Skip to content
logo horizontal
logo tree only
logo tree only
  • about
      • Sermon Series
        • 1Timothy sermon 169 v2b
      • Times & Directions
        • Watch us online 2023 169hd web
      • About us
        • Vision Feature art grey 2022 169
      • Getting Connected
        • Newsletter,Email,Icon,Isolated,On,Special,Blue,Banner,Background,Abstract
      • Meet With A Pastor
        • Living,Room,With,Two,Yellow,Armchair,mockup,Concrete,Wall.3d,Rendering
      • New Believers
        • Care,Of,New,Life,-,Watering,Young,Plant,-,Vintage
      • Worship
        • Worship-arts-169HD-sm2
      • Baptism
        • Interested in Baptism 169HD
      • Baby Dedications
        • Baby dedication2 169HD
      • Communion
        • Communion 169HD
      • Membership
        • May 8-2025 membership class w date-16.9HD
      • Staff & Leadership
        • Team Web Rotator
      • MBC Finance Team
        • Finance Team 169
  • ministries
      • Internships
        • Internships
      • Family Ministries
        • Happy,Family,In,The,Park,Evening,Light.,The,Lights,Of
      • Kids
        • MBC KIDS Postcard 169HD
      • Teens
        • admin-ajax-rgb
        • Wednesdays the Rush
        • Fresh wave Podcast Logo Full
        • Mission Trip Blog copy
      • Adults
        • small groups 2017 HD16
        • Master_senior 3rd_Fri_ lunch slide 16.9HD
        • Womens min winter 2024
        • Adult-Sunday-School 2018 169HD
        • Young Adult 2020 16.9HD generic no dates
        • Mens Ministries 2018 169HD
        • Men,Supporting,Men,,Introduction,To,A,Men’s,Therapy,Group
      • Underground Sessions
        • Underground Sess. Signage
      • Care
        • Care team 2015 169hd
      • Grief Share: Begins March 13
        • Grief Share 169hd
      • Divorce Care
        • DivorcCare 169HD
      • Stephen Ministry
        • Stephen Ministry 2017 169HD
      • Missions – World Partners
        • Missions Logo new page2 169HD
        • Senegal Missions banner 169HD 2021
        • 1st Choice 169HD
        • city relief 169HD-MBC-COMMS-LAPTOP2020
        • market Street Mission 169HD
        • Feedng Hands
      • MBC Colson Fellows 2025
        • Colson graphic-web
      • Little Footprints Learning Center
        • LFLC Postcard 2017 V2
  • media
      • Merch Store
        • MBC Merch store 169 reg copy
      • MBC Digital Ministries: Podcasts, YouTube and Pastor blogs
        • Podcasts Feature GRaphic2
      • Sunday Service Live Stream
        • Move to YT Livestream MBC UNHINDERED noDate-169 copy
      • Pastor’s Table Blog
        • Pastor’s Table 169hd
      • YouTube Channel
        • Subscribe to MBC UNHINDERED Congregation 169
      • Pastors Weekly Video
        • Behind the Pulpit weekly YouTube 169 V2 Rach. no text
      • The Fresh Wave Podcast (For & by TEENs)
        • Fresh wave Podcast Logo Full
      • Wednesdays in the Word
        • Weds in the Word v1
      • Sermon Archive
        • Sermon Archive Banner
  • events
  • prayer
      • Praise & Prayer Weekly Update
        • Prayer Web 169hd
      • Men and Women’s Prayer Room
        • ladies and mens prayer graphic copy
  • give
      • Year-End Giving for 2025
        • 2025 Giving
      • MBC Giving
        • MBC Giving Slides_template 10 digit 2021b
      • Give Your Time & Efforts
        • Ministry Page feature graphic 169
  • connect
      • Getting Connected
        • Newsletter,Email,Icon,Isolated,On,Special,Blue,Banner,Background,Abstract
      • Shared Interest Groups, NOW FORMING
        • Shared Interest Groups 169
      • Share your Gifts
        • Serving page alt With Webpage URL 169
      • MBC Finance Team
        • Finance Team 169
      • MBC Safety & Security Team
        • Safety&Security 16×9 V1
      • MBC Buildings & Grounds Team
        • Buildings & Grounds Team 16×9 V3
      • Connection Card Form
  • log in
PrevPrevious EntryThe Blessing of Christmas
Next EntryAdvent Devotional: The Unsung Son of DavidNext

BACK TO THE PASTOR’S TABLE

Advent Devotional: Tender Mercy and Peace On Earth?

Listen to this article

By: Stella Strain

Date: 12/19/2023

Since the Israel-Hamas led conflict broke out in October 2023, my daily prayers have never left the Middle East. There are two Bible verses that come to my mind when I am writing this blog today. It is Luke 1:78 and 2:14.

“Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high.” (Luke 1:78, ESV)

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”  (Luke 2:14, ESV)

I love traveling. In the last 30 years, I have visited over 25 countries or 40 cities in the world. If someone asked me to share my top unforgettable travel experiences, I would say my trip to the Middle East in February/March 1996. Among my 100s of trips, that was the only trip I lost my luggage. It was never found. The airline was not able to locate where they mis-shipped my checked in luggage when I arrived in Jordan. It was the Ramadan month, which made it harder to trace my precious cargo in the in-transit stop from Bahrain. Back in the 90s, there was no smart phones, eSIM, or even the internet. I was traveling with my best friend in the church. We did not realize that our adventure was just about to begin.

In Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, suicide bombs in February and March 1996 killed 65 people, including three US citizens (Note 1). We were in Jerusalem when a suicide bomber killed 18 people in a bus. A few days later, another suicide bombing took place at the shopping center in Tel Aviv. We were at that mall for ice-cream the day before. God spared us again and we just missed it. We only learned about the news from the local tourist guide when we were on the way from Gaza to Egypt. I did not know how bad the attacks were until I arrived home. I guessed the guide did not want to scare the tourists. Nevertheless, I still sensed what the war meant to that region when I saw the tanks on the way to Egypt passing through the Sinai Peninsula. I was told they were residuals from the Six Days War. Losing the luggage is nothing to compare to losing the lives of the innocent. The sunset was beautiful along the Mediterranean Sea. It was the tender mercy of our God that I could see the sunrise again in the next morning when I arrived in Cairo.

“Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high.” (Luke 1:78, ESV)

My friend’s grandmother was a Holocaust survivor. She was very little when her whole family was terminated in the concentration camp. She once told me that living in Israel was like living in the heaven. Some of my classmates in graduate school and team members at my workplace are Palestinians. Their scars were not healed when they told their stories to me. The rivalry is deep-rooted. Twenty-seven years have passed since I visited Israel and the terrorist attacks continue. Many governments are still looking to play a role as mediators. Millions of the Chosen People are still waiting for the Messiah to come and praying for peace on earth. Do we not know that the Savior has come? The angels already proclaimed the good news to the shepherds 2000 years ago!

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”  (Luke 2:14, ESV)

As a Christian, how well do we take that message and have the burden to share the good news to those around us?

Note 1: source from US Department of State Archive U.S. State Department, Official Web Site

About the author: Stella Strain was born and raised in Hong Kong and has lived in US for 20 years. She was an activist for CPM (Chosen People Ministries) and CWI (Christian Witness To Israel) during college. Currently she is working as the US financial controller of a global retailer.

(In Jerusalem, a few days before three suicide bombs took place)

MBCAdmin

MBCAdmin

PrevPrevious EntryThe Blessing of Christmas
Next EntryAdvent Devotional: The Unsung Son of DavidNext

BACK TO THE PASTOR’S TABLE

Like what you see? Sign up to receive notifications from The Pastor's Table!
Loading
Like what you see? Sign up to receive notifications from The Pastor's Table!
Loading

Recent Entries

Loading...

