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We Have Hope




We wait in hope for the Lord;  Psalm 33:20
Christmas is always an exciting, joyous time.  I love Christmas! Yet at the same time, I know that, at times,  it can also be stressful and sometimes depressing.  Sometimes, in the craziness, we need to regain our hope.

Hope is certainty mixed with anticipation.  The Jewish people at the time of Jesus' birth were anxiously awaiting the messiah.  They were hoping he would come, yet when the angels heralded his arrival, only the shepherds came to worship.  The rest?  They saw the star and maybe even saw the angels.  However, I suppose they were too busy to bother with a star shining brightly in the sky, the angels in all their glory, and a tiny baby in a manger.  They were busy with work and the cares of this life pressed in around them.  The could not concern themselves with an insignificant baby.  For them, that day was like any other.  They were looking for hope, but when hope arrived, they missed it.  As we prepare to celebrate this Christmas, let's praise God for the faith we have of eternal life with God.  This is the Hope that we have that is an anchor for our soul in a broken world.  The baby, though small, was not insignificant.  He was and still is the hope that we need.

Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel, 
Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appears.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
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