What If?

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, 
That whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

People get married and repeat wedding vows that say to love one 
another until death do us part. People tell each other I love you and 
then turn around and say I hate you and don’t want to see you again. 
Talk is easy, living what you say can be harder.

On this the third Sunday in Advent the third Advent candle, the Candle 
of love has been lit along with the candles of Hope and Peace. Hope for 
that which is yet to come, the coming of Jesus, peace that comes from 
the greatest teacher, God, and from within, not from the world.

But love? What is love?

A child of God received a rough object with a shiny yellow color from 
a friend. The child of God looked at the rough object and asked, WHAT 
KIND OF CHRISTMAS GIFT IS THIS? I THOUGHT YOU LOVED 
ME AND THIS IS WHAT YOU GIVE ME? 

Then the child of God threw the rough object with the shiny yellow color 
in the corner. The child of God starved to death for they had no money 
with which to buy food. As the police were searching the child of God’s
home they found the gift lying right where it had been thrown. 

The gift, a five pound hunk of pure gold.

This child of God had riches right before them yet starved to death in 
their house. How many of God’s children starve themselves to death in 
their own house because they are so busy complaining about what they 
have received versus what they want.

There are many who hope for that which they want and love what they
receive if it is what they want. And if they receive what they want there 
may be peace at home. If they do not receive what they want you may 
not have peace on earth.

In this desire to have what one wants in their house love may be right 
before them. 

You know the expression, “Looking for love in all the wrong places,” 
when the reality is that love is not that which we may see. How many 
have loved ones drop over but you are so busy watching TV that you 
can’t turn the TV off and sit and talk? Or you can’t listen you’re busy 
on the computer.

When is the last time you as an adult took time to be with the one you 
love? When is the last time you went to the park or to a McDonald’s 
with a play land to watch children play, laugh, and enjoy nothing 
complicated but something rather simple? Playing and laughter.

When is the last time you permitted your inner child to sit on a swing 
and enjoy going back and forth with your eyes closed while you sang 
or hummed a song that you love?

What if you gave yourself permission to step out of the stereotype of 
who you are supposed to be in life and be who God wants you to be.

Luke 1: 26-36

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of 
Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name
was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
The angel Gabriel came to Mary and said to her, “Hail, O favored 
One the Lord is with you!” But Mary was greatly troubled at the 
saying and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might
be. And the angel Gabriel said to Mary, “Do not be afraid, Mary for 
you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in 
your womb, and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.”

What if Mary would have looked at the angel Gabriel and replied,
pregnant my foot! Who does God think he is anyway? Doesn’t he 
understand I DON’T HAVE TIME FOR WHAT HE WANTS. Tell 
God I’m busy and he needs to find someone else. 

HERE I AM LORD…. SEND SOMEONE ELSE!

In this county within the last three weeks two teenagers, thirteen and
sixteen, have died due to automobile fatalities as well as a ten year old 
on her family farm, and loved ones of various ages. If you went to their 
loved ones at this very moment and asked them what do you want for 
Christmas I do not believe the reply would be something you could 
buy. The answer would be to hear my love ones voice, feel their touch; 
see their smile, to be in their presence once again. This would be the 
greatest Christmas presence of all.

Love is not something one can buy, love is not a p-r-e-s-e-n-t but the 
p-r-e-s-e-n-c-e of the one you love in your life. Why did Mary not tell 
God: “I DON’T HAVE TIME FOR WHAT YOU WANT GOD! I’M 
BUSY AND YOU NEED TO FIND SOMEONE ELSE! HERE I AM 
LORD, SEND SOMEBODY ELSE!”

Why? Because, Mary felt the presence, not of the world, but of God’s 
love in her life. It’s a funny thing about life; we tend to cram so much 
into it that we tend to schedule our own headaches. We schedule our 
own headaches without taking time to schedule What if.

What If, what would you want? For another to know you love them?

Would you want to lead another to attend worship with you and to
prepare for the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? 

What If, what would you want? To sit and listen to one who is not
a believer, who has not seen the light of God.

To sit and speak of their what ifs and to lead them to see the light?
In the last two weeks this family has been challenged to look for as 
many signs of hope and write them down and to spend “real” time
everyday with the Prince of Peace.

In this Hope and in the time spent with the Prince of Peace one may
experience the love of God within their heart and soul. 

Isaiah 35: 5-10

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the 
deafunstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a hart, and 
the tongueof the dumb sing with joy. For waters shall break 
forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning 
sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of 
water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass 
shall become reeds and rushes.

WHY? BECAUSE HE LIVES!! 

Love is knowing that a real friend never gets in your way unless you 
are on the way down and they are there for you. They do not turn: 

Isaiah 9: 6-7

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government
will be out upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called “Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Of the
increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,”

In hope for that which is yet to come one may find peace, Permission 
toEnjoy and Celebrate Every moment of life within them self and with 
those you love. In that hope and peace one may come to find the true 
meaning of love. Not in the bells and whistles and decorations of the 
world, but in Jesus.

Love of one’s self that comes from knowing Jesus in their life and is 
carried over into the world, as you can now love another. Be Strong! 
Fear Not! The day is coming and God may come to you and say: 
“FEAR NOT,

I KNOW YOU AND HAVE CHOSEN YOU TO BE MY SERVANT.

“And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son,
and you shall call his name Jesus.”

Jesus, which means, “Yahweh Is Salvation.” If God called upon you at 
this very moment to serve him. Do you want to give another a gift card 
or the gift of salvation this Christ-mas?

Love is patience, love is kind, love does not worry, does not boast, it 
isnot round, it is not square, it is not dreams. Love keeps no record or 
wrong,love never fails. Love will never fail and God will give to you the 
greatestlove of all and his name is Emmanuel. God is with you. 

What if this year you shared the truth? The truth, Christmas is about 
that which is inside of you, in your heart. For there lies the real 
meaning of Christmas, love, to share with others. 

Let us pray, 

Father,
The greatest Christmas gift of all is not at the mall; it’s within our heart.
May we follow Mary’s example Father to give the birth of Jesus 
unto another’s heart and soul so that they may know. 
What if they may experience one-day salvation? 
Thank you Father for your love for me, 
a sinner.
Amen





121204JWM



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