I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (Jn 16:33). I don’t ever remember a more difficult year. You? It’s been a real nail-biter. It’s probably going to be a cliff-hanger, too—because I doubt all this mess will be cleaned up by day’s end. Questions and anxiety will likely linger long after midnight. How did you fare this year, friend? Did you feel prepared for any of it? Pr

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband (Rev 21:2). A wedding calls for a great deal of preparation. There is much to consider: venues, caterers, flowers, photographers, invitations, music, cakes, decorations, garments, rings . . . But, for the bride, it all starts with the groom. There is a Groom who readies His bride with utmost thought and care. (Because there is no such thing as a

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am (Jn 14:3). We have walked through the story of God together this season, recalling all the things God prepared for the coming of His Son. We began at Creation, where God prepared a place to dwell with His “firstborn” children in Eden’s garden. We considered the instructions God gave His chosen people to prepare the tabernacle, in order to tabernacle with them,

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’ (Is 52:7) These are what I’m going to refer to as mounting days. Because mounted up on significant trials of life is a global pandemic. People are suffering from stress mounted upon stress. Like the stress that comes from a serious diagnosis, being added to the stress of living in the face of a

I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of His righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels (Is 61:10). Oh, the many wonderful and blessed things our Lord has prepared for us—including a wardrobe! It’s a wardrobe made of His righteousness, with costly garments spun of His salvation. And it’s a wardrobe that includes a

He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it (Gn 28:12). He lay for the night, in a certain place, spent and on the run. With a rock for his pillow, at the gate of heaven, he named the place Bethel, the house of God. In a dream, he saw a way open up between heaven and earth. The way could only be seen in a dream. He could only go so far as a closed gate. But God allow

Gaze upon the manger scene, Take in its peace sent from above. Gaze upon the manger scene, It is the birthplace of God’s Love. Gaze upon the manger scene, For there God laid the world’s King. Gaze upon the manger scene, See the glory of which the angels sing. Gaze upon the manger scene, Rejoice in the best news ever heard. Gaze upon the manger scene, Emulate the worship of a lowly shepherd. Gaze upon the manger scene, Revealing God and His plan masterfully prepared. Gaze upon

Have you ever longed . . . and hoped . . . and waited to see something? Do you also remember that sweet, sweeping sensation when you finally did? I felt that way with the birth of both of my children. I longed to see them, those 40 longs weeks of waiting. I had no idea what they would look like . . . or exactly what to expect. That helps me relate, ever-so-slightly, with how dear old Simeon must have felt when, at long last, he set his eyes upon Israel’s promised consolation.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh (Mt 2:10-11 ESV). Magi from the East searched the skies for the star that would herald the coming of a great king. It was far greater than the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn we just witnessed—for it was a miraculou

Over Bethlehem, the hushed skies rumbled above the veil—waiting in anticipation. With the Babe’s first wail, the veil split wide. And, in the profundity of that miraculous moment, curtained skies parted for all to see the hosts of heaven proclaim Glory! And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel s

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel’ (which means “God with us”) (Mk 1:21-23). Before He was born His name was already prepared by God; a name of honor and authority; a name that saves. The angel was God’s messenger, passing the name given

You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High (Lk 1:31-32a). The life she felt forming inside her was Life itself. What began as a flutter became the graceful movement of Hope; A slow turning, then a kick—the confined dance of Love. A Babe, conceived of the Spirit; Promised and prepared of God; Swelled to the fullness of Eternity’s plan. Impressions of the Child’s limbs gradually appeared

Don’t you love that this time of year is filled with music?! Music has become a big part of our celebration. A joyous part! It is undeniably some of the most beautiful music ever composed. But when heaven prepares a song, it is downright gladdening! Luke recorded a trio of songs in his gospel: Mary’s psalm glorified the Lord (Lk 1:46-55); Zechariah offered highest praise for the redemption at hand (Lk 1:68-79); Simeon sang of the salvation God had prepared for all mankind (Lk

The widow of Zarephath had one at the ready for Elijah’s visits (1 Kg 17:9). A couple in Shunem made one for Elisha whenever he came passing through (2 Kg 4:9-11). And Martha offered hers to the traveling Jesus (Lk 10:38). What is it? Room. Earth had none for its Creator, however. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn (Lk 2:7 NASB). No room was prepared for His arrival. B

The virgin's name was Mary. And [Gabriel] came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God” (Lk 1:27b-30 ESV). Now I have seen some troubling sights in my day. And I have heard some troubling news. But there’s troubling . . . and then there’s troubling! Right there we

Are you ready to turn the bend in our Prepared path? As our advent-days approach Christmas, and we gradually wind our way through the story of all God prepared for the coming of the Lord that first advent, we are also drawing nearer to our destination: the Savior. Today, we’ll fast-forward from Israel’s Old Testament history to the trailblazer who prepared the way for the coming Christ. The flame that was John, the Baptist, flickered preparation for the Coming Light. It was J

But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom” (Heb 1:8). Americans—we love the grandeur of royalty. But monarchical rule is foreign to us. In fact, it was in revolt of despotism the United States was born. But, if you are a people, and you have bad leadership (and I do mean bad), and everyone else around you has a king, what do you suppose you want, too? When Israel’s judge and prophet S

They were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them (Heb 11:16). God prepared the people He delivered; He had them prepare a place for Him to dwell among them; and He prepared a priesthood. God was ready to part the waters of the Jordan River and bring them into the land He promised their ancestors. It was a good and fruitful land; A land where grape clusters had to be carried on poles

Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God (Ex 25:8; 29:45-46). I long to be with my children on Christmas. A longing that will go unmet this year because of the pandemic. It is, however, but a fraction of the deep longing God has to be with His chil

You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now if you obey Me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession. Although the whole earth is Mine, you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Ex 19:4-6). The descendants of Abraham had grown into a numerous people. By the hand of God, they would become the nation Israel . . . after He rescued them from bonda