2018 Christmas Series: O, Come Let Us Adore Him

Advent: The Christ Candle (white)

(traditionally lit on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day)

We have once again referred to the symbolic Advent wreath candles as we have examined the various components of the miraculous first Christmas. And we have done so via the theme, “O Come Let Us Adore Him,” to focus our hearts and minds in preparation for celebrating Messiah’s birth. The candles for the four weeks of Advent include: 1) The Candle of Hope or Prophecy Candle; 2) The Candle of Preparation or Bethlehem Candle; 3) The Candle of Joy or Shepherds Candle; and, 4) Candle of Love or Angels Candle. And now we turn our focus to the white candle in the center of the Advent wreath, which is known as “The Christ Candle” and represents His coming into the world. In addition, the colour white is associated with Jesus’ purity and sinlessness, qualifications needed for a Saviour.

 And so, as we pause to contemplate the significance of Christmas, let’s consider the frequent complaint that there is too much commercialism. In connection with this we often hear the frequently quoted slogan, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season,” and Christians have sought ways to keep the focus on celebrating His birth. In fact, many Christian parents and religious programs for children practice the tradition of making a birthday cake for Jesus as part of their annual Christmas celebration. 

Birthday parties are a traditional way to celebrate someone’s birth. For those of us with children, we understand the hope and promise of waiting for and welcoming a new life into our hearts and homes, along with the dreams we have for their future. We know that Mary had hopes and dreams for her beautiful baby boy, too, but they may have been tempered by the prophecies about His future and the message she received from the angel, Gabriel. Yet in spite of everything, Mary retained the awe and wonderment of being chosen to be the mother of God’s Son. We also know that she soaked in all that was happening and treasured and stored her experiences in her heart.

Furthermore, like most parents of newborns know, there is a bonding experience that takes place shortly after the baby’s birth—and a deepening of the awe, love, and affection that begins at conception and continues throughout the pregnancy. That love connection means that by the time our babies are born, we absolutely adore them. This was Jesus’ experience, too, because He was born to loving parents. Moreover, this newborn King was adored by those who witnessed His arrival, up close and personal.

However, our love for our children isn’t limited to the stage of their infancy. As we spend time with our children, we get to know them and learn to treasure their individual personalities through the various developmental stages. We also continue to develop our relationship with them as we enjoy their company and learn to see the world through their eyes. This experience with our children also helps us to understand how our bond with the Christ of Christmas develops. We take in the beauty of His birth and are in awe that He would choose to come as a helpless baby, totally dependent on His parents for His care, so that we can have eternal life with Him. And as we spend time with Jesus, we learn to treasure the lessons we learn from Him and how to apply them in our lives so that we can develop spiritually—we learn to love and adore Him! 

Plus, as our relationship with Christ evolves and is strengthened, we learn to see the world through His eyes—a hurting world with much darkness that only His love can dispel. At this Christmas season, there are many hurting people all around us. May Christ open our eyes and our hearts to hold out His love and hope to them in meaningful ways, and may they learn to follow, love and adore Him.

Suggested Daily Scripture Readings

Sunday Isaiah 7: 14; Matthew 1: 20-23

Monday Isaiah 9: 6-7 

Tuesday Luke 2: 19

Wednesday Luke 2: 1-20 

Blessings & Peace

Merry Christmas!

Elizabeth Hogan Hayduk

Former Salvation Army Officer (pastor)

Canada

Immanuel

Immanuel

Black Friday done, the bargains won

with satisfaction so much saved

and Christmas shopping yet begun,

as if the streets with gold were paved.

So now the countdown can begin

while Christmas music starts to play,

yet is my soul waiting within

for yet a further advent day?

Hear as the bells begin to ring

ancient sounds from advent tide,

not from steeples are they sounding

but from the temples where tills reside.

Jingle bells, Rudolph and Frosty

Are the anthems of advent now,

Commercial Christmas could prove costly

Lest to Immanuel we bow.

