Love Come Down

SCRIPTURE

Nativity of Our Lord - Christmas Eve
Titus 2:11-14 (NRSV)

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.


ADVENT DEVOTION

On this CHRISTmas Eve, my prayer for all of us is that we would intimately experience the love, joy, hope, and peace that comes with knowing that "the grace of God has appeared."

Because of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and promise to come again, we are able to live into the "blessed hope" of knowing the glory of our "great God and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Jesus is Love come down, wrapped in flesh, "who gave himself for us that [we might] be redeemed."

Halleljuah!

God's love, salvation, and redemption is the best CHRISTmas gift of all.

On tomorrow, I want to invite you to wake up, sing "Happy Birthday to Jesus," eat some birthday cake, read the CHRISTmas story (e.g., Luke 2, Matthew 1), and rejoice with your family in prayer. The tree will be there. The presents will be enjoyed. But, please remember, that tomrrow is JESUS' BIRTHDAY!

Let's have a party for our Lord and Savior and give thanks to God for the good news that Jesus came down from heaven, to redeem us from our sin, and open the door to our eternal lives in Heaven!

Hallelujah!


PRAYER

Oh God, you are great and greatly to be praised! Thank you for Jesus, who is the greatest CHRISTmas gift of all! Please help me to celebrate your birthday with great joy. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Be At Peace

SCRIPTURE

4th Sunday in Advent
Micah 5:2-5a (NRSV)

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return
to the people of Israel.
And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth;
and he shall be the one of peace.


ADVENT DEVOTION

Sometimes we feel so very small. The world can seem so big and scary and our challenges too large to overcome. It is at times like these that the Holy Spirit reminds us that God can do big things with little people.

When we are willing to humble ourselves and admit that we need God for every moment of our lives, then we will find that God is always available to lead us on the path of peace.

No matter what may be raging on the outside of our lives, we can be peaceful on the inside, because of the precious gift of Jesus Christ and the gentle care of the Holy Spirit.

When we feel overwhelmed, we can slow down, take some deep breaths and take advantage of the Power of God that is within us. This Power leads us into the love, joy, hope, and peace of the CHRISTmas season 365 days per year.

As we approach CHRISTmas Day this week, may the peace of God be yours. You are a beloved child of God. You have been declared very good. You are cherished, valued, protected, and cared for. You are seen and still adored. You are unconditionally loved now and forever.

Breathe, Child of God... And be at peace. May CHRISTmas joy be yours...Amen.



PRAYER

Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. With your abundant grace and might, free us from the sin that binds us, that we may receive you in joy and serve you always, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Blessed One

SCRIPTURE

Luke 13:31-35 (NRSV)

At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.' Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"


ADVENT DEVOTION

Today is Saturday! On this day "good news" comes to us as a psalm from my heart. Thanks for reading, sharing, and being good news!

Listen...
Know you not who I am
What I am doing
What I will do?
Not afraid of you
Can't touch me
Can't block me
Can't stop me
Headed to Jerusalem
None can take my life
Only I can lay it down
And I will do so
for my friends
Amidst derision
Scorn
Hate
Amidst tears
Fears
Sorrow
and Pain
I will lay down my life
To secure your future
To make provision for your tomorrows
To open heaven's door...

Blessed!
Blessed!
Blessed!

Blessed is the one who comes in the Name of the Lord!

Blessed baby!
Blessed teacher!
Blessed healer!
Blessed savior!
Blessed King!

Blessed
is
the
Name
of
The
One
who
comes...

Trumpet sound
Clouds roll back
Winds blow
Caught up in the air
To meet the...

Blessed One
Coming...
Prepare the way of the Lord

CHRIST(mas) is coming!


PRAYER

Lord, help my heart to declare, "Blessed is the one who comes in the Name of the Lord!" Amen.

Remember Your Leaders

SCRIPTURE

Hebrews 13:7-17 (NRSV)

Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food, which have not benefited those who observe them. We have an altar from which those who officiate in the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood. Let us then go to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls and will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with sighing — for that would be harmful to you.


