ADVENT week 4(or 6)

week 4 is the ANGEL candle or the candle of peace/love.

i don't know much about angels ....
i do believe in them
and i know that i've experienced their protection on more than one occassion.

What do I know about angels?

They are God’s servants,
they do his will, his bidding.
They bring messages

They gather things
They announce things
They can bring life and sometimes death

They roll away grave stones and open jail cells

They tell truth

Usually people are afraid of them.

i've never had an angel appear to me with a message or give me direction for what to do next...but boy would i have liked that! and so often i've wished for that kind of direction from a messenger of God!

one of my favorite angel stories is in  the best christmas pageant ever.

gladys herdman plays the angel of the lord and everyone is afraid of her because she just might clonk them!
she announces to the shepherds "HEY unto a child is born"....shazam!  she pictures the angel of the lord as a super hero or a someone in a comic strip coming to the rescue " out of the black night"!

if you haven't read this book! please make it a new holiday tradition and read it out loud as a family...it's been a lewin traditon for years and i've preached from it many times...the re-telling of the nativity is priceless!

back to the angels...the angels play a major part in the birth story of jesus.
They announce his conception, proclaim his birth and give guidance to the new parents.

Don’t know about you, but I could use a little guidance about now and i need to be reminded that i don't have to be afraid even when things appear to be scary or out of my control.

• "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.”
• "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.
• “do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife”
• Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
• "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.
• "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
• "Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
• Fear not
• "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."

tonight we light the fourth candle, confessing our lack of faith in angels and our need for peace...in our hearts, in our minds and in our world...
and asking for direction and the peace to know that God is in control and He is Immanuel.