Peace

151202In days to come the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills. Peoples shall stream to it, and many nations shall come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken. For all the peoples walk, each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever. In that day, says the LORD, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away, and those whom I have afflicted.  The lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion now and forevermore. (Micah 4:1-7, NRSV)

What a beautiful picture and thought.

That there will be no more war. They will take their implements of war and make them into implements of harvesting or implements of peace.

Even though it is hard to imagine today, the day is coming. It is promised and was foretold not only by Micah but other prophets.

God’s promises are true. Swords will become plows and spears will be pruning hooks.

The Lord will make this happen. We will all live in peace under His teaching.

 

Focus

What is your focus this season of Advent?

Are you looking at your calendar wondering how you will make all the events you and your family have fit into the amount of days we have?

Are you looking at your bank account wondering if you can squeeze all the money you need out to get everything everybody wants?

Are you worried about keeping up with the Jones, or the Smiths, or the _______(insert name of your neighbor here)?

Remember what this season of Advent is, and why we celebrate it. It is about waiting and expecting. Not about waiting on the perfect gift and expecting to get everything we want. It is about waiting for and expecting a savior.

Mary and JosephLook at this picture and really see what it says. Pay super close attention to the details and what it is portraying.

Remember to focus on the coming of Jesus, as we await his birth, and still await His returning. Pay attention to Him and what He is leading us to do

Near

151201Multitudes, multitudes,
in the valley of decision!
For the day of the LORD is near
in the valley of decision.
The sun and the moon are darkened,
and the stars withdraw their shining.
The LORD roars from Zion,
and utters his voice from Jerusalem,
and the heavens and the earth shake.
But the LORD is a refuge for his people,
a stronghold for the people of Israel.
So you shall know that I, the LORD your God,
dwell in Zion, my holy mountain.
And Jerusalem shall be holy,
and strangers shall never again pass through it.
In that day
the mountains shall drip sweet wine,
the hills shall flow with milk,
and all the stream beds of Judah
shall flow with water;
a fountain shall come forth from the house of the LORD
and water the Wadi Shittim.
(Joel 3:14-18, NRSV)

The day of the Lord is near!

And for those of us who know the Lord this is a good thing. For the Lord is our refuge. He is our shelter in the storm. He is our holy habitation!

The mountains will drip wine on that day, and the hills will flow with milk.

God will provide for those who take shelter under His wings.

The dry places will flow with water as a fountain from the throne of the Lord and He will provide for His people.

Near is the day of the Lord, wait for Him and take shelter in His wings!

Ancient One

151130As I watched in the night visions,
I saw one like a human being
coming with the clouds of heaven.
And he came to the Ancient One
and was presented before him.
To him was given dominion
and glory and kingship,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not pass away,
and his kingship is one
that shall never be destroyed.
(Daniel 7:13-14, NRSV)

To the one who is coming was given dominion and glory and kingship.

Everyone will serve Him.

He is the Ancient of Days and is our only Hope.

Unlike Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jesus is the hope we can rest in. He is coming and we can trust He will arrive.

So watch for He is coming and His reign will never be destroyed.