ADVENT DEVOTION

Today, during evening devotions, my family prayed for every church open in the Name of Jesus and for every pastor and staff member who is serving during this CHRISTmas season.

For those of you who are not members of church staffs, you may not fully appreciate all that goes into the CHRISTmas church schedule. There are worships to plan, sermons to write, sanctuaries to decorate, children's programs to rehearse, poinsettias to order, sick and shut in to visit, people to greet and care for, etc.

CHRISTmas is wonderful and exciting for those of us who arrive on Sunday morning, but we rarely remember to thank the pastors and staff who make such beautiful worship services possible.

In today's scripture the author of Hebrews reminds us, "Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith."

I want to remind us to "remember your leaders..."

Seasons like Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter tend to be difficult for those of us who work in churches. We get weary and worn. We get frazzled and stressed out. We can even burn out if we are not attentive to spiritual disciple and self-care.

Today, I want to humbly ask you to pray for your pastor(s) and church staff. I want you to consider writing a thank you card, laying a gentle hand on their shoulder, looking them in the eyes, and offering them a word of thanks. I want you to try to think of a way to serve the one who serves you on a continual basis. And I want you to bless the man or woman of God who is used by God to offer care for your soul.

I'm sure that by  now you are well aware that there is nothing intrinsically special, holy, or perfect about pastors or church staff people. We are human beings, we sin and fall short, we need Jesus as much as anyone else. But, what is true, is that your pastor(s) and church staff have made the commitment to give their wholes lives in public service to God, the congregation, and the world for the sake of Jesus!

Let us lift them up in prayer and love them well at all times, and especially during the Holy Days Season.

PRAYER

Lord God, today I pray for my pastor(s) and church staff. I know that during this season they may be growing weary. Please uphold them with your strength and please use me to be a blessing. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Rejoice Always...

SCRIPTURE

3rd Sunday of Advent
Philippians 4:4-7 (NRSV)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


ADVENT DEVOTION

Today's devotion gives us cause to pause. We are reminded to rejoice always.

I don't know about you, but that commandment sounds easier said than done. Just in the month of December we are inundated with stresses such as disobedient children, sick parents, unpaid bills, fractured relationships, increased work hours, and/or a school shooting to name just a few.

The truth is there is more than enough stress to go around for all of us! There is not one human being who escapes unscathed from the stresses that we face in body, mind, and spirit on the the planet Earth.

However, when I was a child, I was taught that there is a difference between being happy and being joyful. Happiness is conditional upon our circumstances, whereas JOY is a condition of the soul!

No matter what is going on in our lives, we can still be full of the JOY of the Holy Spirit! This joy is as a result of the Advent Truth that the "Lord is near..."

He is near enough to have been born in a manger. Near enough to have visited the synagogues as a child. Near enough to have ministered upon the earth for three years. Near enough to have suffered, bled, and died, before being resurrected and ascending into heaven. And now his Spirit is as near as the breath in our lungs and beat of our hearts, available to us at all times.

Hallelujah! Why wouldn't we be full of joy? Why wouldn't we act out of spirit of gentleness? Why wouldn't we lift all of our concerns to our loving God in peace and in prayer, trusting that God is well able to supply all of our need according to God's riches in glory?

And even before we see the answer to our prayers, let us begin to offer up a shout of thanksgiving, knowing that God has a good plan for us, not to harm us, but to give us a future and a hope.

We are children of the King, dear ones! Just knowing that we are so unconditionally loved and experiencing such a amazing grace on a daily basis ought to fill us with a contagious JOY that impacts not only our lives, but the lives of those around us!

When you are a person filled with JOY, you share JOY with everyone whom you meet. Won't you be a joy sharer today?

Being joyful does not mean that you ignore your problems, it simply means that you trust that GOD is bigger than your problems, and well able to help you to overcome them.

Be at peace, my friends, and may JOY be yours this Advent Season.


PRAYER

With thanksgiving I lift all of my concerns to you, O Lord. Fill me with your peace and with your joy. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

What Will This Child Become?

