Thoughts for the Christmas season...

John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

The weeks and days before Christmas are often very busy. We are busy with the many preparation - there is baking to do, planning for the family get togethers, shopping, wrapping the gifts, decorating for Christmas and the list goes on. But we need to take time to become quiet before the Lord and allow our minds and hearts to dwell on the things of the Lord. We need to focus on the Lord Jesus, and what He means to us and also what He has done for us.

picture from birdsnanimals.com

I want to post some of the sermon notes from my home church from the last couple of Sundays. I usually take notes as I listen and maybe you will be blessed as I share them with you this Christmas season.

Jesus is the Light of the world. Just as God brought light into the darkness at the creation of the world so also God sent Light into the world by the coming of the baby Jesus. At Christmas we celebrate Jesus - shining Light into the darkness of our world, including the darkness present in our own lives. At Christmas time joy and suffering are mingled together. There is joy but there is also grief. Death has come into some homes and families during the past year so there is a loneliness and an emptyness there.
For some people there is a darkness hovering inside though on the outside you appear to be celebrating. We celebrate that God's Light has broken into that darkness.
How do we celebrate this Light?
We wait for God to act. The Advent season is a time of waiting. Because of God's great love to us we are not consumed. God is good. We put our hope in Him.
We wait for God to show up in our lives. We wait for His Light to break through. His compassions never fail. God is a faithful God, true to His Word.
We need to demonstrate faithfulness.
I will wait for God. This is not a passive waiting. We continue to live intentionally, always reminding ourselves to "do the next right thing" or "find out what pleases Christ and then do it'.
Remember what God has done for you in the past, and what He has done for others and in the stories in our Bibles. Recall the works of the Lord. Tell these God stories and remind others of these things. 
As God has provided for us and others in the past, He will continue to provide in the future. Set your eyes upon the Lord. Put your trust in Him. He is faithful and He never changes. He is the same yesterday and today and forever!