During this season of Advent I hope that Jesus will reveal Himself to you in a new way or through the actions of someone you never expected.
I’ve had several of those experiences during Advent where I’ve seen the light of Jesus Christ revealed through unexpected encounters. Bear with me as I share one.
As a senior in high school we were required to take a civics class. One of the activities of the class was “Project Christmas”. The class would begin raising money and seeking community contributions in a variety of ways. The most fun was walking the school halls with tin cans asking for everyone’s change from Halloween to mid-December. We’d collect information about families; provide gifts, Christmas dinner, and other items for families. The last day of school before Christmas Break we would divide into groups and deliver everything to the families. We’d heard stories over the years about how rewarding it was, but nothing prepared me for what was about to happen.
We pulled up to the house for our final delivery and I walked up and knocked on the door. I was greeted by a smiling woman with a broom who was sweeping her floor. The look on my face spoke a thousand words. She said to me; “I know it is a dirt floor, but I still like it to be clean”. I felt convicted on the spot, but she just smiled, took me by the hand and said how glad she was to have us here. We brought the gifts and food into the house and she invited us to stay for cookies and hot chocolate. I still weep today when I think of the generosity she showed to me when my face revealed what I was really thinking. She revealed the grace of Christ to me that day in an encounter I never expected. The gifts we brought lasted a season, the gift she gave me will last a lifetime. She was the voice for me that Isaiah talks about in verse 40:3-5.
Isaiah writes; “A voice of one calling: In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Prayer: Father, with all the joyous and wonderful chaos of Advent and Christmas, please make straight a path where I can see You. Reveal Yourself to me this season in a way I was never expecting. Help me to reveal Your grace and love to someone as well, someone who doesn’t expect it from me and in a way I’ll never know. I pray this in Jesus name, Amen
Blessings of Christ, Pastor Brett
I have never participated in a blog, so I don’t know what to expect. I sure would like to hear what folks are thinking. Just read the December ‘Crossroads’ and found Pastor Brett’s message to be a particularly relevant one. Love the story above – it reminds me of our next door neighbor at our first home after we were married. She was a lovely woman who swept her dirt floor every day.
It seems like our eyes are opened during the Christmas and Easter seasons. That is wonderful and so needed. But what about the rest of the year? I pray that my eyes as well as others will be opened throughout the year to those in need spiritually and physically.
I, like Kathy, am thinking about the rest of the year. I need to be aware of the needs of others year round. It does not need to be gifts. Just popping in to visit is the only gift many need. I pray that God will keep me aware of the needs of others all year!
I, like Kathy, am thinking about the rest of the year. I need to be aware of the needs of others year round. It does not need to be gifts. Just popping in to visit is the only gift many need. I pray that God will keep me aware of the needs of others all year!