SCRIPTURE

Luke 1:57-66 (NRSV)

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, "No; he is to be called John." They said to her, "None of your relatives has this name." Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.


ADVENT DEVOTION

Like people around the world, yesterday I grieved as I watched the news coming in about the deadly school shooting that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. Twenty eight lives lost in one day, most of them young children who had their whole lives before them.

It is at times like this that it is right and appropriate that we should lament. We should lift up our voices, hearts, and tears unto the Lord and cry out for grace, mercy, forgiveness, help, and wisdom.

Like the people of John's day, we ask, "What will this child become?" We never dream that they will  soon be in the company of the saints, standing before the throne of God.

So many parents will never know what their children could have become. We must hold these families in our prayers during their hour of greatest need. We must also pray for our nation. We must grieve these senseless tragedies. We must come together to mitigate violence everywhere it is found. And we must gently and sensitively share the hope of the resurrection of Jesus Christ which gives us comfort in times like these...

Dear Friends, these precious lives are not lost, they are found in our God! And they are being tenderly held in the arms of our loving Jesus who has restored their joy and redeemed their futures...

**********************************************
For those of you who follow my blog, you may know that on Saturdays I generally offer a psalm from my heart. But on today, I simply feel led to pray...


PRAYER

Dear Lord, you hear the cries of mamas, daddies, sisters, brothers, and others who have experienced unspeakable tragedy today in Ct. As they sojourn through this deep valley, be with them in this dark night of the soul. Awaken your children to sit with them in sack cloth and ashes as they grieve. Help us to bare gentle witness to your unconditional love and resurrection power. Teach us to forgive the one who perpetrated this heinous crime and cause all of us to seek your grace and mercy for ourselves. Please grant us wisdom in this nation that we may come together to end violence wherever it is found. And may the love, joy, hope, and peace of the advent season, manifested in Jesus Christ, wrap the mourning in the warm and heavy blanket of your comfort and as their tears fall, use us to hold them up to you. This we pray in the Strong Name of Jesus, Amen.

Brag on Him!

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 12:2-6 (NRSV)

Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the Lord GOD is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day:
Give thanks to the LORD,
call on his name;
make known his deeds among the nations;
proclaim that his name is exalted.
Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously;
let this be known in all the earth.
Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.


ADVENT DEVOTION

I have the best Daddy in the world! All of my life I have known that he loves me and takes pride in my accomplishments. I have never had to wonder if someone has my back, because I have always known that when push comes to shove, Daddy is always there.

You can't tell my father that I'm not the greatest thing since sliced bread. I seem to recall that at my very first band concert, my father stood up in the middle of the concert to shout, "THAT'S MY GIRL!! RIGHT THERE! THAT'S MY DAUGHTER!!"

My secret is that I'm just as proud of my Daddy, as he is of me. He's always been the cool dad. All my friends adore him and you can talk to him about anything without fear of judgment, or condemnation.

However, as great as my Daddy is, there is one greater!

Our GOD is the greatest! The strongest! The mightiest! The most glorious! Our God is the most able! The most creative! The most talented! The most awesome one! Our God is our salvation! Our help! Our waymaker! Our friend!

We could go on and on about our God, however, the psalmist said it well, "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."

My Daddy loves to brag on me and I love to brag on him. But, I love to brag on my God, my Jesus, my Savior, even more...

During this advent season, are you bragging on God? Are you proclaiming the good news message? Are you boldly sharing your testimony with others?

There is somebody who needs to know that God is Love! God is Good! And God has never--and will never--fail!

Who will share your TEST-imony with today, dear ones? Someone is waiting...


PRAYER

O God, it is my good pleasure to brag on you. Help me to share your story (my story, our story) with someone who needs to hear it today. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Blessed to Be a Blessing

SCRIPTURE

2 Corinthians 8:1-15 (NRSV)

We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints — and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us, so that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also complete this generous undertaking among you. Now as you excel in everything -- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you -- so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.

I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something -- now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has — not according to what one does not have. I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written,

"The one who had much did not have too much,
and the one who had little did not have too little."


