2022 marks 10 Christmases that my
wife and I have celebrated together here in Lincoln.
It has been a wonderful place to serve our church,
finish raising our family, and become part of an
amazing community. We look forward to many more yet
to come!
The last 3 years have been such different times for
all of us. The craziness of the world caused by
covid, inflation, politics, the moral shifting of
America, wars, the daily news cycle, (let alone what
happens in our individual families) – all of it
combined can make us feel as if nothing is really
solid under our feet. It’s all shifting so
radically. Is anything immovable? Is anything
bedrock?
Christmas is a reminder that there is something
bigger than all the swirl. The four messages of
Advent have been the major themes of our Christmas
focus here at Faith Church. Hope, Faith, Joy, and
Peace. These are commodities every soul is looking
for. They are so wondrously found in a relationship
with Jesus.
The characters of the Christmas story experienced
first-hand these qualities. Consider…
…Imagine the hope that filled the heart of
Elizabeth when she found herself with child when she
was past her childbearing years! When Mary visited
her, the child in her womb (who would become John
the Baptist) leapt for joy, and Elizabeth was filled
with the Holy Spirit! Her shame was removed, and the
longing fulfilled in her life was sweet
satisfaction.
…Imagine the faith journey that Joseph went on.
A righteous man with a pregnant fiancé! She said it
was “by the Holy Spirit,” but could that really be?!
As Joseph sought the Lord, God answered by sending
the angel to confirm to him the truth. At the
expense of his own reputation, Joseph obeyed the
direction that God gave him. God entrusted the
raising of the Messiah to this man of faith!
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…Imagine the joy of the shepherds, lowest on
the social ladder, as the angel visited them during one long night
watch, filling the atmosphere with the glory of God, announcing the
birth of the Messiah to them. The sky then lit up with a host of
heaven! And they journeyed to the manger scene to find things
exactly as had been told them. This amazing moment defined their
lives as they told everyone everywhere what God had revealed to
them. Joy! Joy! Joy!
…Imagine the peace – that deep immovable
shalom of God that touches the deep places of the soul – that came
over Mary as she had given birth to the Messiah, the Christ child,
now resting in a manger, she and Joseph having come through the
birthing experience together, now settled in a corner of the stab;e,
reflecting about the goodness of God. Life was not, and would never,
be easy. “A sword will pierce your own soul, too.” But there is
something of deep assurance knowing that you are right in the middle
of the will of God, trusting Him daily for every supply. And that
peace, that none could ever take away, belonged to her.
These qualities that make life worth living – precious commodities –
are yours and they are mine as we walk in relationship to the Lord.
Hope does not disappoint. Faith in God still moves mountains. Joy is
your strength. His peace passes all understanding.
Jesus said that if we built our lives upon the Him and upon His
words, that even the greatest storms of life that relentlessly
batter and blow against the house of our lives would not cause them
to crash. We will stand firm.
Even in a 2022 ever changing world, the things of God do not change.
They hold fast, and they hold you fast.
We are praying for you this holiday season. We are believing for God
to touch your life as you live for Him.
Darren & Kami Palmer, pastors at Faith Church.
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