Devotional 12-28-08

Instant hot chocolate. Fax machines. Email. McDonalds. Remote controls. Jets. Federal Express – when it’s got to be there overnight.

We are a society that has grown accustomed to instant results – results that are in our control and are established according to our own time tables.

I was in a conference in November. One of the topics of conversation was the utility of email as a communication tool. The facilitator of the class warned that while email could be useful, we should be careful, because it could create difficult to meet expectations. If you email me, you might be waiting for an answer to arrive within an hour of two.

Consider the stories of Anna and Simeon as recorded in Luke 2:22-38. Simeon had been waiting in expectation of seeing the Lord’s Messiah. We are not told how long the wait had been, but I imagine that it was long and difficult. He waited and waited and waited until finally a young couple arrived in the temple with their infant son. His waiting had finally been rewarded; he was a witness to the Christ.

There was also a widow, Anna, living in the temple as a widow of 84 years old – quite old for her time in history. She spent her time in fasting and prayer, but when Jesus and his parents arrived at the temple, she was drawn to see them. Her life of waiting had been interrupted by a moment of worship and praise.

Anna and Simeon could not control the timing of what happened. They certainly did not see instant results to their prayers. What they did find, though, was the light of the world – the salvation of the gentiles. Their lives were changed by what they witnessed.

Can we do the same as Simeon and Anna? Can we give up our desire for control and instant results and learn to trust God? If we did, can we even begin to imagine the transformation that would occur in our lives when we witnessed the Christ?

Kim Matthews

Devotional 12-26-08

Scripture: Luke 2: 8-20

The Old Testament contains numerous references to shepherds, the kind who tended sheep and those who "tended" people. Though there are plenty of reports of shepherds who unfaithfully carried out their duties, those who answered God's call and were exemplary leaders, guiding people in their faith and actions, represented God's love for his people. Moses was one of these shepherds, leading the Hebrew people on an extraordinarily important and difficult journey unlike any other. His faith and love for God and his people made him an excellent choice as a shepherd.

With the important roles that shepherds played at various times and places in the Old Testament, it occurred to me how fitting it was that God chose a group of shepherds tending flocks near the town of Bethlehem to be the first people to meet his son, who later described himself as the "good shepherd" but who also died as a sacrificial lamb to save his "sheep."

The shepherds in Luke's account of Jesus' birth demonstrated qualities which we should seek to emulate. Despite their fear upon being visited first by one angel and then by many in an unbelievable display of God's glory, they exhibited faith in the words of God spoken by those angels, trust in God to lead them where he intended them to go, and action by not only going, but "with haste" to seek the newborn child. Their faith, trust and action were rewarded by finding Jesus and his parents just where and how they had been told. Meeting this ordinary-seeming family was clearly an overwhelmingly extraordinary experience for them. There was no doubt these people were a part of something life-changing, world-changing.

What was the shepherds' response to this unforgettable experience? Gratitude, joy, and action. They praised God unashamedly and in fact became the first evangelists, bringing the good news of Jesus to all who would listen. The shepherds' story teaches us that God calls all of us to listen, trust and to bear witness to the presence of him in our lives and in the world. While we don't always see it or believe it, he has uniquely equipped each of us to play a role, be it large or small, in his ministry here on earth-- to help shepherd others, if you will. What better time to earnestly begin listening for how and where God would have us be shepherds than now in response to our experiencing yet again the wonder of our savior’s birth. "Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born." Amen.

Mary Taylor

Devotional 12-25-08

Not So Silent Night

Please read Luke 2:1-20

Last night, in countless churches, people sang the beautiful poetry of Joseph Mohr to the music of Franz Gruber: “Silent Night, Holy Night.” In the beauty and holiness of a place of worship, lit with the soft, warm glow of candlelight, the rush of the Christmas season came to a stop – perhaps a brief respite – with a beautiful hymn, reflecting on the birth of a baby in a feed bin in a barn.

