Friday, December 25, 2015

Devotional 12-25-15

There is something renewing about waking up Christmas Morning.  It is as if there is a magic in the world, a new beginning or a new creation.  For my family it means waking up in a wonderland of blankets and sheets.  Each year on Christmas Eve we throw air mattresses on the floor and hang bed sheets from the walls, ceiling, doors, and tables. We add Christmas lights and an old TV hooked to the DVD player for hours of Christmas shows.  Then my siblings and their spouses or nieces and nephews (depending on which family we are visiting) spend one final night of preparation.  Then comes the morning…

 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God…”

I love to refer to this passage from John as the third creation story.  Even though the book of John is in an apocalyptic style, I feel there is a great deal of Jewish tradition in this description of Jesus existing from the very beginning.  It seems to take the whole Old Testament and wrap it up… like a gift to receive… if you are just willing to explore it.  We start the story of Jesus by going back to creation and seeing that Christ, this Anointed One, was there when it started.  When is says in Genesis, “Let us create mankind in our own image, in our likeness…” it is not just the Queen of England talking about herself, but a Triune God at creation.  Holy Creator, Holy Messiah, Holy Spirit.  For me this is the beginning.  This is the passage that makes me want to tear into the Bible to see what cause the Anointed to come to earth, to see where Christianity comes from, so that I can become a child of God, and so that I can understand the grace and truth of the Word.

This is the gift we celebrate at Christmas. This is why we put up forts to sleep in, wreaths on the door, trees in the windows; to remind us that the Word became flesh and there is a gift for you… waiting… in the scriptures… with your families… in your church.

You are a child of God.

Tobyn Wells

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Devotional 12-24-15

Please read I Sam. 2:18-20; 26

There is a style of parenting that is popular right now called helicopter parenting.  Helicopter parents want to be a part of everything their children are doing and they are very protective of their children and willing to intervene if they think their children aren’t being treated the way they should be. To some extent those are good qualities, but the problem occurs when there is too much parental involvement. For example, a radio news story reported that many summer camps have established on line photo galleries of their daily activities. Parents love to see them. One parent, however, called the camp after they noticed a scratch on their child’s arm and wondered what had caused the scratch and did the camp staff take care of it the way the parents wanted. I was, and still am, an involved Mom, but this seems extreme, even to me.

Instead, let’s take a look at how the prophet Samuel’s parents, Hannah and Elkanah did things differently. No one can argue with the fact that they cherished this son who was born to them after many years of barrenness, times when they waited fervently and prayed without ceasing that they would have a son.  But as devoted as they were to him, they were more devoted to God. They were spiritually mature enough to know that God had plans for their son which were different than what they had hoped for their son. I’m sure it was hard for them, but they set aside their plans and submit to God’s, which was that Samuel would serve God in the most important place where people worshipped at that time, Shiloh. They did whatever they could to help Samuel in that capacity, visiting him every year and “taking him a little robe.”

Frankly, I’m not sure if I could have done what they did.  But this is exactly what we are called to do when we have our children baptized. We promise that they are God’s forever and we entrust them to God and God’s church.  Even if we understand that they are God’s, not ours, we still are responsible for them, and we will always to one degree or another, think of them as ours. A man in one of the churches I pastored, described it this way. “We’re their parents, but those kids aren’t really ours. We’re just trustees.”   He understood that our job as Christians is to center our lives, not on our children, but on God. Our job as parents is to help our children remember whose they are, and to support them as they become the people God wants them to be. Hannah and Elkanah are an example that can help us do that.

Rev. Dorcas Linger Conrad
St. Matthew United Methodist Church. Weston, WV
I relied heavily on Year C, Volume 4 of the commentary “Feasting on the Word” as I wrote this devotional.

Devotional 12-23-15

Read Luke 2: 1-20   This is Luke’s telling of the birth of Jesus and the shepherds and angels at Jesus birth.

Everyone has a birthday but not everyone celebrates their birthday.

Do you remember when you were young what is was like to look forward to a birthday celebration?  Unfortunately for me, I was born on December 31 so I was a tax deduction!  However, the kid beside me was the first born of the New Year and he received a $500 Savings Bond (trust me- back then that was a lot of money), diaper service for a year and a encyclopedia set.  My Dad always claimed I cost him money from the day I was born!

When I read this passage, I always wonder what Joseph and Mary must have been feeling.  Joseph had been told in a dream what was to happen and Mary had the angel Gabriel announcing God’s plan. The trip to Bethlehem must have been a challenge physically and emotionally for both.

So it is, as we approach Christmas, I ask you what effect has the news of Christ’s birth had on you?  Is it same as last year, has it awakened a new sense of joy in your spiritual life, given you hope for the future, or caused you to thank God for his grace and forgiveness?

On our spiritual walk, we “grow” from infancy to adulthood.  I challenge you to take time from your work/play schedule this Holiday Season and spend time developing a deeper desire to know God, have a love for others, know the joy of God’s grace, his strength through tough times and true peace which this world does not offer!

My hope for each of us this Advent Season is to prepare ourselves both physically and emotionally to Know God/Know Peace

Prayer: Heavenly Father as we approch Christmas Day let us stop and remember.  Remember we are forgiven/We are loved/We are blessed/We are imperfect/Yet we are instruments here in God’s Kingdom on Earth!  May it always be so.

Marv Jones

Monday, December 21, 2015

Devotional 12-22-15

Mary

Mary was a newly engaged, young teen when the angel Gabriel appeared to her. The angel told her not to be afraid, that she had found favor with God. Then he told her that she would become pregnant and have a son, who would be the long awaited Messiah! I imagine she was feeling totally over whelmed at that point, but her only question was, “How will this be since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34 NIV) Then, after the explanation, “I am the Lords servant...may it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38 NIV) Mary was filled with Joy! How long did it take for her to totally comprehend that whole experience? How long did it take for her to start thinking of the ramifications of what she had agreed to do? While the angel was there I doubt that she was giving much thought to how Joseph, her parents, or the people of Nazareth  would accept her news. She just trusted God.

How was Mary feeling by the time she and Joseph left for Bethlehem? Was she scared? How could she not be? She was almost 9 months pregnant and heading away from home, away from her mother and other female relatives who could help her with the birth of her first child. Did riding on a donkey for 70 miles bring on early labor? It doesn’t matter. She was approximately 14 years old and about to give birth in a stable.  The next hours would not have been easy. Child birth under the best of circumstances is a painful, messy, humbling, and exhausting experience. These were far from the best circumstances even in that day.

