In this final week of Advent, as we lead up to Christmas Day, how is your heart doing? Are you feeling at peace ... or is pressure mounting in your home?
Take a moment to ponder the peace that the angels announced that first Christmas. “Peace on Earth, good will toward men”.

This morning I read a verse in Ephesians 2:14 that says “He Himself is our peace”.

That first Christmas God sent His Son, Jesus, in human baby form, to reach out in love to connect humans to HImself ... and we celebrate His birth. The journey comes full circle when we come to Easter and observe the death of Jesus as He took the punishment upon Himself for mankind’s willful independence apart from God. We celebrate His resurrection as He rose again from that death and took His place with the Father ... leaving those who believe in His birth and death and resurrection with the amazing gift of the Holy Spirit as the Divine comfort and power within to live as a testimony to His love and power.

“He Himself is our peace”. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh today with the Peace that is His presence in our lives filling us with purpose, peace and a passion for life!

Is His peace the piece you are missing this Christmas?

Advent week 4: The Candle of Peace
http://www.gailrodgers.ca/index.php/site/devotionalItem/353/

Love marked the birth of Jesus. Love for us. This week, in the Advent Celebration of preparing our hearts for Christmas, take a bit of extra time to focus on how love can be displayed in your circle of influence in a special way.
Read Week 3 article here:
http://www.gailrodgers.ca/index.php/site/devotionalItem/352/

This week we focus on the Candle of Joy and why we can have joy because of Jesus birth.
He’s so much more than the baby in the manger that we focus on this time of year. He is all you need
as He brings to you counsel, power, Fatherly love and great peace, all when you need it.
Read here: http://www.gailrodgers.ca/index.php/site/devotionalItem/351/
Have a wonderful Advent week!!

Part of preparing your heart for Christmas is making room in your life for quiet. That may mean trimming back a bit and simplifying ... especially in the kitchen.

How are you feeling about the Christmas season today? Does the prospect of the baking, the buying and business of entertaining family and friends excite you? Does it weary you wondering how you will get it all done, or pay for it all? The Christmas season can feel hollow and empty if we only prepare our homes for the season.

The preparation of our hearts for Christmas is the most important part of it all.

That’s why I love the Advent Season and the symbolism of the candles that are lit each week.  They are a wonderful help and focus as we remember what is most important in this great celebration of Christmas. Advent simply means, “the coming”. The coming of Jesus.

Pause today and join me in taking some time to focus your own heart on what this celebration is all about. Don’t settle for hollow and busy. Look instead at the HOPE the birth of Jesus brought to us. Ask God to birth that hope afresh in your heart today. Ask Him to help you look outward with compassion to those whose hearts are lonely and hurting right where you are.

Read about the first candle of advent.