for her. I long for that day! But for now, I will do all that I can for the people around me to know that He is coming to them- if they would only receive Him. Which is why we are going to Uganda- to speak His peace to the nations- to set the banquet table and invite all people to feast in His glorious presence! I can just picture the heavenly banquet table- spread with delicacies from every continent, surrounded by beautiful faces in every color, decorated with flowers of every kind! What a glorious day that will be! What are you doing to invite the nations into His presence? Are you praying for the lost? Are you supporting a missionary financially? Are you speaking with your neighbors about the Good News? Josh and I are going to Uganda. We hope you will be part of our team. We will keep you posted when we find out more of what that looks like!

For now- glory in the fact that your King is coming to you- but also give that gift of the Gospel to someone else today!

God WITHIN us

Happy Sabbath, Church! It is our third Sunday of Advent!

Today's reading: Isaiah 7:14

"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

Immanuel- God with us! Wow. That God would leave His throne to be with us, it floors me. And it comforts me. It comforts me to know that Jesus intimately understands my weariness, my frustrations, my hurts... and that He can smile with me at my joys and delights... because He has been there- He is there. I love that Jesus came and dwelt among us. But He isn't stuck in a manger eternally! Praise the Lord, He sent His Spirit to dwell within us! So while it is wonderful that Jesus is God With Us... He is so much more than that. He is God WITHIN us! So today as you enjoy this lovely Sabbath, enjoy the reality that He is not only with us- He is within us! And that makes all the difference in the world!

Enjoy His presence,
Kelly

Basking in the Light

Today's reading: Isaiah 9:2-7

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death; upon them a light has shined... for unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace..." -Isaiah 9:2, 6

While the Christmas season is largely a joyous one- there is also a sadness to it for some who have lost loved ones. There are holiday traditions that will never be the same- there are memories that will never be made- and there is sorrow in that. And we can acknowledge that. But to stay stuck there isn't beneficial for anyone- and so we move our attention to the next part of the verse- upon THEM a light has shined! God came to earth for the broken people. God came to bring His light to our darkness! And so if you are hurting this holiday season- know that Jesus came to bring you comfort and light! He is your comforter- your mighty God- your everlasting Father- today and always!

And as I read these verses in light of our appointment to Africa, they take on a whole new significance: there are millions of people around the world walking in darkness today, the darkness of a life lived without God. And specifically the country of Uganda has been a "land of the shadow of death" for decades now...with the AIDS epidemic, poverty, Idi Amin, and Joseph Kony, his child soldiers and the war in Northern Uganda... the people in Uganda know what it is like to live in the shadow of death. But the glorious news is that upon THEM a light has shined! And it is my prayer that He would be their Mighty God in this battle that wages on, that He would be the Everlasting Father to all of the orphans, and that He would be the Prince of Peace in every situation they face!

As you spend some time basking in the Light today, please remember to lift up those who may be sitting in the darkness of grief or the darkness of unbelief. Thank you for partnering with God to bring a little more light to the world today!

Christmas Devotion at MOPS

This is the devotional I shared at MOPS today. It went well so I thought I would share it here!

What Can we Learn from the Christmas Story?

The first to arrive on the scene that first Christmas were the angels- Gabriel announced Jesus coming birth to Mary and Joseph. And like the angels we ought to be sharing the Good News of Jesus with everyone we meet.

Since this is MOPS, I think it is safe to say that we can all identify with being pregnant- for some it was a surprise, and others after much planning and trying… but all of us know how it feels to carry a child within us. And while we can identify with Mary in that- none of us can fathom how she must have felt at her young age to become pregnant with the Son of God! She must have been so scared… and yet she fully surrendered to God’s will for her life.

Poor Joseph. There was so much asked of him- bearing the shame of his pregnant fiancé, bearing the responsibility to raise God’s Son, but he chose to obey and serve God because he was a good man. Joseph was obedient even when it wasn’t easy

The donkey carried Mary on that long journey to Bethlehem. He was just being used for the purpose he was created and sometimes that isn’t glamorous or fun- but it is our given task. As moms we know all about that! And God was just as pleased with the donkey as He was with Jesus!