Oh, but what joy she must have felt when she finally held her baby boy! Every parent knows the awe and wonder at the miracle of birth and the over whelming sense of responsibility for the new life. How much more intense must Mary’s feelings have been knowing that she was holding the worlds savior?

Mary was so young, so inexperienced. She had been on a roller coaster of emotions and hormones for 9 months. How did she get through this difficult time? She trusted God!

Margaret Williams

Devotional 12-21-15

“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;
they will sing before the lord, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth.  Psalm 96:11-13

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”  Luke 2:10


Our oldest child is a Christmas baby, and our family welcomed him with gladness, joy, and hope.  He has had a tremendous impact upon our lives, and was a great joy.  Our son is not real happy about having his birthday forever in the shadow of the celebration of the Christ child’s birthday.  That first Christmas with him was the greatest joy we had known.  The first grandchild on both sides of the family, he was passed from one grandparent to another, and between his aunts and uncle.  This was just the joy of one family,

The joy of the long awaited Christ child is still celebrated by the earth, sea and heavens.  The bounty of the harvest is in, and we are preparing to celebrate our thankfulness for the Lord’s blessings.   As I am writing this we are in the midst of a glorious Indian summer.  The skies have been clear, and during the day the light of the sun causes the fall colors to glow (how else can trees sing for joy), and the river that flows by us sparkles.  On clear nights stars and distant worlds can be seen.  Each season has its own pleasures, its own way of singing of God’s glory, the joyous profusion of new life in the spring, the lush growth of summer, the bounty of and colors of fall, the peace of winter.

We celebrate the coming of Jesus, and feel unworthy of such a gift of grace, but because he loves us, and forgives us, we live in the comfort of his blessings and need not fear.

April Sutton

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Devotional 12-20-15

Luke 1:26-35, 38.

Timing is everything.
In the right time,
In God’s time,
In the sixth month,
Gabriel came to visit a young girl.

To say the visit was unexpected
would be underestimation of the truth.
Who expects a visit from an angel?
Mary was just beginning her life.
Engaged to Joseph,
her expectations were marriage, children,
Nurturing her family,
Scraping out a living,
Growing old.
Cared for by her family,
she would die.
Instead, an angel visited.

Her plans were interrupted.
Her life was transformed
by an angel’s visit.

He told her startling news.
She had found favor with God.
Who expects that kind of news?
She would bear a son, named Jesus.
He would be Great,
Descendant of David, king like David.
King unlike David.
Reigning forever.
Of his kingdom there would be no end.

The news was impossible.
And yet Gabriel was not done.

She would be visited by the Holy Spirit.
God would overshadow her.
Her child would be holy.
Son of God.
She was told of her cousin,
Who was expecting the impossible.
Planning for the unexpected.
Nothing is impossible with God.
A child born to a virgin.
A child born to a barren woman.

And then, what might be the most surprising of all.
I would never expect it from myself.
Mary says, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord.
Let it be with me according to your word.”

Here am I.
Let it be as you say.
Not as I expected.
Not as I planned.
Not the way that is safe and easy.
Let it be as you say.
Here am I.
Send me.

Kim Matthews

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Devotional 12-19-15

Humble Things
Micah 5:2-5a, Luke 1:39-55

One of my all-time favorite Christmas ornaments is really rather shoddily made. Very simple, humble even. My son, who is now 33, made it when he was a toddler. It’s an imprint of his palm in a rough disc of plaster of Paris, painted gold with a little loop of green yarn embedded at the top so you can hang it on the tree. Of course I love it, despite its unpretentiousness. Because to me, in its simplicity and humility, it reflects the glory of life given by God.

In this week’s Scripture readings, we can see this same phenomenon of humility revealing glory. In Micah 5, the prophet shares God’s word to Bethlehem, “one of the little clans of Judah”—unpretentious, simple, humble. And yet, God says, “from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from old, from ancient days…. 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.”

From a little clan comes a mighty ruler. Humility reveals glory!

And then in the exquisite song of Mary, the “Magnificat,” we see God using a young woman who could serve as the very definition of humble. Something astonishing is happening to her—mind-boggling and faith-stretching. Can you even imagine what she must have thought about all this? Why has God chosen her?

Yet when God had called her, her immediate response to God was one of humble acceptance and determined obedience. And now, with her cousin Elizabeth, who blesses Mary and the fruit of her womb, Mary bursts into praise to God.

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant….”

Lowliness magnifies the Lord. Humility reveals glory!

This is a reality we all must wrestle with as we live in the reign of God. We may see our gifts as pitiful, our lives as little, our calling as lowly. But in God’s eyes, nothing could be further from the truth.

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, spend some time this week considering what “little things” you might give, what simple gifts you might present, what humble service you might offer to God. And thereby magnify the Lord.

Humility reveals glory. Glory to God in the highest!

Prayer:
Lord of glory, open my eyes and my heart to the gifts and calling you’ve given me that I might share them eagerly, lovingly, and humbly with others--for your glory. Amen.

Rev. Peter M. Wallace

Friday, December 18, 2015

Devotional 12-18-15

Be the Change

Hebrews 10:8-10 “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them.” Then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

“That’s not how I’ve always done it,” I catch myself saying often these days. “I don’t think that will work. We’ve already tried that, and it bombed the last time. Why reinvent the wheel?” What are these sentences really saying?  Quit trying to make me______ a different way. The blank may be filled in with read, write, speak, think, learn, behave, or worship. No matter what one puts in the blank, it denotes a resistance to change.

I was never going to be that person. When I listened to oldsters talk like that when I was young, I swore, like many of you, that I would never close my mind to new ideas. I guess that is the catch. Have I convinced myself that there are no new ideas? There is scripture to back up my point of view. Just look at Ecclesiastes 1:9 It says that there is nothing new under the sun. Am I taking that verse out of context? Does it matter? According to many, (not my clergy) whatever is written in the Bible needs no context. I’m not so sure.

You see, that’s what the Jewish priests thought, too. Before Jesus came along, they were the experts, and they knew what God expected His children to do.They knew all about making sacrifices to God - literally. They knew Jewish law and were convinced that God wanted things done a specific way, at a given time, by chosen people. They weren’t evil, but they eventually committed evil acts to keep the status quo. They did not embrace change. Of course, we know the rest of the story; we know that  Jesus was all about change.

Right about now you’re wondering what this has to do with Advent. The word advent means the beginning. Christ’s birth began the Christian religion. Christ’s crucifixion began our salvation. Christ’s resurrection began life everlasting. Christ’s teachings tell me that I need to change my attitude, and I need to begin today.

