Welcome to the December Archive. You are welcome to read the entire archive, or find a topic on the list below that is of interest to you. Just click the link, and you will be taken directly to the day it was written. Enjoy, and may you know God's peace as you read His Word.
You are welcome to use these writings or pass them on. All we ask is that in all things you remember the Author and give Him the glory, and remember this vessel which He has used to bring them to you. Peggy Hoppes
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Scripture on this page taken from the World English Bible which belongs to the public domain.
A WORD FOR TODAY, December 2025
December 1, 2025
“Don’t reject me in my old age. Don’t forsake me when my strength fails. For my enemies talk about me. Those who watch for my soul conspire together, saying, ‘God has forsaken him. Pursue and take him, for no one will rescue him.’ God, don’t be far from me. My God, hurry to help me. Let my accusers be disappointed and consumed. Let them be covered with disgrace and scorn who want to harm me.” Psalm 71:9-13, WEB
One of my favorite things to do while we live in England was to visit the churches, many of which were hundreds, if not a thousand, years old. We regularly attended worship at a thirteenth century parish church in a small village near the American bases where we lived and worked. The church partnered with several other local churches, so we often had the opportunity to worship there. We attended Thanksgiving services at Ely Cathedral with the rest of the military community and locals who embraced our presence in their neighborhoods and church. During our adventures, we always tried to plan our visits to churches around the country at a time when a service was planned. Some of my best memories are those times of worship, in places like Westminster Abbey, York Minster, and Truro Cathedral. We also attended worship at smaller village churches.
Sadly, some churches around the country have become so old and dilapidated that they are difficult to maintain, a task made even harder by the dwindling congregations and lack of funding. Can you imagine how much money it would take to restore a seven-hundred-year-old building? One report I read said that 3500 churches have been converted, sold, or demolished. Some churches have been converted into private homes, arts venues, community centers, and even hotels This is not just a problem in England, too many churches have been abandoned in America, and though they are not quite as old, they are equally difficult to repair and maintain. I have always wanted to save an old church, but I know it would be beyond my resources to do so. Thankfully, some people are willing to invest in saving these buildings. It is sad to think that any church has become redundant, though.
The word redundant describes the unemployed in England. According to Merriam-Webster, redundant means, “exceeding what is needed or normal.” In 1969, England’s Parliament set up an organization called the Redundant Churches Fund which became the Churches Conservation Trust to care for churches that are no longer needed for Sunday worship. There are churches all over England that have outlived their usefulness. Villages that were once prosperous and had several churches are much less populated today and cannot provide for the maintenance of so many buildings. Sadly, the redundant churches fall to the natural ravages of time and weather. The roofs fall and the walls crumble away. Windows are broken by vandalism and weeds overcome the churchyard. Over time, these centers of worship disappear into the landscape, its service to the Lord only a memory.
We once attended a service in one of the churches cared for by the Conservation Trust. Some of the walls of this building were at least 800 years old. The majority of the construction took place 600 years ago. When the village no longer needed two worship centers, the other church was chosen because of its location. Though the church was redundant, the villagers continued to care for the church. Despite the lack of regular worship, the church remained consecrated and was used for very special services each year.
A representative from the Conservation Trust gave the message at the service. He spoke about the churches under his care and the people who continue to love them. He thanked the villagers for their time and commitment to caring for All Saints’. He said that the building was not redundant, but rather retired, having served the Lord faithfully for hundreds of years. He encouraged the people to share the church with everyone who would like to visit. “This church is a place where all people, despite their faith or lack of it, can find peace, love, and beauty, and all Christians, despite their denomination can find a home.” That building will continue to bless those who love, maintain, and worship within.
Thankfully, some of those redundant churches are being saved, but we live in a time when we don’t really appreciate old things. I have antiques that I love that my kids don’t really want. Our landfills are overflowing with old things we throw away rather than repair or reuse them. We let old buildings fall down and bulldoze the stones away, replacing them with modern construction of steel and glass. Sadly, this sometimes includes our attitude about the old people in our lives.
This time of year is difficult for the elderly. They have lived long and full lives but are often set aside by the younger generations for the things they think are more important. Though they no longer serve the same purpose as when they were young, those elders are not redundant. They are filled with wisdom and stories. They love with a heart of experience. They desire fellowship with us and are worth our time and resources. We can find peace, love, and beauty in their presence. This holiday season, remember those who are shut-in or living in nursing homes and need a friend to love and listen to their stories. Embrace what they have to share and you will be blessed.
“For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees? But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience.” Romans 8:22-25, WEB
Sadako Sasaki was a young Japanese girl who developed Leukemia in 1955. Paper folding, or origami, was a well-established recreational activity in Japan for centuries by the time Sadako lived. There were certain patterns that were especially popular, based on the cultural icons of the Japanese people. In 1797 a book was published called “Hiden Senbazuru Orikata” which means “The Secret of One Thousand Paper Cranes Origami.” This book was the first to describe the steps in making origami, a tradition that had been passed verbally for over a millennium. By that time there was already a tradition that if a person folded one thousand paper cranes, they would be granted one wish by the gods.
Sadako’s best friend convinced her to fold a thousand paper cranes so that she could wish for good health. Unfortunately, Sadako died before she was able to finish her task. Her classmates finished her work, and she was buried with her cranes. There is now a memorial sculpture honoring Sadako and her hope for peace in the world. Her Leukemia was the aftereffects of the radiation of the Hiroshima bomb. Those paper cranes became a symbol of the hope for peace in the world. Now children from all over the world send paper cranes to the memorial to share in the hope.
The legend of the paper cranes has spread to other countries and is even being taken up by the governments that have reached the end of their rope when it comes to dealing with violence in their nations. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand once instructed his cabinet in the making of paper cranes and they spent a meeting doing so. There was a movement in the nation to somehow overcome the insurgency that had ripped apart the lives of so many people in south Thailand. On Sunday, December 5, 2004, they dropped nearly 100 million paper cranes on three provinces. The cranes were made by people all over the country and were dropped by military plane to mark the birthday of their king.
There were those who considered it a wasted effort. They saw the dropping of a 100 million paper cranes as nothing more than an inconvenience to those who would have to clean up the mess after it was all over. They may be right to an extent. The gods do not grant wishes, and paper can’t stop bullets. However, the Prime Minister recognized that there was a great need among the people in those places: a need for hope. Hope needs to be more than just symbolic gestures, so he promised to give a scholarship to every student that found a paper crane with his signature and the unemployed would be found a job.
We put our hope in many things. Sadako put her hope in a thousand paper cranes, but that hope disappointed. Her friends put their hope in the same cranes, hoping that they would bring peace to the world. Perhaps it is a waste to drop 100 million paper cranes in a war-torn area, and it certainly is not something in which we should put our hope. Even the promise of a scholarship or job is so remote that it would be disappointing for the many people for whom such a gift would be life-changing, because many would not receive the promise.
