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2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. For those who lived in a land of deep shadows - light! sunbursts of light! 3 You repopulated the nation, you expanded its joy. Oh, they're so glad in your presence! Festival joy! The joy of a great celebration, sharing rich gifts and warm greetings. 4 The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants - all their whips and cudgels and curses - Is gone, done away with, a deliverance as surprising and sudden as Gideon's old victory over Midian. 5 The boots of all those invading troops, along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood, Will be piled in a heap and burned, a fire that will burn for days! 6 For a child has been born - for us! the gift of a son - for us! He'll take over the running of the world. His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness. 7 His ruling authority will grow, and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings. He'll rule from the historic David throne over that promised kingdom. He'll put that kingdom on a firm footing and keep it going With fair dealing and right living, beginning now and lasting always. The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies will do all this. God Answered Fire with Fire. (Isaiah 9:2-7 The Message)
Happy Wednesday dear ConCafe Family! And, dear Friend, tomorrow is Christmas Eve! I pray you've done all the preparations for this Christmas to be a special and sacred event in your life! Please pray for all people, here and around the world. Christmas is a world event, much like all who saw the "star" last night, were from every corner of the globe; Christ came for them and I pray you will join in the harvest effort of reaching each soul for God.
We love, trust, and serve a God of light. Most of us are fans of light; most of us welcome the darkness as the prelude to sleep and rest. But, the darkness mentioned in this passage refers to the reality that walking without knowing God is like walking blindly in an obscurity; we bump into things, step on objects, and generally risk hurting ourselves. My many years on the road attending meetings, conferences, conventions, and the like usually meant sleeping in hotel and motel rooms that were not familiar to me. Someone once said, "All hotel rooms are alike once you turn off the light," and that's true, but to get from the bed in the middle of the night to answer biological needs many times means stubbing one's toes against the bed or dresser, or one's own shoes; no bueno! To live a life without the certainty of purpose and plan means to fumble around seeking the right choices and decisions, and failling and failing when we try to do everything on our own.
I love watching those videos of people who are colorblind, whose family members purchase for them those special glasses that allow them to see colors for the first time in their lives. What's their first reaction? They cry. Those of us who are not colorblind take for granted the beauty of nature in full living color. Think back to the scene in the Wizard of Oz where the movie goes from being black and white into full color. In my life it would be years before we finally experienced that in our home because we didn't have a color TV for a long time. Imagine those who get a special operation to see for the first time. What amazing stories were those where Jesus healed the blind; and the one man who at first could only see "trees" and then he could truly see! This is what Christmas is all about! Jesus came for those who were in darkness and brought to them the light of God's love! And not only light, the absence of joy was filled with joy; those without gladness have received it once again; and celebration has begun. They have shared rich gifts, and warm greetings to one another. They also saw the removal of abusers and oppressors; the tyrants are gone as well. Put away now are the whips and other instruments of abuse and pain; the Deliverer has brought life and peace. Gone will be the evidence of oppressive, murderous war; piles of soldier's uniforms drenched in innocent blood burned! That fire will last for days. And all because of the birth of a baby; the gift from God of He who is called Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace (Wholeness). The Kingdom of God will be established in a marvelous, never-ending way; blessings upon blessings will be with those who love and trust Him.
Dear friends, may this Christmas be a wonderful time of spiritual blessings to you and yours. May the reality of Jesus' love be with you in wonderful ways. May your joy bubble over as you get to know Jesus' love again and again.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, speak to our needs during this special time of year; make real in us the joy and power of Christmas. May our gifts be genuine expressions of love to all; may peace be with all people, and we pray this in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! May the joy of the Lord be yours.
Receive my blessings of joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