What about you? Do you need to change your attitude? Offer it up to God. Replace it with love for others. Remember why Jesus was born.

Heavenly Father, our world is in turmoil, and Your people are struggling to hear Your voice. Help us to remember why Your son was born. Now, more than ever, we need to love one another. Surely that will be a change we all can embrace.
Amen

Becky Warren

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Devotional 12-17-15

Last week the President visited Charleston to be part of a group to discuss the terrible drug problems in our state with all of the ramifications connected to the problems. One woman from Huntington gave an emotional presentation on how drugs affect families and children.  The president mentioned that having a child was to “have your heart go walking outside your body.”  This reminded me of a devotional that my son-in-law wrote for September 11th.  He used Elizabeth Stone’s quote, “Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body.”

I know that he was referring to his sons, my grandsons.  It touched my heart to read what he and my daughter had done to prepare them for the future.  Now they were grown men who would make their own decisions. He had hope for their futures.

But what if he knew their future from birth to the death?  This was what God knew about his son from the time the angel appeared to Mary. I would give my life  and I am sure that my son-in-law would to prevent either one of them to face what Jesus would face.  And Jesus knew that his body was a gift from his Father so that he would be the human sacrifice for us. (Hebrews 10:5-10)

In Micah we learn that Bethlehem will be the place of the birth of the Son of God and that Mary will be the mother.  In Luke we learn that Mary has gone to visit Elizabeth who is soon to be the mother of John the Baptist.  Mary tells Elizabeth about the angel appearing to her and that she will be the mother of the son of God.  Mary is visited by the  spirit and understands her role in the relationship with God.  She feels blessed to be chosen.  This is known as Mary’s Song.  We learn that Mary knows the future of her Son.  Can you imagine how she would feel when she watches her son be sacrificed on a cross?

In Psalms 80 we learn that the world is overcome by chaos and that people were created and sustained by God.  But Covenant God remains firm.  This is called “Lilies of the Covenant.” It is the prayer for the Restoration of Israel.  All of this looks toward the future of the son of God.

Today we have our “Hearts a Walking” hoping that we have done our best as parents, not knowing the future.  There is so much chaos out there but we can never know the future. God knew his “Heart a Walking would die for all of us from the time Mary gave birth.  That would bring unimaginable pain for any parent!!

Let us pray:  Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your sacrifice that none of us would be Prepared to do.  Yet, You did this for us because if your love.
Amen

Carolee Brown

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Devotional 12-16-15

The Little Things in Life

Most of us are blessed to never experience an earthquake or an automobile wreck of devastating proportions or a house fire causing us to lose our home and our most treasured possessions. Thank God for His mercies.

The things that get to us on a daily basis, the everyday happenings, those “little things of life” are what cause us to mutter under our breath and say “grrr” (or something less polite!)  The dishwasher, full of dirty dishes, malfunctions and floods the kitchen. The repairman doesn’t come on the expected day after you have waited at home all day. Your boss yells at you for something that was not your fault. That stupid driver in front of you almost causes you to wreck your car. It’s a bad hair day and you are invited to a big bash that evening. Add your own disaster list.

But not all little things in life are unpleasant. A smile from the grocery store clerk (who may be having her own bad day), a telephone call from a friend or family member not heard from for some time, a bill not as large as expected.

 When we think of good little things thoughts turn to little children. We like to think this is their special time of the year. Advent is the season when we remember a little baby, the most precious one of all time, the baby Jesus. Wonder of wonders, He came to us as a little baby, a joyous birth, His future unforeseen except by God the Father.

How blessed we are at this Christmas season, amid the hustle and bustle, to remember that tiny one, our Savior Jesus Christ. During Advent as we anticipate His birthday, rejoice in all the good “little things” in our lives  but most of all rejoice in God’s mercy in sending His only Son to be our Savior, our companion in life, our Redeemer.

Jean Dean

Devotional 12-15-15

A man woke up weary one morning, as if he had not slept at all. He was greatly distressed over the turmoil of the world: wars, terrorism, exploitation, poverty, hunger, human trafficking…his heart ached and his mind was overwhelmed. He thought this morning he might find solace by reading the Bible rather than the newspaper. He had a Bible…didn’t he? He was sure he did. He got one when he was confirmed thirty years ago and he got one when he graduated high school. He thought he had kept one from a stay at a hotel (Thank you Gideons!) Finally after a lot of searching he found one at the bottom of a magazine basket. It was that hotel Bible. Then he remember his mother kept the other two as keepsakes. He flopped down in his chair, looked with disdain at yesterday’s newspaper, and opened the Bible. He happened to open his Bible to the book of Micah. This is what he read…..

“He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.   And he will be their peace.” Micah 5:4-5

He felt confused…then a little angry. “Jesus!” he yelled, “When are you going to get up and do this?” Jesus strolled in from the kitchen with a cup of coffee (free-trade, of course). “I’ve been doing it”, Jesus answered as he sipped his Hazelnut Mocha Crème Cappuccino. “I’ve been shepherding for nearly two thousand years. The problem is that the sheep keep straying. The sheep don’t want a shepherd or peace until you get scared. Otherwise you want to go your own way. You want power. You want control. You want gain, and you think the troubles of your neighbors and the troubles or those on the other side of the world are not your concern. You say you love me every time the question comes up, but you rarely take care of one another, except to the extent that it makes you feel good about yourself. You say I am your shepherd, but you neither follow me nor listen to my voice unless it suits you at the moment.”

The man didn’t much like being lumped together with everyone else. He was about to protest that but then a question came to mind: “Well why don’t you do the whole Second-coming thing already? Just wipe the planet, get on with the final judgment, and be done with it?”

“I think about that often. Dad and I talk about it every few days. The thing about the final judgement is…well, it’s final.” “So what?” the man replied. “They’ve have enough chances, haven’t they?”

Jesus smiled, “Why do you say ‘they’? You are one of them. We only made one humanity, you know. Sometime WE do think you have had enough chances. Some days I watch you and I feel that old complaint rise up in me:

“There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.  All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

“Then one of you does something good, something right, something beautiful, and the whole decree goes out the window. However, if you really want a Micah kind of world, everyone who calls me Lord will have to act like that’s actually true.”

The man sat quietly for a moment and finally got the nerve to ask Jesus, “Is that really possible?” Jesus sighed and replied “All things are possible. The question is, will you follow me?”

