12-18-2016

      Good Morning All,

           2 Thessalonians 2:16; “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace”

      I remember many years ago as a kid when, one morning, I got up for breakfast and saw an aunt and an uncle who lived far away had come to visit.  I was surprised to see them.  I really enjoyed when they came to visit and would relish the time with them.  Now, many years later, I have similar feelings when we have our grandchildren over.  Even if the grandkids are a little tired or don’t feel well; I look forward to them visiting.  In fact, whenever they arrive it is an enjoyable time.  I see the time spent is not a waste of time; I truly enjoy it.  But it really is never a failure nor is it a success; rather it is more of an undeserved bonus time with people we love.

    Perhaps you have people in your life that when you see them or spend time with them is simply a bonus.  It is time that we don’t earn, or maybe even expect but rather it is simply a time to enjoy and to relish.

    We are at the start of the season of the church in the church year.  It is during this time of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Ascension that we can look back and relish the time that Jesus spent here on earth and even more, we relish what was accomplished by Jesus coming to this world.  He ushered in the return of God’s kingdom into our life.  God promised that this would occur.  He began to deliver on that promise at Christmas.  While Jesus walked this earth; he healed, fed, reconciled, gave hope to us.  God delivered on the promise on Good Friday and showed it to be fulfilled on Easter. 

    With our Baptism, that gift, the return of the kingdom is given to you.  We are part of this blessed kingdom.  Our salvation is secured and our hope is guaranteed.  So we live now, waiting for Christ to return.  This can be bonus time.  This can be time that we enjoy as we wait to be reunited with our Lord and Savior.  This can be bonus time if we continue in our faith.

    It is when we doubt this promise, the reality, that God loves us and loves us in a reckless, passionate fashion; that we stumble.  It is in these times of loss that we experience our pain.  Yet God continually calls us back with his Words of love, forgiveness and hope.  He continues to bring us healing and to restore us into his kingdom of blessing.  It is here that we can celebrate his meal and offer to him our prayers and praise.  We do this not so that he will come but because he has already come to make us his.

Father, you have given to us the wondrous mercy of forgiveness and of bringing us into your blessed kingdom.  Keep us strong of faith so that we may truly savor your blessings now and forever more.  In your amazing love for us, we have been filled with all the greatness of your provisions for our life.  You give us not only what we need but also what your heart desires for us and that is your peace in our lives.  In the precious name of Jesus our risen Savior we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret