When It Doesn’t Feel Like a “Wonderful Life”

December 11, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH When It Doesn't Feel Like a "Wonderful Life" SCOTTY SMITH   “Grace upon grace.” John 1:16   Lord Jesus, I woke up today feeling the weight of friends’ stories and the wait of deep longings. I’ve never been more grateful for your promise and provision of “grace upon grace.” Many of us are still holding out for the last scene in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Resolution and redemption, a happy gathering and good ending would be “wonderful,” indeed. But whatever this Christmas season proves to be, you always prove yourself to be a most wonderful and merciful Savior. We pray for friends facing their first Christmas having committed a loved one to eternity. Grant special grace for those families, still reeling with loss and grief. Hasten the Day of eternal delight, non-stop dancing, and no more goodbyes. We also pray with a view to different relational scenarios. Old wounds get triggered. Brokenness get neon-lighted. Messy relationships seem messier. Personal “views” declare war on each other. Loneliness feels it’s loneliest. No one understands these things better than you, Jesus. The world into which you were born was filled with madness and sadness, self-interest and me-first-indulgence, power grabbing and responsibility shirking. You shy away from none of this stuff, Jesus. Hallelujah, and thank you. Surprise us with your calming, healing, liberating presence. Sweeten the bitter waters of brokenness with the new wine of your kindness. Free each of us to offer your welcome, forgiveness, and kindness—no matter what we get in return. Do more than we can ask or imagine, Jesus, because that’s what you love to do. Thank you. So very Amen we pray, in your tender and triumphant name.     Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

December 10, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH SCOTTY SMITH   “She (Mary) will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21); “I tell you, her (the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with tears) many sins have been forgiven–as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” (Luke 7:47)   Lord Jesus, first of all, thank you for coming into our world to save us. By your life, death, and resurrection, all of our sins are forgiven—the sins we’re painfully aware of, and the ones about which we remain clueless. But it’s not just what you took from us (our sins); but also, what you’ve given us. We are now robed in your righteousness—a robe that is actually a wedding garment. We are that forgiven and that loved. How then shall we respond? What’s the best way to celebrate this or any Christmas? What “gift” can we give you? We who’ve been forgiven much (everything) are to love you much. With tears of gratitude, forgiven hearts, our remaining days and whole being, we want to love you, Jesus—joyfully, passionately, and as you delight. What delights you the most? That we love others as you love us, and forgive others as you have forgiven us. Oh Jesus… it’d be much easier to buy something online and have UPS deliver it. Jesus, Christmas 2021 is upon us. Stagger us with your love afresh, and channel your love through us—not just to the ones who are easy to love. Help us love the indifferent, the snarky, the irritating, the ungrateful, those who are “chill” to us, and you—those who, like us, you came to save. So very very Amen we pray. Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

Craving Favor? Aching for Peace?

December 9, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Craving Favor? Aching for Peace? SCOTTY SMITH    “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13–14 Heavenly Father, fine dark chocolate isn’t to be consumed mindlessly like popcorn. It’s it to slowly savored—relishing the flavor, texture, nuances, aroma, making room for a closed-eyed smile and something that sounds like “Ummm.” How much more so should this be the case with the greatest of all delicacies—the Gospel? Jesus himself, and everything he has done for us, deserves our unrushed, awe-producing relishing and treasuring. Through the Gospel, the angel’s declaration has become our celebration. “Peace to those on whom his favor rests.” How do we measure the peace that comes from knowing we now live in your full, permanent, unwavering favor? We invest tons of heart-energy seeking favor—wanting to be desired, known, and loved. Our spouses, friends, children, “dates,” and bosses feel the pull of our relational cravings. But mere people cannot possibly fill the favor-vacuum or satisfy the peace-ache inside us. That’s where Jesus comes in, quite literally—into our world, into brokenness, into our longings. In Jesus we are fully known and completely loved. He is the “joy of every longing heart.” Because Jesus took our disfavor and disgrace on the cross, we now live in your endless favor and limitless grace. “O, come let us adore Him,” indeed. So very Amen we pray, worship, and dance, in Jesus’ great and gracious name.   Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

