You have the Christmas wish list of a family member in your pocket as you head to the shopping mall. You’ve never heard of the particular item circled in red on their list, but you assume it will be easily located and within your budget. You plan to only spend as much time navigating the mall madness as is needed. It’s simple… you’ll check out one or two stores, find the gift for the best price, grab a peppermint latte at the coffee shop, then head for the peace and quiet of home; a holiday Hallmark movie begins in two hours.

But soon you find out that your well laid out plan has changed as you go from store to store, only to be told either it is out of stock or they don’t carry it. You leave that mall and head to the one across town, only to be told the same thing. Frustrated, you stomp to the mall’s food court, find the only empty table, plop down in a huff, and check for the item online. Still no luck, then for a second you consider buying them something else, but no way, you are bound and determined to keep looking until you find this item no matter what it takes or what it costs.
 
Now let me ask you, how fervently do you pursue God? Do you regularly and actively pursue Him like your life depended upon it? Or do you just casually seek after Him, and if you happen to bump into Him great, if not, well, you will look some more tomorrow.
 
Unlike that elusive gift that you might never find, God promises us if we seek Him with all our heart that we will encounter Him. We read these words in Deuteronomy 4:29 – “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.” This relentless pursuit is a common theme throughout scripture; for three examples check out 1 Chronicles 22:19, Psalm 63:1, and Proverbs 8:17.
 
And another beautiful picture of what it looks like to pursue God with all your heart and soul is found in Psalm 42, verses 1 and 2. You might be familiar with these verses – “As the dear pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God. Where can I go and meet with God?”
 
The Hebrew word used here for “pant” implies a fervency of desire. The deer is absolutely in need of a drink, nothing is more important at that moment. If you have ever been near a deer you know how quickly they flee when you approach them. William McClure Thomson was an American missionary working in Ottoman Syria in the 1800s. In his book, The Land and the Book, Thomson says in regards to this fervent desire for water; “I have seen large flocks of these panting harts (male red deer, native to Syria) gather round the water-brooks in the great deserts of central Syria, so subdued by thirst that you could approach quite near them before they fled.”
 
So, I ask you, how thirsty are you? Is your soul panting for God? Are you gathered around the water-brook so subdued (overcome) by your thirst that nothing distracts you from drinking?

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The daily grind of life is full of challenges, many of which look like skyscrapers. Isn’t it true that some mornings you wake up full of energy and ready for the upcoming day while other days you wish you could pull the covers back up over your head and just lie in the safety and warmth of our bed? And some days you feel ready to leap tall buildings in a single bound while other days it is as if you’ve slammed into the side of the building.

As we go through this season of Advent, the weeks leading up to Christmas, we expectantly anticipate the coming of the Messiah. It is a season of great hope, of expectation, and of waiting for the presence of Immanuel, God with us. It is also a season of added stress. And for many, a season of loneliness and despair. With so much going on, often this season, while at times joyful, also feels and looks like much a 60-story building.  

I offer these five verses to you as encouragement, as hope, as expectation, that regardless of what comes your way today, you can be assured that God is with you, and He is able to help you go through, go around, or go over a tall building.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3

We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. Psalm 33:30

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1

On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul. Psalm 138:3

And how about a few verses inviting you to a place of rest.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31

I sure do need these verses. How about you? Thank you, Jesus, for giving me rest and also strength to leap tall buildings!

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This time of year, in public spaces everywhere, you will likely find a beautifully decorated Christmas tree with neatly wrapped boxes underneath. There is one problem with many of those boxes. While they look pretty on the outside, they are simply empty boxes, wrapped in colorful paper, topped with ribbon and bows.

Oftentimes our lives are the same way – we look all pretty on the outside, but on the inside, an entirely different story. We are busy and productive, festive and smiling, saying and doing all the right things, but inside that beautifully decorated box, there is an emptiness, a darkness, a loneliness. Nothing more than wadded up tissue paper. Something is missing.     

