Jennifer Wake's Blog, page 5

Angels Bring God's Peace

When we receive orders, I pass through several levels of stress. This is common for most military spouses, and it usually starts with the base stress level of information. I need information: the 5 W's. Where are we moving? When do we need to be there? How are we getting there? What unit will we be with? Who is our sponsor? Why? Why is the one I always knew the answer to—The needs of the Army.

Then, I move into the stress level of planning, when the plans may change multiple times. I plan what to let movers pack and what to take ourselves. I prepare by gathering copies of essential documents. I plan for worst case scenarios by photographing all our belongings in case of loss or theft. I even planned exciting dishes with food we couldn't move with us. The next level is the organizing of all the moving pieces. I work to figure out when the moving truck will come. I ensure things are separated so we can carry important things with us and they don't get mixed into boxes.

Finally comes the level of acceptance and peace. This level arrives the day we clear our current house and start our travel to our new location. Getting out of one place means that we are officially moving. Yes, the Army can and does change orders, but they rarely return us to that place once we leave a duty station.

I had no idea what I was doing in my first move, so it was chaos, but I trusted God to get us all to Europe. 

You may not have experienced the stress of a military move, but I bet you have shared your own stress in unknown situations. Unknown situations are stressful because we feel we have little control over what is next. Through our military lifestyle, I've seen how God brought us through that first messy move and all the moves in between. He is faithful! And because He is faithful, we can trust Him. That trust is where I find my peace.  

As we light the candle of peace, it represents the Angels, God's messengers. God sent His messengers to share the joy of Jesus' birth with the shepherds. He also sent Gabriel to Mary with the message that she was to become the mother of God's son.

When Gabriel told Mary about the significant change in her life, she was "greatly troubled." She did not start planning, organizing, or asking thousands of questions. She trusted God's messenger because she lived a life surrendered to God. She had peace and strength from God.

God sent another messenger to Joseph when he was planning to divorce Mary quietly. Joseph's world turned upside down when Mary became pregnant. But he was a just man and did not want to hurt her, so he decided to do everything quietly to help her avoid more pain. Yet God sent an angel to tell him not to divorce Mary. He listened to God, who gave him peace and courage to marry Mary and raise Jesus.

These messengers brought God's peace to individuals and groups of people. In the future, they will come with Jesus when He returns at His Second Coming.

Angels bring God's peace.

Angels brought messages of courage and peace throughout the Old Testament. Since Christ's death on the cross, we receive peace, courage, and strength through the Holy Spirit when we have faith and accept God's greatest gifts of grace and forgiveness.

Scriptures to meditate on while we grow in our faith:

Luke 2:8-14

Luke 1:26-33

Matthew 2:18-25

Hymns to sing with your family:

,The First Noel, the Angels, Did Say

,Angels We Have Heard on High

,Hark the Herald Angels

Photo by KaLisa Veer on Unsplash

Joy during Everyday Life

Oh, El Elyon, The Lord Most High,

You give us joy in everyday life.

Joy in doing dishes, cleaning, and training.

Joy in working, serving, and helping.

Oh Lord Most High

You give us joy in the small things.

Joy in the significant events, the celebrations.

Joy in transitions and stability of life.

Lord, we thank you for all you do for us!

You give us so much:

Friends and family who fill us with love,

Memories that remind us of times of joy.

Lord, please remind us to look for joy.

Joy in the seasons.

Joy in the places you have us.

Joy in the good, bad, and trials.

Amen.

Shepherds Filled With Joy

When I think of Christmas, I remember my kids’ faces when they opened that special gift. Each year, I worked hard to find the present that would be the ONE that caused the screams of surprise, the look of love, and the huge hugs. The ONE that caused their faces to beam with pure joy. I loved writing down what they wanted, then going to buy them, and hiding until they ripped off the paper and found the surprise. Sometimes, that look happened when they entered the family room and saw presents too big to wrap (or I was too tired to cover them).

My family loves Christmas Day. I love the whole Advent season. I love making the wreath, lighting the candles, singing carols, and decorating our Jesse Advent Tree. In Germany, I learned about the Jesse Advent Tree tradition.

While stationed in Germany one fall, I collaborated with 24 ladies to create our own Jesse Tree Kits. We each took one day of December, which correlates to a different Scripture and story. I chose Day 7, Joseph’s coat of many colors, based on Genesis 37. I made 25 little multicolored coats to swap with the ladies. We gathered on November 30 and exchanged ornaments. So, I gave away 24 of my coats and gained 24 unique creations. Then, using the book at the bottom of this article, we read a devotion and placed the appropriate creation on our Jesse Tree during December. This tradition brings me joy because it reminds me of some prophecies about Jesus.