ADVENT DEVOTION

During this CHRISTmas season, many of us are tempted to make our christmas lists. We write down all of the things that we want, or we encourage our children to do the same.

On the one hand, CHRISTmas is about giving. It is about God unselfishly giving us the very best gift God had--His one and only son--as a Love offering for our atonement.

So, when we give during the CHRISTmas season, we are following the example of God and that is a good thing!

But, as we write our lists and check them twice, let us not forget to give to the one who gave so unselfishly to us. What will we "get" God this season?

What does God want? Well, today's devotion reminds us that what God wants is for us to be able to say, "The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little."

What can we do to make God's wish come true? Will you give water to a child dying of thirst (www.charitywater.org)? Will you give food and an education to a child without the same (www.worldvision.com)? Will you offer a loan to a widow and her children so that they can start a business, change their lives, and bless their community (www.kiva.org)? Will you provide a chick or pig to a family so they can become self sustaining (www.heifer.org)? Will you offer an orphan a home (www.adoptuskids.org)?

How will you fulfill God's CHRISTmas list? Will you love somebody unloveable, forgive an unforgiveable offense, or right a wrong?

There are as many ways to bless God on CHRISTmas as there are human beings. What is important is that each of us give a gift from the heart that will bless our King and His Kingdom of Love.

And let us not give begrudgingly, my friends, but with gladness, generousity, and eagerness! After all, toys, clothes, and music, wear, go out of style, get loss, or become too small, but the gift of LOVE shared by providing enough food, water, clothes, shelter, health care, education, security, love, hope, joy, forgiveness, and/or peace to a child of God, lasts forever.

We are so blessed! And as the old ladies in the church I grew up in used to say, "Child! You are blessed to be a blessing...You can't beat God giving, no matter how hard you try!"

Be encouraged, my friends! You can give a meaningful gift this CHRISTmas that will touch the very heart of our King! Be exceedingly glad!

MERRY CHRISTmas!


PRAYER

Lord, please help me to generously and gladly use the resources you have entrusted into my care to bless someone with less than me. Amen...

Are You Ready To Meet Jesus?

SCRRIPTURE

Romans 8:22-25 (NRSV)

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.


ADVENT DEVOTION

Advent means, "To come..." I love the imagery of a pregnant woman waiting to labor and meet her new baby. During pregnancy, you wait with great expectation. You can't wait to see the little one growing inside of you--or inside of the one whom you love. You sense signs of the impending birth--a kick here, a poke there. You begin to plan for the coming of the child, setting up the nursery, choosing names, or buying carseats. Your every minute is consummed with dreaming of the little one that will soon enter the Earth, as a gift from heaven.

Now, let's translate that into the second coming of Christ in glory. Are we waiting with the same glad anticipation? Are we excited to see him face to face? Do we notice the signs that the time is drawing near? Have we begun to plan to welcome him in glory? Is our every thought consummed with the soon coming of our Great and Glorious King?

Advent allows us to slow down. To wait. To pray. To hope. To dream. To anticipate. And to welcome Jesus Christ into our homes, hearts, and plans for CHRISTmas! Although we do not know the exact date of His coming, we know that we can expect him soon.

Are you ready to meet Jesus?


PRAYER

Dear God, help me to anticipate the coming of your Son in glory! Amen.

God Cleaned Me Up!

2nd Sunday of Advent

Malachi 3:1-4 (NRSV)

See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight -- indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.


DEVOTION

I am so grateful that the Lord is a refining fire and fuller's soap.

Fuller's soap was used to clean, purify, and bleach wool so that it could be made useful for clothing.

Apparently the Lord does something similar in cleaning us up! God sends us through the fire, so that everything unlike God is consumed in the flames and then God scrubs us up with fuller's soap to make us useful partners for God's Kingdom work.

And what is that Kingdom work? Well, we are sent as evangelists, or people who share the good news message. We go out as messengers, to prepare the way of the Lord into the hearts of God's people. We go ahead of Jesus, as a voice crying in the wilderness, "Prepare the way of the Lord!"