The word Advent means “coming,” and it is during Advent, the season between Thanksgiving and Christmas, that we expectantly await the coming of the Messiah. In Isaiah 7:14, the prophet foretells that a virgin will give birth to a son and call him Immanuel. In Matthew’s telling of the birth of Jesus (1:18-25), we find – “’She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

It is God dwelling with us that can turn emptiness into fullness, dullness into vibrancy, barren into lush. It is absolutely true that Jesus came to cleanse us of our sins and to restore our relationship with God, a relationship broken by sin. It is also just as true that in Jesus, God with us, your dry and parched soul can find refreshment (read John 4:1-26), and your emptiness can be filled. In John 10:10 we find these words of Jesus – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

It is important to note that “abundant” does not mean filled with all your wants and desires. Rather, it means an abounding fullness of joy, a peace knowing that God is with you, meeting your every need. An abundant life comes from following in God’s ways; being obedient and living in accordance with His will.

So, this Christmas Season, this Advent Season, make it a priority to purposefully and expectantly await the coming of the One who fill your empty gift box: Immanuel, God with us!

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Close your eyes for a minute and picture yourself walking through a beautiful garden full of spectacularly colored flowers, along a deserted beach as the waves lap at your feet, or through the rainforest in Brazil with its magnificent array of color. Maybe you’ve vacationed in the Caribbean and been captivated by the crystal clear blue water and stunning white beaches. Or it could be you have visited New York City during the Christmas Season, with all its spectacular lights and pageantry. Regardless of the location, we humans enjoy beautiful scenery or landscapes. Psychologists state that we experience a positive mental effect or sensation when we see beautiful scenery and landscapes. We often describe those moments as breathtaking or “it took my breath away.”

There is also something about mountains, with their lush foothills, snow-capped peaks, and spectacular views that is breathtaking. In between mountains are valleys; that low area formed by erosion of the land by a river or stream. Valleys are often picturesque, but we sometimes miss their beauty due to the grandeur of the mountains that surround them.

Life’s journey is often described using mountain and valley language. When something has given us joy or excitement we say “I’ve had a mountaintop experience” and when the opposite occurs, we find ourselves “in the valley.” We want to walk on the mountaintops, but want nothing to do with the valleys.

It is in those moments when we find ourselves in the valley that God does His best work. We tend to cry out to God when we are looking up at the big looming mountains more so than when we stand on the top of the hill looking down at what is below. I have been there, and, be honest, so have you. Maybe you are there right now.

We learn more in our valley experiences than on our mountaintops. We learn more about ourselves and we learn more about God. And even though you might not always be able to see God in the valley, He is there. When the resurrected Jesus spoke to His disciples in what is known as the Great Commission, His final words to them, and to you today, were – “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b).

These words from Psalm 23:4 are often used at funerals, but they convey so much more than God’s presence and comfort when someone dies – “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” David is speaking of some sort of fearful experience. The valley language infers that David feels boxed in, surrounded, restricted in some way. The shadow of death is not death itself, but rather, this shadow is casting some fearful outline across David’s path. But notice what David says, because of the shepherd’s presence and under the shepherd’s leading, he will walk through this valley. He is not destined to permanently remain in this valley.       

So, today, in the midst of the whether the scenery you are looking at is stunning and spectacular, or all you see are the sides of mountains that seem to rise to insurmountable heights, hear these words found in Deuteronomy 31:8, “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

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The time from Thanksgiving to Christmas is a wonderful time of year. A song written in 1963 by Edward Pola and George Wyle, popularized by singer Andy Williams, tells us so. You know the song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Not only does the song tell us that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but it also makes the claim that, “It’s the hap-happiest season of all.”

For many, the long holiday season is one of great joy, excitement, anticipation. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Turkey. Stuffing. Gravy. Pecan pie. Jesus. Santa Claus. Undisturbed snow under the night sky. Family gatherings. Holiday parties. Seasonal music. Baking cookies. Christmas caroling. Decorations. Hot cocoa by the fireplace. Eggnog. Magnificent light displays. Ralphie Parker. Clark Griswold. Cousin Eddie. George Bailey. Doris Walker. Kevin McCallister. Ebenezer Scrooge. Mr. Grinch, Rudolph. Frosty. Hermey the Misfit (Dentist) Elf. Yukon Cornelius. Hallmark movies. Ugly sweaters. Christmas Eve candlelight church services. And so much more. Oh, and may I add one more descriptor of this season… exhausting. 

