By the end of this week the turkey will be a history, the family gathered around telling funny stories from years passed will be a pleasant memory, Christmas music will be cranked up 24/7, the Christmas tree will be half decorated, and shopping will just have begun! Oh the joys this week signals. It is perhaps my favorite time of year because of all that it reminds me of: Jesus, family and hope.

The world we live in is pretty messed up, but it is not without its redeeming qualities. The world God created is a wonderful place to live, and everyday we look around we can find cause for rejoicing and even some hope. However, if all we ever do is look to the surrounding culture to give us hope then we would ultimately without hope. The hope that is offered “out there” is temporary at best and deceiving at worst. But if we allow this season of the year to remind us of the hope God offers then everything can change around us.

“O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption” (Psalm 130:7).

This instruction to Israel to place their hope in God is not a misplaced hope and is a promise that still holds true today. Turning to the Lord replaces hopelessness with hope because in the Lord we find steadfast love and redemption. The hope that comes from God is redemption and redemption radically changes everything.

So let the mistletoe, tinsel, music of the season, trips to the mall, the smell of cookies baking, and Christmas parties remind you of the hope God has given to us through Jesus Christ. Hope is what we all look for and hope is found in Jesus.

Grace & Peace,