As Christians we have a hope that does not disappoint. It is a hope that we can’t see or touch or feel. The world looks no different today than it did before Jesus’ birth. It is still filled with sinners, suffering and pain. Yet, there is a difference because we now live in a hope that does not disappoint; a hope in the promises of God that we will receive in His day. It is especially manifest during this time of Advent while we wait for the birth of our Lord Jesus at Christmas and look forward to the second coming of our King. We live in hope, looking forward to that which will be rather than hoping for impossible dreams.
Lectionary Scriptures for December 7, 2025, Second Sunday of Advent: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12
“It will happen in that day that the nations will seek the root of Jesse, who stands as a banner of the peoples; and his resting place will be glorious.” Isaiah 11:10, WEB
We make judgments all the time, often without even realizing it. I think I am at my worst when I am behind the wheel of my car. I was on a highway some time ago when a semi, disobeying all the rules, was weaving in and out of traffic. He used the left lane, which was prohibited for that type of vehicle on that stretch of the roadway. He cut off multiple cars, including mine. He didn’t get much farther than me because the traffic was dangerously slowed by something ahead. His antics were frightening, so much so I slowed significantly to let him get far ahead. I might be behind the accident he was certainly going to cause, but I didn’t want to be in it.
I made a judgment. It was probably a good judgment. It may have been a lifesaving one. Sometimes we have to make judgments to remain safe. Sometimes, however, we make judgments because we are annoyed or inconvenienced. I confess that my grumbling in the car is usually based on some minor infraction that I have judged as brainless (even stupid), and sometimes I even get nasty even though they will never hear me. I make judgments about public figures who don’t live up to the standards I think should be kept, often angry because they won’t keep the promises they have made. I make judgments about the people I hear on the news or see on the streets. I even make judgments about fictional characters in movies or books. “I can’t believe they would do it that way,” I think to myself.
We all make judgments, both good and bad. We make judgments that are helpful and others that are not so helpful. The judgment from a court of law can bring transformation, though sometimes they cause people to rebel or retreat. Our judgments can help or they can hurt. That’s why we are warned to be careful about how we judge our neighbors.
We make our judgments based on our biases and our experiences. I judged that truck driver because I knew that dangerous driving could hurt others. However, some judgments just aren’t right. When we judge someone just because they are different than us, we harm them in ways we might never see or expect. All of us make judgements every day based on what we see and hear.
When we moved into our house in California, we walked around the lot to plan our landscaping. We talked about which bushes to plant and where to put flowers. We talked about pruning the trees and removing the old, dead plants. There was a perplexing plant in a very prominent spot in the front corner. It was a stick, a single branch sticking straight out of the ground. It looked ridiculous. We thought about removing it, but since we didn’t know what it was, we decided to leave it there until the spring to see what it would become.
We were so glad we did. By the next spring we realized that we had a treasure. It was a white lilac bush. Lilacs are not typically found in the Sacramento valley, and white lilacs are even rarer. By the time we left that house, our lilac bush had spread and was so beautiful that many of our friends begged us for cuttings to plant in their own gardens. Lilacs propagate by spreading the root system, sending shoots through the surface of the earth. We were able to dig down and cut through the root system, pulling out each shoot which could be replanted anywhere. For a moment our friends had a single stick somewhere in their yards, but they too ended up with big, beautiful white lilac bushes. Sadly, the people who bought our house saw no value in that bush. We heard from a neighbor that they parked an old car on top of it. Thankfully, the lilac was not lost forever because we were able to share those shoots with others.
In our first lesson, Isaiah describes the perfect leader, the shoot that would come. That leader would have wisdom, understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and fear. Perhaps this sounds redundant, after all, isn’t wisdom, understanding, and knowledge the same thing? No: a good leader has all three. Wisdom is the ability to discern between right and wrong, good and bad. Understanding comes from the heart, being able to identify with the circumstances. A person with knowledge has the facts. A good judge has all three. A good judge also accepts counsel, heeding the advice of those who might have a better grasp of the situation. Might, or strength, means authority and power, and when used appropriately can provide justice. Fear is not to be understood as being afraid as you might when watching a bad horror movie; it is a state of awe for the One who truly rules. A good leader fulfills all these characteristics.
Isaiah said, “He will not judge by the sight of his eyes, neither decide by the hearing of his ears.” Human judges have limitations. We do judge by the sight of our eyes and decide by the hearing of our ears. We also make mistakes. We are not always as wise, understanding, or knowledgeable as we should be. We fail to listen to good advice; we take advantage of our power in inappropriate ways. We don’t always fear God as we should.
A good leader is righteous. This means he (or she) will have a right relationship with God, having a heart to do what God would do. And a good leader is faithful. He keeps his promises. Can you imagine what the world would look like if we had leaders that are wise, understanding, and knowledgeable, who accept right counsel and rule with proper authority. What if we had leaders who truly feared God? Can you imagine if we had leaders that were righteous and faithful in all things? Throughout history we have had leaders that displayed some of those characteristics, but all fell short of being a truly good leader. Only one fit the bill: Jesus Christ is the perfect leader.
The nation of Israel was falling apart when Isaiah spoke these words. They had no power or authority. Assyria threatened their safety and their peace. They had turned from God and His word. They were not living faithfully. The line of David had become corrupt. The story of Israel’s kings reads like a broken record – there was a king that followed God’s heart whose son turned away. By the third or fourth generation, the king did evil in the sight of the Lord. Then a new king was found that followed God’s own heart who would rule for a time and there would be peace until subsequent generations turned from God. A human king would never bring about the kind of peace that God was promising because the royal line was made of sinful human beings.
It would take something, someone, much greater to bring about the restoration and peace that God promised to His people. The peace that brings harmony between all creatures has to come from God himself. The anointed One will bring righteousness and right judgment. The poor and the meek will be lifted up while the wicked will be destroyed. This king, this Messiah, will not come from the line of David, but rather from his father Jesse. He will be a new David, not a son of David. It is through wisdom, understanding, knowledge, authority, righteousness and faithfulness that peace is possible. The fear of God leads to justice and righteousness. Where there are justice and righteousness, there is peace.
There was something about John. The people saw him as the fulfillment of the promise. He drew huge crowds and had many followers. Masses of people were baptized in the Jordan by this man who seemed to be Elijah reincarnate. His clothing and diet were similar to the Old Testament prophets. He was obviously a holy man by his rejection of the outward facades of the day. He could have been a priest, wearing fancy robes and eating fine food. Instead he chose to live in the desert and to eat the barest necessities to stay alive.
John the Baptist came to prepare the way for the promised Messiah. Though many followed him, listened to him, and were baptized by him, John was never the one they were seeking. He was simply the messenger sent to prepare the way. He knew that his purpose was not to be the Messiah; he was chosen to point toward the one who would bring salvation to the people of Israel. He had a wide following, yet he knew that he was not even worthy to touch the sandals of Jesus. John was the greatest among prophets, but he was nothing compared to the One who would follow.
One of my favorite Advent traditions is the Jesse Tree, which comes from the passage from Isaiah. The Jesse Tree is a daily remembrance of the roots of Jesus’ life and heritage, from the beginning of time to His birth. He is the shoot that comes out of Jesse. Though different scriptures and people are used in different traditions, the stories include the creation of the world, the patriarchs, judges and kings, the prophets, and the people who were present at Jesus’ birth.
It seems odd that it would be called a Jesse Tree. Why wouldn’t it be called a Jesus Tree, since it is his family tree? Or why not be a David Tree, since Jesus is the fulfillment to the promises made to King David? The prophet reminds us that the promise was made to David long before Jesus was born. David was the son of Jesse, the first in the line of kings that would last forever. “He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” (2 Samuel 7:13) David was imperfect, but he was loved as a son by God, and the promise was irrevocable. Though the Kings of Israel and then Judah failed to live up to God’s expectations, Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of that promise.
God had a plan from the beginning, constantly pointing toward the promise of salvation throughout the story of His people. Isaiah said that the shoot would come out of the stump of Jesus because Jesus’ roots go much deeper than David, back to the beginning of time. Jesus was there in the beginning. He was the Word that was spoken when God created the sun and the moon and the stars. Jesus was there in the promise of the baptism that came after the flood of Noah. Jesus was in the hearts of the patriarchs, judges, and kings as God guided them. The righteousness of those in the Old Testament who trusted God was theirs by faith, and Jesus is in the midst of any faith that focuses on the Father. Jesus was in the words of the prophets who proclaimed that one day there would be a King who is Lord over all. Jesus was with them all even though He had not yet been born. The Jesse Tree not only shows us the story of God; it shows us the character of Jesus, the one who is, was, and will be forever.
We live in a broken world; it is not as God intended it to be. So, He promised that He would provide a Messiah who would make all things right. The images in today’s Old Testament lesson seem unbelievable to us. The lion will lie with the lamb? Impossible! I have a friend who has gone on safari in Africa several times and he has captured some amazing photos of what lions do: they kill their prey, and they eat whatever they catch. A lamb could not possibly survive a lion encounter.
This image is one of the most common religious Christmas card designs. This beautiful image brings to mind the ideal peace for which we hope during this special season. It is a peace without violence and fear, where the strong stand with the weak. This is what it will be like during the reign of the Messiah. The lamb will lie with the lion, the bull and the bear will eat together. The world will be at peace; there will be no more enemies, no more hunters and prey. This is a world we long to experience, but it is a world that will not come by means of human will or flesh and blood. Only Jesus can fulfill this promise. As we wait the coming of the Christ child, we are reminded that we also await a second coming, for only in that advent will everything be complete. That time is not now.
During Advent we wait for His coming. As Christians we know He was born more than two thousand years ago, but even as we prepare to celebrate the Nativity, we are called to live in the hope of His second coming. During Advent we await the shoot of Jesse that was promised by God through the prophet Isaiah and live in the hope that He will come again so that we will know forever the peace of God.
Paul wrote about the harmony that exists in a kingdom where God rules. Like the promise in Isaiah, the people join together as one voice, glorifying God. We can’t do it without God’s help. Jesus came at Christmas as a down payment on the promise, to give us a glimpse of what it will be like in the day when He rules over everything. Until that day we dwell in the tension of Advent. We know Christ has come. We know the Kingdom of God is near. But we still long for Christ to come again. We are still waiting for the king who will bring peace to the earth so that the lion will lie with the lamb and the powerful will lie with the powerless. We live in this hope even though we see the disharmony that surrounds us each day, the disharmony of which we are a part. That disharmony comes because we do not judge righteously. This is why we need to continually repent, because we fail to live according to God’s Word.
I repent whenever I realize that I, too, make mistakes. When I am afraid of dangerous drivers and judge them with harshness, and when I grumble about others on the road, I see my own sin and seek God’s grace. I am sure that many of my neighbors grumble when I make the same minor infractions that make me judge them. I pray that God and my neighbors will have patience with me, and I ask God to help me do better the next time. I don’t know joy and peace when I’m judging and grumbling. It is only found in God’s grace and forgiveness. Paul echoes the promise from Isaiah. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.” This joy and peace won’t come from our work or our own righteousness. It is a gift of God. When we live in this hope, we can even find harmony where there is disharmony.
There will come a day when the entire world is in harmony again. The wolves and the leopards will lie with the sheep and the goats. There will be no need for animals to kill, for they will be satisfied by God’s provision. In that day even human beings will live in harmony with one another. No longer will men and women harm others. There will be no need for war or hatred. We will be restored to our God and will live in His presence for eternity; we won’t need anything because God will provide everything. Our work will be to praise God, and our joy will be everlasting. It is no wonder that we sigh with anticipation, especially since our human leaders so often fail us.
In the Gospel lesson from Matthew we hear his voice, the voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” John the Baptist knew that the Pharisees and Sadducees who were the leaders of God’s people were not taking care of God’s people. Israel’s history was filled with leaders who sought their own righteousness, their own power, their own glory. They were called to rule with justice and peace, but they failed. Nothing was different in John’s day. John spoke to those that had followed him into the wilderness and asked, “Who told you to come here?” The Pharisees and the Sadducees had their history, the same history that we read in the Old Testament prophecies, but they did not understand.
John promised the coming of the One would have the wisdom, understanding, knowledge, authority, righteousness and faithfulness that Isaiah described. He would also have a humble relationship with His Father. He would come and He would make all things right. He would baptize with more than water and feed His people with more than bread and wine. He would give His Spirit and remove the imperfections that bring His people down.
It won’t happen overnight. It won’t happen in the next few weeks. It’ll take a lifetime for each of us and it will happen in God’s time. It won’t be until Christ comes again that everything will be restored to the perfection that God intended when He created the world.
The Pharisees and the Sadducees went to the river because they were curious about the ministry of John. They wanted to know if he was claiming to be the Messiah. They wanted to squelch his ministry before it got out of control. They wanted to destroy him. John was talking to them when he said, “You offspring of vipers,” but this word cuts to our hearts too. We have our facades, our masks, our sins from which we must repent. We are arrogant and haughty. We do not bear the fruit worthy of repentance. We judge according to what we see and hear rather than according to God’s Word. This is why we remember John’s call for repentance each year, inviting us to prepare the way of the Lord. Though Christ has already come, we are still longing for the fulfillment of the promise of a world fully restored to God. We remain sinners even while we are saints. We have been baptized with the Spirit, but we still need daily repentance.