I am willing to give Joseph Mohr some poetic license for this beloved carol, but I am sure it was anything but a silent night. The town of Bethlehem was overrun with travelers making their way to their hometown for Caesar’s census and taxation. The streets were bustling – the hotels full to overflowing. The stable at the inn would be full of the travelers’ pack animals and other critters which paid no mind to the “quiet after lights out” sign and which most likely ‘brayed’ and ‘mooed’ their protest at being squeezed by the arrival of two poor humans, soon to be three. If that were not noisy enough, a baby was born, not likely a quiet event. To top it off, shepherds arrived at the barn that night; shepherds – not known for respectful, quiet graces.

Surely, one might reasonably expect, the Son of God would be born in royal comfort – not amid noise and confusion, in an animal barn, in an impoverished small town. While the people of first century Palestine likely had become used to God’s surprises, this one was the pièce de resistánce!

Our lives can be chaotic in a hundred different ways. We might well expect that God would find a more peaceful and calm place to reveal the incarnation. We might wonder how we could deserve God’s graceful gift to us. Yet as God chose the most unlikely people in the most unlikely place for the birth of Jesus, so God reveals the fullness of love and peace to us, even in our most unlikely or even unlovely moments.
Before anyone else knew of Jesus’ birth, the angel declared to those pathetic shepherds, “I bring you good news of great joy for all the people. To you is born this day a Savior who is Christ, the Lord.” To us, and to all the world, God reveals the love and saving grace of our Lord. Good news: yes?

Christmas Peace be with you. “With the angels, let us sing, Alleluia to our King; Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born!” Grace and Peace! Love, Jack

Rev. Jack Lipphardt

Devotional 12-14-08

“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.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is His name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

This beautiful poem, known as “The Magnificat,” is Mary’s song of praise about her relationship with God, found in Luke 1:47-55. Mary, a lowly, young, faithful Jewish teenager, has been selected to bear the Son of God. How can she possibly understand this awesome responsibility? Because she has accepted this role, she can be shunned by her community and family. She can be put to death by her betrothed. What a terrible predicament for anyone. Could we be as sure – as strong – as faithful?

And yet, Mary readily accepts this role of Theotokis - “Godbearer”, and composes this awe-inspiring hymn to the one who is always there in her life – God. Mary knows that God is always grace-filled and merciful – always remembering the lowly and using them to show others the faithfulness of God. Mary is so filled with awe and reverence, that she can only rejoice that God can use her. Mary is right when she says we will continue to call her blessed.

In this season of Advent, let us be like Mary – mindful of our lowliness, yet rejoicing that God can use us - yes even us - to further God’s kingdom, and spread God’s love and care to all of God’s children every where in this world. We are so fortunate that God has selected us to be “Godbearers” - telling others the good news of Jesus Christ our Lord – who was sent to be our perfect example of love and to save us all. What an awesome responsibility for us – but God is always faithful.

Amen!

Rev. Suzanne Ellis

Devotional 12-7-08

Anticipation

Please read Mark 1: 1-8

As I write this, it is October and our oldest daughter is preparing to go to her high school homecoming dance. So much to do. Will she be ready in time? She just called from the hairdressers’; she’s still waiting! We’ll go to the fountain at the park with all the other parents to take pictures. Plans are changing; everything is up in the air. She has been planning and expecting since she got her dress in August; things aren’t going just as she expected.

This is the context in which I sat down to write this Advent Devotional. And look at the gospel passage staring me in the face. It is about preparation and waiting. The Jews were waiting for the Messiah who would save them. The prophets had told of the coming of the Messiah that one would come before him who would be a voice in the wilderness crying, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” They had their own ideas about how the coming of the Messiah would take place. Things don’t always go as expected.

I am involved in the Walk to Emmaus, a spiritual renewal program of the United Methodist Church’s Upper Room Ministries. One of the guiding principles of a Walk to Emmaus weekend is “Don’t anticipate!” We would do well to adopt that attitude in our daily walk.

Anticipation leads to unrealistic expectations and, often, disappointment. Carly Simon wrote a song about anticipation that was made famous by a ketchup commercial: Anticipation is making me late, is keeping me waiting. We know it wasn’t really ketchup she was writing about, but that’s beside the point. When we anticipate, we are focused on the “not yet” and we might miss out on the “already.” Today is the day the Lord has made, and—think about it—today is the only day God made. At least it’s the only one God made today. If we get too focused on tomorrow, we will regret that we wasted this day. Carly Simon’s song concludes with a profound statement: These are…the good old days.

Many of us will be spending a great deal of time over the next weeks preparing for Christmas. We will sigh when it is over, and put everything away so that we can anticipate Easter. Perhaps our time would be better spent preparing our hearts to be the manger to cradle the Christ. Then when Christmas comes—when Jesus comes into our hearts—we will be ready to live! The Kingdom of God is here! These are the good old days!

Dear God, just as there was no room in the Inn for your son, too often there is no room in our hearts or lives for you. Prepare our hearts to receive you so that we can live out your love to the world. Amen.

Jeff Taylor

Devotional 1-6-08

Jesus, who are you?

At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered, ‘I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.’

The scripture above and the title were used in a sermon last spring by the Rev. Jim Morrison of St. Andrew By-the-Sea UMC in Hilton Head, SC.

But, upon reading the passage again and thinking about the sermon title, “Jesus, who are you?”; I was trying to imagine how many people, not only in Jesus’ own time, but down through the centuries, have asked that very question. And, I wonder how many have gotten an answer as concise and meaningful as the one I received as a youth.

My recollection goes like this: many years ago I was sitting in the choir loft one Sunday morning (and, you know, I was in a seat about where I sit now) listening to Dr. Rolla S. Kenaston preach on this identical question, “Jesus, who are you?” His answer has etched itself in my mind, and I have remembered it all these years. He said, “Jesus was just as much of God as could be crammed into one human form.”

As a young man, I looked up to Dr. Kenaston as I have very few others in my life. I thought then, and still do – if that description of Jesus is good enough for Dr. Kenaston, it’s good enough for me.

Prayer

Oh, Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your son to us –
To be our redeemer,
To be our savior,
To be our example for living, and
To being us the promise of eternal life.

It is with deepest reverence that we offer these thanks in the name of that self-same Jesus whom you sent to save the world. Amen.

Additional Scripture reading:
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12

Charlie Lewis

Devotional 12-23-07

Where you lead me

Scripture: Matthew 1: 18-25; Luke 1: 26-38

“Where you lead me, I will follow. Where you lead me, I’ll give my life away.”

These words from a favorite song of mine speak of faith, a subject I have been thinking a lot about lately. What does it mean to be faithful, to step out in faith? The more I think about it, the more questions I have.

In Hebrews, Chapter 11, Verse 1, faith is defined for us as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Another favorite song describes God as “everything I cannot see...everything I cannot say...you are everything impossible” and tells us that we will find freedom by surrendering. The idea of surrendering myself completely to God’s will makes me nervous. I think some people can do it more easily than others. The writer of Hebrews lists several Biblical giants of faith, including Noah and Abraham who followed God’s lead in very life-changing ways and, as a result, did amazing things, though what they achieved was neither easy nor quick. There are others of us who probably need to take it a step at a time. Jonah comes to mind.

Joseph and Mary, two ordinary people who are the subjects of the scripture passages listed above, took extraordinary leaps of faith when they surrendered their wills, their hopes and dreams to be God’s servants based only on a dream and a visit from an angel. Granted, these unusual events made it very clear to the two of them what God wanted and that He is amazing and in control, but to give up everything you know for an uncertain future and to be responsible for bearing and raising God’s own son? That is surrender, submission, faith beyond what I could imagine, and, of course, it literally changed EVERYTHING.

Most of us will never be called to build an ark, begin a family when our lives are nearly over, part the sea, walk on water, feed large numbers of people with meager resources, or give up our lives to save our brothers and sisters. We are, however, asked by God to step out in faith in many other ways. Look at those in our church who follow God’s leading to teach, preach, work on committees, sing or play music, cook, clean, make others feel welcome or work behind the scenes to keep our church going. They are marvelous examples of faithful and faith-filled people.

