Sheep in pasture

Sheep in pasture
Feed My Sheep, Feed My Lambs, Feed My Sheep

Monday, January 4, 2016

For Unto Us A Child Is Born



December 24, 2015
Stetson Memorial UMC
Christmas Eve
Inspired by Marcia McPhee
Sermon Series “Awed and Odd”
Praise In The Midst Of Suffering
psalm 150
(All Scripture is taken from the NIV Bible)

“For Unto Us A Child Is Born…”

Prayer for the Spirit’s leading…

A Reading from the Psalms…the praise chapter I like to call it…so Psalm 150.

We gather here tonight to celebrate the birth of a King. We gather here tonight and sing songs. We gather here tonight to not only waiting expectantly but we are expectantly waiting for His return. We can see in the world around us that there is much strife and chaos. We live in a world of greed and despair. We pray for Christ’s return to usher in a new age… but we too get a feeling of despair at times as we see the world around falling deeper and deeper in to the abyss…but…but…there is a light that shines bright in the east. We have gathered here tonight to testify of the light that shines bright… There is hope to be found in Emmanuel, God with us.

This advent, we are journeying to the cross by another road than what we may usually travel. We have been traveling a road that at times may have made us squirm a little. We have been inspired by Marcia McPhee’s “Awed & Odd” Sermon series where she states:
“We Christians believe in “folly”–that there is peace, love, joy and hope in the midst of the good and difficult times. This makes us “odd”–according to those who proclaim the victory of decline and death all around. It is especially in this season of expectant hope that we can instead proclaim the awe-inspiring presence of God’s reign that continually makes all things new. This is a season of odd “union”–swords into plowshares, wolves and lambs resting peacefully together, and the “speechless” singing for joy!”

Here we are at the eve of hope, love, joy and peace…we have taken off our blinders and have seen God in world and working even though broken. We have talked about seeing peace in the midst of conflict and have decided that even though the world around us may be broken God is always working out His plan even if I don’t perceive it. We know because we have seen the light of God working within situations that others might deem hopeless.

Yes we are a little “odd” because we are “awed” by God who even in the darkness is there creating order out of chaos. And we decided that we would rather be awed for God even though the world calls us odd.

We have seen “Love In the Midst Of Hate”. We decided that Jesus, our Risen Lord, is the One to show us the way by the example that He set. We also decided that as Jesus judges and reigns there will be peace in the midst of conflict and no more hate because all there will be love. And we have decided that if we look with eternal eyes we can see and react to “Joy in the Midst of Despair?” We have also realized that no matter what the circumstance…Joy and Hope are choices that we make…
So here we are tonight to celebrate the birth of Emmanuel. Now some may say… ”How can you celebrate now? Can’t you see the world around you and all the suffering? Are you blind to the world?” Our response…our choice is to praise God in the midst of suffering.

We choose to praise God even in the storms of life. We, as did Job, understand that we praise God in good times, how can we not also praise Him in the times of suffering? He is still God. He still is Emmanuel. He still walks those roads with us helping us through.

On this night we celebrate the greatest gift to humankind. This gift, wrapped in swaddling clothes is the one gift that keeps on giving…giving hope, giving love, giving joy, giving peace…who would have thought a baby so small could be so large?

Isaiah 9:2, 6-7New International Version (NIV)
2 The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned.
6 For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

Let us use eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart that is open to what God is doing in the world around us. Then we will be able to see the peace and love that is evident to all who seek love. We will have joy even though there is despair around us. We no longer have to feel hopeless and alone. We can and will have peace in the midst of chaos. We will have patience and understanding in the midst of hate. But most of all…we will truly feel Emmanuel…God with us. We will hear His gentle voice of encouragement, compassion and hope. But it begins here (touch chest) and here (touch eyes). As we have an open Heart and lead by the Spirit of God we will use eyes of love and grace as we seek the love of God in the world around us. We are no longer hopeless but hopeful because of loves work one early morning in a stable for we realize we are never alone.

Amen

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