We dwell in the time between the already and the not yet. We know that the Christ child has come, but we wait for Him to come again as King. We know that Christ has died, but we long for the day when the forgiveness that came with His blood is fully realized. We wait for that which already is but is yet to be.
The psalmist prayed that God would give the king justice, that he would dwell in God’s righteousness. Every good and perfect thing that can come to a nation and a people begins with the goodness of the king. Today’s psalm was written by Solomon, and during his reign the nation of Israel did prosper. He had a heart for God and a desire for wisdom. He pursued justice and brought a golden age to the land. The world sought Solomon’s wisdom and the kingdom benefitted because Solomon stood as a leader and the people followed. They did what was right. They listened to his wisdom, experienced his understanding, sought out his knowledge. They respected authority and had a healthy awe of the Lord. Together they lived in God's blessing.
But even Solomon was not perfect, and his kingdom didn’t last forever. The offspring of Jesse - David, Solomon, and the kings that followed - failed to be all that God intended for His kingdom. Only Jesus could fulfill the promise. Only when Jesus truly rules will peace abound and righteousness flourish. Until that day, however, we can try to be wise, understanding, knowledgeable, seeking counsel and might, fearing the Lord. Perhaps, just maybe, we’ll experience a little bit of that promised peace.
The world as God created it to be will not be restored until Jesus’ second coming. Until that day, the lion will not lie with the lamb. However, in Christ we can live in harmony with one another, the powerful with the powerless. We still live in an age of repentance as we wait for the coming of our King. In the meantime, we can work for justice, caring for the poor and the weak. We can be heralds of God’s grace, proclaiming the coming of the kingdom so that others might prepare their hearts to receive Him now. Through our witness, God will be glorified in this world.
“Charge those who are rich in this present age that they not be arrogant, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy; 18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to share; 19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19, WEB
We don’t have many little ones in our family anymore, so we’ve “adopted” several families in our church and act as an extra “grandma.” The list of these children is growing, and so are the children. It is getting harder to buy presents for them because it is so hard to know what they would enjoy. We have budgeted much less for each child this year since there are so many. I finished that shopping today, and hope that they will enjoy the gifts. I love to buy Christmas presents; I guess that's why I’ve “adopted” those families. It is a joy to think about my little friends as I am shopping and to see their smiles when they open their presents. Sometimes I have to remember that the dollar value is not the real focus, that gift giving is really about “the thought.”
There was once a commercial for a local jeweler that asked if the listeners were having trouble finding the perfect gift for their loved ones. The speaker then assured us that we would find the perfect gifts at the store. “Diamonds, gold, silver...” they have it all. Every other store makes similar appeals to the shopping public. They all have the perfect gift. They all have the one thing that will make all our loved ones happy. The ads are filled with claims, “Best presents” and “Perfect gifts!”
It can be hard to decide which gifts to give. It is even hard to decide for whom we should buy presents. When Bruce and I were first married, we purchased gifts for everyone in our families. That was eventually reduced to family gifts and then the family gifts became homemade ornaments. We bought gifts for the nieces and nephews when they were younger, when it was easy to purchase a small toy or book. It became much harder as they grew older. We did not know them very well since they live so far away, so we had no idea what things they had or their interests. We eventually stopped buying gifts and sent money or gift cards instead. We all went through the transition because we had ridiculous piles of presents under the tree and shipping became much too expensive.
Sometimes it felt silly to send those gift cards. None of us could afford so many presents; it was a struggle to buy for every child. Besides, our gift cards just passed in the mail. We’d send gifts cards to their kids; they’d send gift cards to ours. This is not to say that gift cards are bad gifts. Sometimes money and gift certificates are the perfect present, especially for those who have very specific needs. By giving them a gift card from a store where they can purchase exactly what they want, you’ve remembered them in a very special way while giving them the freedom to have the right thing.
The problem is in our motive. Why are we buying these gifts? Are we buying them out of duty or for some reward? Do we purchase gifts for someone in the hopes that they’ll give us something back? Or are we repaying a gift with our gifts? Are there better ways to share our love with our friends and family? Do we really need to find the “perfect” gift to continue having a relationship with them? I love to give presents, and I particularly love to give presents that I know will make people happy.
So, as we work out our preparation for Christmas Day, it is good to think about the gifts we give and the reason we do so. It has long been said that children prefer the boxes to the presents. Sometimes they do, because a box uses imagination. Many people would rather a handmade ornament than an expensive piece of jewelry. Do we really need to buy a big dollar gift for our friends, or would it be better to spend time with them? What is the perfect gift, really? Is it an item that fulfills some duty or reaps us enough praise? Does saying “I love you” require a lot of money? And do we really need to buy things for everyone we know? Are we really making them happy?
So, let’s remember what it is all about. Yes, the greatest gift is Jesus, and the season is about Him. But we can’t forget that giving gifts among God’s people has been a long-held part of the celebration. The wise men gave gifts. People from every generation have had traditions they have upheld from year to year. But we need to remember why we give gifts. We share what we have to make others happy. We give as we have been given to glorify God. We don’t have to buy that big screen TV or that diamond necklace. The gift that will really make a difference is love, time, and presence in the lives of those we love. We can follow the example of God, who has not promised us castles and gold, but a babe in a manger. He gave us His son to dwell among us, to love us and to lay down His life for us. So, too, we can be generous and willing to share all we have with those we love, not just at this time of year in packages covered with bows, but with our lives and resources every day.
“Praise Yah! I will give thanks to Yahweh with my whole heart, in the council of the upright, and in the congregation. Yahweh’s works are great, pondered by all those who delight in them. His work is honor and majesty. His righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered. Yahweh is gracious and merciful. He has given food to those who fear him. He always remembers his covenant. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations. The works of his hands are truth and justice. All his precepts are sure. They are established forever and ever. They are done in truth and uprightness. He has sent redemption to his people. He has ordained his covenant forever. His name is holy and awesome! The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
John Jacob Niles, folklorist and singer, was in Appalachia when he overheard a young girl singing a few lines from an old folk song. He took those words and expanded them into a song for Christmas in 1933. “I Wonder as I Wander” is a haunting melody, which draws the listener into the wonderment of the reason for Jesus' birth.
I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on’ry people like you and like I...
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.
When Mary birthed Jesus ‘twas in a cow’s stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God’s heaven a star’s light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.
If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God’s angels in heav’n for to sing,
He surely could have it, ‘cause he was the King.
I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on’ry people like you and like I...
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.
It is so easy for us to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations. I was thinking about my schedule for this week, all the things I have to get done, and I don’t know how I'm going to finish all my preparation Oh, I’m sure that a few things on that list can wait, but I’m sure I’ll push myself into a frenzy until it is all complete. I’ll forget to spend time in wonderment, considering all that Jesus gave up to be my Savior. He left heaven for a stable, the glory of God for the company of men. Isn’t this an amazing thing to ponder? Shouldn’t we stop during this Advent season to think on these things?
All the while, however, we are also reminded by Bing Crosby of the beauty of the season. His song “White Christmas” has been a favorite for generations. Yet, in the midst of the hustle and bustle, let’s remember that it is not just about the stuff we do or the stuff we buy or the stuff we make, it is about the people with whom we get to share those blessings. Bing once said, “Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won’t make it ‘white.’”
So, let us wonder as we wander through the holidays what it means to be a Christian. Who is Christ, what has He done, what is He doing and what will He do in the future? What did He give up for our sake? How can we follow in His footsteps? I don’t think that Jesus was thinking that our holiday schedules should be filled with things to do, but instead be filled with music as we sing His praise. Take time this advent to just wonder and wander, to commune with God in silence and prayer, praise and son, and then share God’s grace with the world.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, WEB
I worked in retail when I was younger. I started as a cashier and floor clerk and went through a management training program for two different companies. I eventually worked my way through the ranks into a leadership position in whatever store where I worked. I loved it, but I worked incredibly long hours. My hours some weeks were as much as two full time jobs because I was not only working in my store, but I joined a store remodel project at another store. I was salaried at my store, but I earned overtime for the work I did at the other. It was good money, but it was exhausting to work seven days a week and as much as twelve hours in a day. In one three-week period I put in more than three hundred hours. I had no life outside my job. My only time of relaxation was during my hour-long commute, and I hit my bed as soon as I got home at night. It was a good thing that I was not married at the time, because I had no time for anyone.
I decided that I did not want another managerial job after I got married. I was happy to be a cashier and serve customers, to work a few hours a week. My resume made it easy to be hired, as a matter of fact, the home fashions department manager at a large mid-level retail chain snapped me up immediately. I loved it. I served many small business owners and enjoyed helping them make choices about color and fabric. I was very good at my job, and it didn’t take long for the general manager to take notice.
One day I spent hours helping a woman who was decorating a bed and breakfast. She walked out of the store after spending thousands of dollars, confident that her rooms would be beautiful and welcoming to her guests. She was so happy with her purchases that she wrote a thank you letter to the store manager, singing my praise. He called me into his office one day and thanked me for making such a good impression on our customers. He told me that her letter was not the first time he had noticed my hard work and enthusiasm. It made me feel good to know that I was doing my job well.
The department manager was not so thrilled. She was happy to hire me when she thought I could make her look good, but when my work brought attention to my own abilities, she began to worry. Despite my repeated assurances that I was only interested in a part time position, she was convinced that I was trying to steal her job. After all, why would I work so hard if I weren’t working to rise in the company? She was never happy about the job she had; she was constantly trying to work her way up to the next rung on the corporate ladder. Instead of being happy that I was making her department look good, she began to undermine the work I was doing. She found ways to make me fail. She gave me the worst hours and rejected any requests for time off. She stuck me in the warehouse as often as she could so I couldn’t work with customers. She had the power, but she was so frightened that she would lose her power that she destroyed herself in the process. I eventually quit that job and I heard that she was fired a short time later.
We live in a world where we are expected to strive to be the best, the highest, the strongest. We live in a world where we are expected to work not just to live, but so that we can move up the ladder. It is a world where accepting to be less than our potential is seen as weakness. Could I have been a good manager at that department store? Yes, I believe so. But I was happy with my job; it was enough.
Paul knew what it was like to live with “enough.” He recognized that true power was found in God’s grace. He didn’t need to strive according to the expectations of the world; he was happy to embrace weakness and let God’s strength shine through. As we journey through Advent, are we willing to be weak so that God can be strong? Are we willing to be less so that God can be more?
December 9, 2025
“So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants, and stewards of God’s mysteries. Here, moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man’s judgment. Yes, I don’t judge my own self. For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.” 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, WEB
For today’s devotion, I am going to share an old, familiar story.
“On a beautiful spring day, the animals gathered together to enjoy some fellowship. Skylark was singing, Squirrel was nibbling on some seeds, and the fawns were romping together. Tortoise slowly arrived and greeted the group with a cheery, ‘Hello.’ It was a peaceful time until another friend arrived. Bursting out of the bushes flew Hare who was filled with energy and enthusiasm. He hopped circles around Tortoise, bouncing here and there and everywhere. The rest of the animals were tired just watching him.
“‘What are we going to do today?’ asked Hare. The other animals did not have any ideas that satisfied the active Hare. ‘Let’s have a race!’ he said. Squirrel answered, ‘A race? We do not like to race against you. You are too fast and no one else gets to win.’ Hare hounded the animals until they began to get angry. Finally, Tortoise said, ‘I will race you.’ The whole group got very quiet, then suddenly Hare burst out in laughter. ‘You? You want to race me?’ asked Hare. Tortoise said, ‘Sure, it’s all about having fun anyway, isn’t it?’ Hare said, ‘Of course.’ He was still giggling as he sauntered to the starting line. ‘Well, this will be an easy race to win!’ The animals lined up at the starting line, Hare impatient as Tortoise slowly approached. Wise Old Owl laid out the path of the race and explained the rules.
“‘On your mark, get set, GO!’ hooted Owl. The animals took off. Hare was far down the path as Tortoise barely got off the starting mark. Hare ran back and taunted Tortoise. ‘Are you coming or not? Is that as fast as you can go? You can never win at that pace!’ Tortoise continued on his way. Hare stopped and nibbled on some clover while Tortoise continued on his way. Hare stopped at the pond for a cool drink of water while Tortoise continued on his way. Hare even got behind Tortoise and pushed him further along the path. ‘Just thought I’d give you a bit of help, since you need it.’
“‘I might as well take a nap since Tortoise will take all day to run this race.’ So, Hare found a shady spot along the path and fell asleep. Hare did not realize that while he was running back and forth, eating and drinking, that Tortoise continued to get closer to the finish line. Hare woke to the sound of cheers and applause. He shook his head, rubbed his eyes, and looked in the direction of the noise. There, Tortoise was just walking over the finish line.
“Hare ran to the finish and said, ‘Hey, it’s not fair. He must have cheated. Tortoise could never beat me!’ Wise Old Owl said to Hare, ‘Slow and steady wins the race. Tortoise did not let anything distract him from the task at hand. He proved himself faithful. Not even your taunts about failure would stop him. You could have easily completed the race and then did everything you wanted to do. Instead, you let your arrogance get the better of you.’”