The shepherds were out of the loop as far as town gossip went- they probably never knew what was going on, they were just tending their sheep out in the fields. But God chose those humble men to be the first to know! And He allows us, even if we are nobody’s, to enter His kingdom!

Baby Jesus left His divinity and His home in heaven to be born in a lowly manger, to a poor family. He came because He loved you. He came to pay the debt for your sins. In the old testament a lamb had to be killed to pay the debt of the people’s sins. In the new testament, Jesus became the lamb of God- who took away the sin of the world once and for all. In the old testament there were many prophecies about the coming Messiah who would be King! When Jesus actually arrived on the scene, not too many people believed He was the promised king, but the wise men did! They traveled on camels, that carried heavy loads, and they brought Him gifts worthy of royalty! And we should do the same- offering Him our worship, and bringing our heavy burdens to Him!

There was a star in the sky above the stable where Jesus was born. It shone brightly, perhaps signaling the fact that the Light of the World had come!

And now as we have heard this story again- it is time to quiet our hearts and focus on this, the real meaning of Christmas. Jesus came because He loves you- and you can enjoy a satisfying and real relationship with Him if you will simply open your heart to receive Him! Let’s pray

Good Tidings!

In addition to our good news of the day, the Christmas story is full of good tidings of great joy... so it should come as no surprise that the prophets also foretold of good tidings!

Today's reading: Isaiah 40:1-11

"O Zion, You who bring good tidings, get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, you who bring good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, lift it up and be not afraid; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!" -Isaiah 40:9

The angels brought these same good tidings to the shepherds on that Holy Night... do you feel those same good tidings of great joy welling in your soul this Christmas season? Perhaps you are a little too busy to hear them. Perhaps you are a little bored by this story that is read every year at this time. But do you realize that there are some who have never heard these good tidings? There are some who do not know this glorious story! Oh how my heart breaks for the men and women rushing about from store to store buying gifts to satisfy some inner void- decorating their homes for the satisfaction of knowing theirs is the nicest house on the block- attending every Christmas party in hopes of connecting at a heart level with another person, only to find that everyone else is as guarded as they are... this season is full of lights and love... but it is only satisfying when we celebrate the True Light and the One Love.

Today as you go about your daily tasks- make a point to strike up conversation about the real meaning of Christmas. We are celebrating the greatest love story ever told- and we dare not keep it to ourselves. It is a season of giving, and so let's give the best gift ever- the gift of the gospel to those walking in darkness!

Full of good tidings,
Kelly

Appointed!!

We have been officially appointed as Missionary Disciples with World Gospel Mission! We are so blessed that the committee has affirmed our calling and has appointed us to serve in Uganda! This begins our one year of fund raising and training, followed by two years on the field. As you think and pray for us- please consider how Jesus would have you serve Him on the mission field. Perhaps He is calling you to partner with us through prayer or finances, or in some way we haven't even thought about yet! We would love to be your hands and feet in africa! This is just the beginning of this new season- we will keep you posted!

Jesus' Heart for the World

I am excited this morning to share a piece of prophecy about Jesus, written by Isaiah- it is a beautiful picture of the coming Christ. God's people had been waiting for the coming Messiah for hundreds of years, and it is our privilege to know the end of the story- the Messiah did come and is now waiting to come again! That is what this advent season is all about! Waiting with expectation, not only the fun of Christmas day, but the second coming of our Lord Jesus!

Isaiah 11

"There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord... He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth..." -Isaiah 11:1-2, 12

I love that even hundreds of years before Jesus arrived, God was telling His people that Jesus would have a heart for the world! Obviously, missions is on my mind recently, but I hope that it ignites a spark within your own heart for God's global purposes! This picture of Jesus is so beautiful- full of the Spirit, wise and understanding, comforting and strong, compassionate and just... with a love for the whole world! Oh, that we would have a small portion of His passion for the lost next door and around the world! If we claim to love Him, we must love what He loves and do what He did. Which is why Josh and I are called to Uganda. We believe that Jesus wants to pour out His love on the people of Uganda- we believe that He longs for His light to shine in the darkest parts of Africa- and we want to be a part of that mission! To gather His precious people from the ends of the earth. How will you get involved in God's great mission to the world? I believe that the greatest gift you could give this year is the gift of surrender to Jesus- telling Him that you want to be part of His mission to the ends of the earth!