Rev. Joe Hill

Monday, December 14, 2015

Devotional 12-14-15

Luke 1:39-55

This account in Luke is dominated by Mary’s song, known in liturgese as “The Magnificat” which was borrowed with theological as well as literary meaning from the Song of Hannah (I Samuel 2:1-10).  It is the mainstay of the social doctrine of the universal church which makes clear that God favors the poor and lowly.  The “mighty” and the “rich” are sent away.  That’s a sermon for another time.

In reading this passage this year, I’ve been moved by the opening verses regarding Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth who was six-months ahead of Mary in her pregnancy.  As Luke writes the story, Mary, without being told by the angel to do so, visits her cousin, perhaps because they share the experience of unexpected pregnancies.  However, there is a dramatic contrast in their experiences.  Elizabeth is aged and had been married a long, long time.  Mary was very young.  unmarried.  and pregnant.  in a culture that would stigmatize her severely with judgmental rejection because of her status as an unwed mother.

Would Mary have expected Elizabeth to greet her with harsh judgment?  Without knowing the rest of the story, the first century reader of Luke might expect so.  But Elizabeth’s loving and happy reaction is a wondrous and lovely point that is key to Luke’s telling the story.  She feels the stirring in her own womb that she interprets as these two second-cousin yet-unborn babies greeting one another.  These are not just two more false prophets.

In our families, in our friendships, and in our churches, there are countless opportunities for judgmental exclusion or rejection.  How quickly can good and righteous Christians turn into unrighteous judges when someone – or some group – does not live up to our standards.  Mary’s visit with Elizabeth calls us to a different attitude.  Elizabeth, Luke reports, was filled with the Holy Spirit and was able to see the work of God despite human standards and culture that would call for criticism, rejection, judgment.  What can Luke’s story teach us?

Loving God, holy one:  fill us also with the Holy Spirit that we would see you more clearly through the fog of human standards and culture that are not of you.  Jesus is Lord, in whom we pray.  Amen.

Rev. Jack Lipphart

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Devotional 12-13-15

It’s that time of the year – when the list of things to do is too long for the amount of time left before Christmas.  Why do we do this to ourselves?

However, this seems to be pretty typical for us during any time of the year.  We seem to over schedule almost every day, while underestimating the time and the ability and the strength we have, which is required to complete our tasks.  What are we thinking about?

One thing is for sure.  We have little or no time to “Rejoice”!  For as Paul so aptly states in Philippians 4:4-5:

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone, The Lord is near.”(NIB)

Paul commanded all people to rejoice, and be generous to everyone, as Christ had taught and demonstrated in his earthly life.  These words from Paul were amazing, considering his circumstances when he wrote these words.  Paul was in prison, facing a capital charge, constantly concerned with the welfare of the many new churches that had been started.  The people of his time were mostly poor, and struggling just to get through each day.  And Paul encouraged them - and us - to rejoice and be generous.

Today we live in considerably more comfortable surroundings and situations, and yet we are constantly worried and anxious and harried.  Maybe, instead we NEED to rejoice and be generous.  Gratitude and joy for all God has given us, strengthens our relationship with God and God’s people, so we may feel the peace and love of God surrounding us and helping us as we encourage and build up everyone in our community.

We have a choice to make today and everyday.  What will it be??????

Blessings,  
Rev. Suzanne Ellis

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Devotional 12-12-15


Salvation

Read:  Zephaniah 3:14-20; Isaiah 12:2-6; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18

As you read the Lectionary for this third week of Advent consider reading two bible versions and if possible let one of them be from The Message.

The people of Israel in the Old Testament did not have a Messiah as yet.  Yes, they had many great leaders and Prophets.  But God was the only one they could turn to for Salvation.  This is all God wanted them to do from the very moment humans were created that is look to him, trust in him.  But as we know this didn’t happen! Over many years they looked for other idols to trust in or worship or turn to for help.  The theme of salvation can be seen in both Zephaniah and Isaiah.

Zephaniah 3:16-17 (the Message)
Jerusalem will be told: “Don’t be afraid. Dear Zion, don’t despair.  Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you.  Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs

Isaiah  12:2  (The Message)
“Yes, indeed—God is my salvation. I trust, I won’t be afraid. God—yes God!—is my strength and song, best of all, my salvation!”

We are still children of God whom we look to for help.  But we now have Jesus Christ as our means of Salvation.  When John the Baptist was at the River Jordan baptizing the people, he was upset with them for many were just doing it because it was popular. (Luke 3:7-20) He let them know that he was only there cleansing them with water.  But that there was another to fill them with the Holy Spirit.  And that their life would be changed.  John also let them know how they/we should be treating each other (Luke 3:10-14)  Share what we have, do not take advantage of others. Be satisfied with what we have. 

When we let Christ the Messiah be our salvation we need to let others know this message.  Let them see how Christ has changed our life.  Let our light shine for all to see.

Philippines 4:4-5 (NRSV) 
4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

Pray; 
God I love you and thank you for your unconditional love, for your guidance. There are times I fail you but you are there welcoming me back to your open arms.  Father thank you for your son Jesus Christ whom you sent to be our Salvation, who you sacrificed on the cross to save us.  Christ is my guide my Redeemer of whom I accept.  Father help me to show the way to others so they may feel your redeeming love and trust in you through Jesus.  

Let peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard our hearts and our minds through Christ Jesus.(Phil 4:7)  
Amen,

Fred Herr

Friday, December 11, 2015

Devotional 12-11-15

“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”  Zephaniah 3:17( Zeph. 3:14-20)
“Surely God is my salvation;  I will trust and not be afraid.  The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.”
  Isaiah 12:2 (Is. 12:2-6)
“Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!!  Philippians 4:4 (Phil. 4:4-7)

A favorite movie from my childhood was Disney’s “Pollyanna”.  I don’t remember which year I saw it, but it was released in 1960.  (I probably saw it several years after that when it came to TV.)  Hayley Mills as the lead character quickly became a role model for me.  Upon her move to a small town after the deaths of her missionary parents, she began to quietly change it from a town full of gossip, criticism, anger and hurt to one of positive thoughts and actions.  Through sharing positive, “glad” scriptures which are the promises of our heritage, she chose to focus on encouragement and hope. I know it was only a movie, but she did change the outlook of the town and by expanding on the idea, we are capable of changing our environment also.

