photo by lynn: Bougainvillea (Israel)
Advent means “coming”. Emmanuel means “God with us.” Christmas is a worldwide celebration of Jesus coming to earth as a baby over 2000 years ago. Yes, he has come! What are we still waiting for??
We wait for his Spirit to come in a personal, more intimate way; to transform our hearts, to fill our lives with his love. We want to know Yeshua better as a friend and brother who will forgive every sin and heal our brokenness. Jesus means “he saves”. Could God be patiently waiting for us to come to him in faith?
Creation groans and we groan with it. We were created for paradise; we ache for ourselves and our hurting world to be restored to its original perfection. The King is coming back to make all things new and we anticipate that great (and terrible) future day.
Angels announced his first coming and told each witness, “Fear not”. Though times grow dark, we who believe can fearlessly hold out his light of hope. His kingdom citizens work, watch, and wait for heaven’s final trumpet fanfare when the Lord returns in power and glory!
mid-winter’s flower
thorns pierce blooms like drops of blood
messiah’s coming
a poem in my pocket 
Nov 24, 2017 @ 18:02:46
Great post of joy and hope! Interestingly enough, I live on Bougainvillea Ct. I did not know it was a flower until I moved here. Loved the analogy to the Messiah!
Dwight
Nov 24, 2017 @ 22:13:39
They don’t grow in Iowa but I saw them in bloom in Israel 🙂
Nov 24, 2017 @ 22:52:02
They sale them her at Lowes in the summer time.
Nov 24, 2017 @ 22:57:44
Check it out!
Dec 16, 2015 @ 23:47:11
SMiles.. late.. yes..
but as promised
i’m back Lynn..
and the
secret
to Jesus..
is being
Jesus..
sadly
it’s
still
a secret to most..
my friend Lynn..
Merry
Birthday
of Christ
always now
for those of
us who live
with
Christ
heArts
now..
just
now..
yes what are
‘they’ waiting for
heaven is now
when Christ
lives as our
heArt
now
in spiRit
expreSinG
a balanced
mind and body
as Christ soUl NOW..
per Luke 17:21.. my friend..
the Kingdom of God lives
within
now
just now..
for those
us who live it now..:)
Dec 17, 2015 @ 11:25:28
Yes, I like the idea of “living Jesus”, being like him, He is with us NOW and we live the kingdom NOW…we often miss the immediacy of it !
Dec 17, 2015 @ 13:41:07
Smilesx2!.. And Merry Christmas.. Lynn.. If you are not on that Star prompt from dVerse that I am behind on too..;)
Dec 18, 2015 @ 09:00:55
i wrote a poem “follow the light” but didn’t link…not time to read everyone’s gift 🙂 A very merry Christmas to you too!
Dec 18, 2015 @ 09:09:20
🙂
Dec 14, 2015 @ 13:51:37
…and those who are tired of waiting skip right over Advent…
Dec 14, 2015 @ 14:46:56
…some just can’t wait for Christmas Day!
Dec 11, 2015 @ 22:59:01
Amen and Amen! Amazing piece!
Dec 12, 2015 @ 09:49:23
Thank you, brother!
Dec 11, 2015 @ 21:30:37
Beautiful, heartfelt message here, Lynn. Many blessings for you during this holiday season. I see you too have a photo of a Bougainvillea as did I for dVerse. Very pretty flowers but yes, thorny!
Gayle ~
Dec 12, 2015 @ 09:48:26
Thanks, Gayle 🙂 Your post at dVerse and lovely photo inspired me!
Dec 12, 2015 @ 09:56:42
So glad I inspired you, Lynn, that’s nice to hear. 🙂
Dec 11, 2015 @ 19:04:25
A timely & meaningful Haibun; loved the closing haiku; blessings you & your family.
Dec 11, 2015 @ 20:11:31
Thank you, Glenn…same to you & yours. “God bless us, every one!”
Dec 11, 2015 @ 12:26:55
A beautiful message. Let peace reign.
Anna :o]
Dec 11, 2015 @ 13:50:21
Thank you, Anna…yes.
Dec 11, 2015 @ 08:11:06
Beautiful piece Lynn 🙂
Dec 11, 2015 @ 09:51:11
A blessed Christmas to you, Sanaa.
Dec 11, 2015 @ 07:08:56
A meaningful message Lynn ~ We await his coming with gladness and love ~