Hear the peeling of the church bell,

Oh come, oh come Immanuel;

God is with us so know it well,

And from every mountain tell.

Bramwell JP Tout 

2018

WAITING....

Waiting?

Queues form naturally at times

as people wait patiently for signs

that before too long it will be their turn

to head the queue for that which they yearn.

Since childhood we’ve waited expectantly,

learning to have patience reluctantly;

but with the longing excitement grew,

as daily our yearning we’d renew.

Children learn to wait with expectation,

their hope and trust know no hesitation;

then hear their excited sounds of glee

as at last what they’ve waited for comes to be.

Somehow as we grow to adulthood

we lose the sense of wonder that we should

maintain together with a sense of awe,

perhaps it’s a part of our fatal flaw?

Do we even still have expectation

as toward the approaching day we hasten?

The first advent came in fullness of time,

the second will be when God says “you’re mine”.

Some missed the first one through their lethargy,

didn’t recognise fulfilment of God’s prophecy;

so in this advent season let us prepare

to be with the wheat and not with the tare;

renew our sense of expectancy,

shed the scales of the world’s conformity;

so we’re ready, prepared, and awaiting

the second advent of Christ the King.

Bramwell JP Tout 2018.

Approach with Thanksgiving?

Were I stood in Bethlehem’s fields

tending the flocks of Temple sheep,

would I in terror, awestruck, kneel,

as I saw angels on grassy steeps?

Listening to angelic song

would my soul its terror release?

Would I rush or simply ‘tag along’

to see the new-born Prince of Peace?

Would I kneel in adoration

before the Saviour of the world?

Would I fear no condemnation

waving redemption’s flag unfurled?

Lord let me come with thanksgiving,

adoring, to kneel at your feet;

with my heart and soul approaching

your manger and your mercy seat.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

creator of both time and space;

so my soul may not be forfeit

fill me with your love and grace.

Bramwell JP Tout
2018

 2018  Bristol, UK

2018 Christmas Series: O, Come Let Us Adore Him

Advent, Week 4 Candle of Love (a.k.a. Angels’ Candle)--purple

We have completed the first three weeks of Advent. The first week focused on the Candle of Hope or the Prophecy Candle and considered the Jews’ long wait for the promised Messiah. The second week we looked at the Candle of Preparation or the Bethlehem Candle and emphasized the urgent undertaking of preparations that stemmed from Caesar’s census, for which Roman Empire residents were obliged to return to their ancestral homes. Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem, where shegave birth to Jesus in a stable. Last week we explored the Candle of Joy or the Shepherds’ Candle and discovered the exhilaration they experienced when they located the Messiah, as the angels had announced. And now we turn to the final purple candle in the Advent wreath, the Candle of Love (a.k.a., ‘The Angels’ Candle’).

The Candle of Love is associated with the angels’ involvement throughout the Christmas narrative. Angles perform a variety of tasks in their role as messengers, such as in the Annunciation to Mary, reassurances to Joseph, and their birth announcement of Messiah to the shepherds. The angels’ involvement stemmed from their devotion to their Creator, and their messages demonstrated God’s love. Furthermore, throughout the Scriptures this love is the thread that runs through the lives of His chosen people; and this love continues wend its way in the lives of those of us whom choose to follow Christ. In fact, in Hebrews we read, “Are not all angels ministering spiritssent to serve those who will inheritsalvation?” (vs. 14). So we clearly see God’s love demonstrated towards us.

But how do we demonstrate our love towards Him? How do we know when we are in love? There are numerous resources on the subjectthat refer toindicators that includephysical attraction, romance, and desiring to make the other person happy.
But how do we know when we are in love with Christ? The Bible outlines the parameters that demonstrate our love for Jesus. Christ used the parable of the sheep and the goats to depict true love for Himself (see Matthew 25: 31-46). The only difference between the two groups is what they did or didn’t do. As it turns out, we show our love to Jesus through our obedience, through keeping His commandments. And Jesus emphasized that the two greatest commandments are to love God and to love each other. So we show our love by our actions. 

