I know a lot of folks have been through this, but …

It broke my heart when Mom called me from the hospital this afternoon.  I could hear the fear in her voice as she told me she was confused and not sure where she was.

Listening to her cry as she explained how she was feeling & then how much she loved me, I fought back the tears.

It was all I could do to keep it together, while trying to reassure and encourage her, and also explaining that I also love her.

As I sit here preparing my sermon tonight for this Sunday – the 4th and final week of Advent, focusing on the message of Love, I’m reminded how important that Love between a mother & child is.  A little over 2,000 years ago, a mother gave birth to a Son that would bring Hope to a fallen world.  His birth brought light to the darkness, Hope to the faithful, Peace to the distressed & Joy to all those who would follow Him.  His name literally meant ‘the Lord Saves’.  As He grew into a man His ministry focused on Love – loving God the Father, and Loving others (Matthew 22:36-40).

Love is the greatest of our reflections in the Advent Season, encompassing Christ’s purpose & ministry here on earth (1 Corinthians 13:13).  We can’t walk with Christ without Love and there is no Christmas story without Love. 

I’ve done a lot of harm in my life … I walked without God more than half of my adult life.  If we’re being honest, I’ve only walked as a follower of Christ about seven years since turning eighteen.  That’s certainly nothing to be proud of.  I left a trail of chaos, pain, and destruction in my path.  I’m only here today, but by the Grace & Mercy of God – the Lord who Saves.  I’m still very clearly a ‘work in progress’ … I’m a broken man, living in a broken world, only made whole through the Grace & Mercy of Jesus. 

I’ve seen a lot of people close to me – friends, family, brothers, hurt & betray those around them (I include myself in this).  I’ve seen friendships destroyed, families fall apart and lives crushed.  If your heart & actions aren’t led by Love – Divine Love, you’re doing this thing called life, wrong.

“This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.”
1 John 4:9

If you have hurt in your life, if you’re lost, if things just don’t make sense, if the noise of this world has filled your heart with anger & apathy – I have an answer.  A man named Jesus was born to a mother that loved Him.  He had a vibrant ministry that changed the world – forever.  He later died for the sins of this fallen world.  That act of compassion, mercy and grace forever changed me personally … It freed me from a life of self-hate, addiction, anger and pain.  It gave me Hope, Peace & Joy through all those dark nights these last couple of years, where I was unsure if my heart was going to fail, or the cancer would metastasize and course through my body … I knew through all the trials & tribulations, my Savior Loved me and would never leave my side – He is Immanuel, God With Us.

From the small Presbyterian church in 1979 where I kneeled and accepted Jesus as my Savior, to the small one-room Non-Denominational church I now preach at – Christ’s Love has never failed me. 

God Bless & Merry Christmas!