 The term “pollyanna” has a connotation for looking at the world through “rose-colored glasses” instead of making observations with a realistic view.  But maybe we need to adopt a more positive outlook in order to balance all the negative energy and despair that are prevalent in our world today.  It doesn’t take long to find something wrong with just about every person, activity or event.  But it takes a little more energy to find the good in every situation. Uh Oh!!! I hear God challenging me to take on the task of finding the good in each situation…..

The Advent season is a time of waiting, but it is not a time to sit and do absolutely nothing.  All of the lectionary readings for this week are filled with the promises of God:  “Do Not Be Afraid”; “Rejoice”; “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save”; “Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.” God is calling all of us to take on the challenge of Advent: to prepare our hearts, our lives, our families and our church for the coming of the Christ Child.  We await the coming of new life in the form of a special baby who is wrapped in Hope, Love, Joy and Peace.  

The challenge to find the good in each event is linked to our belief that God loves us and wants the best for us. He has called us for his service and will equip us for the tasks he requires. One of my favorite anthems is “And the Father Will Dance” by Mark Hayes. The text of the anthem is based on Zephaniah 3:14-20. God loves us so much that he dances over us in joy and exults over us in song.    These words echo the first Bible verse most children learn:  For God so loved the world that he gave his ONLY begotten son, that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life.  John 3:16.    
And the Father will dance over you in joy!  He will take delight in whom He loves.
Is that a choir I hear, singing the praises of God?
No, the Lord God Himself is exulting o’er you in song!!
God rejoices over you!   God rejoices over you!  God rejoices over you in song!!

If God can love even me, as I am, then I can love what he has made and try to find the good in everyone and every activity.  God will be with us in the challenge and the attempts to search for the hope in each situation.

Dear God of the Universe, we humbly ask once again for forgiveness in our shortsighted outlook on ourselves, our lives and our world.  We have not lived as if we believed your promises.  Enter our hearts anew and light the fire of your joy and zeal within us.  Help us to find your light and love in each person and situation.  Prepare us for the coming of your Son so that we might “join with the Father in glorious, jubilant song!!”  Amen.

Chyrl Budd

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Devotional 12-10-15

Please read Luke 3: 7-18

Today’s reading is about the birth of Jesus and the angel appearing to the shepherds. How frightened these men must have been. In the news last week there was an uproar about a light in the sky on the west coast. Even with today’s technology people feared what they didn’t know.

I guess this can be called human nature because it’s something we all do but in the case of the shepherds they listened and obeyed. Maybe that was because they were looking for something, someone who could make their lives better and an angel in the night sky seemed like an idea they could live with.

In December of 1967, what seems like a million years away now, I was asked to be the Annunciation Angel in the Christmas Pageant at my church, Calvary Baptist, in Norristown, PA. I was 17 and scared to death to talk in front of any gathering but I accepted. It amazed me that when I spoke the words “for unto you is born, this day in the city of Bethlehem, a savior who is Christ, the Lord”, I wasn’t afraid, and they could hear me in the back of the church.

These words are empowering yesterday, today and tomorrow. Maybe if we think about them and use them in thoughts, words and deeds we could convince a shepherd, a king, a neighbor or a homeless person that there is hope in this world and his name is Jesus.

Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, in the hustle and bustle of this holiday season, may we keep foremost in our minds that there is hope in this life. Things have changed in 2,000 years but you haven’t, your Son hasn’t. May we remember to talk to you everyday and to listen to hear what you have to say to us.  I ask these things in the name of your precious Son, Jesus Christ.
Amen

Debbie McGinnis

Wednesday, December 09, 2015

Devotional 12-9-15

Christmas Benchmarks and Advent

All of us have Christmas Benchmarks in our families.  There is the best one, the sad one, or the mediocre one.  All of us hope for the perfect family Christmas.  Movies are made to illustrate the so called “perfect” Christmas. I have been told that my very first Christmas as a child was when the electricity went out and my Dad bought a generator so that I could see the colored lights on the Christmas tree.  Then there was the Christmas when my parents came to visit us in Virginia. Times were difficult then.  I remember that the snow began to fall until all the outside was covered.  The three of us went out on my carport to watch the snow when we saw a large raised star of David on the hood of my Dad’s car. It was midnight on Christmas Eve and I knew the star was a sign that all would be well. Then there was the Christmas when it snowed so much that I was afraid to start out with my two-year-old daughter to drive to Beckley from Northern Virginia.  My Dad rode the train to Alexandria to drive us in my car.  Then there is the sad one when they came to visit us here in Huntington.  My mother went into heart failure while here and died.  All of us have bench marks about Christmas. It took me years to stop grieving about Christmas.  I am sure some of you are probably grieving now. I know that God understands our grief and that time will help.

Advent gives us time to prepare.  It gives us time to forget the past and look to the future.  God’s promise is to give us a savior who is to be born.  God does keep his promises. He wants us to give him control and have faith that the outcome will be desirable. I just read my Devotion from 2000 that I called “Lean on Me” in which I discussed how difficult it was for me to give God control because of my nature.  I had learned over the years to depend on myself.  Now is it fifteen years later, and I no longer feel that way.  As I have grown older and I hope matured, I know that I now put most things in God’s Hands.  I am definitely more at ease and content with doing it. So Advent has become a time of preparation but also a time of peace for me and I hope for all you.

Let us Pray:
Heavenly father, we thank you for your promise.  Your son was born to die for our sins. Let this Advent Season prepare all of us for the receipt of your son.  He is our Christmas Gift from you and we are thankful.
Amen

Carolee Brown

Tuesday, December 08, 2015

Devotional 12-8-15

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
John 14:27

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 15:11

Recently I went to the health Department to get a flu shot. Of course, I would pick a time when half of Huntington also decided to go to the Health Department. The room was full of people waiting.............

Most every chair was taken. People were looking at their phones or at a TV which shows health-related videos, some were half asleep and some were just waiting........

The nurse announced a number and a man with a young boy went back. The boy said to his father, “We’re going to go see someone?” I thought to myself, I hope that kid had some warning that he’s going to get a shot.

Several minutes later the man and boy emerged. The boy stepped into the room, stretched out his arms and exuberantly announced to the waiting masses, “I got two shots! Two!” He was smiling from ear to ear. You would have thought he’d just been told he was going to Disney World. 

Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing, looked at the boy and smiled along with him. For a few precious seconds, that room was filled with joy. 

It’s the holiday season. People are stressed. Oh, we know we should be happy and content, focusing on the birth of our Savior, but most are just plain old stressed and worn out. Could you bring joy to someone? To a room full of people? 

Give it a try.

