12-20-2014

Good Morning All,

        Isaiah 66: 12; “For thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees.”

     A little while ago, we added to our family; we have a granddaughter.  She has a head of black hair and eyes that Grandpa gets lost in.  The other day, Grandma was babysitting and not having a lot of luck.  A fresh diaper and a full bottle of milk weren’t doing the trick to go to sleep for naptime.  I traded with her and took my granddaughter into my arms and we sat in the chair. With just a touch of milk, she was sound asleep.  She slept against my chest and looked totally relaxed.  I asked about lying her down on her bed but that idea was vetoed by Grandma.  The little miss was sleeping so we left her that way.  I even ate supper that way.  It was great.  Shortly thereafter, she woke up and was happy until mom bundled her up and loaded her into the car seat and went home; she didn’t sound happy to do that.

    There are few sights in the world that are as serene or as peaceful as a baby sleeping.  The face is so fresh and clean.  The cheeks might be a little red but, all in all, she is resting comfortably and being refreshed and renewed.  That is why we speak of someone who is getting a good rest in as “sleeping like a baby.”  The sleep is restful, renewing and refreshing to the body and to the soul.  A baby usually knows little of turmoil or battles; they know hunger, changing and sleep.  So to solve these issues we feed, change and rock them to sleep in the most loving and gentlest manners.  We keep it quiet with maybe just a soft hum into their ear.  The really amazing thing is that holding a sleeping baby can make your day tranquil as well.  It is calming and peaceful.

    This is part of the reason that Scriptures uses the metaphor of a baby being nurtured by his parent.  A baby is entirely dependent upon the parent.  A baby would die in a few days without a parent to nourish, protect and shelter him.  We see this in our life as well.  Without God’s over abundant grace and mercy; the “river” and the “overflowing stream” in our verse, we would not survive.  We would go through our wretched existence as the devil’s playthings.  We would suffer from the thought that there was nothing to hope for.  There was nothing to bring us comfort or healing.  There was nothing to give us peace.

    This is what the birth of Jesus brings to us.  All the hope, comfort and peace that we need, Jesus brings to us as new life in a renewed creation.  This renewed creation includes us as new creations, purified and holy before God.  We live in God’s eternal blessed favor; now and in the present, it is not just some future event.  We have God’s grace and mercy upon us right now.  We are his redeemed children; nurtured, loved, cherished, held in the arms of our loving Father and given peace and hope to face all of life’s challenges.

Father of love, in you we have hope and peace.  Renew in us the certainty of your loving kindness.  Strengthen us for our journey.  Be with those who are lost and hurting.  Bring them into your redeeming grace.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret