Life That Brings Love - Revisited

In the beginning was the Creator.

     In the beginning was the Father.

In the beginning was Life.

     In the beginning was Love.

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The Creator loved His creation.

     Deeply.

     Powerfully.

          Love without limits.

          Love without conditions.

But His creation could not understand 
          that Love.

     They could not comprehend 
          the vastness of it.

     They could not understand 
          the depth of it.

So the Creator stepped out of His infinite world

     To enter... (read more)

Life That Brings Joy - Revisited

Dark night under starry skies.

Humble shepherds huddling ‘round 

     a fire’s warming blaze.

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Quiet conversation

     Shared struggle …shared frustration

          Shared hope…shared hopelessness.

               Shared sorrow.

Suddenly...

     Bright light illumines the night sky!

     Bright beams of joy blaze 

          'round about them!

     Heaven’s shining visitor brings the news.

          “Good news of great joy 

               for all people.”

The Life has come!

The long-awaited Life is born!

     Leave behind your sadness!

     Release your ...(read more)

Life That Brings Peace - Revisited

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Into a world of chaos…

Into a world of questions…

Into a world of conflict and dissension…

Into a world like ours…

Came the Life.

Into OUR world…

          Came Peace.

Peace not dependent... (read more)

Life The Brings Hope - Revisited

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Down through the ages, the eyes of creation have been focused on one Life. This Life was promised long ago when death first extended its ugly tentacles to squeeze life out of a perfect Creation. This Life would bring light and hope back to a broken, shattered world.

Throughout history, many did not acknowledge this Life. Many did not realize the significance of this Life. But the promise of this Life, still reached out with hope to all.

Many others awaited the coming of this Life. They looked for it. They longed for it. They didn’t completely understand it, but they waited anyway – longing, hoping for its coming.

Then, the glorious news was given. The Life was about to... (read more)

Thankful for the Life

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During this month, I have written several posts about things I am thankful for.  Here are a few of th things I am thankful for.

• New Beginnings
• "Automotive Mercy"
• Smiles
• A God Who Came Near
• Someone Close Beside Me

If you haven't had a chance to read those posts, you can click the links above to read them now.

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In these final days before Christmas, with everything getting predictably busy, I hope you will bear with me if I share again with you several of the posts I wrote last year. I wrote them to coincide with the weeks of Advent as celebrated in my international church in Bali. I realize that there are a number of different ways of using the Advent candles to celebrate the birth of our Lord. Last year, the candles were used to represent the following:

• Hope
• Peace
• Joy
• Love

I hope you will re-visit these posts with me over the next few days, and reflect on how the coming of Jesus -- the coming of that Life -- brought all these precious things into our lives.

Life That Brings Love

In the beginning was the Creator.

     In the beginning was the Father.

In the beginning was Life.

     In the beginning was Love.

clip

The Creator loved His creation.

     Deeply.

     Powerfully.

          Love without limits.

          Love without conditions.

But His creation could not understand 
          that Love.

     They could not comprehend 
          the vastness of it.

     They could not understand 
          the depth of it.

So the Creator stepped out of His infinite world

     To enter His hurting, beloved creation.

Only by entering their world Himself

     Could He help the created ones understand

          the extent of His love for them.

 He came humbly…

     although He was the King.

He came quietly…

     although angels heralded his coming

          to some who were quiet enough to listen.

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The Life  came near

     So the Creator’s love 

          could reach everyone.

The Life came near

     So we could touch it

     So we could touch Him.

          

The Love that began 

          In the heart of the Creator,

          In the heart of the Father

     Was poured out through His Son

          Into the brokenness of our world.

In the coming of that Life 

     We know His Love.

For God so loved the World that He gave His one and only Son.  John 3:16a

 

Life That Brings Joy

 Dark night under starry skies.

Humble shepherds huddling ‘round 

     a fire’s warming blaze.

clip

Quiet conversation

     Shared struggle …shared frustration

          Shared hope…shared hopelessness.

               Shared sorrow.

Suddenly...

     Bright light illumines the night sky!

     Bright beams of joy blaze 

          'round about them!

     Heaven’s shining visitor brings the news.

          “Good news of great joy 

               for all people.”

The Life has come!

The long-awaited Life is born!

     Leave behind your sadness!

     Release your sorrow!

          Look to the Life!

          Look to the Joy!

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“For unto you is born today the Savior!”

Go, now! Search for Him!

With all your heart, 

     seek for this Life 

          that brings joy!

Joy unspeakable and full of glory.

     Unquenchable joy. 

          Unstoppable joy.

                                                                       Undefeatable joy.

  

May our hearts be filled this joy.

     May we truly KNOW this Life.

          May we always live 

               in the light of His joy!