Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

Unleashed – As You Go – Pray

“I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:19-24

“Today begins the new year. A year no human knows what is ahead but, as followers of Christ, we have a God who will walk with us through the challenges, the good things, and the bad things. In all we have a Savior and King who is strong enough to face all things with us and before us.” This was my journal entry on January 1, 2020. Little did I know what would lie ahead of us as a family, community or world. It has been a world brought to its knees by an unseen enemy. as many of us have faced isolation, fear and even death. We have experienced unprecedented societal unrest and our world is destined to be changed forever.

The verses above, out of Lamentations, are some of my favorites simply because of the hope and assurance that God will be with us through all situations. It is in the midst of life’s tragedies and chaotic turmoil that the presence of God may not be as obvious, yet we know his presence is more than we could ever imagine.

Jeremiah captured his pain and lament in Lamentations. He was persecuted, thrown into a cistern, dragged away captive and jailed. He cried out to God in the midst of his situation and came back to the hope that is found only in God.

Scripture is filled with stories such as Jeremiah’s. These stories provide us hope and promise as we face tragedy. We can rest in the shelter of God’s presence.

Noah was ridiculed and mocked as he and his sons built an ark in the middle of the desert. Yet, as the rains began, Noah experienced the presence of God when he is told, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.” (Gen 7:1)

Joseph lived in slavery, falsely accused, imprisoned yet he experienced the presence of God and was able to say, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Gen 50:20)

Moses was hidden, rescued, lived a life of luxury, was forced into exile, then faced down the most powerful ruler in the land and endured the wilderness for forty years. Moses knew the dark times of life but he also experienced the presence of God, “Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face” (Deuteronomy 34:10)

David, belittled by his brothers, his life threatened, lived in caves and was forced to flee his kingdom, but he experienced the presence of God. “God testified concerning him:  “I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.” (Acts 13:22)

For Paul, following Christ resulted in imprisonment, beatings, shipwreck, hunger, cold, and false accusations. Yet he experienced the presence of God and was able to say, “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:20-21)

I will most likely pen a similar journal entry for January 1, 2021. I do not know what the future holds yet I can rest in the promise and hope that God will be with me through it all. I can journal with confidence and assurance because, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loves us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39)

Lord, I commit this New Year to you. I ask that you would bring encouragement to those who have experienced tragedy. Comfort to those who have experienced loss. Peace to those who are troubled. Hope to all as we face this new year. Assurance for all of your care.  Gratefulness for your presence.

Happy New Year and remember, God is great,

 

Pastor Lynn Burton

 

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

The Christ Candle

“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 trampling 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 onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” Isaiah 9:2-7

 

The battle had raged for months, the rains relentless, the weighty despair of war unabated. Yet, on a cold and dreary night, the sounds of “Silent Night” wafted across the war-ravaged no-man’s land as two armies declared an unofficial and impromptu cease-fire on the Western Front during World War 1. A moment of hope spread as calm rested upon the battlefield. Born out of that brief interlude from hostilities that occurred on December 24 and 25, the event became known as the 1914 “Christmas Truce”. It would happen in only one place, with only one group of soldiers but for those who experienced peace that day, even if for a brief period, it was a welcome miracle. Christmas came to those war- torn trenches. (Click here to view a short dramatization of the “Christmas Truce”)

The calendar day that marks Christmas may have just passed but not the Incarnation. We watched the flickering flames of the Hope, Faith, Joy and Peace Candles that illuminated our advent wreath grow brighter when the Christ Candle was lit on Christmas Eve.  The world no longer had to live in darkness as God orchestrated the radiant light of Jesus birth. Jesus would tell the world that, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

The shepherds returned to the fields that dark night but they had seen the Light.

The Magi returned to their homeland but they had seen the Light.

Mary and Joseph packed their belongings to return home but now they carried the Light.

Aging, faithful Simeon had waited expectantly but now he held the Light in his arms.

Precious Anna had worshipped and waited for decades but now she led in worship of the Light.

O Little Town of Bethlehem you were so preoccupied that you missed the Light.

King Herod, you were so blinded by evil and lust for power that you missed the Light.

Fleming Rutledge writes that “Advent always begins in the dark.” It was in the dark that the angels came to the shepherds. It was in the dark that the star guided the Magi to the Savior. It was in the dark that Joseph and Mary escaped to Egypt. It was in the dark of night that Nicodemus came seeking the truth. It would be in the dark that Jesus was betrayed by Judas.

