I hope you had a pleasant Thanksgiving holiday. As we recount our blessings, we find inspiration to stay hopeful and enter this sacred Advent and Christmas season full of the Lord’s joy. This keeps God’s Light within glowing strong by gratitude. God’s Light is a safe dome of gentle brightness securing us when darkness of the world gets close to distract us.

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May you sense God’s glorious Presence with you in this very moment…

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It’s wonderful to be light-hearted and merry right now but others of us Christians (both old and young) who love the Lord and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, are struggling with disappointment. The pain of disappointment can be amplified at Christmastime. This is sadness happens to everyone at some point in life during this season and for one reason or another. The pang of disappointment hurts so much during the holidays.   

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But this is why we turn and focus on recounting our blessings! This is how we reframe our thoughts. Yes there’s been pain but what precious experiences and people have I known! Disappointment may pop in, but do not tolerate its heaviness for long, nor carry it alone! If you do then sadness, depression, grumpy and hard-heart will end up being your best friends! NO! instead cry out to God in your honest prayer words about why you’re disappointed.

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Martha did this when in her grief found herself so disappointed in Jesus’ timing:

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“Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Now also consider her next statement where we see she still trusted in God’s sovereign power. “But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.”

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Ask Jesus to help you press through the fog of disappointment until it fades in the light of His precious blessings you have received. God has not left you nor will God forsake you!

 

Turn disappointment into determination for God’s joy! God wants you to be happy!

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Right now, someone is counting YOU as a blessing in their life!
“In our prayers for you we always thank God…” Colossians 1:3

 

The songs we sing are meant to lift us to enjoy celebrating Jesus and soothe our pain!
The Advent hymn, ‘My Soul Proclaims with Wonder’, teaches us to focus on God’s goodness and have our human spirit restored: ‘My soul proclaims with wonder the greatness of the Lord, rejoicing in God’s goodness my spirit is restored.[1]

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Maybe you are disappointed in yourself because of a mistake or weakness… Maybe disappointment is coming up as you grieve the loss of a loved one... Maybe pain of a life plan that didn’t work out still stings… Maybe it is the wound of a friendship that didn’t live up to expectation... We cannot change those hurtful experiences but do you really want to keep watching the tape over and over and again?   Of course not!!

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Turn disappointment into determination for God’s joy! Let Christmas joy in!
Give your heart permission to smile. Celebrate! Lean on the amazing grace of God!    “From his [Christ’s] fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:16

 

Disappointment doesn’t warm hearts. Just the opposite it tightens the chest and torments us!
Disappointment prevents us from breathing in God’s grace and exhaling toxic thoughts.

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Here’s a great carol to on the warmth of God’s love: ‘Joyful! Joyful! We adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love; hearts unfold like flowers before Thee opening to the sun above.’[2] 

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“Glory to God in the highest heaven, 
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” Luke 2:14

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You are favored by God. Live like it by seeing yourself favored rather than disappointed.
Be refreshed with God’s supernatural joy this December and choose hope every new day!

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Wishing you and all who are dear to you a very Merry Christmas and God’s peace.

          Pastor Catherine…    

 

[1] My Soul Proclaims with Wonder (Carl P. Daw)

[2] Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee (Henry Van Dyke)