I can’t end this without mentioning the profound faith that led a new family into our church who have blessed us richly. Last spring, Bob and Jenny Matthews left behind successful careers, friends and the only life their sons, Nathan and Alex, had ever known to move to Huntington. Let me explain that they were not going to a foreign land - - Bob has family here and spent part of his life in this area. Nonetheless, based on God’s leading, they sold their home and moved here from Virginia not really knowing what was in store for them. They will tell you that God was there at every turn preparing the way, smoothing their paths. Since they returned to this area less than one year ago, Bob and Jenny have joined the church, gone on Emmaus walks, Jenny now sings with the Common Grounds praise team, and she was one of three who preached the sermon on Laity Sunday. Her next venture will be to lead an 11-week religious study in our church despite having had no real teaching experience. She and Bob have a keen sense of God’s will for them and have taken significant steps out of their comfort zones in obedience and service to Him. They and many others in our church are marvelous examples for me, and I hope that, with God’s help, I too will be more comfortable stepping out to do what He asks.

Prayer: Dearest Lord, help us to trust you and believe in you so deeply that we, without reservation, put our hand in yours and agree to follow where you lead. Amen.

Mary Taylor

Devotional 12-22-07

As the Deer Pants for the Water
Psalm 42, Luke 2:8-20, Luke 19:29-34

Two shepherds, young brothers
Sat in the field, keeping watch over their flocks.
The night was lonely,
And even though they had their sheep for company
And each other,
They knew that something was missing.
They yearned for something more.

As a deer longs for the flowing streams
As the deer yearns for water,
Their souls longed for God.
For the living God, to fill their emptiness
They had such a need of their Lord.
They yearned to see him face to face.

The night was cold
The stars were bright.
Suddenly, the heavens were alight with angels,
The glory of the Lord was all around them,
And fear filled their souls.

The angel said,
“Do not be afraid,
I am bringing you good news.
I am sharing with you great joy.
The Messiah is born!”
The angel told them how to find God’s son.
And the heavens were filled with the praise of their song.

The shepherds, young brothers,
Left behind their sheep,
Left behind their doubt,
Left behind their fear,
And went to Bethlehem.

There they found the Lord.
They saw him face to face.
They told everyone what had happened,
And their souls were filled
With the glory of God.
They had had a need of the Lord,
And it had been filled.
They had seen their Lord,
Face to face.

Many years later,
When the baby had become a man
And the shepherds had become men,
The Messiah came to Jerusalem.

Jesus sent two of his disciples
Two of his followers
To a nearby village.
He told them what they would find.
A colt, never been ridden.
He told them what to do,
He told them what to say,
And sent them on their mission.

They found the colt,
Untied it,
And told the questioning owners
As they had been instructed:
“The Lord has need of it.”

The disciples had found the colt,
But they had also found two men,
Who had been changed
When they had met the son
Face to face.

Kim Matthews

Devotional 12-19-07

Lectionary Reading: Matthew 8: 14 -17, 28 - 34

These verses in Matthew involve Jesus healing Peter's mother-in-law, driving out demons and healing the sick. Then Jesus went to the Gadarenes region, removed the demons from two men and caused the demons to enter a herd of pigs. The pigs ran into the lake and died. The men who had been healed went into the city and related what had happened. The townspeople went to see Jesus to beg him to leave. They were concerned because Jesus had caused them a large financial loss due to the drowning of the pigs. They were not thinking of the fact that Jesus had taken on the responsibility of others' disorders.

But what does this have to do with a cute little baby born in a barn?

When Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem they had very little. They were not concerned with material wealth but the safety of the baby to be born. The Innkeeper gave them permission to stay in his barn. The shepherds and Wise Men brought gifts to Jesus. They honored Jesus and were blessed by him in return.

From the conception of Jesus, to his birth, life, and crucifixtion there is a common theme. Love and trust one another. Mary trusted what God had told her about the baby she was carrying. Joseph trusted what Mary had told him. They had love for each other and the child. Ths shepherds trusted what the angels revealed to them and did as they were bidden. The Wise Men trusted what was made known to them and did not go back to tell where Jesus was.

No one was concerned with gaining material wealth. The shepherds left their sheep; the Wise Men would surely have been greatly rewarded for telling where Jesus was.