By being unashamed of telling others that we've been through the fire and washed with the Lord's fuller soap, we bear witness to the fact that God loves and saves all people.

One doesn't have to "get his or her life together," to get into relationship with God. One doesn't have to "do anything" to win God's unconditional love and favor...

When we really look at today's scripture, we recognize that it is GOD who does all of the WORK. God sends us through the flames and God shines us up! All we have to do is submit to the work of God's hands and heart and God does the rest!

In Jesus Christ, God did all the work. Jesus came, lived, died, and rose again in victory, to show forth God's love and amazing grace toward us. Jesus' resurrection makes it possible for us to look forward to our own resurrections into eternal life.

How I love our Jesus who has made it possible for us to offer our lives in righteousness unto our God!

Be at peace, dear ones, we have been made righteous through the blood of the Lamb.


PRAYER

Dear God, thank you for cleaning me up and turning me around. Help me to boldly share this good news with others. Amen.

Turn Our Hearts

SCRIPTURE

Malachi 4:1-6 (NRSV)

See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.

Remember the teaching of my servant Moses, the statutes and ordinances that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.

Lo, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents, so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse.


ADVENT DEVOTION & PRAYER

For those of you who have followed the blog the last three years, you know that Saturday's devotion is always a psalm from my heart! Thanks for reading (and sharing) the Good News!


Turn Our Hearts

We stumble in the darkness
pressing forward into an unknown
and uncertain future.
We cannot hear your voice, O God,
for it is drowned out by thousands of competitors
determined to steal our joy
lead us astray
and cause our demise.
Sometimes we follow them willingly
Other times we are tricked or dragged kicking and screaming
into a pit of  a hell
where we feel no-thing
except fear, anxiety, worry,
and panic.

Breath catches in our chests
we reach for you
crying,
Abba!
Father!
Come!
Rescue!
Me!

And just like that
the Sun of Righteousness rises
And we recognize that you
have been there all along
just waiting for us to realize
that we have
need
of
YOU.

Stretching out our hands
You turn our hearts
and we re-turn to you
laughing
leaping
jumping
dancing
into a heaven of your own making
through the incarnation
of LOVE.

Come, Lord Jesus, Come

Turn our hearts, O God.
For you are our Light
and our Salvation
whom shall we fear
but you...

Proclaim Christ...

SCRIPTURE

Philippians 1:12-18a (NRSV)
I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ; and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear.

Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel; the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment. What does it matter?


ADVENT DEVOTION

Dear ones, Advent is an especially wonderful time to "speak the word with greater boldness and without fear."

At a time with so many of our family and friends are consummed with the anxiety and stress of a commercial Christmas season, we have the God-given opportunity to share CHRIST and to gently remind others that Jesus is the reason for the season.

If we will pray for our eyes to be opened, we will notice stressed out, anxious, fearful, and grieving people all around us. We will become sensitive to those who are pushed to the margins or laying in the ditch of life. We will hear the cries of the brokenhearted and seek to comfort the oppressed.

As CHRISTIANS, we have something to say to our brothers and sisters who are feeling lost and broken. We can share our own good news testimonies regarding how God has saved us from emotional, spiritual, physical, and/or mental peril. We can reassure others that God promises to bless and comfort those who are mourning. We can confidently speak life into hearts of those in need of resurrection this season.

Advent is a time of waiting. But, as we wait, we can share the love of God with others in need of the Good News Message that they are loved, forgiven, and set free to live abundant, blessed, and joyful lives!

May Christmas JOY be yours and may you share it with others. Peace...


PRAYER

Dear God, please help me to be bold and courageous as I share the good news that Jesus is the reason for the season. Amen.

Our Dwelling Place...

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 90 (NRSV)

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
You turn us back to dust,
and say, "Turn back, you mortals."
For a thousand years in your sight
are like yesterday when it is past,
or like a watch in the night.
You sweep them away; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning;
in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.
For we are consumed by your anger;
by your wrath we are overwhelmed.
You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your countenance.
For all our days pass away under your wrath;
our years come to an end like a sigh.
The days of our life are seventy years,
or perhaps eighty, if we are strong;
even then their span is only toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
Who considers the power of your anger?
Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.
So teach us to count our days
that we may gain a wise heart.
Turn, O Lord! How long?
Have compassion on your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us,
and as many years as we have seen evil.
Let your work be manifest to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
Let the favor of the LORD our God be upon us,
and prosper for us the work of our hands --
O prosper the work of our hands!


