Week Three: December 12-13 - Everlasting Father - "Hope"
**Luke 1:46-56 - Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat
**Activity - Christmas Light Tour
     
Read Luke 1:46-56
      
“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6 

     

Have you ever thought of God as Father? For some of us, thinking about God as Father creates a knot in the pit of our stomach. However, this season, the title of “Everlasting Father” can actually give us some genuine hope. When it comes to Christmas, we often imagine baby Jesus in the manger with animals. There is a lot of hope built into that picture of God, and we can find some of that same hope in the image of God as Father. Hundreds of years before, Isaiah gives us a prophetic vision of Jesus’ birth, where he describes God as “Everlasting Father.”

“Everlasting Father” means God is powerful and in control. Like sleeping soundly in a castle during a siege, no matter how dangerous or scary the enemy outside is, you know you’re safe. God can be that solid wall for us, the protective Father during the siege this year who allows us to find some real rest.

   

Luke illustrates a tender moment where we find Mary singing a song of praise to God when she realizes she’s been chosen to give birth to the Savior of the world! Mary, the mother of Jesus, is overwhelmed by God and sings a song that “magnifies” and “rejoices in” who God is - “God my Savior.” But the way she approaches God reflects how He has been fatherly toward her and how He has blessed her. God is the strength of His people and the one who makes all things right, providing for those in need in His family.

   

This may be a tough season for you, especially if your dad wasn’t the best. Recognizing God as a protective Father may take some time to process and reflect before you can trust God with that title - and that’s okay. If you’ve had a good dad, this may be a little easier, but still may take some time. This week, take a moment to think about the hope we share because of our “Everlasting Father.”

   

God the Father wants good things for us. Take some time with your family this week and join us for a Christmas light tour of Aurora. Head to ehills.org/christmas to find the map and take your family to some amazing houses decorated for Christmas! As you’re driving together, talk about the care and time that went into creating such beautiful decorations and how much more God the Father cares for you as his children.