The source of all comfort

Nothing beats the comfort of a baby in the arms of its mother. Peace, safety, warmth, and love, no matter what goes on all around.

Jesus in the arms of His mother Mary, receiving the very comfort He came to give to mankind. That is what most nativity scenes remind me of.

When I look around me in the world, I see so much need for comfort. No, not the comfort as in sitting in front of the TV with a bag of chips, but comfort as in solace, relief, encouragement.

There is so much suffering, so much loneliness and pain. There is chaos and disorder. To be honest, I wouldn't know what to do or where to go if it wasn't for my Jesus who brings me comfort and joy... no matter what goes on all around me.

👉The Bible says that God is the source of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3) so why wouldn't people flock to Him? He gives peace in chaos, comfort in pain, and love when all seems lost. Why wouldn't people consider the baby in the manger, the wonderful counselor, the prince of peace?

He is the hope of the nations and He wants to heal your heart. Jesus can and will calm any storm!

🎇Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

The gift of peace

This time of year we remember and celebrate the greatest gift ever given to mankind: God coming down to earth to be among us!

The Bible tells us that Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod.

About that time some wise men (kings, magi) from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,  “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose and we have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:11 says:

They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

What a sign of generosity! They opened their treasure chests. Just imagine yourself doing that. Anyway, they worshiped Jesus by giving Him expensive gifts... maybe not even knowing that Jesus came to earth with a gift for them, as a matter of fact with a gift for all mankind.

👉Jesus kept the giving going (as we should) by giving us the gift of peace.

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid (John 14:27).

🎄I wish you a Merry Christmas. May you open your heart to receive this gift of PEACE!

You don't have to walk in darkness

One more week and the days will be getting longer again! Yeah, I am an optimist 😀 In the meantime people are lighting up the dark days with Christmas lights and candles in their window stills.

👉Darkness doesn't last forever, it never does. After each night there is a new morning. After every winter spring comes again. Such are the seasons of life.

We might find ourselves in the night of our lives, with darkness closing in. Maybe because of an illness, loss, or pain. There can be many reasons why we feel like darkness is getting the upper hand.

But... darkness has no power over light, it does not have the last word! In the first chapter of the Bible we can read how God separated the light from the darkness and how He called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” We have this promise that after the night, a new day will come.

This is the promise of Christmas as described by the prophet Isaiah:

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine (Isaiah 9:2).

Even in our deepest darkness, a light will shine. So many people have gone before us and they wrote about their experiences. Their words are still a comfort for us today. David wrote in Psalm 18:28:

You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.

Jesus can and will do it, like no one else can. He is the light of the world. He calls every person to Himself with a wonderful promise:

⭐I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life (John 8:12).

Got oil in your lamp?

'Darkness is nothing more than lack of light',  my husband always says. And he is right. 👉When we complain about the dark world we live in, we are not shining our light.

Ouch! We don't want to hear that. Especially not in this current time of unrest, crisis, political mess, and ungodliness.

I suspect many are not even sure whether they still have oil in their lamps. I meet people who are tired, weary, worried, anxious, down... just waiting for better times.

Well, there is no better time than Christmas time when we celebrate (no matter the circumstances) the birth of Jesus, the light of the world! He came to shine His light and to pass the oil (the Holy Spirit) on to us. He said: You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

Wow, like a city on a hilltop... I love that idea. No matter how hard the enemy is trying to dim the light of Jesus, he will NOT succeed. That should encourage us, that should stir up our faith. We are blessed to be the light and to have the light. |Jesus said:

I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a deLIGHTful New Year!

The Holy Spirit in the Christmas story

Last Sunday I spoke at 'De Hoeksteen' church in Etten-Leur about the role of the Holy Spirit in the Christmas story.

Yes, of course, the Christmas story is about the birth of Jesus Christ and the special announcement that preceded it. The role of the Holy Spirit, however, is very clear in those first two chapters of Luke's gospel, although we usually don't emphasize it.

If we carefully read Luke 1 and 2, we will find that Elisabeth, Zachariah, John, Mary, and Simeon were all filled with the Spirit. They were touched in a special way for the task assigned to them.

👉I feel safe to say that everything in preparation for and around the birth of the Messiah was led and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit no life, without the Spirit no miracles!