Anita Gardner Farrell

Monday, December 07, 2015

Devotional 12-7-15

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” – Philippians 4:4-6 NIV

When I was five years old and still receiving all of the Barbie dolls and Britney Spears CDs that I wrote in my letter to Santa, I didn’t dream that Christmas could ever have the potential to be stressful. When I was in my senior year of high school, receiving a small paycheck every so often from my first part time job and not surrendering money to bills, I never thought finding everyone Christmas presents would pose a challenge. I was eighteen years old and convinced that I had enjoying Christmas and providing my family with awesome gifts down to a science.

Fast forward a few years: twenty years old and going to the Dollar Tree every couple of weeks to keep groceries in the cabinet of my apartment – the same apartment that I’m spending a few hundred dollars on every month to live in. While I have a part-time job that pays a little more than minimum wage, I still find myself struggling to make ends meet. For the first time ever, I found Christmas stressful. I found myself frequently tearing up over the thought of not being able to give my family the gifts I felt they deserve.

I go to school full-time and stay on campus from eight in the morning to about four-thirty. After that, most evenings, I work five to close, ten o’clock in the evening. After I get home from closing, I work on homework until almost one in the morning. Then my day starts all over again. Keeping up with this routine for the first few months made me extremely tired. I was beginning to get a surplus, but I still needed to stay up after closing the store to do all of the homework I had due the next day. I was going, and going, and going, and going all day with very few days for breaks. And when you’re so tired and stressed, you start to throw yourself a pity party and convince yourself you have it so hard. You also start to forget that you have God right there, willing to help you the second you ask. I knew I needed to slow down after the first night I was too tired to do my nightly prayer.

After that night, I felt spiritually deprived, and I started losing control of things because I spread myself too thin. After a week of crying at night – feeling sorry for myself, wondering what’s missing, wishing things were different – I started to pray. I first started by turning everything that I thought was negative into a positive by thanking God for it. “Thank you, God, for giving me a job that pays well and allows me to work as much as I do. I know how hard that is to come around. Thank you, God, for allowing me to study something I’m so passionate about and the challenges that come with it. I know there’s a purpose for all of this work, and I know it will make me a great music teacher one day.”

As I kept going with my prayer, it dawned on me – my family doesn’t care about what kind of gift I give them for the holidays. It may not be much, but the fact that we have each other and that we all share such a strong bond with each other is a gift enough. Of course, I’ll do what I can, but I realized that I shouldn’t worry so much about the material part of the holidays. “Thank you God, for blessing me with such a loving family for me to not only celebrate Christmas with, but to celebrate every day You bless us with and to celebrate it together.”

I know how stressful it is this time of the year. While it’s such an exciting and joyous time, it can be easy to take your focus away from the real meaning of Christmas and worry about what’s on store shelves. Don’t lose sight of all of the little things that happen every single day because you’re stressed over what may or may not be under the tree. This is such a beautiful time of year – thank God for such a beautiful season to celebrate in. Thank God for sending his son to be born and to one day for our sins. Thank God for the excitement and joy in your children’s faces as each day in December passes. You don’t want to lose it to stress.

Olivia Watson

Sunday, December 06, 2015

Devotional 12-6-15

For the past week you have read powerful words of judgment and promise.  They are words of Advent preparation and challenge.  I’ve been struck by the way many are concerned about “keeping Christ in Christmas” and others who seem amazingly concerned that a red coffee/latte cup does not invoke the way and spirit of Christmas. One response to those concerns has come back with the challenge that maybe our faithful focus might be to “keep Christ in Christian.”  These Advent readings help us center ourselves by asking us some questions of the heart.

Who can endure the day of his coming? Malachi has reminded us of the refining and purifying way of the One who is to come among us.  What will God’s refining look like in us? In our community?  In our congregations?  How different will we look if our offerings are pleasing to the Lord?  It isn’t easy to look inside.  Preparation can be hard work for us.  (Malachi 3: 1-4)

Zechariah’s voice returns in the first Luke reading and he breaks into song.  Zechariah has reason to rejoice.  After long years of waiting and hoping, he and Elizabeth had been blessed with the gift of a son. But instead of simply praising God for this gift, he points us toward the way of God’s tender mercies that will come quickly to God’s people in the form of God’s own son, Emmanuel.  The one who was silenced is now celebrating the forgiveness, the love, the hope, and the light that God brings to him and to all people.  His little boy will prepare the way for us to know Christ.  What darkness have you known?  What has silenced you?  Who brings light to your life? With whom do you share light? Are we ready for the gift John points us toward?  (Luke 1: 68-79)

Paul challenges us to live in a way that is pure and blameless at the coming of Christ.  That seems so impossible.  He whispers to us from prison a prayer that the people of the congregation at Philippi (and us) would live in active love—a love that will overflow in knowledge and insight so that we know what is best. That is the way that we will be ready for the day of Christ’s appearing.   How can we live in that active love until we see Christ?  (Philippians 1: 3-11)

Into our busy preparation for the Advent and Christmas seasons (decorating, cleaning, cooking, shopping), comes a challenge to make the right preparations.  Who will prepare the way of the Lord by repentance and forgiveness?  John the Baptist comes among us challenging us to get ready for Jesus. We do that by truthful self-examination.  (Luke 3: 1-6)

Advent questions come to us.  Getting ready for the coming of Christ is hard, faithful work.  We often focus on the tasks to be done but the scripture readings for the week have challenged us to get our hearts and lives ready for Christ.  How will we prepare? What needs to be cleaned, discovered, or reworked in our lives?  Maybe I do need to spend some time making sure that I am keeping “Christ in Christian.”

Prayer:
Advent God, in the busy ways of this season, slow me down.  Interrupt the things I am doing with time to reflect about my spiritual preparation.  I humbly offer my life of faith.  Help me be ready, prepared, and willing to respond to your call in my life.  Amen.

Mark Conner

Saturday, December 05, 2015

Devotional 12-5-15

Read Luke 1: 68-79

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them.”

God has unlimited powers, He chooses to work through frail humans who begin as helpless babies. Don’t minimize what God can do through those who are faithful to Him.

There are many places you can spend your time and help God do his work through you. Some places are Habitat for Humanity, Faith in Action, Clothes Closets, and our own Common Grounds. At any Thursday night at the Common Grounds meal, we have many participants at many different levels in their faith journey with God. There are single adults, couples, families with children, and elderly who come here to be fed the word of God and a meal.