Instead, God, through Jesus, set in motion the lifestyle that we would all do well to follow. Be loving and trusting of others. Care for other's troubles and help as you can. Listen to what Jesus is telling you - about what is truly important in life. What you have is not nearly as important as what you do. We need to do our best to bring the joy that was experienced at the birh of Jesus into the lives of others. We need to trust that Jesus will provide for our needs and is there for us always. Love and trust are more meaningful than any object. The birth of Jesus made it possible for us to have true joy in our lives and to share that joy with others.

Sue Kearns

Devotional 12-12-07

Lectionary Reading Matthew 12:33-37

“If you grow a healthy tree, you’ll pick healthy fruit. If you grow a diseased tree, you’ll pick worm-eaten fruit. The fruit tells you about the tree. You have minds like a snakepit! How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul- minded? It’s your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.” THE MESSAGE

This past summer was a hard one for persons to do all they should to keep their plants healthy. Now cooler weather has come, the rains have helped, but the plants reflect the neglect from the lack of rain and feeding. Our desire is to grow healthy plants, and we know they need water as well as specific plant food designed for the plant. In Matthew the implication is that we (the tree) need to grow in such a way to produce fruit. Matthew tells us that a good person produces good deeds and words. How do we become this good person? Matthew would have us to recognize that all parts of our life-our selves, our family, our work, our community are all completed in Jesus, and thru him we produce good fruits.

How many times have you heard a person say to you that they have “burn-out”? Whether it’s a project they once threw their passion into, or a marriage that at one time was happy, they now seem uninterested or lost. Lacking the Holy Spirit, or even worse rejecting the Holy Spirit we may be cutting off a part of the tree that could otherwise be fruitful.

Matthew goes on to warn us about our careless words. OUCH! How many times I have flipped off a comment without thinking. How many times did it hurt someone? Words are powerful and can’t be taken back. We are bombarded with words, words, words every day, maybe we should take them more seriously.

In the WIZARD OF OZ it is the tin man who looks for a heart. As he walks the yellow brick road, he is singing “If I only had a heart” Matthew knew the importance of “having a heart” that we might see God’s creation complete in all parts of our lives, in our work, our family, and our community. It’s our heart that gives meaning to life.

Marilyn Holleron

Devotional 12-9-07

People come to church for many different reasons. Our neighbors often come to our downtown church looking for help from the People of God. As Christians, our desire is to represent Christ to the world. How then, can we best respond to the one who asks for bread, or for a bus ticket, or for warm clothes? We can give them something to eat, and perhaps some warm clothes, or lead them to the agencies that can most efficiently provide the services they need. Sometimes, however, the need is represented as immediate, and we know that giving cash is not always the best solution; there is no way of knowing whether the recipient uses the money for the purpose intended? How can we respond faithfully and responsibly?

Envisioned as a way for the church to be caring stewards of the “least of these, our sisters and brothers, the Jim Ray Fund for Others was started to address these concerns. It provides a financial resource that can be utilized by a few key leaders in the church to help those with immediate needs for fuel, clothing, food, shelter, transportation. With oversight by the Outreach Committee, checks are written, whenever possible, directly to the institution. The initial deposited in the fund came from a dinner sponsored by the United Methodist Men to honor Jim Ray, a faithful follower of Jesus Christ who exemplifies a life of service to others. The dinner, called the “Bread of Life” dinner, was a surprise to Jim, and he describes it in the devotional that follows.

Scripture -- John 14:12-14: Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

I was told the Bread of Life Luncheon was to help those who were in need of medicine, etc. Its real purpose came as a big surprise to me. In the past I’ve always known most everything that took place here at Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church. Might say this luncheon was more than a Bread of Life. It was a Jim Ray Luncheon. That’s what made it such a big surprise.

On Saturday, March 10th, I helped to prepare food, along with others who were helping out for this event. Later in the day, just about time for the staff and volunteers to leave, a man by the name of Jeff asked me to sit at one of the front tables on Sunday, March 11th which was the day of the actual event. That is, he wanted me to sit there as long as I was not to help in the Kitchen or serve the tables in the Social Hall.