I carefully store my Jesse tree ornaments as we take down our decorations each year. I count them and make sure I know where they are. Over the years, I have done this tradition at many locations, and this reminder of women’s creativity blesses me each time. I have collected sets for each of my children, and I pray these sets will bring them great joy, too.

The third candle, named Joy, represents the Shepherds. The Shepherds filled with Joy. The Angels told them to spread the joy of Jesus’ birth. Just as my family and I find it difficult to contain our joy at Christmas, the Shepherds had the privilege of sharing the first great joyful news of Christ’s birth.

God gave His ONE special gift—

the gift of His Son for our salvation.

Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd, so it is appropriate that the first visitors would be shepherds. They worked in the fields, ensuring the flocks were cared for and accounted for. They were shocked, frightened, and eventually filled with joy by the angel’s announcement, with a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God.

Advent builds our excitement and joy as we look to the birth of our Savior and the Second Coming of our King of Kings.

Scriptures to meditate on while we grow in our faith:

Psalm 148:1-2

Luke 2:8-20

Psalm 23

Revelation 19:1-2

Hymns to sing with your family:

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

Away in the Manger

Joy to the World

The Advent Jesse Tree: Devotions for Children and Adults to Prepare for the Coming of the Christ Child at Christmas: Dean Lambert Smith: 9781426712104 - Christianbook.com.

Photo by KaLisa Veer on Unsplash

Travel in Faith

Elohim, guide us as we travel during the holidays.

Give us peace and strength.

Let us trust in You to watch over us.

Please strengthen our faith as we travel.

Just as the Magi traveled in faith, teach us to step out in faith.

When our faith is weak, draw us close to You.

Darkness may surround us, but Your light show sthe way.

Please grow our faith in You.

Lord, forgive us when we put our faith in things other than You.

When we trust in money, or employment forgive us.

Let us rely on You and trust in Your faithfulness.

Please show us what we are relying on instead of You.

Guide us with Your love and faithfulness.

May we grow in faith and peace.

Let us become beacons in our community.

Please show us how to demonstrate our faith.

Amen.

The Magi Traveled in Faith

God grew my faith every time we moved on military orders, also known as a PCS. Orders and timelines change frequently. Movers can be outstanding or terrible. Change causes us to grow in our faith. I met a wonderful spouse at our first duty station who told me the key to every military move.

“Only take what you are okay with losing and hold everything with open hands.”

She learned this firsthand as all their household goods were swept off the ship, moving them from Europe back to the United States. She had to remember the contents of every box and when they bought each item so they could file a claim with the shipping company. What amazed me most was that she was not bitter or angry. Instead, she allowed God to grow her faith in Him through this trial.

I took her advice to heart. Anything super special, like the clock my dad made me, did not move with us. My mother kept it until we stopped moving. “Hold everything with open hands” challenged me more, because it requires faith. We must believe God has a plan for everything that happens to our belongings and trust Him to get everything from one place to another or provide something better. Faith, to move my mountains of doubts in the military system.

God uses moving to grow my faith. When we leave one place for another, I have to trust He will bring us a new home and provide friends for me and my family. I even have to trust Him with our travel plans. They rarely look how I plan, but in hindsight, I can see God moving in every area to prepare the way for us and grow our faith.

The first candle represents the Prophets and is called the Hope candle. The second candle of the Advent wreath represents the Magi and is called the Faith Candle. The second candle increases the light on the wreath. Our faith grows not only as we proceed toward Christmas Day but also as we move through every day with faith in God’s goodness.

The Magi traveled to find Jesus on faith. They left their lands and traveled to find him when they saw the star in the sky. Their faith pulled them onwards to find and worship the King of Kings. As they searched, they stopped to see Herod, alerting the nefarious king of Jesus’ birth. Before they continued on their path, Herod ordered them to change their plans and return to tell him where he could find Jesus. Their travels fulfilled ancient prophecies and set into motion events beyond their ability to comprehend.

The faith of the Magi pulled them to find and worship Jesus.

We don’t know where they came from or how many there were. We know they brought three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They met Jesus sometime after His birth and before His second birthday. Most remarkable of all, they had faith to find and worship Him.

The second candle we light to remember the Magi is counterclockwise from the first candle towards the pink candle. Just as we go the opposite way around the wreath to differentiate our Advent practices from pagan rituals, the Magi defied Herod’s order and amended their travel plans to avoid another meeting with the king. Our faith reminds us to stand out and be different, go against the grain, and be believers.

As the prophets waited in hope (https://www.jenniferwake.com/post/we-wait-with-the-hope-of-the-prophets) for the Messiah, we need to follow the example of the Magi and live our lives by faith.