Many are thankful for all we do for them. Some are quiet and shy and very personal about their journey. But God is working in us by bringing us here to serve them and to show them Jesus in us, by the way we show God’s live to them through our service.

Last week we had a clothes give a way for them to receive warm coats and some clothes for their children. Some took much for their families while others just took what they needed, wanting to give the others a chance to receive something for the cold weather.

One little boy, who had a speech problem, was so excited, got Fred’s attention and took him back to the room and showed him an outfit he really liked! He couldn’t wait for his turn, Fred said he would get his chance soon. I was helping  with the give-a-way when the little boy’s group came, he was so proud of the outfit that he took 2 other identical outfits to take to friends at school to share with them. He showed them to me, pointing to the outfit and with a great big smile on his face. He was so grateful! Praise the Lord!  He was thinking of others, too! He made it worth all our time we spend being the hands and feet of Jesus to serve them!

So if you want to see Jesus or be Jesus, come and help out on Thursday nights before 6:00 pm. You can serve food, drinks,  and get to know the people who come to JM to worship God. This is their church too! They worship in different ways, remember they are a child of God too!

Let us pray,
Dear Father,
Thank you for your love you show to all your children, those who have and who have not, are always in need of your love. During this advent season don’t let us forget the real reason for this season, Jesus!   May all your children be called to be your hands and feet and serve where ever you call them. Bless the little children and keep them in your loving arms as they learn of your love for them.
In Jesus name.
Amen

Melanie Herr

Friday, December 04, 2015

Devotional 12-4-14

Scripture:
3 I thank my God every time I mention you in my prayers.4 I’m thankful for all of you every time I pray, and it’s always a prayer full of joy. 5 I’m glad because of the way you have been my partners in the ministry of the gospel from the time you first believed it until now. 6 I’m sure about this: the one who started a good work in you will stay with you to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus. 7 I have good reason to think this way about all of you because I keep you in my heart. You are all my partners in God’s grace, both during my time in prison and in the defense and support of the gospel. 8 God is my witness that I feel affection for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus.

9 This is my prayer: that your love might become even more and more rich with knowledge and all kinds of insight. 10 I pray this so that you will be able to decide what really matters and so you will be sincere and blameless on the day of Christ. 11 I pray that you will then be filled with the fruit of righteousness, which comes from Jesus Christ, in order to give glory and praise to God.
 Philippians 1:3-11 The Common English Bible

Devotional:
“December is finally here! Christmas is coming!” These words used to run through my mind and out my mouth constantly at the start of the month of December as a child. Everything seemed magical in the month of December for me. Icy, cold air hitting my face when I went outside meant that snow could be just around the corner. All tiny, twinkling lights seemed to dance taking away all the fear of the darkness of the ever growing nights. All the people in the stores multiplied my excitement of the upcoming holiday. It probably seemed like anything, no matter how big or small, caused me to bubble with excitement that Christmas was coming.

But slowly as the years have gone by the feelings have changed. December no longer seems to evoke this sense of deep, uncontainable joy inside me. The newness and excitement has worn off now that I know how much work, time, energy, stress, and money tend to be involved with Christmas. The novelty that everything will be wonderful because it is Christmas time has gone away as my eyes have been opened to some of the harsh realities of life for people even during the Christmas season.

Maybe this is how the Christmas season is for you this year. There simply is just no easy joy in it anymore. It may just seem easier to just let this advent season pass by. However, that doesn’t mean that the magic is gone. As we grow and change Christ is inviting us to experience the gift of His love offered at Christmas in new and different ways.

All around, there are trees with little angels containing the names of children and their personal Christmas wishes. Soup kitchens are opening up all over the place for more free meals. The chimes of bells and change falling into kettles can be heard outside of stores everywhere. All around people are singing together the loved and familiar tunes. Families and friends spend quality time together. Hearts are rejoicing more in giving than receiving.

I pray this advent season like Paul in Philippians that we may allow our insights and knowledge to create in us a deeper and richer understanding of the love that was offered at Christmas so that we may be filled anew with joy at celebration of the birth of Christ.

Erin Sears

Thursday, December 03, 2015

Devotional 12-3-15

Malachi 3:1-4,  Luke 1:68-79,  Luke 3:1-6

The scriptures talk about God preparing the world for His Son, Jesus.  This got me thinking about how I prepare for the birth of Jesus.

Preparing for Christmas, I usually write the names of those I want to gift and what I might give them.

I have been buying items through the year so, I get those out to see just what I have and what I might need to get.  I prepare the house with decorations and get some Christmas cards out in the mail (hopefully).  I attend some Christmas parties and concerts, including Lessons and Carols at JMUMC.

I physically prepare for Christmas but, how do I prepare spiritually for the birth of Jesus?  Mediating with this Advent Devotional Booklet is one way.  Let’s search our hearts and minds for ways to prepare for God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

Our Heavenly Father, help me prepare for the season of Christmas and Your Son, Jesus.

Kay Lewis

Wednesday, December 02, 2015

Devotional 12-2-15

3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:3-11

This season is one of love, joy, and thankfulness in my family. We come together every Advent season to celebrate various holidays with one another. Since my sister and I are now in college, we don’t get to go home very often. So when we get to come home for the winter break, we are always so excited to spend time with our loved ones that we dearly miss while we’re away.

Every Christmas Eve for five years now, we have held dinner at our house for my mother’s side of the family.  Mom is always very stressed and running around frantically in the kitchen, just wanting to make everything perfect for when the whole family arrives. My mother is a wonderful woman in the fact that she is so thoughtful and caring. So, my sister and I are always trying to calm her down and help her in any way we can. We tell her that no matter what, everything will turn out fine, and the real reason we’re all coming together is to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.

So, when the family arrives, we all are eating and are merry and reminiscing about Christmases past. It is a wonderful and hilarious time in the Fisher household. Having all the decorations that Mom, Josie, and I put up together, and the Nativity scene assembled on our living room table beside the Christmas tree create an intimate scene for the family to be immersed in. But, my favorite time of the night is when we all leave the house and go to the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at my hometown church, Trinity United Methodist. We each get a candle as we come through the door and the lights are dimmed when we are seated. A certain family will go up and light the Advent candle at the beginning of the service. Every year, the pastor’s son (who is a very talented singer, might I add) performs an a cappella version of “O Holy Night.” It is my favorite part of the entire service because I get to listen to someone tell the story of the night we are worshipping through the beauty of music. The son performs this every year because it is all our pastor, Rev. Jim Kelly, wants as a gift from him for Christmas. After that, the pastor preaches the story of Christ’s birth. The last hymn is always “Silent Night”, and each time any phrase or word related to “Jesus” comes up, we raise our candles in celebration of him. It is always such a touching and beautiful service and I’m so grateful to attend it every Christmas Eve with my family.

