Hope of the World

Hope of the world 
 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

What would our lives be if we did not have hope that we will have a great day and a life ahead of us?

As people of faith we thank God for his continuing presence in our lives and the strength of our faith that has become more well founded as the years go by. In Christ we discover and apply our spiritual gifts to bring glory to God. We love to worship and pour over His word. We find our niche in serving the poor and needy with our gifts and abilities.

Yet there are many who have lost hope and are living in darkness. Let us share our spiritual life experiences with them that the things we hope for may become a new living hope in their lives. Let us not let any opportunity slip by where another may be dressed in the same raiments of glory that adorn us. The awareness and the presence of Jesus brings hope. Christ is coming again! Brings hope! Let us seize this time to share our message of hope to all of human kind.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Fires of Joy @ Christmas

Feux de Joie

Embracing the Joy of Christmas

"Rejoice in the Lord always: 

and again I say, Rejoice." 

— Philippians 4:4

The Season of Joy

Christmas is here! It is a time when many of us as Christians will gather with family and friends to celebrate. It's a season filled with joy, warmth, and togetherness. We exchange gifts, share delicious meals, and rejoice in the fellowship we share with one another. It's a time to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and reflect on the immense love and grace He has bestowed upon us.

 Feux de Joie: Fires of Joy

In Louisiana, a unique and vibrant tradition lights up the riverbanks of the Mississippi from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. Bonfires are set ablaze to guide Papa Noel (Santa Claus) as he sails down the river in his paddle boat. This celebration is called Feux de Joie, which means "Fires of Joy." The sight of these bonfires not only illuminates the night but also symbolizes the joy and light that Christmas brings into our lives.

Let this be a time when we have our own Feux de Joie burn in our hearts, passing the joy and light of Christ to all those we meet during this season. Just as the bonfires guide Papa Noel, let us be guiding lights to those walking in darkness, steering them to see Christ, the light of the world, the Savior who is born.

Being the Light

As we navigate through the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, it's easy to get caught up in the material aspects of the holiday. However, let us not forget the true reason for our celebration: the birth of Jesus Christ. This season, let us embody the joy and light of Christ, spreading it to everyone we encounter. Here are a few ways we can be guiding lights:

1. Acts of Kindness: Simple acts of kindness can make a significant impact. Whether it's helping a neighbor, volunteering at a local charity, or simply offering a smile and a kind word, these gestures reflect the love of Christ.

2. Sharing Our Faith: Take opportunities to share the story of Jesus' birth and the true meaning of Christmas with those who may not know it. Use this time to witness and spread the gospel.

3. Supporting the Needy: Many people struggle during the holiday season. Reach out to those in need, offering support, whether it be through donations, providing meals, or simply being a friend to someone who is lonely.

A Time to Rejoice

The apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:4 to "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice." This Christmas, let our rejoicing be evident in our actions and interactions. Let the joy of Christ overflow from our hearts and touch the lives of others. As we gather with our loved ones, let us take a moment to reflect on the incredible gift of Jesus and allow that joy to fuel our celebrations and our lives.

Conclusion

As we celebrate Christmas, let us carry the spirit of Feux de Joie within us, lighting up the lives of those around us with the joy and love of Christ. May we be beacons of hope and joy, steering others towards the light of the world. Merry Christmas, and may your hearts be filled with the true joy of the season!

Prayer

Dear Lord, as we enter into this season of celebration, we thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. May our hearts be filled with the joy of His birth, and may this joy overflow to all those we encounter. Help us to be shining lights in a world filled with darkness, guiding others to experience the true meaning of Christmas. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.

Sunrise

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Luke 2:51-52

The "Infancy Gospel of Thomas" was a contribution from the Hellenistic (Greek) literature of the second and third centuries. Jesus is pictured as a boy wonder who scared his friends, performed miracles for the fun of it, and disrespected his teacher. If that is the case, today our kids may call the boy Jesus an X Man of sorts, a mutant with extraordinary powers that humans do not possess. However, this gospel is a figment of the imagination of a philosopher, Thomas, who lived during that period. So little is known or recorded about Jesus’ childhood that the temptation to imagine Christ's childhood was what probably prompted this work of fiction. It is impossible to reconcile the behavior of the Jesus described in the biblical gospels with the behavior of the child Jesus conveyed by the false gospel account.

Mary and Joseph had come to Jerusalem for the Passover with Jesus when he was twelve years old. In Jewish tradition, this was a very important year for Jesus when he was officially inducted into the understanding of the law. At the temple, speaking to the Jewish elders he must have been fascinated by their knowledge and customs. Being extremely pious, he must have sensed the presence of God in the hearts and minds of those who worshipped in the temple. When it came time to leave, it was customary for women to go ahead of the men. So Mary may have thought Jesus was with Joseph, while Joseph may have thought Jesus was with Mary. In the confusion, Jesus was left behind in the temple. This was probably a situation similar to that in the popular movie series "Home Alone" where the youngest son was left behind at home. Maybe when Joseph and Mary met up at some point, it dawned on them that Jesus was missing. I don’t think it was a question of obedience but just a slip up.

Jesus was surprised when his mother said that they had been very worried when they couldn’t find him. He asked her, “How is it that you looked for me? Didn’t you know that I would be in my Father’s house?” Mary had seen visions and heard about the visions of others concerning Jesus. There was no need to have been worried about Jesus. He was clearly being looked after by his heavenly Father, who had placed him on earth for a specific purpose. Is it not human for us to worry about our loved ones, forgetting that God our Father loves them more than we do? Could Mary have been one of his earliest disciples?

Luke clearly portrays Jesus as an obedient child, one who was very well read and considered the temple as his Father's house. His insight into the Torah was so astute that even the teachers were amazed at his understanding, questions, and answers. Mary and Joseph had the unique privilege of being the earthly parents of the Son of God. Luke clearly says that everything Jesus did and said was fondly treasured in the heart of his mother, Mary. As the sun rises in the east slowly, it is a glorious sight to behold. It is the birth of a new day. Similarly, this was the dawn of the life of a young man who would go on to shine his light into the hearts of millions of people for centuries to come.

Divine Dismissal

“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32

The song of Simeon today is called the "Nunc Dimittis." In Latin the words mean, "Now you are dismissing" and it is often used during evening prayers. To Simeon it was a divine dismissal from a promise given to him by the Holy Spirit that he would see the Messiah before he died. Simeon and many others had waited patiently for years for this day. They waited quietly, expectantly, humbly, and hopefully. Jesus was immediately recognized by Simeon, a very old man in the temple, as the Messiah. He declared that Christ would bring salvation and be a light to all people.

Yet only two pigeons were offered as a sacrifice for the ceremony. This clearly shows the poverty into which Christ was born. Christ was not born into a royal palace or a holy priest's house but into the home of a humble carpenter. Here we see God coming down not to rule the world, but in humility to be involved in the life and strife of the poor and downtrodden. God fulfills what the prophets of old had foretold, that Bethlehem in Judah would be where the Messiah would be born (Micah 5:2-5). We see how a public decree by a Roman Emperor would cause Mary to travel many miles from Nazareth to register herself in Bethlehem.

Even in the rejoicing, Simeon said, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel." In Christ we will all rise again. It is His sacrifice on the cross that causes us all to rise from the dead. In Christ we abandon our old life and rise to find a new one in Him. Simeon also warns that there will be many who will also fall. There will be many who one day will face eternal condemnation because they did not believe.

I was watching the harvest festival 2006, where Greg Laurie spoke about the end times. He said that many people come to him and ask, “are we in the end times?” He is convinced that we are. He used the analogy of the birth of his grandchild. As the time for the delivery approached, the labor pains started. These pains were the signs of the impending birth. So also we live in a time where there are wars and rumors of wars, pestilences, earthquakes, tsunamis, persecution of Christians, and a heightened hatred against Israel. These are the labor pains that were foretold before the second coming of Christ. These are times when just as Simeon did, we should watch and pray. Let us wait peacefully, confidently, humbly, and hopefully.

Steadfast Heart

And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day. Luke 2:37

Today during our evening meditation we reflected on the life of Anna and how she spent all her time in the temple fasting and praying. I asked my son, "How many times do you think of God during the day?" He said often. So I asked when he had prayed today. Without blinking an eyelid he said he prayed throughout the day that I would not give him any assignments to do. Honestly speaking, many of us silently pray that we won’t have to do some humdrum duty that requires our physical or mental effort with no real tangible goal in sight. How often do we think or pray to God during our daily activities? Have you tried fasting from food or something you particularly enjoy doing viz. surfing on the internet, watching your favorite TV program, or going window shopping? The time spent during that favorite activity could be substituted for prayer or some other form of service to God.

Anna was a prophetess who lived in the temple all day and spent much of her time fasting and praying. Her greatest moment was to be in the presence of the baby Jesus Savior … Messiah … Lord ... Prince of Peace ... God with us ... Immanuel. What more could she ask for than to be physically in the presence of God our Savior? Mary and Joseph brought their son Jesus, to dedicate him for service to God. Mary had heard the shepherds declare to her what the angel had said, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger (Luke 2:11-12)." This witness of these poor simple shepherds may have caused Mary to ponder on the significance of Christ's mission on earth. Have you had moments in your life when you were consciously aware of the presence of God?

Simeon further gave Mary some shocking news that, "Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul" (Luke 2:35). Mary was called to be the mother of baby Jesus, yet in the joy of motherhood to the Messiah, here was Simeon prophesying that she would be inflicted with a sword of great suffering as well. The life that Jesus would lead would be one of rejection that would eventually lead Him to the cross. Have you been called to Christian service, yet decided against it because the cross was too heavy to bear? Or has tragedy and life’s battering left your heart drained and helpless?

Here Anna, who had spent a lifetime of prayer and fasting, now started speaking about Jesus to all she met who were waiting expectantly for the day of deliverance. We must believe that our Heavenly Father knows what is best for us. Let us always hope even when there are no answers in sight. Let us trust even in times of failure. Let us pray for and share all we have with those in need. To have a steadfast heart and not grow bitter when we are burdened with sadness and grief is our calling as Christians. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord (Psalm 127:7). God’s is waiting for people, churches, and nations to admit their absolute faith in Him and His abundant grace. God's spiritual blessings will rest upon those who commit themselves with obedient spirits and steadfast hearts.