In Search of ...

... something else!

I'm in search of peace, hope, joy, love

I didn't realize it as I was typing out those four words but now that I sit here and look at them I know what I'm looking for, Those words: peace, hope, joy and love are the main emphases during the Advent Season leading up to Christmas. I LOVE Advent! It is the time of preparation and anticipation. Excitement builds each week in each worship service leading us up to Christmas Eve where the Church is proverbially bursting at her seams with excitement for the news we get to share:

Jesus Christ is born!


I'm sure I'm not alone in this. It seems we are so unsettled. 

Hurricane Matthew slammed in to the east coast a few days ago and it continues to make its mark in southern coastal communities today and in days following. Flooding abounds and winds are so strong weather forecasters can hardly stand as they provide live newscasts. 

As I watched The Weather Channel I realized the howling winds and pouring rains gave me a visual picture of how I feel things are in our communities, our country, our world. We are in a storm of racial unrest, the political season has become a comedy-horror debacle, winds of anger abound.

Peace -- Hope -- Joy -- Love

I think it is time to look to a little baby born in a manger.

He was born in to a time of extreme political unrest, horrible oppression, brutal killings of babies due to the insecurity of an oppressive ruler. That human ruler knew of the prophecies -- he knew a divine ruler was prophesied to come. And he was threatened.

We are threatened. We're threatened when we don't agree.
We are afraid. We're afraid of racial unrest, of the horror of our neighbors being treated differently due to different skin color.
We are confused. We're so confused because we live in an age of great intellect and technology yet we act like immature children who don't get our way so we throw sand and stomp off the playground to sulk.

Enter the One who caused animals and Shepherds alike to gather and kneel before him because they knew something was different and they knew it was good.

Enter the One who caused grown men to travels miles to offer gifts fit for a king.

Enter the One who grew to teach about those very things for which we yearn.

Enter the One  who offers us those same things today.

It is a far better path to take. It won't be an easy journey. We always think things should be easier -- there is the child-like mentality again. But if we exude a spirit of peace and hope, if our daily living is one of joy and unconditional love to everyone -- we will make a difference in a hurting world. We will make a difference one person at a time.

That is my prayer for me and for you today -- that we may be abundant in kindness and love -- no matter what -- to everyone we encounter today.

Enjoying the Journey,
Debra

bebprov356.blogspot.com

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.

-- Proverbs 3:5-6 --

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