The Promise

Sunday, December 19 2010
Come Live Within The Promise
The title above was the sermon today at church on the last Sunday of Advent. I had been searching for something to prompt my next writing piece. God speaks to me so openly sometimes. The minister spoke of the four Sundays of Advent as we have prepared for Christmas: First – Come, Second – Live, Third – Within, Fourth – The Promise. Our Advent theme has been “Gather Us In.” I look forward to doing that with family this week…gathering. It is something I look forward to every year at Christmas and because I am beginning to heal from my divorce, I feel I can enjoy the holiday better than the last two Christmases past. In addition to preparing for Christ’s birth, I have been “gathering” gifts for more than just my kids this year. They aren’t gifts of big monetary value but they are gifts from my heart and I am glad I had energy to do it this year, unlike the last two. I enjoy giving and want others to know how much I appreciate them – it’s the way I want to LIVE my life.

I have always felt close to God but I truly believe He invited me to COME two years ago when I knew I had to do something to save myself and my family. I feel He has let me come to Him and He has taught me so much. He knew I had to find a new way to LIVE. There are still complications from my broken marriage and often frustration for the boys and me because of it, but for the most part, I have found a healthy way to live again and that is worth its weight in gold. To live within the promise of God, how grand! I honestly don’t know how people can live any other way and I have such peace knowing I will never have to do so.

Today brings us to “The promise” – the last Sunday of preparation before “Christ is Born” or Christmas. The minister referenced one definition of promise as “a reason to expect something.” Expectations are a hard thing for me to work through sometimes, especially related to alcoholism. During the separation and divorce, I was counseled to not have any (expectations) where my former husband is concerned because it only brings disappointment. I often felt cheated by this idea and it seemed so unreasonable. Maybe that is why I like today’s definition of the promise so much, because it makes sense to me. I want to be a loving, giving person, but in order for me to be fulfilled, don’t I have a reason to expect something in return? Shouldn’t we all live with expectations or that hope in our hearts? The promise helps us do so.

I am so grateful to be “gathered in” this Christmas. I Come to Live Within The Promise. I look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus and the Christmas Eve service with my beautiful family. I will savor the glow of the candles on each of their faces as we sing Silent Night in the end and I will probably shed a tear. However, this year a tear or two won’t be so full of worry and despair, but more so full of life and from living the promise within.

“And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” --Philippians 4:7