In John 14:27, our Lord makes us an offer unlike any other —
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in that go-to manual, THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP —
“The followers of Jesus
have been called to peace.
When he called them,
they found their peace.”
Christ Jesus himself in John 14:27—
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Wish I’d written this. Okay, wish I’d written pretty much anything he did —
“God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” — C.S. Lewis in MERE CHRISTIANITY.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
since as members of one body
you were called to peace.
And be thankful.”
— Colossians 3:15
Hmmmm?
Hmmmm.
Let’s pardon the dated language (or update it in our heads as we read), and let Henri J. Nouwen in his classic, THE WOUNDED HEALER, help you and me today —
A man can keep his sanity and stay alive as long as there is at least one person who is waiting for him.
The mind of man can indeed rule his body even when there is little health left.
A dying mother can stay alive to see her son before she gives up the struggle, a soldier can prevent his mental and physical disintegration when he knows that his wife and children are waiting for him.
But when “nothing and nobody” is waiting, there is no chance to survive in the struggle for life.
Council of Bishops’
Advent message:
Embrace, Live our Vision
The Council of Bishops are calling on United Methodists to embrace the denomination’s new Vision during this Advent Season.
Council of Bishops’ President, Bishop Tracy Smith Malone, writes:
“Advent is a time of expectation and renewal—a season when we prepare for Christ’s coming as we live into our shared Vision in tangible ways as disciples of Jesus Christ.
- Love Boldly: As Christ’s love breaks into the world, we are called to extend grace and compassion to neighbors near and far.
- Serve Joyfully: Advent reminds us that service is a gift. Every act of kindness becomes a sign of God’s kingdom breaking into our communities.
- Lead Courageously: In times of fear and despair, we lead with faith—proclaiming the good news that Christ comes to dwell among us.
“So, as we light the candles of hope, peace, joy, and love, let us embody these gifts in our homes, churches, and communities. Advent is not passive waiting; it is active preparation. It is living our vision so that the world may know Emmanuel—God with us.”
Show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of the hope to the very end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Hebrews 6:11-12 NRSV)
This Holiday Season, Let’s Notice Who Isn’t Celebrating
By Joshua Becker
“If you see someone moving a little slower this season, be gentle. Grief gets heavier in December.”
December carries a reputation for being “the most wonderful time of the year.” And for many of us, it is—a month filled with lights and music, prized relationships and familiar traditions.
But it is also true, behind the celebrations, December is one of the heaviest months for many people.
In fact, 60% of people say their anxiety or depression worsens in December. Equally significant, despite the festive atmosphere, nearly 9 in 10 adults feel stress this time of year. What is billed as the most joyful season of the year may actually be the hardest for someone close to you right now.
Grief hits harder in December. Stress becomes more intense. Loneliness feels more present. Loss becomes impossible to ignore. And family strife feels constantly present.
The pain gets worse—all while Christmas songs play on repeat.
And maybe, this year, we would all be wise to slow down long enough to look around, notice who isn’t celebrating, and love them as best we can.
If you know someone who lost a loved one this year: A spouse. A parent. A friend. A child. Be thoughtful.
The first holiday season after loss is almost indescribable. The “first” everything after loss can be painful: the first anniversary, the first birthday, the first start of the school year… and among that list: the first holiday season without a loved one.
So please, think back through the year, and share some extra love with those you love who lost a loved one this year. For someone grieving, even a simple “I’m thinking of you today” can mean more than we realize.
Loneliness can also feel elevated during the month of December and holiday season. Be a friend to someone who is alone: The widow down the street. The coworker who moved to a new city. The friend whose kids are grown and far away. Or the divorced spouse who moved into the apartment next to yours.
Loneliness is always hard, but it is especially hard in December. In fact, 66% of us report feeling lonely during the holidays! That’s a lot of people who need a friend right now, today, as you’re reading this. Be the friend they need.
Let’s notice those who are weary and tired: The single mom. The foster parent. The parents of a child with special needs. The caregiver for an aging parent or spouse. Those who continue to battle chronic illness and wish so much they could serve others this season but are physically unable to do so.
Put yourself in their shoes for just a bit. I mean, even those of us who are healthy and well feel drained by the end of December. So let’s show compassion and care and do what we can to ease the burden of those already carrying so much.
And there are more people that we need to notice this time of year: The coworker who got laid off. The friend with an unsupportive family. The child with parents in prison. The financially struggling. The parent ripped apart by family tension and estranged relationships.
Our world needs love this holiday season. Let’s be the ones to provide
joescheets 