We know the moral of the story, but what does this mean for us as people of faith? As Christians, we run a race against the world. Satan taunts us with accusations of imperfection, pushes us along the way, and attacks when he does not get his way. Yet, we must prove faithful through it all, continuing along the path until we reach the finish line. We should be like the tortoise, with constancy, integrity, and hope. In the end we will know and understand all that we faced, and we will enjoy God’s glory.
December 10, 2025
Lectionary Scriptures for December 14, 2025, Third Sunday of Advent: Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146; James 5:7-11; Matthew 11:2-15
“Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in Yahweh, his God.” Psalm 146:5, WEB
It is said that there has been no year in recorded human history that there has been no war between nations. There hasn’t been a global war for many years, but there is always some battle waging between neighboring countries or clans or kingdoms. If there isn’t war on our continent, there’s war somewhere. Violence between enemies takes lives every day. Perhaps there have been years when those wars were minor with few deaths, but conflict is always a part of life. Unfortunately, it seems that even individuals these days make it a habit to find a reason to argue. It seems we are constantly looking for an enemy.
It is no wonder that we find great comfort in the words of Isaiah, “Tell those who have a fearful heart, ‘Be strong! Don’t be afraid! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, God’s retribution. He will come and save you.’” We want God to do away with our enemies, to punish them for the harm they have inflicted on us. It is particularly strange, though, when the enemies fighting one another both believe in the same God. Take, for example, the wars in England between the fifteenth and seventeenth century. Those wars were about power and control, mostly between family members, but there was often an underlying question of religion, specifically which type of Christianity would be followed.
People were beheaded because they wanted to follow the ideas of the reformers and people were beheaded because they wanted to follow Rome, it all depended on who was in power. The years during Henry VIII’s reign were particularly difficult because he was so easily swayed by whoever was in his favor. If he liked you, he believed you, and you could convince him to implement policies favorable for your point of view. But the minute you did something to fall out of favor, and it could be the silliest thing, you were out and the next guy moved in to implement the policies favorable to his point of view.
This meant that the average person never knew what was in favor and what was not in favor at any moment. There was confusion not only in the court, but in the streets. It was the death sentence to disagree with the king, but how do you agree when you don’t even know what he believes today?
I read a lot of historical fiction from that time period in English history. I am fascinated by the relationships within the courts of the kingdom. I read a book that centered on Henry VIII’s sixth wife Katherine Parr. While the book was fiction, historical fiction writers try to stay true to the historical evidence of what happened. This particular book showed the constant jockeying between courtesans to be in favor not only with Queen Katherine, but especially with King Henry. After all, if the queen falls out of favor, you better have your foot in the next door. And with King Henry, we know the queens fell out of favor. Katherine did eventually lose favor, but she kept her head because Henry died first.
The passage from Isaiah brings light to the real question: who is my enemy? What is interesting is that the religious wars among the English always quietly disappeared when the county was fighting France. As they say, the enemy of your enemy is your friend. It was easy to love one another as they faced a common enemy. But as soon as one war was settled, the old disagreements rose to the top and the infighting began again.
We are human. The reality is that no matter what we believe, there are always human beings that just can’t get along. We have conflicting personalities. We see the world differently. There are just some people who rub us the wrong way. This happens within the closest groups, even families. As Christmas draws closer, many are dreading the impending gatherings because it is almost certain someone will say something to make someone else angry. There is no way to escape, especially when you are visiting distant family and friends. We are human and even the best of us simply do not get along with all the other humans.
But does that make them our enemy? We might not agree about the issues, the big and the little ones, and we may even get into heated discussions with them, but does that make them an enemy? Sadly, I have to admit that I have cried out to God about those who have hurt me. Did I want Him to hurt them? I wish I could say I didn’t...
But when God says that He will deal with our enemies, He’s not really thinking in terms of those neighbors with whom we do not agree. We have greater enemies about which we should be concerned, i.e. the devil. When we disagree with our neighbors about the silly things, and even the big things, Satan takes advantage of our weaknesses. He makes us think that those people are our enemies. He wants us to hate them. He wants us to divide. He’s done a pretty good job.
In the days when Jesus was born, the people were waiting for a Messiah, a savior or liberator. They wanted someone who would defeat the Romans and return Israel to the Golden Age of David. They wanted God to take vengeance on their enemies. But the Jews faced the same question as we do today: who was the enemy God would destroy? Jesus came to save the people not from the threats in this world but from the threats that keep them from God. Jesus is the Way that will make the desert a land of flowing blessings.
Isaiah says, “The wilderness and the dry land will be glad. The desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.” Isn’t that a beautiful image? I see these words come to pass happen each year in Texas. If the conditions are perfect, the rains of October and February as well as the cold of December will bring out the Bluebonnets in such numbers that the fields turn to blue. There are other wildflowers, too, and for a time the dry, brown landscape is filled with color. Isaiah says, “It will blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing.”
Isaiah was telling the people that something spectacular was about to happen. This promise was given to the exiles as they waited to be released from captivity. It must have been difficult to wait. We know that God is faithful, but we begin to doubt when things don’t happen in a timely manner. We forget that everything happens in God’s time for a reason. Perhaps they weren’t ready. Perhaps they did not fully understand the depth of God’s grace. Perhaps there were still some that needed to be cleansed of the attitudes that sent them into captivity in the first place. The people were there to be transformed, to remember the God of their forefathers and the power of His Word. The promise would be fulfilled when the time was right, when God was satisfied that all were ready to return into His presence.
God’s people would return home with shouts of praise and song. When it happened, extraordinary things would occur: the blind would see, the deaf would hear, the speechless tongue would sing and the lame would dance. They shall see the glory of God. But this promise was not for all men, it was for God’s people. The highway leads directly to the gate of Zion: the unclean would not walk the Holy Way.
Though the words were spoken to those in exile, these words spoke also to another day, a future time when God would redeem the world and transform His people forever. Can you imagine a world as is pictured in the text from Isaiah? We might catch glimpses today, but there are still those who are blind, deaf, dumb, and lame. The lions and jackals still roam. Was the world really different when the exiles returned to Jerusalem? People still became sick and children were born blind. The unclean were still walking into the gates of Zion.
They were looking for the Messiah in the days of Jesus. John leapt in joy in his mother’s womb and did not want to baptize Jesus because he knew that he was not worthy to even touch His feet, but even he wondered whether Jesus was the One for whom they were waiting. Matthew wrote that John the Baptist heard stories about Jesus. He was imprisoned by Herod and could not go see it for himself, so he sent some of his disciples. “Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?” they asked Jesus. Jesus answered, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see,” and listed the same promises as we hear in Isaiah. Jesus was opening the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf. He was making the lame walk and the mute sing. He was raising the dead. Jesus was fulfilling the promises of the Old Testament in their presence, proving by His works that He was the One for whom they were waiting. Most importantly, Jesus was preaching the Good News of God’s grace.