ADVENT DEVOTIONAL

My imagination is captured by the words, "Lord, you have been our dwelling place..."

What does it mean to dwell in--and with--God during the Advent Season?

To dwell means to "live or stay as a permanent resident and to linger over, emphasize, or ponder in thought, speech or writing (dictionary.com)."

As we dwell in God during this season of waiting, let us center our very lives in God. May our breath become prayer and our idle time be found pondering over a scripture, or writing a psalm of praise in a journal.

As we wait, let us linger as we meditate on Christ's coming, stay vigilant in the love and care of others, and emphasize the importance of the worship of our King!

It's worth dwelling on The Incarnate Word--Jesus Christ! Advent slows us down, refocuses our attention and priorities, and helps us to ask the question, "What would LOVE have me to do?"

Today's devotional reminds us that we are sinners, saved by God's Unconditional Love & Amazing Grace revealed to us in Christ Jesus! As we await the second coming of Jesus in glory, let us also be aware that God has chosen to dwell in our hearts and that the Holy Spirit is available to us that we might dwell in God, even as God dwells in us.

You are steadfastly loved, dear ones! You are treasured, forgiven and redeeemed! Rejoice and be glad! You are favored and prosperous in ways that you cannot even imagine! Dwell in this good news and then share it with others... 

Peace be with you...

PRAYER

Dear Lord, help me to dwell in you, even as you dwell in me. Help me to allow this Advent Season to be a time of slowing down and spending time focused on you. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Forever Blessed...

SCRIPTURE

2 Samuel 7:18-29 (NRSV)

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, "Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God; you have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come. May this be instruction for the people, O Lord God! And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have wrought all this greatness, so that your servant may know it. Therefore you are great, O Lord God; for there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. Who is like your people, like Israel? Is there another nation on earth whose God went to redeem it as a people, and to make a name for himself, doing great and awesome things for them, by driving out before his people nations and their gods? And you established your people Israel for yourself to be your people forever; and you, O Lord, became their God. And now, O Lord God, as for the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, confirm it forever; do as you have promised. Thus your name will be magnified forever in the saying, 'The Lord of hosts is God over Israel'; and the house of your servant David will be established before you. For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, 'I will build you a house'; therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant; now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you; for you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever."


ADVENT DEVOTION

Oh what a beautiful prayer!

Doesn't it inspire you to want to fall on your face right now and begin to praise the Lord, our God, who has done such marvelous things for us?

No matter what challenges you may be facing, God is with you. God is for you. And God has a good plan for your life, not to harm you, but to give you a future and a hope.

If you are living, breathing, and enjoying Internet access, you can certainly count yourself abundantly blessed.

During this Advent Season, I have been challenging all of us not to count the costs, but to count our blessings. This is because I have learned that you notice what you are looking for. Who hasn't had an experience like buying a blue van only to discover countless blue vans on the road, or expecting a baby and then noticing pregnant women everywhere?

This phenomenon has taught me that we notice what we are looking for. So, look for your blessings! Count them one by one...

Pray like David, "And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant; now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you; for you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever."

As you are counting, dear ones, don't forget to count on our Jesus! Jesus is the greatest gift that any of us has ever received. The Love revealed to us in Christ Jesus is simply amazing! When you meditate on God's love, it will take your breath away!

Because of Jesus, we can look with glad anticipation to the second coming of Christ in glory! We do not fear that great day because God's words are true and we have been promised blessing forever...

May you experience the great peace that comes with noticing your blessings and grounding yourself in the Love of God revealed to us in Christ Jesus!

Peace...


PRAYER

Dear Lord, help me to meditate on my many blessings and on the precious gift of Jesus in my life. Amen.