He Made a Way in a Manger

We lit the third candle of Advent this past weekend:  the candle of Joy.  The Joy candle centers on the joy that Christ’s birth brings to ALL people.  As the coming of Jesus, our Savior, draws nearer, our joy builds with our anticipation of His birth.

At worship this past weekend, all of the Calvary children in Grace Place, from the two-year-olds through elementary age, performed their annual Christmas pageant during several of the services.  If you wanted to experience joy and feel the presence of God’s joy, it was on the faces and in the hearts of our children.  They sang from their hearts!  The hope, love, peace and joy of Christmas just came pouring out of them and touched each one of us in a profound way!

Certainly, our joy was muted this week by the tragedy in Newtown, Conn.  Still, it is at just such times that only the healing and peace of Christ can give us a glimpse of the joy He brings to the hearts and lives burdened with grief and loss.  I also know that many of you are also going through some tough situations in your own lives and are perhaps finding it hard to celebrate Christmas this year as well.  Yet, Christmas still comes.  No matter our circumstances or the struggles we face, Jesus still comes.  And, perhaps, it is in the valleys of life, that we need to remember that the baby in the manager, Jesus the Christ Child, came into this world for us.  His light still shines in the darkness of our valleys and in our world.   His light will always surround us no matter our circumstances and no matter how deep those valleys may be.  God’s love is deeper than all the valleys in our lives.

Last night, I was thinking about all that Christ’s coming has done for us and here are a few from my rather lengthy list. 

Christ’s coming is stronger than tragedy.

Christ’s coming overcomes even the deepest valleys in our lives.

Christ’s coming brings us strength in our weakness.

Christ’s coming heals our wounded hearts.

Christ’s coming brings hope to the hopeless.

Christ’s coming brings peace and contentment.

Christ’s coming mends the brokenhearted.

Christ’s coming heals the pain of grief, sorrow and illness.

Christ’s coming means there is victory over death.

Christ’s coming means I have a relationship with God.

Christ’s coming changed the world forever.

Christ’s coming changed my life forever.

There’s wonderful song "He Made a Way in a Manager."   In the chorus, the lyrics say, “He found a way in a manager, to find a way to the cross.”  May we always remember that the greatest gift ever given to the world was Jesus the Christ.  Because of Jesus, we are forgiven and forever connected to God.  What a gift that is to embrace!  It is a divine gift that lasts for all eternity.  

May the blessings of Christmas fill your heart with love, hope, joy and peace!  Merry Christmas!

Soli Deo Gloria! 

Pastor Carol