With expectancy,
Kelly

We were in Indiana this weekend, interviewing with our mission board to become missionaries to Uganda, East Africa! We will know within the next two weeks if we've been approved. Please join us in praying that God's will would be done and that He would pave the way for us! Thank you!

Today's reading: Luke 1:26-38

"Then Mary said, "Behold, the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." -Luke 1:38

Now this is utter faith and radical obedience! This poor teenage girl gets approached by a daunting angel, and told that she is going to become pregnant with the Son of God... and she bows her head in submission and says, Yes, Lord- whatever You say! Wow!
I wonder if most of us would have taken one look at the angel and laughed in his face? Who, me? But that was a monumental display of obedience which wasn't wrought in one speedy decision- I am sure that her "yes" to the Lord in this one scenario had been the outcome of many smaller requests in which she had been obedient. Her daily choices to say yes to God, her daily obedience to her parents, her faithful service in mundane things prepared her for the "yes" of the century. We will never be faithful in great things, until we are faithful in many little things! Pastor Jeff has said yes to God's calling to Trinity for the past 16 (?) years... He has said yes to many mundane tasks and now God is calling him to be obedient in this next season of life.

Likewise, I will give you a small glimpse into my testimony of how we have come to this big "yes" to career missions. I have wonderful parents who trained me well. They taught me that delayed obedience is disobedience. They taught me to always respect those in authority. So as I learned to obey my parents, I was training to obey God. When I was 15 I said "yes" to a two week mission trip to Jamaica. After college I said "yes" to one year in Uganda. In each one of these instances God came and asked, do you trust Me? Will you go where I send you? And each time I said "yes" it became easier to trust Him, because He showed Himself faithful time and again. So it was only logical that when He asked us to apply at World Gospel Mission to become career missionaries, that we said "yes".

So perhaps you think your life is boring, you don't have any big decisions in front of you, and your life seems so mundane. I'm sure before the angel appeared to Mary, she did too! But in those mundane decisions she was practicing obedience- so that when the big decision came- she was ready- it was natural to say yes to God. Let's all practice listening for the quiet nudges of the Holy Spirit and practice obedience and faithfulness in the small things today- so that when we arrive at the crossroads- it will be natural for us to obey God's leading!

Practicing obedience,
Kelly

Hope

Today's message is a word of hope. That is what advent is all about: HOPE.

Today's reading: Luke 1:5-25

"But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John...(and he will) make ready a people prepared for the Lord..." -Luke 1:13, 17

God's people had been waiting for their Messiah for hundreds of years... and He was about to arrive. And this couple, Zachariah and Elizabeth had been waiting for years and given up hope of ever having a child...and he was about to arrive. So whatever your circumstances today, look up and have hope- perhaps the answer to your prayers is right around the corner!

Advent and Christmas are God’s ways of sending a signal of hope to remind us that life is stronger than death. Light is more powerful than darkness. God is more powerful than Satan. Good will overcome evil. Joy is stronger than disappointment. That’s the message of Christmas.

With hope,
Kelly

Fa lala lala la la la la!

This morning's reading is about the "Future Glory of Zion"... and none of that would be possible without Jesus coming and redeeming His people! Take some time to ponder the wonderful things that are in your life and in store for you in heaven because of Jesus!

Today's reading: Isaiah 35

"The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing...Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert." Isaiah 35:1-2, 5-6

Blossom abundantly...rejoice...with joy... and singing... Now that is the picture of Christmas that I love! One of my favorite holiday things to do is sing Christmas carols... I even like to go caroling- but I can't usually find anyone else to go with me :) There is so much hope and promise in the birth of Jesus... a tiny bundle of potential (as all babies are)! But the birth of Jesus made the future glory of Zion possible. God's people had gone astray time and again... they never learned from their mistakes... God even called them a "stiff-necked people"! And yet He still had hope for them. He sent His Son to make their relationship whole again- He sent Jesus so that He might display His love for all to see and experience. If that doesn't make you want to sing... I don't know what will! So turn up the Christmas carols and sing with joy today for all that the birth of Jesus made possible... ultimately your salvation! He is so good to us!