Thus, if we take these instructions and combine them with what we know and have experienced in terms of falling in love with our partner or spouse, then we have some practical ideas for developing our love relationship with Christ. As we get to know Him, through His Word (studying the Scriptures), spend time with Him (not merely a ‘quiet time’ set aside, but talking to Him continuously throughout the day), and trying new things to make Him happy, we will discover our love, devotion, and adoration of Him increases. In line with this, if we take our relationship with our spouse or partner for granted andmake less effort to kindle our love, we grow apart from them. However, when we remember what first attracted us to them and carve out time to spend with them, we rediscover why we fell in love with them. This also applies to our love-relationship with Jesus. In the letters to the Churches (in Revelation), we are admonished to ‘return to our first love’, to our adoration of Him, which is reflected in our obedience and worship. O come, let us adore Him! Hallelujah!

Week 4: Suggested Daily Scripture Readings

Sunday Luke 1: 26-38
Monday Matthew 1: 18-25
Tuesday Luke 2: 8-29
Wednesday Matthew 25: 31-46
Thursday John 14: 15
Friday Matthew 22: 36-40 2
Saturday Revelation 2: 1-7 

Blessings & Peace

Elizabeth Hogan Hayduk

Former Salvation Army Officer (pastor)
Canada

Making Christmas Memories

Major Patsy Rowe, is a Salvation Army Officer (pastor) in Canada. She has a deep love for celebrating Christ’s birth and for spending time with her loved ones, especially her family. In her writing she reflects upon some Christmas family traditions and encourages readers to open their hearts to the wonder and joy of the season and to Christ’s loving presence. I know you will be moved by this heart-warming account of her family’s Christmas activities, and I pray that you will accept her challenge to pause in the midst of the busyness to focus on Jesus, the reason for the season:

Making Christmas Memories

“I am not the baker in my house—my husband is. However, as we prepare for Christmas, I find myself in the kitchen a little more. Even though our two sons are now close to 30 years old and are married, they want me to continue some of the traditional baking that they experienced while living at home. It is with such a thrill and love in my heart that I make shortbread cookies, snowballs, and peanut butter balls because I know that these are the most desired baking items which, I am pleased to say, I make very well.
While I do not wish to return to 20 years ago when the boys were younger, I do miss having them in the house especially during the Christmas season. Yet, as I roll the cookie dough, I give thanks to God for my wonderful family and for the traditions we shared and the impact I have made upon their lives.
As you turn your face toward the activities of the Christmas celebrations, I ask you to pause and reflect upon the influences you have made and continue to make upon those in your care. May your heart experience the thrill and love of family and friends. Most of all, may your heart experience the thrill and love of God as you celebrate His presence during this Christmas season.
“For unto us a child is born... wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace”. Isaiah 9:6

Blessing to all....

Major Patsy Rowe

Salvation Army Officer (pastor)
Canada

Advent Reflections - Part 2

Some Advent Reflections for Spiritual Preparation  Part 2

In Part 1 we examined John the Baptist’s mission and ministry, as well as the purpose and practice of ritual bathing. Now we continue with Jesus, who also came to be baptised by John. However, when Jesus rose up out of the water, John saw the heavens open and the Spirit like a dove descended upon him (Jesus), and the voice from heaven saying,“Thouare my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased,” (Mark 1: 11).  John had been obedient to God’s command and was a witness to God’s delight and the dove descending upon his cousin, Jesus.

What do these Reflections for Spiritual Preparation have to say to us today in the Season of Advent? John was speaking to believers then, and his words are still speaking to us, telling us to be cleansed of our defilement in readiness to meet Christ—either the Christ of Christ Mass or the Christ of Calvary. Scriptures define defilement or sin as any thought, thing, action or lack of action that interrupts our communion with God. In our prayer of confession we number the sins of commission and omission. In our daily life we sometimes do not notice that our communion with God is diminished. This is a little like someone who is going deaf but does not realise the slow loss of hearing. We can also consider a water pipe in relation to this. Should a large rock appear in the pipe the water will stop, but a build-up of silt will slow down the flow until it becomes choked. The rock is like sin, our communion with God will be broken; the silt I liken to defilement which diminishes our communion. 