Christmas is such a wonderful holiday for my family to be together and worship. I’m so blessed to have such a loving and caring family to come home to every winter break, and I thank God for that every single day. Being with my loved ones to celebrate Christ’s birth is a true gift in my life. I love them all so much and I will never take the time I have with them for granted. I pray that I have many more wonderful Christmases to come spent worshipping with my family.

Brooke Fisher

Tuesday, December 01, 2015

Devotional 12-1-15

Infinitude

“Are we there yet?” ”Have I studied long enough?” “Is enough of my room clean (so I can go out and play)?” Questions we have either asked or heard asked from our children. Questions with a quasi-quantitative answer but really more of an answer out there circling infinity. When I was a late-elementary-school-er, my dad, my brother and I were preparing on a summer day to churn up some homemade ice cream. We had the salt, the ice, the mix and the contraption used for such an endeavor. Everything was prepared, and I was selected to give that handle its first turns. I asked my dad, “How many?” His reply; “Go for 10.” I perched myself on the low stool next to the ice cream maker and with my scrawny 10 year old arms gave that handle a full 10 turns. Proud of myself, I popped up, ready to give the next one a Go. Dad turns and looks at me quizzically, “What’s wrong?” “Nothing.” I said. “That’s was 10.” He smiled while shaking his head (back and forth in the NO direction not up and down in the YES direction) “10 MINUTES! not 10 turns.” Holy moly, I thought. Back the truck up! TEN MINUTES?? How many cranks was that that? Who knew? Is this what I had signed up for?

As we study the Bible and piece together its stories to make our stories, we can get lost in time. Bible scholars tell us that actual time is possibly irrelevant – it’s the story that counts. Forty days and forty nights doesn’t mean 40 and 40 > it means a REALLY long time. How many times should I forgive? Seventy times seven! That does not mean that number 491 is in trub-bull. It means more than you can count. It means infinity. It means forgive as you have been forgiven. When asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus responds with a parable. He tells of a man, representing a people, helping another man, also representing a people. Two groups locked in bitter battle and hatred. Yet the story is of grace and compassion and of greater good.

I’ve said this before, and I stand by it now > Facebook makes me crazy! So many are sure that their position is the only position. Lies are told about each other’s political parties. Declarations are made about the ‘only’ definition of marriage, life, Godliness and so on. But one must dig through a lot of dirt to find a little gold, and here is (for me) the nugget: it is a picture of the nativity – worthy of gracing any Christmas card – with the caption, “As you prepare to celebrate Christmas, remember THIS was a middle eastern refugee family.”

I guess Mary, Joseph and the baby were lucky that the neighboring governor and /or mayor hadn’t had time to put up the No Refugee Allowed sign.

This my friends IS what we signed up for. Forgiven-forgiving. Welcomed-welcoming. Helped-helping. Loved-loving. Received-receiving.

May God bless you and your home this wonderful Christmas season.

Steve Matthews

Monday, November 30, 2015

Devotional 11-30-15

 
Ad-vent
noun, the arrival of a notable person, thing or event.

As I write this, it’s October, and 78 degrees outside.  It’s that confusing time when the stores aren’t sure what they should be promoting: Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are simultaneously bombarded at us.  Like stores, the JM Music Department has been working on Christmas for weeks.

Okay, honestly - do you ever find Christmas exhausting?  Maybe not exhausting, but overwhelming? Or just plain stressful? I remember my Mom, church organist for 50 years, needing to hibernate on Christmas afternoon.

Have you ever fantasized about going to a far-away island and ignoring the entire season? Ignoring the crowds, shopping parties, overspending, baking, cleaning, final exams, wrapping, relatives, rehearsals, performances, fruitcake, clutter of life, stress-of-too-many-expectations? Away from it all? No stress, no worry.  But wait a second! Those things aren’t supposed to be important, right?  My favorite Dr. Seuss paragraph:
And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags.  And he puzzled and puzzled ‘till his puzzler was sore.  Then the Grinch thougtht of something he hadn’t before.  What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.  Theodor Seuss Geisel
You know what? The season always come sand goes. No matter if the choir is prepared for Lessons & Carols. No matter that I’ve given up on gift wrapping and just toss the gifts into Kroger bags. No matter that my Christmas cards are mailed on January 9th.

Every Advent, I usually find 3 hours of peace: in the stillness and calm after our Christmas Eve service, I watch the beautiful services broadcast from England This year, I won’t allow those pesky “Ghosts of Christmas Present” to steal the peace, comfort, joy, and love of this Holy Season.

Bruce Rous

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Devotional 11-29-15

Advent Begins

The stores have been well into Christmas with sales—decorations, music, toys, gifts of all types, and before we know it, Santa will be at the mall waiting to check the lists of children coming to see him. These preparations started well before Thanksgiving, and explosively erupted on Black Friday, giving shoppers ample time to complete their shopping —until the kids change their minds and toys already purchased are either  exchanged or new toy requests are simply added to their list—easier, more expensive, but—hey, it’s Christmas!

So what is this scripture—one of several readings designated for the first Sunday in Advent—all about?

Luke 21:25-28
25There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. 28Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Christmas time is a result of our changing culture, created by us, lasting from November  through December 25th.  Advent, on the other hand, starts on the first Sunday of Advent, or even earlier on some church calendars, and goes through Epiphany, on January 6th.

Every year, the two compete for our attention. Advent season is meant to be the season in which we practice self-examination, we meditate, and we focus on preparation for Christ’s return to us. It’s the time we should remember the second coming, the new creation, and the fulfillment of all things good. The church year starts with Advent, so it should naturally be the time we “…begin with the end in mind.” (Taylor Burton-Edwards, Disciple Ministries of the UMC).

I don’t believe for a minute that we are expected to give up the joys of the season—the feelings of comfort in celebrating the birth of the baby Jesus, the excitement of giving and receiving, the traditions of families gathering, and trimming the Christmas tree. But we should not in any way let it consume us to the point that we lose the true meaning of the Advent season,  a time specifically meant for reflection and preparation, attention to Scripture and the understanding that Advent’s purpose is to focus on Christ’s return and our redemption.

Let us all do that with prayer and intention, as we welcome the arrival of the First Sunday of Advent.

Luke21:36  Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.

Diane Feaganes