How wonderful it is to see that just before the end of His life, Jesus makes room here on earth for the Holy Spirit... on a much larger scale. Just read John 14, 15, and 16. Even today, the Spirit wants to use ordinary people like you and me to pave the way, to prepare people for Jesus' return to earth.

The sermon is in Dutch, but it can be viewed and listened to on YouTube. 

This time of darkness will not go on forever

The other day I was praying for a word of encouragement to share with the members of the Christian Nonfiction Lovers Book club on Goodreads. Just something more than a regular Christmas greeting...

The Lord reminded me of a scripture I had read just days before. So, I shared it on Goodreads and it triggered a lot of positive responses. Then I shared the word on Facebook as well and last, but certainly not least,  I want to share it with my blogging friends! Take it to heart, it might be exactly what you need to hear today!

"I was reading Isaiah 9 in my NLT Inspire Bible and verse 1 says: Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. I took that as a rhema word for today and it is my hope that sharing it with you will bring joy to your heart and encouragement to your soul.

God has designed the times and seasons. According to Genesis 8:22 there will always be seasons as long as the earth exists. Seasons in nature, seasons in life. A new spring is coming. Amidst this ever circulating cycle of life, God remains faithful and His love endures forever. He knows the past, present, and future… and yet, He is concerned with every detail of your life.

It is this amazing God who inspires us today and tomorrow and in the year to come. May His love guide you, His grace compel you, and His peace surround you."

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HEALTHY NEWYEAR!

Light of the world (2)

'The Bible frequently speaks about light in darkness', I wrote in my previous blog. As a matter of fact, this already starts in Genesis 1 where we can read that darkness was over the surface of the deep... until God spoke: "Let there be light." And there was light.

Light in the darkness, we can also read about this in the first chapter of the Gospel of John. Kind of a recurrence of Genesis 1, but with a profound truth revealed:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

That creation story, ➽ light in the darkness, keeps coming back in the Bible. The prophets understood it, just as the disciples did. In Isaiah 42: 5-7 it is written like this: This is what God the Lord says—the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. God gave Jesus as light to the people of Israel and then also to the other nations.

Light shines in the darkness, we certainly do our best with all our lights and candles during the dark winter season. But let's not forget, the One who can truly take us out of darkness (enlighten us), the real light is Jesus!

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world (John 1: 9).

Light of the world (1)

'What shall I preach about, this Sunday', my husband asked. 'About the light of the world, I answered quickly. Such a beautiful topic during these dark days before Christmas. And so he did. And I decided to write a short blog series about it. Will you join me in contemplation?

We live in a world with a lot of darkness. War, violence, terrorism, pain, abuse, sadness, and loneliness, you name it. There is, of course, nothing new under the sun. About 700 years BC the prophet Isaiah wrote: The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned (Isaiah 9: 2).

A land of deep darkness, brrrr, recognize this?. The light was a promise, something to look forward to. The Bible frequently speaks about light in darkness. Quite logical if you ask me, because the Bible is the Word of God and God is light. In 1 John 1: 5 it says: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

How does that light come our way? Into our world, our country, our cities and into our personal darkness? Well, God sent His Son Jesus to the earth, this event will be celebrated worldwide at Christmas time. Jesus said: I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness (John 12:46). Are you in the dark? Does it feel dark around you? Jesus wants to get you out of the dark! This, my friends, is not an empty promise.

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12).

Adoration

 Arise and shine

Painting by Mattia Preti (1613-1699)

Arise,

shine,

for your light has come,

    and the glory of the Lord

rises upon you.

See,

darkness covers the earth

    and thick darkness

is over the peoples,

but the Lord rises upon you

    and his glory

appears over you.

Nations

will come to your light,

    and kings

to the brightness of your dawn.

[Isaiah 60:1-3]

Inexpensive yet valuable Christmas presents

Yeah, I have decided to do it this December month. I have been asking myself whether 'doing it' would be considered spamming... but I have to come to the conclusion that promoting my own books falls in the following category recommendations and tips :)

And why not? The books have been and still are a blessing to readers worldwide. The award winning book Grace of Giving has been translated in German and Italian and is currently being translated in the Spanish and Macedonian language. I am thrilled to see this book going all over Europe, changing lives of believers, especially during this time of economic uncertainty. I am thrilled that pastors, leaders, missionaries and churches all over Europe are embracing the principles in the book. But, I wrote it first of all for the American public...

