Merry and Missing 12-21-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. The first thought in my mind and the first sound in my day is Your name. ... "There was also a prophet, Anna ... a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and speak about the Child to all who were looking for the redemption of Israel" (Luke 2:36-38). Christmas is a time to be merry, celebrating the birth of this Child who changes our lives. And for a season -- despite all the efforts to secularize it, materialize it, and marginalize it -- even our hardened, politically correct culture is still filled with greetings of "Merry Christmas," our radio waves are filled with Christmas songs, our lawns are filled with shepherds and angels, and our hearts are filled with joy and cheer. Christmas is a world-wide celebration of the birth of Christ. But it's also a time of missing those we love, who we wish could be with us to celebrate this joy of this season. Anna, the worshipper, never left the temple because she loved You and praised You day and night, always sensing Your Presence. But also Anna, the widow, never went home, where she must have missed the one she loved, maybe always sensing his absence. So there's room in our hearts to be both merry and missing the ones we love. You are our hope and our peace. You are the redemption of Israel and all things, bringing great tidings of comfort and joy, lifting our loneliness, stirring our hearts, drawing us together to worship You and celebrate You in the temple of Your Presence. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Please put on your calendars our City-Wide Strategic Prayer Summit January 11-12 in Lexington to join us if you can and pray with us if you can't. Write for details and a flyer is attached. Come to The Fountain! This Friday night Dec. 21th at 7 pm for Messiah Ministries' monthly city-wide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship in the chapel of Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd in Lexington. Come be refreshed and renewed as we drink deeply from the Living Waters. Sandra White who is powerfully gifted by the Lord in healing ministry will be leading in prayer while Brooke and Shannon Barrett lead us in worship. All are welcome! Call us for information at 859-317-1591 Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" http://www.messiah-ministries.org/ 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: http://www.shop.messiah-ministries.org/ Daily Archives: http://www.morningbymorning.injesus.com/