The Foundation of a Healthy Church (1 Tim. 1:12-20)

May 6, 2025
/
Bob Erbig
The Consequences of a Faulty Foundation A healthy church has a solid foundation. However, if the foundation of any building is faulty, there are consequences. Let me offer an example. In June 2021, shockingly, part of a high-rise condo building in Surfside, Florida dropped into the parking garage below. The condominium...
Read More

This is a Church: Rediscovering God’s Blueprint for His People

April 28, 2025
/
Dave Hentschel
By Pastor Dave Hentschel | April 27, 2025 When you hear the word church, what comes to mind? A building with a steeple? A Sunday event? Maybe even memories of a place where you were hurt? In our new sermon series, A Divine Blueprint: Practical Wisdom for Building Healthy Churches,...
Read More

Graves into Gardens: How the Resurrection Gives Us Resilient Hope

April 22, 2025
/
Dave Hentschel
A Sermon Summary on 2 Cor 5:1-17 By Pastor Dave Hentschel This Easter, churches around the globe echoed the same great truth: Christ is risen! But for some, that celebration feels distant. Maybe you’re carrying grief, facing uncertainty, or dealing with circumstances that feel like death. If that’s you, Easter...
Read More

Marks of Resilient Love

April 16, 2025
/
Bob Erbig
Non-Resilient Relationships How are relationships doing? Is our world marked by resilient love? While there are pockets of encouragement, I suspect most of us know people in at least three categories: (1) Broken Marriages. Now, I do need to add a caveat here: while divorce is an undesirable thing, there...
Read More

Resilience Through Weakness (2 Cor. 12:1-10)

April 8, 2025
/
Bob Erbig
The Snow White Axiom I would argue that, as 21st-century Americans, we have been conditioned to accept two axioms: (1) First, strength is developed in isolation—self-made individuals are to be admired. How many stories do you know of people who reached the top of their field with no help from...
Read More

The Marks of Resilient Leadership: How to Distinguish Godly Leaders from False Guides.

April 1, 2025
/
Dave Hentschel
A Sermon Summary on 2 Cor 10:1-11:33 By Pastor Dave Hentschel In a world craving strong leadership, it can be difficult to distinguish between true, godly leaders and those who only appear to be leading well. Leadership is often judged by outward success, charisma, or personal influence, but Scripture offers...
Read More
1 2 … 29 Next »

The Foundation of a Healthy Church (1 Tim. 1:12-20)

The Consequences of a Faulty Foundation A healthy church has a solid foundation. However, if the foundation of any building is faulty, there are consequences. Let me offer an example. In June 2021, shockingly, part of a high-rise condo building in Surfside, Florida dropped into the parking garage below. The condominium tower was designed in the

Read More
Bob Erbig May 6, 2025

This is a Church: Rediscovering God’s Blueprint for His People

By Pastor Dave Hentschel | April 27, 2025 When you hear the word church, what comes to mind? A building with a steeple? A Sunday event? Maybe even memories of a place where you were hurt? In our new sermon series, A Divine Blueprint: Practical Wisdom for Building Healthy Churches, we’re returning to the basics

Read More
Dave Hentschel April 28, 2025

Graves into Gardens: How the Resurrection Gives Us Resilient Hope

A Sermon Summary on 2 Cor 5:1-17 By Pastor Dave Hentschel This Easter, churches around the globe echoed the same great truth: Christ is risen! But for some, that celebration feels distant. Maybe you’re carrying grief, facing uncertainty, or dealing with circumstances that feel like death. If that’s you, Easter isn’t irrelevant—it’s exactly for you.