With carols on my lips,
Kelly

Less presents, more Presence!

Is the hustle and bustle of the holidays already stressing you out? Do you struggle to survive the Christmas season with your soul intact? You have been extended an invitation today that you dare not pass up. Keep reading!

Today's reading: Isaiah 55

"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Hear and your soul shall live..." -Isaiah 55:1-3

Why do we really celebrate Christmas? To show off our creative decorating skills? To out-do everyone else with the best gift of the year? To bake millions of cookies? To listen to Christmas carols 24/7 for the entire month of December? To see how many Christmas parties we can fit into an already hectic calendar? To perfectly re-create the nostalgic Christmases of your childhood? I doubt those are your real reasons- so why do we let these things crowd out the real reason for Christmas? After you have tied every perfect bow and spent hours standing in line to purchase the hot toy of the season... at the close of Christmas day, are you satisfied? Or just exhausted. I don't know about you- but I long for something more. "Letting my soul delight in abundance" sounds so wonderful to me! How do we do it?

First, I think we must tune out the consumer-driven culture- that may look like trimming that gift list, or telling your kids they will only get 3 gifts for Christmas (Jesus only got 3, why are we any better?), or perhaps you can add up all those teacher gifts and office party pollyannas and send a donation to a charity instead. Second, we may need to turn down some social invitations- in order to spend quality time with the people who matter most. And third, we cannot simply cut things out of our routine and not replace them with anything- all those old habits will quickly fill the void- so we need a plan. And God's suggestion is: "Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good... Hear and your soul shall live." Perhaps you need to spend a little more time in His word this season- or have some family devotional time to talk about the real reason for the season. Maybe you could go Christmas caroling with friends, or volunteer at a soup kitchen on Christmas Eve. Personally, I have decided one thing I am going to do is only listen to Christian Christmas songs this year- no B101.1 for me. Because I know that as I listen to carols about our dear Savior, my heart turns in His direction... when I am sitting in traffic and Silent Night starts playing, I can let go of my frustration and remember why this holiday is so special. Eat what is good... time with the Lord... time with family and close friends... You can do it! And you will not regret it! This may be the best Christmas ever if you put in a little effort and show a little restraint!

That is our challenge today- spend some time with the Lord listening to what He is calling you to do, in order to truly focus on His dear Son this season. And then craft a plan to put His instructions into action! Even though there may be fewer presents under the tree, you may find yourself delighting in the abundance of His Presence more than ever!

Praying it is so,
Kelly

Advent Meditation #2

God has made a covenant with David (see left)- that now includes you and me! As we read today, focus on all that Jesus sacrificed in order to maintain God's covenant with David, and with us!


Today's reading: Psalm 89:1-37

"For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him. O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, You still them... Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David: His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me; it shall be established forever like the moon, even like the faithful witness in the sky." -Psalm 89:6-9, 35-37

Jesus was with the Father at the creation of the world. He has all the power, strength, wisdom, glory and majesty of God. And yet, because God made a covenant with David, Jesus forsook all that divinity to become a man, and redeem the entire human race. If you trace Jesus' genealogy, you can see that Jesus belongs to the line of David, and likewise if we are born again in Jesus- David's line continues through you and me! His legacy will live on forever in the lives of God's people! What a precious covenant. And what a price God paid in order to be faithful to that covenant! Jesus left it all in order to bring us to Himself!

What are you willing to sacrifice today, in order to bring others to Him? Will you sacrifice a little time and talk with your children about the Lord? Will you sacrifice a little pride and speak a word of blessing to the cashier at the store today? Will you sacrifice a little money, and pay the toll for the car behind you? Take some time to dwell on the divinity of Christ, and ponder what it must have taken for Him to put it aside for you. And then rise, lifted by that love He has shown, and walk out into your world determined to be that love to someone else!

In awe of His sacrifice,
Kelly