Water is a picture of the Spirit of Jesus working in us. He’s not working to save us, mind you; that work is done. He’s working to change us.
From John 7:37-38: “On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.'”
Max Lucado (born 1955) is an American pastor and Christian author.
From Isaiah 7:14: “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 Immanuel.”
A special gift arrived for us!
It came so quietly . . .
. . . perhaps you did not know.
There was no fancy wrapping,
not even a pretty bow,
no ornate frills or glitter,
no festive party mood . . .
. . . Just a tiny, baby boy
born in a stable crude.
He was our Savior King.
He came to earth to bring
God’s gift of love!
God’s greatest gift was giv’n to us.
It was His only Son . . .
. . . perhaps you did not know.
He left a throne in heaven
to come to our world below.
His birth was without grandeur;
a star His only crown;
. . . Just a precious little babe;
our God, to earth came down.
He is our Savior King
To Him all Praises sing
God’s gift, great love!
So, turn your eyes from the glitter,
of Santa’s presents bright . . .
. . . perhaps you need to know.
Just turn from what the world sees,
and gaze on that glorious night.
Look there upon the baby
in God’s own holy light.
. . . Now, look past the party crowds
past shopping to be done.
Look past all worldly things.
Look at the baby king,
God’s Gift has come!
These scenes are captured by my wife, Colleen. The poem is featured in BITS ‘N’ PIECES OF MY HEART, her Christian and family themed book. The book features stories, devotions, and poetry for adults and teens. Hands-on activities and delightful songs are included for families with young children. God’s love is the guiding light throughout the book’s pages.
The season of Advent means there is something on the horizon the likes of which we have never seen before. What is possible is to not see it, to miss it, to turn just as it brushes past you. And you begin to grasp what it was you missed, like Moses in the cleft of the rock, watching God’s [back] fade in the distance. So stay. Sit. Linger. Tarry. Ponder. Wait. Behold. Wonder. There will be time enough for running. For rushing. For worrying. For pushing. For now, stay. Wait. Something is on the horizon.
From Isaiah 9:6-7: “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. Great will be His authority, 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 onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”
Jan L. Richardson (born 1967) is an American writer, artist, and ordained minister. Her reflections come from her Night Visions: Searching the Shadows of Advent and Christmas.
From Colossians 3:1-2: “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.”
Sitting on sidelines of life
Shadows of darkness smother
Tempted by earthly idols
Searching for Christian brothers
Realizing character counts
Spirit leads man to Christ’s love
Raised up through heavenly grace
Setting mind on things above
Cleansing with fire, cache of sins
Obedience marks each day
Revealed through Christ’s forgiveness
Clothing self in righteous ways
Answering God’s blessed call
Heaven’s love binds without doubts
Perfected in harmony
Redeeming life’s turnabout
Dwelling in each heart, Christ’s peace
Gratitude writing hymn’s praise
Called to daily fellowship
Rising faith, always ablaze
From Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
We shall not benefit from reading the Old Testament unless we look for and meditate on the glory of Christ in its pages.
From 2 Corinthians 3:9: “For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, much more does the ministry of justification abound in glory!”
John Owen (1616-1683) was an English Puritan church leader and theologian.
If you love Christ, never be ashamed to let others see it and know it. Speak for Him. Witness for Him. Live for Him.
From Isaiah 43:10: “You are My witnesses, says the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after Me.”
John Charles (J. C.) Ryle (1816-1900) was an Anglican bishop in the United Kingdom.
From Ephesians 4:15-16: “But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.”
Falling into enemy’s net
Daily prisoner of sin
Redeemed by blessed Savior
Faith in His mercy’s check-in
Walking with other believers
Unity in Christ bears trust
Filled with patient gentleness
Forgiven of sinful lust
Setting faith upon single goal
Truthful light worth every breath
Kindled through deepened prayer
Risen Lord overcomes death
Realizing faith must be all in
Today, tomorrow . . . with Christ
Paid debts fully through love’s grace
His blood fully sacrificed
Clutching hope within every step
Christ’s grace raises faith’s story
Measured with moving forward
Salvation’s finished glory
Published in 1896, “My Goal is God Himself” was written by Frances Brook. She was the daughter of a pastor, but poor health prevented her from becoming a Christian missionary.
Jesus must become the heart of my heart, the fire of my life, the love of my soul, the bridegroom of my spirit.
From Ephesians 3:16-17: “I pray that, according to the riches of His glory, He may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.”
Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) was a Dutch priest, professor, writer, and theologian.
From Luke 17:5-6: “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ The Lord replied, ‘If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.'”
Remaining at life’s station
Waiting, always watching
Living with righteousness
Faith’s vision of salvation
Trusting in hope’s fortitude
Adopting God’s patience
Committing to His ways
Faith in Him shall be renewed
Believing in Savior’s grace
Facing life’s rising tides
Revealing light to come
Faith rekindled to embrace
Repenting of sinful ways
Floundering no longer
Accepting forgiveness
Faith powering up each day
Pulsating heart filled with joy
Hearing God’s truthful voice
Witnessing through Christ’s love
Faith gathers peace to deploy
English hymnwriter and theologian, Frederick William Faber (1814-1863), wrote the hymn “Faith of Our Fathers” in 1847. The lyrics reflect upon an inspiring vision of faith at work.
The burden God places on each of us is to become who we are meant to be. We are most fully ourselves when Christ most fully lives in us and through us.
From 1 John 2:5-6: “Whoever obeys His word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we know that we are in Him: whoever says, ‘I abide in Him,’ ought to walk in the same way as He walked.”
Andrew Peterson (born 1974) is an American Christian singer-songwriter and author.
Big Sky Buckeye 