Scriptures to meditate on while we grow in our faith:

Matt 2:1-12

Micah 5:2, 4

Luke 2:1-7

Luke 1:26-33

Hymns to sing with your family:

We Three Kings

O Little Town of Bethlehem

O Come All Ye Faithful

Photo by KaLisa Veer on Unsplash

Hope during Our Waiting

Oh, Jehovah, be with us while we wait.

Give us hope while waiting for our kids to return home.

They are wandering far from their faith.

As we wait, give us hope.

We hope for our time with our parents.

Time with them to grow closer.

Waiting and remembering as they tell stories.

As we spend time with them, they give us hope.

Family and friends will join us to celebrate the season.

May we show the reason for the season in everything we do.

Jesus’ birth and His return as King of Kings are the reasons.

As we celebrate remind us of Your Second Coming.

As we prepare for Christmas, give us hope for the future.

The Second Coming of Your Son gives us hope.

Waiting is hard, but Your strength grows our patience.

As we look to Your Second Coming,

You give us hope during our waiting.

Amen.

We Wait With the Hope of the Prophets

Waiting is hard. I hate waiting! Waiting for my husband to return from deployment. Waiting for children to arrive for the holidays. Waiting for answers from doctors or news about employment can drag on, making minutes feel like hours, hours feel like days, and days feel like years.

Waiting is hard.

Waiting on God is often my most challenging job. His plan and timing are perfect but often don’t match my plans. I still make plans and pray that God will bless them instead of praying and asking Him what His plans are. When I pray and request, I forget to wait for His time, which usually causes more problems. I am not the first to struggle with waiting.

Throughout the Old Testament, God sent prophets to remind people of His plan and His timing. The first candle in the advent wreath represents the prophets. The candle across from the pink candle is the first one we light. This candle reminds us of the prophets shining a light into the darkness surrounding the people. They experienced God’s goodness, faithfulness, mercy, and lovingkindness. God shared prophecies about His Redeemer, Son, and faithful servant with His prophets to give them hope.

We wait with the hope of the prophets

for the Second Coming of Christ our King.

God shared many prophecies with Isaiah. Many of these words from God are about Jesus’ birth. Some are about Him being the light in the darkness, as our Advent Candles represent. God reminded Isaiah of the seven parts of His Spirit and how people would know Jesus is the Messiah—prophecies about His life and how He would draw Gentiles to God.

Daniel shared about Christ’s Second Coming. He would come as a baby, but He would also come as a King to reign over all the earth. Micah shared where Jesus would be born, a detail the Magi used to seek Him when He was born. Hosea shared about Him coming out of Egypt. Zechariah spoke of His entrance into Jerusalem for the Passover celebration.

Many psalms are considered prophetic as they speak about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Psalms 22, 31, and 41 remind us about His death and resurrection. Jesus fulfilled God’s covenant with Abraham and David. His genealogy listed in Matthew and Luke shows the fulfillment of God’s promises.

All these prophecies remind us of the hope we received at the birth of Jesus. They remind us to look with hope to the future return of our King of Kings coming in glory. As we light the first candle, we remember God is waiting for people to turn to Him and accept His gift of salvation.

We wait with the hope of the prophets for the Second Coming of Christ our King.

Scriptures to meditate upon while we wait on God’s plan and timing:

Isaiah 60:1-5

Isaiah 7:14

Isaiah 9:2, 6, 7

Isaiah 11:2-4

Daniel 7:13-14

Micah 5:2

Hymns to sing with your family:

O Come O Come Emmanuel

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Photo by KaLisa Veer on Unsplash

Prayer to Prepare for Jesus

Our Lord God, You are worthy of praise.

Nothing compares to You.

You are eternal. You have always been.

You have no beginning and no end.

You never leave us.

Elohim, You are King over all creation

Evergreen trees remind us of Your continual love

You cause the seasons to change to allow for growth.

During storms and good times, You are with us.

Your love never changes.

You are the Lord Most High, El Elyon.

Your power is overwhelming.

It flows over us and strengthens us.

It lifts us.

You prepare us for Jesus' Second Coming.

You never forsake us.

The Lord, our Shepherd, thank You for guiding us.

During times of moving, You are with us.

When kids go off to school, You are with us.

Thank You for staying with us, Jehovah-Raah.

Oh Abba, Father

When we cry, plead, and seek You,

You answer us.

You know the plans You have for us;

Plans to prosper us and not to harm us;

Plans to give us hope and a future.

Amen.

Advent Provides A Quiet Prelude

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As the Christmas season quickly approaches, my family prepares for Advent. This year, our focus will be on the people each candle represents. We light a new candle each Sunday representing a characteristic and a people group. Every Sunday, I will share about the candle for the week, culminating with the Christ Candle on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, depending on your traditions.