Could it be that in the darkness of 2020, Advent has been more powerful and hopeful this year? Has our focus been more on Jesus than on the glitter and usual activities of Christmas? I hope so! Jeff Peabody wrote that, “We can learn to reframe our questions from “Lord, when will this darkness be over?” to “What is pointing me toward Christ?” As we do, we may find there is significantly more light in the room than we realized.”

Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!

Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled.

Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies;

With angelic hosts proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem!

Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King.

 

God is great,

Pastor Lynn Burton

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

Celebrating the Fourth week of Advent – The Angel Candle – Peace

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” Luke 2:13-14

Peace and goodwill, the seemingly ever-elusive state that the world constantly seeks, but never quite achieves. Many options are proffered every day to find them but only one source of peace will endure forever. Peace is not found in activities, methods or materials, but in a person. Peace marks the fourth week of Advent.

Merriam-Webster defines peace in very good technical terms. Peace is “a state of tranquility or quiet. Freedom from civil disturbance. A pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity offered the possibility of a negotiated peace.” This seems a simple enough achievement. Yet why is peace so elusive? According to the Global Peace Index “the results this year show that the level of global peacefulness deteriorated, with the average country score falling by 0.34 per cent. Iceland remains the most peaceful country, with Afghanistan coming last and The United States ranking 121 out of 163 nations.”

For American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, peace seemed such a distant memory as he sat in a medical tent holding the wounded body of his oldest son, Charles. The pain of his son stirred the pain within himself as he still grieved the death of his beloved wife. It was in this moment of despair that Longfellow heard the church bells tolling in the background for Christmas day. How can there be peace? Longfellow began to capture his thoughts in the poem “Christmas Bells.”

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

Out of his hopelessness, it was as if God allowed the bells to awaken in Longfellow again the peace that is found on Christmas Day in Jesus. External surroundings no longer define inner peace because of the birth of Jesus.

Longfellow’s poem has inspired many song writers to adapt the poem to music sung during the Christmas season. Pour yourself a cup of coffee and take five minutes to listen and reflect on the peace as the Christmas Bells toll in this version of “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day:”  https://youtu.be/s1L4Ov_yMyo

Over the decades since these words were captured hundreds of wars have raged, divisions have erupted within nations, countless economic disasters and personal tragedies have occurred. Yet the truth of that night in Bethlehem still echoes power and hope for us today. Jesus – The Prince of Peace!

What should I pray for during Advent?

  • Pray for peace in all situations, no matter what the circumstances.
  • Pray for freedom from all that burdens you.
  • Pray for confidence in God’s love for you.

God is great,

Pastor Lynn

 

 

 

Unleashed: As You Go – Pray

Celebrating the third Sunday of Advent: Candle of Joy – Shepherd’s Candle

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the LORD appeared to them, and the glory of the LORD shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the LORD.”

One of the most beloved and famous of our Christmas carols, “Joy to the World” didn’t start out as a song, especially not a Christmas carol. Isaac Watts published a book of poems based upon the Psalms. “Joy to the World” was an adaptation of Psalm 98 as Watts interpreted the psalm as a celebration of Jesus.

Joy to the world! The Lord is come; Let earth receive her King…

Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns; Let men their songs employ….

No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground….

He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove…

“Joy to the world” became a reality for a group of shepherds working in the cold, dark night of Bethlehem. These men probably wouldn’t rank high on the social and influencer scenes of the day, yet these lowly shepherds experienced what the sheep owner may never have experienced: joy. These nameless shepherds may not have had warm beds to crawl into that night, they didn’t have a cozy house to eat dinner in that night, they didn’t have job security if raiders stole their sheep but what they did have that night was a life changing encounter with the Christ-child. Their status in life didn’t change but their hearts and lives were forever and dramatically changed. They experienced joy that superseded any expectation of happiness.

As the “Hope” and “Faith” Advent candles continued to burn, Sunday we lit the “Joy” Advent candle, reflecting the anticipated joy of the coming Messiah. According to the most recent “World Happiness Report” the United States ranks number 18 among the world’s nations in terms of happiness. The report is based upon external things that supposedly makes a person happy. However, this week’s Advent candle doesn’t celebrate happiness but, rather, something far more profound: joy.