So, if you are looking for an inexpensive, yet valuable Christmas present for your loved ones... Please consider ordering one of my books. They're easy to read, but loaded with nuggets of truth and wisdom. They can be ordered from most internet book sellers for less than 10 bucks. I am looking forward to hear which one you all liked most!

Order now in time for Christmas!

Christmas greetings

May you all enjoy this time of celebration, knowing that one day... every knee will bow before the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

Merry Christmas

Kingdom Seed in the Womb

He will be great and will be called the Son of the most High God. The Lord God will make Him a king, as His ancestor David was, and He will be the king of the descendants of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end. (Luke 1:32-33)

Mary must have been stunned when she heard the words of the angel who visited her. A kingdom without end? That was certainly unheard of. The Middle East at that time had a violent history in which kingdoms rose and fell constantly. Yes, they had enjoyed years of peace and prosperity, but it never lasted longer than a lifetime. Change was always in the air and each time a ruler took over, the people eagerly awaited better times. Certainly this time things would lighten up.

The angel’s promise to Mary however, differed greatly from the political propaganda she had heard so often. He talked about someone who would become king because the Lord God would make Him king. This was not a matter of human performance, political strategy or violent conquest. The establishment of this new king was a matter of divine appointment. No wonder His reign would be of eternal nature and His kingdom could not be taken over by a rival. The angel’s message was a prophecy of things to come. Mary carried the Kingdom seed in her womb, a small and humble beginning of something that would change the world forever.

Through Yeshua, the Son of God, the Kingdom of Heaven came on earth and it has grown into the biggest Kingdom of all. Millions, yes, hundreds of millions of people are subject to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Surely, it will never end!

Kindness as a gift

Attitude check....

Last Friday I spoke at a ladies Christmas dinner at Church of the Living Christ in Ojai. I recalled my very first Christmas in the USA, back in 1989.

Oh, how I marveled at all the gifts, the ribbons and the bows, I had never seen such things in my life... well, only in the movies! Over the years I have learned that, somehow, it is not all glamour and glitter around Christmas. I saw people running around in desperate search for the perfect gift for uncle Larry (who never says thank you) and for sister-in-law Lorna (who returns her gifts first week of January). I noticed stress levels going up in the month of December and traffic (at least here in Southern California) turning into a hectic stream of cars rushing by. I even heard people say (believe this or not): I'm glad when it's over.

Laughs from the audience...

It doesn't matter how we look at this, there is one thing we all know for sure: If this is the way we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, it does NOT please God! Just this week I received an e-mail from friends saying: skip the gift, let's give to charity. I am sure that is one way to make Christmas more meaningful and joyful. But maybe your family wants to do the gift giving, so let me suggest the three things I talked about that evening:

1. God loves a cheerful giver. Not just when we give to Him, but also when we give to others. If you can't give cheerfully, don't do it! Grumpy shopping for your loved ones doesn't make sense. It is not the gift that counts, but the attitude behind it.
2. Stop searching for the 'perfect' gift (whoever made that up needs urgent prayer!) for the people on your list. It does NOT exist! You tried for years... right? The perfect gift does not exist in the material world, no gift can make someone really feel better, or happy, or ease their pain or make them appreciative. We are like the little child playing with that FisherPrice toy, trying to push the square block into a round hole, it is not going to work! We are trying to fulfill emotional and maybe even spiritual needs with material stuff, it won't fit! Buy something you love giving! It is not the gift that counts, but the attitude behind it.
3. Whatever gift you buy, add a personal note to it as an act of kindness. I don't care who you are and where you are in your life, every person on this planet needs a kind word! Write something like: I had fun shopping for you, Christmas would not be the same without you, thank you for your awesome cooking, thank you for opening up your house, I just love your humor... well whatever, anything that is kind and that comes from your heart and that shows love to the other person. I promise you it will change the atmosphere! It is not the gift that counts, but the attitude behind it!

Hope this helps!

PS: make sure to read Heather Sunseri's post on Christmas too!!