What is Advent? Literally, Advent means “coming” or arrival. The focus is not just on Christ’s arrival as a baby, but more importantly, His Second coming. It links the incarnation, the resurrection, and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Advent also symbolizes people’s spiritual journey as they affirm Christ has come, He died, was buried, rose to life, and will come again in power.

The Advent season encompasses the four Sundays before Christmas and the week between Christmas and the New Year. For 40 days, we celebrate Advent. We remember the blessed arrival of His birth and await His coming again in glory.

A spirit of hope, faith, joy, and love marks the Advent season. Each candle represents one of the characteristics of a Christian’s life. Anticipation and longing for Christ’s return are the focus of Advent. It is a time of reflection and fasting for me. During the first two weeks, people often fast and repent, and when the light of joy candle shines, they celebrate by breaking their fast.

Since my family uses a traditional Advent wreath, we must gather supplies. To build your family Advent wreath, you will need a wreath of evergreens, purple ribbon, three purple candles, one pink candle, and a large white candle. Place the four colored candles evenly around the Wreath and the white candle in the center. We also add three small gold ornaments. Each of these items reminds us of parts of the tradition of Advent.

Let’s dig into the supplies we need. Each one holds significant meaning in this Church tradition.

The Wreath is a circle that reminds us of eternal life. It reminds us of Jehovah, I am Who I am, God Himself, His eternity, and ENDLESS mercy, which has no beginning or end. Just as the Wreath has no beginning or end, God’s love for us has no beginning or end. The concept is similar to couples exchanging rings at weddings to remind each other of their eternal love.

The Boughs of Evergreens speak of our hope in God, newness in Christ, and eternal life. Evergreens remain green when the rest of the forest turns brown or becomes covered in snow. It reminds us of God’s never-changing love for us. Some churches allow these evergreen boughs to hang after Christmas and dry out. Without the life-giving tree, these boughs dry out and wither. The needles fall off, and the intertwined branches remind us of the crown of thorns Jesus wore on the cross. Some churches place these branches on a cross during Holy Week before Easter.

Purple Ribbons remind us of Jesus’ royalty and preparation for the Lord’s Second Coming. Purple is the color of royalty and His eternal Kingdom. Churches use this color during Advent and Easter to remind us of royalty and penitence. Christ came to give us forgiveness for our sins. Advent reminds us to repent and long for the King’s return. The ribbons also remind us of the gifts of the Magi to Jesus. My family added three small ornaments to our Wreath to remind us of the offerings brought by the Magi.

The Candles symbolize the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His Son. The candles are “living” flames, which are symbolic of Christ. Three candles are usually violet/purple, representing penance and longing for His triumphant return. The one rose/pink candle symbolizes joy. Each candle reminds us to look to the future coming of Christ with hope, faith, joy, and peace.

Advent provides a quiet prelude

to the dramatic brightness of Christmas.

How do we light the candles? The first candle we light is directly across from the rose candle. Week two candle is the next one counterclockwise from week one. Why counterclockwise? People used to dance around the fire in a clockwise direction on the winter solstice, so to separate Christian traditions from pagan rituals, we reversed the direction. The Christ Candle is the white candle in the center of the Wreath. On Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, we light the Christ Candle. Because I can’t leave burning candles unattended overnight from Christmas to Epiphany on January 6th, we light and extinguish the candles daily.

Each week in Advent, I hope you will join me as I share a short devotion about a different group of people represented by each candle. I will include Scriptures to read with your family or for your personal devotion time and several Christmas carols you can sing or listen to while you watch your candles sparkle.

Check out my prayers using the names of God on my website: ,https://www.jenniferwake.com/

You can also purchase my book Call Signs: How Knowing God’s Character Empowers Women To Accomplish His Mission. In this study of six of the names of God, we delve into how to pray using each Call Sign, and we study how man first discovered this character of God. We also learn how it empowers us to accomplish the mission God has given us where He placed us.

https://www.amazon.com/Call-Signs-Character-Empowers-Accomplish/dp/1737760207

Photo by KaLisa Veer on Unsplash

Adonai, Our Lord and Master

(adapted from Psalm 148)

Praise Adonai, Our Lord and Master!

Praise Him from the heavens;

Praise Him in the heights!

Praise Him, all His angels;

Praise Him, all His hosts!

Let them praise the name of Adonai!

For He commanded, and they were created.

And He established them forever and ever;

He gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.

Praise Adonai from the earth,

mountains and all hills!

Beasts and all livestock,

creeping things and flying birds!

Kings of the earth and all peoples,

princes, and all rulers of the earth!

Young men and maidens together,

old men and children praise Adonai!

Let them praise the name of Adonai,

for His name alone is exalted;

His majesty is above earth and heaven.

Praise from all His saints.

Praise the Lord.

Amen

Photo by Luke Tanis on Unsplash