SCRIPTURE: Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her! Luke 1:45 NIV
The first advent of Jesus brought a lot of light into the world, but many people missed it. Light is helpful, even miraculous the way it exposes everything — from the beautiful, to the mundane, to the downright evil. Journey with author and blogger Amy Clemens as she explores the advent of one who said he was the light of the world…a light that shines in darkness…that exposes. A light that will make a second advent, with a power and glory no one will miss.
THOUGHT: Often around Christmas, I see ornaments, throw pillows, cute signs and other home décor proclaiming, “just believe.” I often wonder which Christmas story they are begging us to believe — the one the culture has romanticized, or the one a very pregnant Elizabeth was referring to when she spoke these words to a newly pregnant Mary: Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!
Just for a moment, remember all the energy of your childhood put into making a list or writing a letter, hanging your stocking, dreaming of presents, listening to stories, music, or movies about the man in red, and gazing up at the sky Christmas Eve until you fell asleep. Can you tap that energy now? All of the wonder, the excitement, the singular focus, the hoping and dreaming to “just believe,” as Mary did, that the Lord will fulfill his promises to you? To us? Mary could dream about the birth of a holy child; we can dream about the return of a powerful Savior, the promise of forever, a place where there is no tears or sorrow. And until then, we can “just believe” in promises for enough grace, forgiveness, miracles, changed hearts, and redemption to fill our empty stockings, not just once a year, but every morning.
PRAYER: We believe; help our unbelief!
Dear Reader,
I’m glad you’re along and I pray you will be blessed, challenged, and encouraged in your faith by something you read here.
There are archives by topic below – now more than 1000 of these daily meditations to browse.
ABOUT ME:
Blogger Amy Clemens is the author of Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. In it she explores childhood sexual abuse and how it impacted her faith (or lack thereof) for four decades. You’ll find not only her story, but better yet, the Big Story of God.
Check out Walking When You’d Rather Fly, and learn more about the book and Amy’s other ministries. You will also find her devotional work at Words of Hope.
FREE TO YOU:
If you’d like to be notified of this blog each weekday, please look for the little blue “follow” button below (just above the topical search), and welcome!
asipoblog.com 