John is calling us to be cleansed of anything that stops us from having a full communion with God. Be ready this Christ Mass to celebrate the birth of Christ and celebrate anew the birth of Christ in our hearts. As we prepare ourselves spiritually, I am reminded of a verse in the carol ‘O little town of Bethlehem’

‘O holy child of Bethlehem

Descend to us we pray

Cast out our sin and enter in

Be born in us today

Oh come to us, abide with us

Our lord Immanuel’

In a previous article that I wrote for this blog (Dec. 16^th,2015), I shared that in our home there were two distinctive parts of Christmas. We, as a family, celebrated Christ of Christmas by worshipping in Church at the midnight church service and returning to cut the Christmas cake; a birthday cake for Christ.

The next day was for family and friends when we celebrated the season of good will. It may help you understand why my family considered the festive season as two separate occasions, a Christ Mass and a Yule-tide celebration with festivities. It dates back many centuries to 1640 when the Scottish Parliament abolished Christmas day and relative celebrations. The parliamentary ruling was only repealed in 1958. I guess it is still in the Nation’s psyche and affects how I appreciate Christ Mass.

Now I am not suggesting you do not enjoy the preparations for what I would prefer to call Yuletide, but if it is Christ mass that you are preparing for, we need to prepare our spirits, too.

God bless.

Mrs. Irene Ogilvie-Wilson

Former Salvation Army Missionary Officer (Pakistan)

Trained in Canada

From Glascow, United Kingdom

Some Advent Reflections for Spiritual Preparation Part1

This is the Season of Advent, which is a time of preparation for our spiritual celebration. It is a similar time of reflection to the Season of Lent; a time of focus. However, I am sickened, or may I say scunnered [feeling disgust or strong dislike] by the trappings of Christmas. This year they started to appear in November. On Face Book (social media) I have even seen Churches in North America having Christmas meals and other related activities in November. At least our Classic FM radio station waited until December 1^stbefore starting to play its Christmas music.  Moreover, decorating the house and feasting are pagan habits to celebrate the solstice, but they became part of our Christian tradition. Yes, we have the birth of Christ to celebrate, a fact in itself, without the need for excess. Commercialism has defiled Christmas and what we see nowadays is an orgy of feasting, drinking, and expensive presents: all fuelled by materialism.

Now, before you think I am bah humbug, I want this morning to talk about the Christ Mass:something entirely different: Keeping Christ in the centre of our thinking and being as we spiritually prepare ourselves.

In both Malachi and Luke we hear of a messenger sent to the people of Israel. We think of John the Baptist who had been in the wilderness when he heard the word of God telling him to go and prepare the way for The Lord. John indeed went forth and called the people to repentance and to be baptised. We know that John was of a similar age to Jesus and no doubt had grown up knowing his cousin. What we do not know is whether God had told John who Jesus was in the Divine plan: ‘There cometh, one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I have baptised you with water, but he shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost,’ (Mark 1:7).  

John went about his preaching and baptising calling the people to repentance. In his day ritual bathing or baptising was necessary to enter the Temple. The bathing or baptising was a means of cleansing from defilement. In the Jewish faith there are many causes of defilement that needed to be cleansed, such as contact with death, childbirth, certain illnesses, semen emission, and menstruation being the most common. John no doubt officiated at such ritual bathing done in rivers. The ritual bathing was to cleanse from defilement not from sin. An interesting statement!  (Interestingly, when my husband and I were recently in Krakow, Polandwe saw the ritual baths that still stand in the Jewish quarter. The male and female baths are in separate buildings a little distant from the synagogue.)

