Tag: Advent

Hide and Seek with Jesus

On Sunday we talked about joy, and you can listen to it here. We talked about how joy is connected to finding Jesus. Because when you find Jesus, you find someone special. You find a person who is God, and yet just like us. You find a person who knows what it is to struggle, yet overcomes. You find a person who knows everything, yet just wants to get to know you…

This is a person worth finding.

And when you find him and connect with him you get connected to joy, hope, peace, and love. Because Jesus is each of those things. He doesn’t give us joy, we find our joy in him as Paul says. And so key to finding and holding on to joy in our lives is finding and holding onto Jesus. He is our source. Finding Jesus means finding joy, peace, hope, and love that lasts. It lasts because he lasts, he is steady, he is true, and the story of Christmas is that he is here. The invitation to the shephereds in Luke 2 is that Jesus is findable, “meetable”, and here.

So how do you find him in your life? Simple. Just do what the shepherds do…they start looking.

Each week I write a post called “Where I saw Jesus this Week…”. And maybe this week you should comment or write your own post titled “Where you found Jesus this week…”

Because he is ready and willing to be found…and with him comes joy, peace, love, and hope…

The question is are you looking?

And if you find him, I’d love to hear how and where…

by Andrew Mills

Peace I give to you; Peace I leave with you…

Last Sunday our focus was on peace. To hear the sermon click here. We talked about how in Isaiah 9 it says that a a child has been born to us, a son is given who will be called the Prince of Peace. We focused on how Jesus is that Son and promises us his peace in John 14:27. At the end of the service we invited everyone to accept Jesus and his peace.

Today’s post is a bit different. I don’t want to add anything to what was shared on Sunday at all. Today I simply want to remind you that if you need peace between yourself and God, others, or even who you are then accept Jesus’ gift of peace.

Peace is found in our connection with Christ. It is Jesus who is peace, and then when we connect to him peace flows in our lives.

How does Jesus create peace in our lives? I’m not sure. But what I do know is that it is his responsibility and promise to us. Our responsibility is simply to accept the gracious gift he gives to us in this Christmas season of his peace.

So today my challenge is to accept Jesus and his gift, and let it shape you.

And if you feel bold, or maybe peaceful, share with me how accepting his gift has given you peace…

by Andrew Mills

Finding Peace

Peace can be elusive can’t it. It seems to be with us one day and gone the next. We can have peace and get stuck at a stop light and it vanishes. We can be happy and peaceful and one phone call can derail us. We’re in a a great space and one mistimed comment, or conversation leads to deep agitation, doubt, and difficulty. Peace, at least in my life, seems to be transient and based on what happens, or doesn’t happen in my life.

But what if you could have lasting peace?

Peace that goes beyond what happens day to day, and is there as a constant? What might that feel like for you? How might that change your attitude, disposition, and enjoyment of life? Take a moment and imagine having a deep peace that permeates and invades every area of your life.

Isn’t that something worth finding this Christmas?

But here’s the catch, you can only have that type of peace if you stop seraching for some “thing”. Because peace isn’t a “thing” to be found at all. Peace is a person to be encountered, a relationship to be nurtured, and a life to be joined.

That’s what we’re exploring this coming Sunday. The person of peace found in Jesus Christ. Because Jesus doesn’t bring peace, Jesus Christ is peace. And that subtle change makes all the difference.

And so this Sunday and this week, make finding Jesus the focus rather than “peace”. And my guess is that when you start finding Jesus, and truly experiencing and hearing from him…peace is never far behind…

by Andrew Mills

The People of Hope

Yesterday we talked about hope. And after last night I realized something. So often our hope is based in things. For example that this thing will change, that we’ll get this thing, or that this thing will come about. Whether that “thing” is a job, a desire, a relationship, or whatever, true hope isn’t based in things.

True hope is based in a person, and in people.

True hope is based in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the reason we can have hope because he enters into our lives, meets with us wherever we are at, and promises no matter what we are going through we’ll never go through it alone.

True hope is also found in people; in a caring community that loves and supports. Last night I was at a Small Group where a few couples gathered to share, pray, and talk. And what I saw was honesty, openness, deep caring, love, a bit of crying, but true friendship. Hope is found there too, because when you care like that you are literally being Jesus Christ. Whenever this happens hope is found…

So whatever you are in the midst of needing or hoping for this season, don’t forget to find hope in Jesus Christ who walks with you. And also don’t forget to lean on those who surround you and who care for, find hope there as well.

And if you don’t have either of those things…well then I think this is the perfect time to find Jesus…and people who live like him too…

by Andrew Mills

What are you Hoping for?

This Sunday starts the season of Advent, and we’re focusing on hope. Hope is so prevelant in Christmas. Kids are hoping for a special gift, parents might be hoping to just get through Chrismas. We look forward to Jesus’ birth and how he brings us hope. All of these things are true and good.

But what I want to focus on today is – what are you hoping for?

Not in terms of material gifts, but in terms of you’re life. Is there a need in your life you’re hoping to be filled? Is there a desire that lingers, a prayer that needs to be answered, is there a darkness that needs to be lifted?

Advent is about anticipating, waiting and hoping for Jesus’ birth. Because with his birth comes new hope and new life. This Sunday were going to be focusing not on what hope is, but how Jesus wants to give you and me a hope that overflows.

So today what is it your hoping for this Christmas?

Spend sometime honestly sharing it with God. It can be hard to whisper those deep needs, for fear of being disappointed. But if the Christmas story is true, then it means that hope gets birthed in the most unexpected places and ways.

And it can happen to you today…

by Andrew Mills