Jesus was the Messiah, but He wasn’t going to be the Messiah they wanted Him to be. He was going to be what God intended Him to be. Jesus said, “Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.” His true purpose would cause the many people to stumble.
Jesus’ ministry did not make sense to the religious elite of His day. He touched the untouchables. He brought wholeness to the outcast. He gave life to those who were dead to the world. He set the prisoners free, opened the eyes of the blind, and made the lame walk. He did not do good things for the righteous; He did great things for the sinners. It made no sense in Jesus’ day and does not make sense today. Human nature expects reward for goodness, but Jesus gave gifts to the humble. No wonder so many people doubt that He is the Messiah, even today.
The central theme of today’s texts is the fulfillment of God’s promises in the ministry of Jesus. Isaiah tells us that the eyes of the blind will be opened, the ears of the deaf will be unstopped, the lame man will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing. The psalmist wrote about the same promise. We see these promises being fulfilled in the life and ministry of Jesus.
After sending John’s disciples back with the good news, Jesus spoke to the people about John. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ Most certainly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.’” Jesus pointed to the Old Testament prophecy to show the fulfillment of God’s promises.
John was truly a great man, how could he be lesser than the least in the Kingdom of Heaven? The point of this verse is that John was of the Old Covenant, a covenant based on a different kind of promise. He was looking for salvation in flesh; the New Covenant promises a greater salvation. The power of the Old Covenant was fire and brimstone; it was destructive and judgmental. Jesus came to bring healing and forgiveness, restoring people and making them whole. His work is complete, but we do not yet see the fulfillment of all His promises. We live in hope, trusting that the day will come when the ills in Isaiah will be gone forever.
We are still waiting for the fulfillment of these promises even now two thousand years after the birth of Jesus. The blind are still blind. The lame are still lame. The wicked still walk in our midst. The day will come when we receive the eternal life where all these things are gone forever. That day will come in God’s time, not in our time. Will it be today? Will it be in a thousand years? We don’t know. What we do know is that God is faithful.
James tells us to be patient. “Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receives the early and late rain.” God knows what He is doing. He is longsuffering. He is forgiving. He wants all to know Him. He wants everyone to walk on the Way. It is all about God’s mercy. He is the One who will make it happen. He has made a plan that will fulfill all His promises, and one day we’ll know what it is like to live in that wilderness that has been transformed into a garden of life. The water will flow.
The water will flow. Actually, the water already flows. While we are still waiting for the promises of God, they were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He is the Living Water that makes the desert bloom, and He is already doing so through His people. Though He never defeated the Romans, He did defeat the real enemy: death. The devil is still wandering around, trying to convince us to hate one another and taking advantage of our faults, but God is still in control.
James wrote, “Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” The language of the New Testament has a sense of immediacy that seems to contradict the reality. Two thousand years is a long time since the first disciples followed Jesus. It is enough to make us doubt what we believe, just like John the Baptist. It makes us ask, “Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?” In this world many people look for salvation in so many places. They cry out to God for all the wrong reasons. They don’t even realize why they need to be saved. They see enemies in every person who disagrees with them but do not see that the real enemy has been defeated by God.
The psalmist wrote of the hope we have in Jesus. “Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in Yahweh, his God.” This is not good news for the righteous; it is good news for the sinner, because it points us beyond ourselves to trust in a higher power. That higher power, by virtue of His greatness, must know better how things should be accomplished. We are still waiting for the fulfillment of the promises two thousand years after the coming of Christ because God still has work to do. There are people that need to be saved and we are called to wait both patiently and expectantly while God finishes what He has started.
What are you waiting for? Does your impatience make you doubt the truth of what God is doing? Do you wonder if Jesus really is the One, or if we should be looking for another? The answer is the same for us today as it was for John. “Go and tell the things which ye hear and see.” The blind see God, the lame go forth in faith, the filthy are cleansed, the deaf hear God’s word, the dead are raised to new life in Christ, and the poor are given the treasures of the Kingdom. This is truly good news.
Now is the time to trust in God, even as we wait. We might be confused, like John, and wonder if we are really seeing the work of God. Despite our doubt we can know that God’s promises are real and He is faithful. That’s what makes us greater than John. We live in the New Covenant; God has redeemed His people and restored us to Him. He will make the world right, in His time and in His way. Jesus is coming, not just as a babe in a manger, but as the King of Glory. One day God’s creation will be as Isaiah imagines. Do not be afraid. He is here now and will be here then. Even now His Spirit is sweeping across the land, transforming the dry land with His Word.
December 11, 2025
“The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork. Day after day they pour out speech, and night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their voice has gone out through all the earth, their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his room, like a strong man rejoicing to run his course. His going out is from the end of the heavens, his circuit to its ends; there is nothing hidden from its heat. Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. Yahweh’s testimony is sure, making wise the simple. Yahweh’s precepts are right, rejoicing the heart. Yahweh’s commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever. Yahweh’s ordinances are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb. Moreover by them is your servant warned. In keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Forgive me from hidden errors. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me. Then I will be upright. I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Yahweh, my rock, and my redeemer.” Psalm 19, WEB
The days leading up to Christmas is full of parties and preparation; it is a time of joy and friendship, of happy times, and pleasant experiences. We are waiting for the coming of the Christ child, but while we wait, we gather with friends and family and attend programs starring our little ones who sing with great passion and gusto even if they are a little out of tune. We light our homes with twinkle lights and fill our kitchens with the most delightful smells of Christmas cookies, cakes, and other goodies. We listen to and hum Christmas songs all day long. I can’t help thinking, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” as I go through my day.
We host an open house for our friends on the second Saturday of December every year. It takes a lot of work: cleaning, decorating, shopping, baking, and cooking. We always give a homemade ornament to our guests, so we’ve had that work to do, too. It is a crazy time. It seems as soon I finish one task I find a dozen more to do. I clean up clutter and discover dust. I clean up the dust and realize I need to vacuum. By the time I finish those tasks, something else pops up to be done. It takes constant vigilance to complete the work. The party is as late as it can be, yet I feel like I’m so far behind. Every year I promise I won’t do too much, but every year I get excited about sharing my blessings with family and friends, so I go overboard.
What does Christmas look like? For me, at least this weekend, it looks like a house filled with laughter and happy bellies filled with good food and great conversation. To the world there are Christmas trees and Santa Clause and perhaps even a nativity scene here or there. It is “Joy to the World” and “Silent Night”. These are wonderful aspects of Christmas.
I have to confess, though, that my preparation for the party and for Christmas keeps my focus on the fun and it is hard to spend time considering the purpose of Advent. See, according to the Church year, the Christmas Season does not even begin until after Advent, but we can’t possibly wait until Christmas Eve to begin to prepare. It takes time to decorate our homes, bake cookies, and buy presents, so we miss Advent by paying so much attention to Christmas and nearly forget that these weeks are meant to be a time of preparing our hearts for the coming of our Savior. In the earliest days of the celebration of Christ’s birth, Advent was a time of repentance. It is hard to remember our need for the Christ when we are so focused on the glitz and glitter of Christmas.
Many people look for happiness and inspiration in Christmas lights and pretty packages. They try to find joy in the celebrations. Those who do not believe in God see the way we spend these weeks and never really understand what it means to the believer that Jesus was born to save us because they see us partying and laughing.
They are looking for something they can’t define, but never realize they will not find it under an evergreen tree. It is true that the psalmist tells us to look toward the heavens and hear God’s voice in His creation. We can see Him in the flowers and know that the Creator designed each one out of love for you. We can look toward the rivers and know that the waters flow endlessly to bring life to the earth. We can see even see God in the laughter of our family and friends as we gather to have fun, but true joy comes to us through the water of life that flows from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The psalmist then reminds us to see God in His Word. His Law is perfect; His Testimony is true. His Word restores our soul. December makes us think of many things; some of it is unselfish, but much is self-centered as we write our wish lists and search for happiness in parties. It is fun to find a piece of chocolate hidden behind a paper door in an advent calendar or add another ornament to a Christmas tree, but Advent is about more than planning parties, baking cookies, and shopping for gifts. It is a time to look toward Jesus Himself, in scripture and revelation, and know that God is not found in glitz and glitter and self-centeredness, but rather in the hearts of those who humble themselves and seek God’s grace.
December 12, 2025
“Be strong and courageous; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success. Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:6-9, WEB
I saw a story about four teenage boys who became heroes. They were surfing the waves along a shoreline when they heard the cries of two brothers who were struggling because they were caught in the currents of the ocean. The surfers knew that they had to go help or the boys would drown. One paddled to shore to get someone to call 911, and the other three went directly to the brothers. The younger brother was easily lifted onto a surfboard but the older brother was much larger and was very afraid; he was desperate and grasping for anything that might save him. This made him dangerous.
The fourth surfer returned to the group, and they calmed the brother down enough to get him on a board. The paramedics were already on the beach when the four surfers worked their way through the waves to the shore. The paramedics said that they usually arrive too late to save victims like those brothers, but thanks to the speedy response by the surfers, they lived. One teenager said that they were afraid, but they didn’t have time to think about it. They did what needed to be done, and it saved two lives.
I’ve noticed that there is focus these days on being brave. I think it began with the Disney movie “Brave” that came out a few years ago, but there are a number of publications centered in helping young people become brave. I am sure some of those books were written because of the fear we experience with the pandemic of illness and violence. We are encouraged to be brave, but I wonder if perhaps it is more important to be courageous.
Bravery and courage might seem like the same thing, but I found this on the Internet, “Bravery is the ability to confront something painful or difficult or dangerous without any fear. It’s a quality, not a state of mind; it doesn’t need a cause to awaken it. Someone is brave - full stop. To the person who has it, it’s effortless; it’s eating a caterpillar on the playground because a friend dares you to, without a second thought. It’s jumping from the highest diving board without any hesitation.” I know people who are brave. It is not always a positive quality in some people because it leads to unnecessary risk.
The article continued, “Courage, on the other hand, is the ability to confront something painful or difficult or dangerous despite any fear. It’s not a quality, but a choice; a person feels the fear or pain or danger, but chooses to persevere anyway. Unlike bravery, courage is driven by a cause; the courageous person believes that cause is worth standing up and fighting for, despite all the clear reasons not to. It takes a great effort, because what’s on the other end merits it.”
I can’t be described as brave. I would rather hide my head in the sand like an ostrich than face something that makes me uncomfortable. The writer of the article compared the roots of the two words. “Brave” comes from the Italian word “bravo” which means “bold.” Courage, however, is from the French word that means “heart” which is “coeur.”
It will never be effortless for me to be bold, but I can be courageous. I can face painful or difficult situations despite my fear. There might be some heroes who are brave, but I imagine that most of them are more like those teenagers on that day in the ocean. There was fear, but they were also courageous. They were willing to face the danger because they knew that the outcome was worth their effort. We need more courage in the world today, not bravery.
God called Joshua to do something and promised He would be with him always. When He gives a command, He provides all we need to obey. When He sends us into the world to preach the Gospel, He provides the voice and the ears to hear. It does not matter who walks in front of us, who we follow through life. God is with each of us in the here and now, giving us His grace that we might serve according to our own gifts and abilities. We might not need the courage to save drowning brothers from the ocean, but we can have the heart save a drowning sinner with God’s mercy and forgiveness.
December 15, 2025
“When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ Simon answered him, ‘Master, we worked all night and caught nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.’ When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking. They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.’” Luke 5:4-8, WEB
Jesus probably didn’t know much about fishing. He was probably a carpenter, but we don’t really know how much He knew about carpentry. He probably learned at the feet of His father, but did He ever work as a carpenter on His own? The scriptures do not tell us what happened to Jesus between the ages twelve and thirty. He probably followed His father into the business, and might have done well, but we don’t really know. Whether He was a carpenter or not, it is highly unlikely that Jesus understood the business of fishing. This is pretty obvious from Simon Peter’s response, “Hey, we’ve worked all night and didn’t catch anything. My experience tells me it is time to pack up, go home, rest and come back when the conditions are better.” You can almost hear him grumble under his breath, “What do you know about fishing?”
Yet, Simon Peter sees something in Jesus: authority, power, and control. He addressed Jesus as “Master,” a sign of respect and the recognition of Jesus’ right to command him. Peter might have heard Jesus speak, but the encounter on the shore seems random. “Hey, you with the boat, will you take me out a little so I can teach?” I can imagine Peter wanted to ignore Jesus’ advice. But he didn’t. He obeyed. He took Jesus out onto the water and listened as Jesus taught the crowd. Then Jesus told him to go fishing again. Despite the ridiculousness of the command, Peter obeyed.
And he was blessed by that obedience.
Jesus is our Master. He has the authority to command us to continue His work in this world. He has the power, which He passes to us, and He can have control if we let go and let Him. The question is whether or not we are willing to obey. Do we see Jesus as having the authority, power, and control worthy of our time and attention. Do we wonder whether He even knows what He’s talking about? Or do we see something in Him that causes us, like Peter, to do what He says no matter how ridiculous it might seem? He is Master, and He is the One who can make our life and our ministry a blessing to us and to the world.
December 16, 2025
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