light has shined!

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time on-wards and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9:2-7, NRSV)

Have you ever walked through a dark room…

It is scary (especially if you have children…)…

You could walk into something, step on something…

But the littlest light makes all the difference in the darkness…

And here we have the best light of all!

Into a dark world the light of the savior has come.

He is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace…

He has come to give us life and to show us how to live.

So let us shout from the mountain top that Jesus Christ, the light of the world, is born!

scattered…

And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’ (Luke 1:46b-55, NRSV)

This is a song about what will happen?

Mary sings this before the birth of Jesus. She is telling us that once this event happens, the proud will be scattered, the powerful will be brought down, and the lowly will be lifted up.

The thoughts of the hearts of the proud will be their undoing. The powerful will be taken off of their power places. They will no longer hold the status that they do, and those who are seen as unworthy will be lifted to a place they have not been before…

This is what the kingdom of God will be like. Those who do things for their own gain will be shown for what they are, those who yield power for their gain will not be able to any more, and those who are held low, will be lifted to the place they should be.

Are you ready for the Advent of our God?

Emmanuel…

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. (Isaiah 7:10-16, NRSV)

Now this prophecy from Isaiah is one we read as Christians as a for-telling of Jesus’ birth…

There is a few issues with this…

One is that according to this reading Isaiah is telling Ahaz, that the siege on his city will be over when this young woman, who is with child, gives birth and that child is able to eats curds and honey. If this is about Jesus, then Isaiah is telling Ahaz, to hold on about 700 years and the siege will be over…

Is that good news?

Does the fact that this prophecy is probably pointing to a different woman than Mary and the birth of Jesus mean that this text is not about Jesus?

How many times is a prophecy to happen before it is no longer a prophecy?

Jesus came to us from a young woman, just as the scripture for-told. And He came to bring peace, and to have us beat our swords into plows, and because of that we took up arms and had Him put to death…

He came to bring us peace, and we saw a different outcome.

So are you ready for Jesus to come as a baby?

But even more are you ready for the peace that He promised to come and for Him to come again to bring the Kingdom in fruition!

bless your servant

And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant; now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue for ever before you; for you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed for ever.’ (2 Samuel 7:28-29, NRSV)

The words of the Lord are definitely true and in them He has promised many good good things to His servants.

He has promised to bless His servants.

SO if you are serving the Lord, you and your house will be blessed.

May God bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you and may He be gracious unto you, may He look upon you with favor and give you peace!

save us

But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself. Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name. Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved. (Psalm 80:17-19, NRSV)

Give us life and we will call on your name!

Restore us and let you face shine on us!

Bless us through the one who is at your right hand.

Send us your right hand man and show us how to live and help us to follow you and to have faith and trust in all of your promises so we might be a beacon of Your hope, mercy and grace in this dark world!