What was John really calling the people to do? According to Leviticus a living sacrifice was needed to be made to atone for sin. However, after the razing of the Temple in AD70, there were no facilities for sacrifice and the need to do so was withdrawn. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement is the most holy day (or 25 hours) in the Jewish calendar and devout Jews must participate in all aspects of the day. This included fasting, deep prayer and spending most of that time in the synagogue. They must truly repent of their sin, Metanoia; which means true sorrow for their sin and a sincere attempt to change their ways. It is not passive. John the Baptist had his orders to prepare the way of the Lord. He was asking the people to repent and be cleansed of their defilement in order to meet with God in His Holy Temple, and also preparing the hearts to receive the God news to be brought through Jesus.

[To be continued…]

God bless.

Mrs. Irene Ogilvie-Wilson

Former Salvation Army Missionary Officer (Pakistan)

Trained in Canada

From Glascow, United Kingdom

2018 Christmas Series: O, Come Let Us Adore Him

Advent, Week 3 Candle of Joy (a.k.a. Shepherd’s Candle)





Thus far we have covered the first two weeks of Advent. The first week was represented by a purple candle, which symbolized the Candle of Hope (a.k.a., “the Candle of Prophecy”) and explored the anticipation the Jewish people felt as they awaited the prophesied Messiah. The second week we considered the purple Candle of Preparation (a.k.a., “the Bethlehem Candle”) and looked at some of the preparations that would have been hastily made when folks had to return to their ancestral homes in accordance with Caesar Augusta’s census decree. Moreover, it was clear that Mary was ready to give birth, and an innkeeper opened his heart and his stable to provide a place for Joseph and Mary to rest and for the baby to be born. For this third week of Advent, we will explore the pink Candle of Joy (a.k.a., “the Shepherds’ Candle”) and the exhilaration the shepherds experienced when they followed the angels’ directive to see for themselves the promised Messiah. 

I have often heard that there is a distinction between ‘joy’ and ‘happiness’ and wondered at the descriptions given. I discovered a partial answer after our youngest was born, and my mother-in-law came to visit us. My husband, Steve, gave her a tour of the McGill University campus, where he was studying for his PhD. Suddenly she asked him if he was “happy.” Later, he mentioned the unexpected question and noted his answer, “I am content.” Content?! I emphatically replied, “When your mother asks you if you’re happy, the correct answer is ‘Yes!” Steve was surprised by my reaction, but he remarked, “Happiness is so over-rated.” His answer reminded me of the apostle Paul’s declaration, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances,” (Phil. 4:11). So, perhaps joy is a quiet contentment.

On the other hand, sometimes joy is so excitement- and anticipation-filled that it bubbles over and is evident to all who witness it. Case in point, the shepherds who were overseeing their flocks in the fields outside of Bethlehem. As they settled into their nightly routine, it seemed that it would be another long, ordinary—and, hopefully, quiet—night. But have you ever wondered how, for two years, the magi followed the bright star that appeared on the night that Jesus was born; and, yet, there is no mention of the shepherds spotting nor mentioning the star. Nevertheless, when God wants to get our attention, He will often go to great lengths to do so! And, of course, in this account we do see God’s extravagance as He suddenly reaches out to a group of lowly shepherds—via a heavenly light show with angels. Imagine the progression of the shepherds’ experience on that evening—from fear and trembling at the explosive disruption in the night sky, to the wonder of the angels’ glorious birth announcement, to the excitement and anticipation as they hurried to confirm the truth for themselves, and finally, to the awe and joy they felt at seeing Messiah! Their joy was overflowing! As they returned to their flocks, the shepherds told everyone they encountered about the divine events of that evening! 

And the amazing truth is that God continues to step down from heaven and shake up our lives with a ‘suddenly’ experience, too! Furthermore, when He does, we need to remember, “Don’t be afraid, for I bring you good news of great joy…!” Hallelujah! Now, how can we not adore Him, especially when He is so intimately involved in our lives?!

ily Scripture ReadingsSunday  Luke 2: 8-20 

Monday   Psalm 84:1-12

Tuesday   Matthew 22:37

Wednesday 1 Peter 1:3-9

Friday Romans 15: 7-13

Saturday Revelation 5:11– 14

Blessings & Peace

Elizabeth Hogan Hayduk

Former Salvation Army Officer 

(pastor)

Canada

2018 Christmas Series: O Come Let Us Adore Him

Advent, Week 2 Candle of Preparation (a.k.a. Candle of Bethlehem)

--purple

Last week we looked at Advent, Week 1, the Candle of Hope (a.k.a., Candle of Prophecy). As we explored the Hebrews’ time of waiting for Messiah to come and save His people, we noted that they had misguided political versus spiritual expectations. However, the prophecies instilled hope—hope for a better future (see Jeremiah 29:11). And now we continue with the second week of Advent and the Candle of Preparation (a.k.a., the Candle of Bethlehem).
As we consider Caesar’s decree that a census would be taken, with the express purpose of collecting taxes to fill the Roman coffers, have you ever wondered how much time the people were given to prepare to travel to their ancestral homes? And, the announcement was likely met with grumbling due to the distances (e.g., Mary and Joseph travelled approximately 80-90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem), inconvenience, and dangers of travel. Additionally, it was a common practice for people to travel in groups—for company, as well as for protection from the dangers of the road-- a practice we observe recorded in the New Testament whenever people would make an annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Passover.

Moreover, important decisions had to be made, such as what supplies they needed to take with them and what possessions would be left at home until they returned, as well as what would be needed to care for their families while travelling. We can identify with the demands of travelling and the necessary preparations, such as checking on weather conditions, and making arrangements for food and shelter. Plus, we know that road trips with infants and young children take longer, as was the case for those travelling for the census. In addition, there would have been the additional challenges of travelling with pregnant wives (Mary wouldn’t have been the only one)—women who had prepared to have their babies in the comfort of their homes. And so, hasty preparations had to be made ; and with little notice, multiple caravans were formed and so began the forced march of tax-payers.

Upon arriving in Bethlehem Joseph and Mary discovered that the little town was flooded with weary pilgrims, all with the singular focus: to find lodging for their families. And Mary would have been bent over from the intensity of the contractions, which indicated it was time for her to give birth. I believe that Joseph’s plea and the sight of Mary’s pending delivery is what moved the last innkeeper to offer what he had—not room at the inn, but he had room in his heart. And so he offered what he did have: a place among his livestock, which would provide the couple with some shelter, a place to rest and for Mary to give birth.
Now Mary and Joseph had insider information about the true identity of their newborn son, “Jesus, the Son of God.” Perhaps they wondered how this truth would be revealed to others. Certainly, there were indications, such as the bright star in the sky, the shepherds hearing the angels’ birth announcement and hurrying to the stable, and the Magi arriving approximately two years later as they followed the star. Moreover, they knew of Jesus’ true identity for they arrived with gifts for the toddler-King. We see that those whose hearts were tuned to God, adored the new Messiah and King. And Mary, also filled with awe and adoration, treasured all these things in her heart. Hallelujah!
Certainly, as the shepherds returned to their flocks, they spread the joyous news to everyone they met. What about us? For those of us whom have found Messiah—we claim to adore Him, but are we singing His praises to others? Are we doing so in a way that Christ can use us to draw more people to His kingdom? And are we prepared for His second coming?

Week 2: Suggested Daily Scripture Readings:
Sunday—Isaiah 9: 1-5
Monday--Jeremiah 23: 1-6
Tuesday—Isaiah 7: 1-17
Wednesday—Isaiah 9: 6-7
Thursday—Luke 2: 1-16
Friday—John 4: 19-24
Saturday—1 Chronicles 29: 10-13



Blessings & Peace

Elizabeth Hogan Hayduk
Former Salvation Army Officer/Pastor, Canada

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