Read More
Dave Hentschel April 22, 2025
Page1 Page2 Page3 Page4 Page5
  • www.millingtonbaptist.org
  • mbc@millingtonbaptist.org
  • /millingtonchurch
  • /MBCNewJersey
  • www.millingtonbaptist.org
  • mbc@millingtonbaptist.org
  • facebook.com/millingtonchurch
  • twitter.com/MBCNewJersey
  • 520 King George Road | Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 | 908-647-0594
  • about
    • Back
    • Sermon Series
      • Back
      • Back
    • Times & Directions
      • Back
      • Back
    • About us
      • Back
      • Back
    • Getting Connected
      • Back
      • Getting Connected
      • Back
    • Meet With A Pastor
      • Back
      • Meet With A Pastor
      • Back
    • New Believers
      • Back
      • New Believers
      • Back
    • Worship
      • Back
      • Back
    • Baptism
      • Back
      • Back
    • Baby Dedications
      • Back
      • Baby Dedications
      • Back
    • Communion
      • Back
      • Communion
      • Back
    • Membership
      • Back
      • Back
    • Staff & Leadership
      • Back
      • Back
    • MBC Finance Team
      • Back
      • MBC Finance Team
      • Back
    • Back
  • ministries
    • Back
    • Internships
      • Back
      • Internships
      • Back
    • Family Ministries
      • Back
      • Family Ministries
      • Back
    • Kids
      • Back
      • MBC Kids
      • Back
    • Teens
      • Back
      • Teens
      • The Break
      • The Fresh Wave Podcast
      • Teens Missions Blog
      • Back
    • Adults
      • Back
      • Small Groups
      • Senior Luncheon
      • Women
      • Adult Education
      • Young Adults
      • Men
      • Radical Mentoring – Coming in September
      • Back
    • Underground Sessions
      • Back
      • Underground Sessions
      • Back
    • Care
      • Back
      • Back
    • Grief Share: Begins March 13
      • Back
      • Grief Share: Begins March 13
      • Back
    • Divorce Care
      • Back
      • Divorce Care
      • Back
    • Stephen Ministry
      • Back
      • Back
    • Missions – World Partners
      • Back
      • MBC Missions – World Partners
      • Senegal
      • First Choice
      • The Relief Bus
      • Market Street
      • Feeding Hands
      • Back
    • MBC Colson Fellows 2025
      • Back
      • MBC Colson Fellows 2025
      • Back
    • Little Footprints Learning Center
      • Back
      • Back
    • Back
  • media
    • Back
    • Merch Store
      • Back
      • Merch Store
      • Back
    • MBC Digital Ministries: Podcasts, YouTube and Pastor blogs
      • Back
      • MBC Digital Ministries: Podcasts, YouTube and Pastor blogs
      • Back
    • Sunday Service Live Stream
      • Back
      • MBC Live
      • Back
    • Pastor’s Table Blog
      • Back
      • Pastor’s Table Blog
      • Back
    • YouTube Channel
      • Back
      • YouTube
      • Back
    • Pastors Weekly Video
      • Back
      • Updates & Connection Opportunities
      • Back
    • The Fresh Wave Podcast (For & by TEENs)
      • Back
      • The Fresh Wave Podcast
      • Back
    • Wednesdays in the Word
      • Back
      • Wednesdays in the Word
      • Back
    • Sermon Archive
      • Back
      • Sermon Archive
      • Back
    • Back
  • events
  • prayer
    • Back
    • Praise & Prayer Weekly Update
      • Back
      • Praise & Prayer Weekly Update
      • Back
    • Men and Women’s Prayer Room
      • Back
      • Men and Women’s Prayer Room
      • Back
    • Back
  • give
    • Back
    • Year-End Giving for 2025
      • Back
      • Year-End Giving for 2025
      • Back
    • MBC Giving
      • Back
      • give
      • Back
    • Give Your Time & Efforts
      • Back
      • Share your Gifts
      • Back
    • Back
  • connect
    • Back
    • Getting Connected
      • Back
      • getting connected
      • Back
    • Shared Interest Groups, NOW FORMING
      • Back
      • Shared Interest Groups, NOW FORMING
      • Back
    • Share your Gifts
      • Back
      • Share your Gifts
      • Back
    • MBC Finance Team
      • Back
      • MBC Finance Team
      • Back
    • MBC Safety & Security Team
      • Back
      • MBC Safety & Security Team
      • Back
    • MBC Buildings & Grounds Team
      • Back
      • MBC Buildings & Grounds Team
      • Back
    • Connection Card Form
    • Back
  • log in