How might God be reminding us of hope this Christmas?.

Where might we be using the Christmas festivities as a distraction from pain? How might God be inviting us to enjoy the festivities while still making space to acknowledge our pain/struggle?.

What do you want to know?.

And so the Christmas story is full of joy, but doesn’t not hide away from pain. It holds joy/hope and pain/struggle simultaneously, inviting us to do the same - whilst Rev 12:11 reminds us that Jesus gives us hope in the face of the struggle.

Matt 2:13-18.Rev 12:1-11. The Christmas story doesn’t end where most nativity plays do… once the wise men leave, Jesus and his family become refugees in Egypt as Herod orchestrates a horrific injustice. Revelation 12 gives us some insight into the spiritual dynamics going on.

2) In what areas of your life might you be striving where God is calling you to rest in his grace and depend on his power?.

1) Take a moment to cherish salvation as an undeserved gift given to us by our loving Father - we cannot save ourselves, but we do not need to because of Jesus.

This child to be born (and the salvation he was to bring) arrives only by God’s power and initiative. There is no human innovation or intervention involved. God is 100% responsible for our salvation from start to finish, because there is nothing we can do to save ourselves.

Luke 1:34-35; Ephesians 2:8-9.After the angel gives Mary the news that she will conceive and give birth to Jesus, she asks how this will happen since she’s a virgin. The angel replies saying “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you”.

2) Is there room in our hearts for Jesus to enter? What’s keeping us busy/occupied so much that we have no space for him?.

1) Jesus’ birth reminds us that our God identifies with the poor. What is the condition of our own hearts toward those in need (eg those with no place to stay).

Luke 2:6-7.Rev 3:20.Our Saviour is born in a dirty, smelly manger because there were no guest rooms available (presumably because Bethlehem was so busy). Now, exalted as king of kings, he knocks on the door of our hearts, waiting for us to let him in.

2 Sundays ago I preached a message about how advent reminds us of hope, encouraging people to approach advent differently this year… meanwhile I’ve been so busy I have done no advent reflections of my own 🤦🏾‍♂️ so I’m starting now (better late than never 😅) - feel free to join me.

I don’t yet have a biblical framework for this (although 1 Kings 19 and Luke 22 come to mind), but this is my experience. If you’re feeling low/discouraged, lean on his grace… you may hear him calling.

I’m noticing a pattern where the moments I feel at my lowest are the moments after which God, brings more clarity in what he’s asking of me….

I’m so tired that I just tried to rewind something that happened right in front me because I missed it 🫠.

[Lev 4:2-3] Even the unintentional sin of the priest brings guilt upon the people. Thankful today for a high priest (Jesus) who is completely without sin - instead of bringing guilt upon us, he takes all our guilt away 🙏🏾.

“Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar.”.Psalms 138:6 NIV

This thread 😔.

RT @DianeLangberg: When we hear justifications, excuses, blaming, selfishness, or a focus on the sins of another, we can be sure we do not….

RT @DianeLangberg: When true repentance occurs in any life, the focus of that life is the pursuit of Christlikeness and the death of anythi….