Though people often interchange the terms, in reality they are a world apart. “Things” may seem to make you happy but will never bring you joy. However, on the flip side, the lack of “things” never impacts one’s joy.  Barbara Johnson shares the story of a man on her bus who understood the reality of joy.

“The day started out rotten. I overslept and was late for work. Everything that happened at the office contributed to my nervous frenzy. By the time I reached the bus stop for my homeward trip, my stomach was one big knot.

As usual, the bus was late—and jammed. I had to stand in the aisle. As the lurching vehicle pulled me in all directions, my gloom deepened.

Then I heard a deep voice from up front boom, “Beautiful day, isn’t it?” Because of the crowd, I could not see the man, but I could hear him as he continued to comment on the spring scenery, calling attention to each approaching landmark. This church. That park. This cemetery. That firehouse. Soon all the passengers were gazing out the windows. The man’s enthusiasm was so contagious I found myself smiling for the first time that day. We reached my stop. Maneuvering toward the door, I got a look at our “guide”: a plump figure with a black beard, wearing dark glasses, and carrying a thin white cane.”

Though the shepherds never experienced great wealth, what they did experience was the greatest treasure of all time—Jesus.  The shepherds left the stable transformed.  “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2:17-18,20)

What should I pray for during Advent?

  • Pray for an imagination that helps you contribute joy to the world in creative ways.
  • Pray that you are able to reflect joy in all you do this Christmas season.
  • Pray you can clearly communicate what joy means to you through Jesus.

God is great,

Pastor Lynn

 

 

 

Christmas Eve

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Unleashed: As you Go – Pray

Second Sunday of Advent – The Bethlehem Candle – Faith

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. A voice on one calling: In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” Isaiah 40:1-5

“A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the LORD.” Matthew 3:3

“The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come.” ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

 

These words of Bonhoeffer resonate well as we move into week two of this season of Advent. 2020 has been a chaotic year in so many ways, filled with every conceivable emotion. Most of us have at one point or another this year been “troubled in soul.” Out of the anxiety of the year we are able to light the second candle of faith. Holding onto the promises of God that He would bring comfort to the people, we find this same promise holds true today. “Advent reminds us that Christian hope is shaped by what has happened and what’s going to happen again.” Jay Y. Kim

 

The second Advent candle, lit yesterday, is often called the “Bethlehem” or “Faith” candle. During this advent season of waiting and looking, you quickly realize that faith has a preparatory element to it.

Joseph and Mary prepare to leave for Bethlehem to register for the government-mandated census. Preparation for the birth had been made centuries before when Micah wrote, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (5:2)

Isaiah had told of the preparation God was making to come to a people that were exiled in a broken and parched wilderness. God’s redemption would “make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” God would come as a shepherd feeding, leading and caring for the weary flock.

The story is told of an elderly Scottish preacher being rebuked by one of his deacons one Sunday morning before the service. ““Pastor,” said the man, “something must be wrong with your preaching and your work. There’s been only one person added to the church in a whole year, and he’s just a boy.”

The minister listened, his eyes moistening and his thin hand trembling. “I feel it all,” he replied, “but God knows I’ve tried to do my duty.” On that day, the minister’s heart was heavy as he stood before his flock. As he finished the message, he felt a strong inclination to resign.

After everyone else had left, that one boy came to him and asked, “Do you think if I worked hard for an education, I could become a preacher and perhaps a missionary?”

Many years later an aged missionary returned to London from Africa. His name was spoken with reverence. Nobles invited him to their homes. He had added many souls to the church of Jesus Christ, reaching even some of Africa’s most savage chiefs. His name was Robert Moffat, the same Robert who years before had spoken to the pastor that Sunday morning in the old Scottish kirk.

Joseph and Mary loaded the donkey and set off for Bethlehem fueled by faith that was based upon a promise. Over the rugged terrain they made the journey based upon the promise of God.  They only had a small glimpse of what this journey would mean to them, to the nation and ultimately to every generation to follow.

What should I pray for during Advent?

  • For strong relationships with other people in our community of faith.
  • For hearts to see when eyes can’t see tomorrow.
  • For confidence in God’s love.

God is great,

Pastor Lynn