On that Sunday I arrived at church around 7:30am and put the coffee on for the Sunday school class. Several people then came in around 8 a.m. as some of the food had to start cooking early. Around 11:55 a.m. people started arriving from church and it was not long until everyone was at the tables.

Jeff got up and welcomed everyone who was there. It was at this time that the choir chose to sing the hymn “Others,” which is a favorite hymn of mine. This hymn took me by complete surprise. I even tried to talk, but I could not as I was getting choked up. I was not alone in this as some other people had the same problem.

It was not very long after the luncheon until all of this was in the Huntington paper, and it even made a government magazine. There is no doubt that this was a great event. I really appreciate each one who came out to support this fund. I might add that I have received very supportive mail regarding this which means a lot to me.

The Lord has done wonders for me, and the Lord can do the same for others who call on His name for help.

Thanks to all of those who helped to surprise me.

Jim Ray

Devotional 12-7-07

Read Luke 13:22-30

"We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets."

This is what those who will not get into the kingdom say in defense of their right to enter the kingdom. Jesus says that this is not enough.

What does this say to us today?

Is it possible that we aren't doing enough either...that we are depending on being in close proximity to Jesus without really committing our selves to Him? If we have our relationship with Jesus listed as one of many priorities in our lives, but not as the key priority out of which all other priorities arise, then we may well be like those who thought that eating and drinking with Jesus and listening to his teachings in their streets was enough. We may think it is enough, but does Jesus?

Lord, let me be wholeheartedly committed to you. Amen.

Joe Shreve

Devotional 12-5-07

Lectionary Reading: Matthew 24:23-35.
v.29: “Immediately after the suffering of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. v. 30: Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see ‘the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven’ with power and great glory.”

I’ve had the “blues” lately. There seems to be no real cause and I’ve been able to keep up with the essentials of life so that not very many people have noticed my predicament. I get my list of things done and show up for meetings and events as before. But my heart aches. I don’t know exactly what it aches for, but I’m sure that my spirit is in need. I’ve been reading and studying; praying and listening, but I haven’t heard the answer yet.

I know that God is at work in my life, even though this time of fear and “angst” feels very much like a valley. I believe that God is with us at all times, but especially during the rough and rugged patches. I know this because I’ve read the stories in the scriptures and I’ve witnessed it in many people’s lives. I also lived through a couple of valleys, myself. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for You are with me.”

I also believe that it is during our times spent in the valleys of life that God is pruning and molding our lives for some new purpose. My friend Linda was a potter—molding grayish clay into beautiful bowls and vases. She had to put a great deal of pressure on the clay to mold it into the form she wanted. Without the pressure, the new form would not appear. She then had to fire the clay in a kiln. Without the whole process of molding, drying, glazing and firing, the beauty of the clay would be missed by our eyes.

I think that the people of Israel were in a terribly burdensome valley when God decided that what they needed was a change. He sent the baby Jesus into their world to mold and fire them into new spirits. But, although they were in the valley, they didn’t really want to change and they didn’t understand why they had to endure the pressures of that time. They, like most of us, just want to gripe and complain about the valley. (I don’t really want to learn the lessons of the valley—I just want to feel “happy” again.)

The disciples didn’t understand the concepts Jesus was using to instruct them. He gave them (and us ) signs so that we could begin to understand. But just like being in my valley of “blues”, we don’t understand the meaning of the story. God must be a very patient entity, because generation after generation seems to need to learn the same lessons of surrender and grace.

As we live through this Advent season, may we look at the “pressures” of the season with a new vision. May we know that God, who loves us as His own children, is calling us to surrender all of our cares and concerns to Him. As we await the Baby’s arrival, help us to remember the purpose of the baby’s birth was and is to save us from ourselves and our own sin.

Prayer: Holy Father, we know that you love us and are always with us. We are so grateful for our ongoing relationship with You. Help us to understand that the valleys of life are meant for our growth and renewal. Continue to mold and fire our lives for Your purpose. Give us the vision and understanding to appreciate the mountaintops after our time spent in the valley. Help us to persevere through the valley of Advent for the reward of the Baby Jesus’ birth. We Love you, Baby Jesus. Thank you God! Amen.

Chyrl Budd