Posted on Dec 15, 2016 in Advent Devotions |
by Miriam Kettlehake
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.
–Galatians 3:29
Many people today enjoy using Ancestor.com to find their family tree and learn more about their history. The Jewish people already knew this as we read all the names of Jesus’ early family in the first chapter of Matthew. We know Joseph, the husband of Mary, was descended from Abraham, and of the lineage of David. We are also told that he planned to dismiss her quietly when she was found to be with child before they were married. The Advent season is the last trimester, with the unborn child growing and moving. How different Mary’s life would have been if Joseph had not chosen to stand by her and provide for her. We, too, may be called to go out of our comfort zone Read more…
Posted on Dec 13, 2016 in Advent Devotions |
by Pastor Charlie Woodward
As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?
–Psalm 42:1-2
There is a scene from the 1951 Disney classic, Alice in Wonderland, in which Alice is seeking some direction from the Cheshire Cat.
Alice: “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
Cheshire Cat: “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.”
Alice: “I don’t much care where.”
Cheshire Cat: “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.”
Read more…
Posted on Dec 12, 2016 in Advent Devotions |
by Phil Nielsen
Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. And they were all together on Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem. Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.
–Acts 5:412-16
Reflecting on this reading from Acts, I spent a lot of time wondering what it had to do with the Advent or Christmas seasons. Jesus isn’t even mentioned here – only the apostles, the people who joined the early Church, and the people who received healing through the ministry of these early Christians. Read more…
Posted on Dec 11, 2016 in Advent Devotions |
by Jane Lane
You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
–James 5:8
Three young children, ten year old twins, Jane and Judy, and six year old, Jim, were awake really early on Christmas morning, eager and excited to see what Santa had left for them under the tree.
The only problem was that the children were told by their parents that they had to be patient and wait until their uncle and aunt arrived from Youngstown, OH, before they could go into the living room to see their gifts. The three doors leading into that room were closed on Christmas morning, the only time they ever were. Read more…
Posted on Dec 10, 2016 in Advent Devotions |
by Lisa Woodward
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming.”
–Luke 3:15-16
Waiting can be pure agony! In our house, the rule was that, on Christmas morning, my sisters and I were not allowed to wake our parents until 7:00. But I was always so excited about seeing what Santa had left for me that I routinely woke up at 3:00 a.m. and couldn’t fall back asleep. I spent countless hours sitting at the kitchen table, playing Solitaire, watching the minute hand on the clock creep ever so slowly, until the hour I had been longing for finally arrived. Read more…
Posted on Dec 9, 2016 in Advent Devotions |
by Joyce Zimmann
He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him.
–Ruth 4:15
Naomi’s sad story starts with the loss of her husband and sons. This was tragic for a Jewish woman. She had no one to provide for her, no chance of a descendant. Her loving daughter-in-law, Ruth, who said “Entreat me not to leave thee,” (from the King James, because I think it’s poetic!) traveled with Naomi to Bethlehem, their ancestral home. Ruth humbly went to the barley fields of a relative, Boaz, to provide sustenance by gleaning the grains left by the reapers. Read more…
Posted on Dec 8, 2016 in Advent Devotions |
by Kathy Whited
5 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
8 the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10 The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!
–Psalm 146:5-10
Read more…
Posted on Dec 7, 2016 in Advent Devotions |
by David Clark
And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” [God] brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.
–Genesis 15:3, 5-6
The story of Abram is a familiar one, with God using the sky’s stars to illustrate the magnificent promise to one solitary man. In Les Miserables, Javert sings “Stars, in their multitudes, scarce to be counted, filling the darkness with order and light. Read more…
Posted on Dec 6, 2016 in Advent Devotions |
by Wendy York
Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.
–Psalm 21:13
In Psalm 21, David writes of how God has blessed him throughout his life. He writes of the many blessings that God has given him – blessings above and beyond what David could have ever imagined. He writes of the King who is to come, and the power and strength of that King over His enemies; over, indeed, our enemies. God grants not only what has been asked of Him in prayer, but far exceeds what we could imagine. Read more…
Posted on Dec 5, 2016 in Advent Devotions |
by Pete Moenter
Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification…
–1 Thessalonians 4:1-3
Paul wrote this letter to the church in Thessalonica who apparently was experiencing some difficulties. He encouraged them, commended them, and offered some suggestions to perhaps help them through their difficulties. I believe we need this kind of help more than ever today. Read more…
