https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=K8-NxI_IWd0<\/a> My Deliverer is Coming. Rich Mullins<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
In this holiday season, lift up your heads and comfort one another with these words. HOPE is near! God promised He would send Messiah. He did. People forgot– and a fragile baby slipped in their common, dusty midst and fulfilled what ancient peoples longed to see. In the darkness, a light appeared. Herod slaughtered countless children to eradicate every trace of Him, yet a collection of Magi slipped in and worshipped the true king. God promised He would send His son. He did. In the darkness, a light appeared. In our darkness, while we watch, while we wait\u2026 we must lift our eyes above the tinsel and garland and shift them to that darkened sky outside. God is about to fulfill His promise to end All suffering and send the Redeemer. He will. In this darkness, very soon a light will\u2026..<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
III. Peace<\/p>\n
Prayer is a huge part of Paul\u2019s ministry in the Thessalonian church. At the end of this letter, he will pronounce the benediction: \u201cNow may the LORD of peace Himself give you peace always<\/u> in every <\/u>way. The Lord be with you all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Peace (Greek Eirene) means having harmony in relationships, rest in the nation, quietness in churches, reconciliation between God and man, wholeness, full shalom \u2013 nothing missing, nothing broken. Peace for Paul meant the Gospel would have free course in their ministry \u2013 not hindered by the enemy or immoral, divisive people. Prayer oils the levers. Prayer is needed to recognize and be delivered from evil of all kinds. Prayer loosens sins tight grip. Prayer is needed to follow examples like Paul\u2019s, while stepping aside from those against the Lord. It directs our focus. Prayer strengthens us to keep going even when we are spiritless, exhausted, lacking courage, weak and faint-hearted (the very definition of weary).<\/p>\n
We have started listening to the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack which makes my heart happy. It reminds me of times past and celebrates what we love now. When I work or pray, I listen to worship and praise songs \u2013 the soundtrack of one waiting for that trumpet call. It keeps me focused on what is important. What soundtrack is playing in your heart this season? Does it direct you to God and those who are HIS or away from God\u2019s peace and plan? Paul tells us to follow the example of those who are righteous. Thessalonians calls us to pray for those we stand with \u2013 those suffering, those waiting for His appearing. Solidarity. The star on the Christmas tree is fun \u2013 but it will not eradicate the worlds darkness. Are we waiting like those who know the Messiah?<\/p>\n
The Lord is faithful who will establish and guard (keep, preserve) you from the evil one.<\/strong><\/p>\nIt is what God does \u2013 Full time. Paul\u2019s prayer is that the Lord will direct the Thessalonians and one day our hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. If you are looking for a goal, a purpose, a focus in the midst of trial, it is this \u2013 ask God to direct (guide, make straight) your heart into the love of God and into the patience of Christ (vs5). Peace will be the result and gift.<\/p>\n
Maybe instead of meditating on the next variant or vaccine we meditate on the victory of a God who loves, adopts, and chooses us. Maybe instead of meditating on the next protest or power struggle we meditate on the patience of Christ who reigns triumphant? He patiently waits for you and me to recognize His offer of salvation, His payment of our debt and return.<\/p>\n
God is our help, our hope and soon coming King. If you want Him to be that for you<\/u> then pray:<\/p>\n
Lord I have sinned against You, and I repent. I believe You are the One who died to pay for my sins and the only solution for my brokenness. Come into my heart and make me born from above \u2013 I want to obey you and I give you, my life. I want to spend eternity in Heaven with you. Use my life for Your glory from this moment forward. I love you. Amen. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nThat is the gift He wants \u2013 our hearts. You can go to the Rest for you tab<\/u> on this website for more information on living life as a Christian.<\/p>\n
I pray you have a wonderful holiday. I pray you feel comforted by these words. Help, hope, peace, and Jesus \u2013 are all on the way!<\/p>\n
Merry Christmas to you and yours, Renae Roche 2021<\/p>\n
O come, O come Emmanuel!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
2nd Thessalonians What a prophetic book! We loved it, especially in this season. Let\u2019s look at this book in three areas: Help! Remember the Charlie Brown specials? Lucy loved setting up Charlie, then grabbing the football away right when he hoped […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"bgseo_title":"","bgseo_description":"","bgseo_robots_index":"index","bgseo_robots_follow":"follow","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeplateadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1174"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeplateadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeplateadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeplateadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeplateadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1174"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/homeplateadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1174\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1179,"href":"https:\/\/homeplateadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1174\/revisions\/1179"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeplateadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeplateadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeplateadvantage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}