But this holiday season can also be a very difficult time for some people. It could be that they’ve had a very challenging year financially. Or maybe they have some health issue that has worn them down, zapped their energy, created a future filled with uncertainty. Possibly a long-term relationship went sour and there is lingering pain or guilt from that ended relationship. Is someone new to your community, not having made many friends yet, therefore left off the neighborhood party invitation list? This season will be also hard for those who experienced the recent death of a loved one. There will be that sense of loneliness and sorrow. Those missing gifts and that empty chair make it no secret that life has changed.

We all know someone who would say that 2024 was not the most wonderful of times. In fact, that person might even say this year downright stunk, and that 2025 cannot come soon enough. How about coming along side that person and simply be a friend. Our presence says to them, “I care.” Not only that, God can work through us to give that brokenhearted person a sense of hope and encouragement. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of this season, what better gift is there than to be a friend to someone who is hurting.

The Bible tells us to do that very thing. In Galatians 6:2 we read this, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you fulfill the law of Christ.” This does not mean we should take on their burdens. We have enough of our own. In fact, in v.5, we read “for each should carry their own load.” The Greek word used here for “load” is phortion, which refers to a personal burden that is non transferrable. So, bearing someone’s burden is not taking responsibility for it. Rather, we come along side someone to aid, to assist, to lighten the load. Help them carry their load (phortion).  

“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” Proverbs 18:24.

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10.

So, this Thanksgiving to Christmas Season, be a friend to someone, and just quite possibly helping to make this the “hap-happiest season of all” for them.

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Even through it is November, picture yourself cruising down the smooth highway with the top down on your convertible “Little Deuce Coupe” when all of a sudden, without warning, you encounter a patch of very rough road. You slam on the brakes to slow down your car, but not before the car is rattled to its core. Your iced tea flies out of the cup holder and spills in your lap, The Beach Boys CD you were listening to skips due to the jolt, your dog in the backseat yelps, and your car’s electronic anti-skid control system kicks in to keep the car from careening totally out of control.

After what seems like an eternity, you finally get the car slowed down, pull onto the shoulder of the road, and it is at that point you and your passenger look at each other and simultaneously yell, “What was that?”

Sound familiar? Not only is the highway full of potholes and speed bumps, life too is full of rough and bumpy patches. Sometimes they just cause us to tap the brake ever so gently simply to slow down, other times they are craters or mountains that cause us to slam on the brakes in order to avoid crashing. Sometimes we see the bump ahead and we can prepare, other times it comes out of nowhere and we find ourselves upside down along side the road wondering what just happened.

None of us like when life seems to spin out of control. In those moments of spinning out of control, or when you sit upside down in your car, despair and hopelessness often sets in. The confidence and peace you had as you were cruisin’ down the road have turned to fear and worry. In the blink of an eye, your dreams and plans for the future have changed.

It is in that very moment that you can turn hopelessness to hopefulness, the fear into calm, and the insecurity to security. God tells us that He is in control and that nothing is too hard for Him. It is often hard to understand why bad things happen and even harder to understand, if not impossible, to see in advance how God is at work. But our faith is rooted in the truth that God is sovereign and in absolute control of everything. In our limited perspective, God’s ways to do not always make sense to us, but Scripture tells us that His ways are higher than our ways. In Isaiah 55:9 we read this, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

So, just when you think the road ahead looks too bumpy or the hole seems too deep to climb out of, reprogram your GPS towards God and ask Him to lead and guide you. These next words are the beginning of a prayer the prophet Jeremiah prayed when he had doubts while facing a very difficult situation. In Jeremiah 32:17 we see him cry out… “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth (see Genesis 2:1) by your great power and outstretched arm (see Jeremiah 27:5). Nothing is too hard for you (see Genesis 18:14).”

The pothole(s) might not disappear, but the confidence that we are not navigating the bumpy road alone should be comforting. We find these words in Psalm 46:1 – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in (times of) trouble.” 

I will end with God’s reply to Jeremiah – “Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: ‘I am the LORD, the God of all mankind, Is anything too hard for me?’” (Jeremiah 32:26-27)

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