On this fourth Sunday in Advent, we are only a few days away from the celebration of Christ’s birth.  It is fitting that we reflect upon God’s great love for us.  Our Maker, the Creator of the heavens and earth, could have left us to our own designs and suffering, but because of His love for us, He created a way for us to be in communion with Him forever.  Rather than being separated by a chasm of sin and evil, He bridged the gap between our brokenness and His holiness with the gift of His Son.

“God showed how much he loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him” (1 John 4:9).

There has never been a greater gift!  Emmanuel – God with us. When Jesus was born twenty centuries ago, true Love came down to earth in the body of an infant.  He lived, died and rose
again to set us free.  Through His sacrifice on the cross, we now know the incredible love of God.  He desires that not one of us should perish, but rather that we all would find everlasting life through Him.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Now is the time to end our exile and welcome Him into our hearts!  Let us rejoice in the gift of God’s true Love – Emmanuel, our God who came near!

Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
-John Neal (1818 – 1866)





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6 Comments

  1. Sharita KnoblochDecember 22, 2014

    I love that O Come Emmanuel chorus (I sang it for the first time in a church choir in Manhattan, KS a few years ago.) Beautiful.


    Finding His beauty was SO easy for me this weekend as I was on sabbatical-- it had been much too long since I had the opportunity to go away, just me and God... And it was much needed. Overflowing joy and beauty! :-)


    Merry Christmas, sweet Joan! Starting Christmas Eve I will be offline for about 10 days for a family rest break. Much love to you in the meantime.

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  2. No better way to celebrate this Advent season than to reflect on the many ways we are blessed by the arrival and presence of our Savior! Beauty is found in His humble and sacrificial love. The One who understands us so deeply, and cares so tenderly.

    My very best wishes to you and yours for a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! May your home be filled with His love, joy, and peace!

    GOD BLESS!

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  3. Merry Christmas, Sharita! I'm so glad you had a chance to get away! Enjoy your time with family!! Blessings, Joan

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  4. Thank you, Sharon! Merry Christmas to you, too!!

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  5. Jesus is truly the greatest Gift of all!! May you have a blessed Christmas, full of joy and peace!!

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  6. Merry Christmas, Ann! May your day be filled with much joy and laughter!

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