5 Awesome “I”s and Real Hope

December 8, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH 5 Awesome "I"s and Real Hope SCOTTY SMITH   “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Rom. 15:13); “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isa. 41:10)   Heavenly Father, in a world of broken people, challenging circumstances, and unfinished stories, it’s a source of immeasurable peace to know you as the “God of hope.” You specialize in actualities—not “might-be,” “could-be,” or “possibly.” Outcomes belong to you, as surely as the earth, angels, and we do. A living, sure hope—this is the heartbeat of Advent—not crossing our fingers, settling for Plan G, “rolling with the punches,” or making lemonade out of lemons. We live under the reign of grace, not in the tyranny of karma. Whether it’s having to spin 7 plates as a 3-plate person, “dance” in sticky relationships while Christmas music is playing; trust you with a loved one’s surgery, our own positive test, or any of a number of negative attitude carriers… Oh, Father, we abandon ourselves to you right now. It’s actually good to be out of bootstraps to pull up—for it makes the Gospel necessary, not just nice. We absolutely love the 5 occurrences of the personal pronoun “I” in our second verse of the day (Isa. 41:10). You promise big stuff that only you can/will do. Thank you, Abba.  So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ most worship-worthy name.     Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

When and How Will This Be, Father?

December 7, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH When and How Will This Be, Father? SCOTTY SMITH “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Luke 1:34–35 Heavenly Father, though Jesus had only one mother, we are thrilled to be among the countless number he now indwells by the Holy Spirit. As surely as you placed the life of Jesus in Mary, you have done the same for us by the Gospel. Christ-in-us is our only, but sure, hope of glory (Col. 1:27). But the thought us-like-Christ is where we cry out with Mary, “How will this be?” According to your Word and promise, one Day we will be as lovely and as loving as Jesus (1 John 3:1-3; Rom. 8:29). We will be free from all selfishness, sin, and self-pity. We’ll never think a sin-shaped thought or speak an unkind, unloving word. Never again will we weaponize our feelings to blame, shame, or hurt others. We will only choose loving you and others with everything we have and are. Indeed, Father, when and how will this be? You answer back in your Word so grace-fully. “What I have begun in you, I will complete. (Phil. 1:6). Things impossible with you are possible with me.” Our response is like Mary’s, “May it be as you have promised, Father.” We also add, “Could you make it soon?” So very Amen we pray in Jesus’ wonderful and merciful name.     Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

All the More Reason(s) to Love and Trust Jesus

December 6, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH All the More Reason(s) to Love and Trust Jesus SCOTTY SMITH “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah… out of you will come for me whose origins are from of old… He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord… And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be our peace.” Micah 5:2, 4–5 Lord Jesus, Micah’s prophecy of your two comings adds to the long list of reasons we love, adore, and trust you. On this December Monday, we are especially moved to worship you for how you shepherd us. Having laid down your life as the Lamb of God, you’ve risen from the dead, and are now our standing shepherd—relentlessly caring, vigilantly protecting, and faithfully providing for us. 2021 has certainly underscored how much we need the green pastures of your grace. No matter what else is going on in us and around us, you are our peace—that is, our “righteousness, holiness, and redemption” Because of your great love for us, we don’t have everything we want, but we gratefully declare. “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need” (Psalm 23:1). At your return, your greatness will “reach to the ends of the earth”—every habitat and hamlet. From that Day forward, we will “live securely” forever in the greenest and greatest of all pastures—the new heaven and new earth. Jesus, you will replace the “valley of the shadow of death” with the light of your glory and the fullness of eternal life. We’ll have no enemies, just You and the most perfect forever-family. Hallelujah, and make it soon. So very Amen we pray, in your great and gracious name.     Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe