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WORD:

> Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.

> -- Psalm 144:4

> THOUGHT:

> Time is so precious -- time with our families, our children, our

> parents, our friends, as well as our brothers and sisters in Christ.

> How do you invest your time? Where do you invest it? You know, it's

> really more valuable than the money we invest. Once it's gone, it

> can't be reclaimed. So as you begin each day, ask God that you will be

> able to "know the time," to see it for what it is and to use it for

> its greatest good. Time passes quickly, and like the shadows of early

> evening, it's not long before it is absorbed into the gathering

> darkness of night, never to return again.

> PRAYER:

> Eternal Heavenly Father please give me the wisdom to use the time

> given me today to do what is best, right, good, and profitable for

> your work. I want to invest my time in what is truly enduring. Please

> help me use my time to influence and to bless all those with whom I

> interact so that they are brought closer to You. In Jesus' name I pray.

> Lord in Your Mercy, hear our prayer. AMEN

The sum of your word is truth; and every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever. Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words. I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil. I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law. Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous ordinances. Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. Psalm 119:160–165

Do you ever get tired of following the rules? Seems like every time you turn around, there's another rule to follow. Schools are built on a foundation of strict guidelines and controlling policies govern our extra-curricular activities and places of work. I don’t know about you, but when I’m faced with too many rules, my rebellious side takes over and I end up getting in trouble. Punishment is never fun and the whole situation certainly isn’t peaceful.

The psalmist tells a different story. Instead of rebelling against God’s law, the psalmist proclaims love for the law and praises God multiple times a day for God’s ordinances. This paints a very different picture than our typical, rule-filled lives. The distinction here is that God doesn’t confine us with useless rules that complicate our lives. Instead, God’s law offers a way of living that leads to peace. What can you do today to relish the peace that comes from following God’s law?

Michael Harper

God of peace, thank you for your law and thank you for providing me with a way to live my life. During this season of Advent, help me to follow your law as I search for peace in my life. Amen.

Prepare for it now,

The gentle presence of the Spirit.

WORD:

He [Jesus] said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." Then they were

willing to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached

the shore where they were heading.

-- John 6:20-21

THOUGHT:

Jesus comes to His disciples to comfort them in one of their worst

nightmares -- a storm on the sea. He literally tells them, "I Am; do

not be afraid." Two key things are here for us to notice:

First, Jesus uses a name ("I Am") that identifies himself with God who

delivered Moses and the Israelites from Egypt. Second, He uses a

surprisingly frequent command found throughout the Bible: "Don't be

afraid." When we are willing to invite Jesus into our lives during the

middle of our storms and messes, He not only says, "I Am; don't be

afraid!" but he also helps us find our way to our most important

destination, ultimate deliverance from all that troubles us.

PRAYER:

O God, the great I Am, You redeemed Israel from Egypt, You won great

victories for David, and You raised Jesus from the dead. I know You

can deliver me from what may come my way. Please forgive me when I

don't act with the boldness that is called for by this kind of faith

and strengthen me to confidently trust in Your presence. In the mighty

name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

All praise and glory to You, O Lord.

WORD:

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because

fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect

in love.

-- 1 John 4:18

THOUGHT:

While I approach God with reverence and awe because He is the holy

and majestic God, I don't have to fear His presence. Because of Jesus

and the Holy Spirit, I know God is my Abba Father. He longs for me to

draw near him. He has shown me His heart by sending Jesus. He has

shown me His love by having Jesus die for me. If he loves me that

much, then I can trust that His desire is to save and bless me. I

don't have to fear His presence or His judgment as I continue to serve

Him. As His child, His love drives fear from my heart and replace it

with love from His abiding presence, the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER:

Holy and Righteous Father, I thank You for Your overwhelming love

demonstrated to me in Jesus. I thank You for providing the atoning

sacrifice for my sins and for adopting me into Your family.

Father, please cast all fear from my heart and help me walk

confidently with You and for You, with character and purpose. In

Jesus' name I pray. All praise and Glory to You O'Lord. Amen.

WORD:

We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those

who believe and are saved.

-- Hebrews 10:39

THOUGHT:

I love this description of God's people that precedes "the faith

Hall of Fame" (Hebrews 11). When you look at God's people over the

centuries, they are not a bunch of wimps, crybabies, and cowards.

Yes, they do have their bad moments. But all in all, they are not

those who quit on their quest. They are those whose faith has endured

and found God's great victory of salvation. This verse excites me

because the Holy Spirit does not say "we CAN be those who don't shrink

back." Instead, He is confident in us, our endurance and our

faithfulness and Says we ARE not "shrinkers," but we ARE believers who

will be saved!

PRAYER:

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for Your confidence in me. With Your

support, I won't be a "shrinker." I will stand for Your Truth, Your

Character, and Your Will even if those around me do not. I believe You

have great things ahead for Your people, so I refuse to shrink back.

Please empower me with Your Spirit so that I fully serve You with

confidence and integrity. All praise and glory to You O'Lord.

In Jesus' name I pray. Amen

WORD:

In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.

What can mortal man do to me?

-- Psalm 56:4

THOUGHT:

When all is said and done, there really isn't a whole lot we can

trust. Most of us have been hurt at one time or another by a friend

who has betrayed our trust. The world economy and politics are

volatile and things can turn sour in just a few days. The weather

shifts and changes by the hour. But in our world of change, in our

heartbreak and disappointment, there is one constant. We can trust

God. We don't have to fear change and the future. He is our anchor

that holds in the strongest storms. He is our strength in our worst

battles.

His word

and His promises speak of good things for us. We don't have to be

afraid; we can trust in Him. He is the one constant in this world.

PRAYER:

Almighty Father, my Deliverer and Strength, with Your help and

presence I will not fear the days ahead. I praise You for sustaining

Your people Israel through history. I praise You for preserving Your

Word, the Scriptures, through persecutions and purges. I praise You

and will not be afraid because my life and my future are in Your

hands. In the name of Jesus, my Lord, I pray.

In Your Mercy Lord, hear our prayer. Amen.

WORD:

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of

the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold

me fast.

-- Psalm 139:9-10

THOUGHT:

A friend died yesterday. He had been fighting cancer for some time.

It brought back so many memories. We are sad that we can't talk with

him again but we can find great comfort in knowing that no matter

where we go, from the moment of our conception to the day of our

death, God is always there. He is there to guide and sustain us. Even

when we are in places we am not supposed to be, doing things we am not

supposed to do, he is still there. We can turn to him in repentance

and receive his grace. We can turn to him in need and receive his

strength. We can turn to him and know we am not alone.

PRAYER:

Thank You, Father for loving me and personally knowing me. Thank You

for the assurance that I won't have to face a day without You. Thank

You for the comfort of knowing that I will never face my sorrows

alone. Thank You for being the strength that sustains me when I don't

have the strength to go on. Thank You that when tomorrow dawns, You

will be with me no matter what happens during the night. All praise

and glory to you O'Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

WORD

[Jesus said] "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I

have loved you, so you must love one another."

-- John 13:34

THOUGHT:

Wow, that's a tall order to fill, isn't it? Jesus has just

washed the feet of his disciples. Over the next few hours, Judas

will betray Him with a kiss, Peter will deny Him three times, and

the other 10 disciples will forsake and leave Him when he faces His

death. Yet He still washed their feet knowing they would do this.

He still goes to the cross for them while knowing they will abandon

Him. I'm not sure that I can love like that ... yet. However, with

the Holy Spirit's help, I will make a renewed commitment to love

others who have hurt and disappointed me. I will also seek to mend

relationships where I have hurt and disappointed others.

PRAYER:

Faithful Heavenly Father, thank You for Your never-ending love. Please

fill me with Your Holy Spirit and pour love into my heart so I can

love others as Jesus has loved me. I need Your help, strength and mind to love those

who have disappointed and hurt me. O God, I don't want my

bitterness or resentment to keep someone from serving You and

knowing Jesus' grace. In the name of my loving Savior I pray. All praise & Glory to you Lord.

Amen

WORD

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 12:10, New International Version

We are to be devoted and honor one another. And the basis of this loving devotion and honor is found in one central truth: Because God is our Father, we are one family. We are siblings in God's Kingdom. Our relationship is eternal and built on God's grace to us and our grace expressed to each other. Act in unity and support each other in love and kindness holding each other accountable for the Great Commission.

Prayer:

Shepherd of my soul, thank You for making me part of Your family. Thank You for the wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ who have blessed my life over the years. Thank You for their support and encouragement. Please use me to bless others in Your family as these precious people have blessed and honored me. In the name of Jesus, Your Son and my older brother, I pray. All praise and Glory to You O' Lord. Amen

Joshua said] "You are to help your brothers until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise." Joshua 1:14-15, New International Version

I find it so easy to think of my needs, concerns and safety first. I don't want to be selfish, but when it comes to making decisions about the investment of my time and money, it's so easy for me to see things only from my own perspective. But with God's people, it's the "we" and "us" perspective that is important, not a "me" and "mine" perspective. The Eastern tribes of Israel had reached their Promised Land. But they were not to quit the fight and settle there until all God's people were safely back in their homeland. The same is true for us in God's Kingdom today. We are to look not only to our needs, but also in the same way to those of our brothers and sisters in Christ while reaching out to others. In fact, Paul three times said that Jesus' followers should consider the needs of others above our own needs (Rom. 12:10; 1 Corinthians 10:24; Philippians 2:3).

Prayer

Loving Father, please give me a gracious and generous heart so that I might better demonstrate Your Love to a struggling brother or sister in Christ today, and also at every opportunity that You give me throughout my life to touch others in the world. All praise and Glory to You O Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen

WORD:

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any

value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through

love.

-- Galatians 5:6

THOUGHT:

What matters most? Priorities must be valued disciplines in our

everyday lives if we are to be successful and productive. This is

equally true in our discipleship. We should want to concentrate on

what is key, essential, and most important. Paul reminds us what is

essential: Faith showing itself in loving actions. Faith that does not

show itself in loving and helpful action is dead (James 2).

Jesus wants our faith to express itself in vibrant and loving service

to others in every way.

PRAYER:

Almighty Father, please forgive me for the times I have lost sight

of what is essential and focused on what is peripheral. Please forgive

me for the times when my own interests and concerns were more

important to me than loving service to others. Please give me eyes to

see the people You would have me serve today, and each day, so that

others may know of Jesus' love through my actions and words. All

praise and glory to You O'Lord. In Jesus' name I pray.

Amen.

WORD:

Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. ... Blessed are

all who take refuge in him.

-- Psalm 2:11-12

THOUGHT:

The LORD is God. We must not take for granted his holiness and

might. But the incredible reality of God's grace is this: God, who

thundered at Mount Sinai and spoke into existence the universe with

its marvelous expanse, loves us and longs for us to draw near and find

refuge in him. We can rejoice in reverent awe. We can praise with holy

fear. We can rest secured because our trust is not in what is human,

what is temporary, and what is vulnerable. The LORD is our God!

PRAYER:

Forgive me, Father, for the times that I have cheapened Your grace

with inappropriate speech and irresponsible behavior. You are God

alone. You alone are worthy of praise. Thank You not only for being

holy and mighty, but also for being near and providing me a place of

refuge, sanctuary and protection. Thank You, Dear Father, for loving

us! All praise and glory to You! In Jesus' name. Amen.

WORD:

O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing

love and with him is full redemption.

-- Psalm 130:7

THOUGHT:

What do we have in this life that is unfailing and inexhaustible?

Nothing except God's unfailing love. Even when we disappoint, hurt,

offend, or rebel against him, he still loves us.

While we were sinners he sent Jesus to redeem us from sin and death.

Why trust anything or anyone else with our future? Let's lean on God's

unfailing love!

PRAYER:

Abba Father, loving God, I place my hopes, dreams, and future in

Your hands. I trust that You are at work for my eternal good. I

believe that You alone have given the freedom from all that enslaves

me.

Thank You for Your forgiveness of my sins and Your promise of life

forever with You. But most of all, dear Father, thank You for Your

unfailing love. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” 1 Samuel 16:11

In David's day, the youngest son was assigned the lowest household duty. For David that meant shepherding the family flock. Although shepherding was the lowest occupation, David did it faithfully and dependably. Being the youngest was difficult. Can you imagine your own father forgetting you when a priest announces he has come to anoint one of his sons the future king?

I was the youngest of my family. Growing up I sometimes felt like I was not as important as my older brothers and sisters. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for David to be separated from the family, spending long hours and days in the fields. It would have been easy for David to believe he would never amount to anything. However, God had chosen David. God knew David’s heart, and that he would make a great king. God assured David, through Samuel’s anointing, that he would rise from shepherd to king, not because of his status, but because of his heart. How might God use you to do extraordinary things?

Hank Hilliard

Prayer; Dear Heavenly Father , no matter how I feel about my value or abilities, I pray that You will use me today to do great things for You, by Your grace, and according to Your will. Surprise me with Your work in my life. All praise and glory to You, O Lord. Amen.

Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, so that you may bless me.” But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “Because the Lord your God granted me success.”...He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He answered, “I am.”...

As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of his father Isaac, his brother Esau came in from his hunting....

Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” Genesis 27:19-20, 24, 30, 41

Chapter 27 of Genesis would make a good four-act drama. Act I: Dying Isaac asks his favorite son, Esau, to an official blessing ceremony to make Esau’s inheritance legal (like signing a will). Act II: Scheming Rebekah tells her favorite son, Jacob, how to cheat his brother out of the blessing. Act III: Jacob lies to his father and steals the blessing. Act IV: Betrayed Esau says he’s going to kill his brother Jacob, sending Jacob fleeing to the desert.

Words matter. They make life better or worse. Isaac’s words, meant to bless Esau, instead destroyed his hopes. Rebekah’s words, meant to help Jacob, put him in exile for twenty years. Jacob’s lying words shattered his family. The words of revenge Esau used to comfort himself poisoned his heart with hatred. In this mess, only God’s word held true. God had promised Isaac his family would bless the earth (Genesis 26:4). It did in Isaac’s descendant, Jesus, whom John’s Gospel calls God’s Word and truth made human. Let your life speak truth. Follow him.

Dear Heavenly Father: of truth and love, speak through my life in every word I say, every action I take, every desire I have. All praise and glory to You, Amen.

My eyes have seen Your salvation (Luke 2:30).

Today is the fourth day of Christmas and my wise men are making solid progress on their way to the manger scene. But today we are looking at Simeon, who held little Jesus in his arms at the same time the wise men were traveling toward the land of Israel.

Mary must have been amazed at the things God revealed to her about Jesus through friends and total strangers. First, her cousin Elizabeth told her she was pregnant with God's Son before Mary had the chance to say a word about it. Then, Joseph told her about the angel in his dream who said he should not be afraid to take her as his wife because the child was God's Son. And, of course, there were the shepherds who rushed in that first Christmas night to tell of the angel's message.

And here through another total stranger God reveals to Mary the scope of her Son's work. Simeon said, "My eyes have seen Your salvation that You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel" (Luke 2:30-32). Mary knew Jesus would reign over the throne of His father David and save Israel.

But now she learned Jesus would save not only Israel, He would be the Savior for all nations.
Jesus came as a light for those who live in the darkness of sin, unbelief, and ignorance. He came for those who do not know that God the Creator is perfect, and He demands perfection of His creatures. He came for those who do not know God is merciful. He came for those-Jew and Gentile alike-because He is love. In fact, He loved this fallen world so much that He gave His one and only Son to take all mankind's sins upon Himself and win eternal salvation for all of us by His suffering, death, and resurrection.

For those of us who do know God's Word, Jesus brings glory to God through the great salvation He has won. And in our lives He brings glory by clothing us in His own righteousness and leading us to do good works that glorify God.

Like Simeon, our eyes have seen God's salvation. That is why Simeon's song has been sung for centuries in the Church after receiving Holy Communion. When we receive the bread and wine we are holding Christ's very body and blood, which was nailed to the cross and poured out for our forgiveness. We have seen it with our own eyes and felt it with our hands and on our tongues. No less than Simeon we can say, "My eyes have seen Your salvation." Having been saved, we glorify God and depart in peace to share Christ's salvation throughout the world.

THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I praise You for revealing Your salvation to me-Your Son Jesus Christ. As He has brought light to my darkened mind, let me share His name to all those You bring into my life, that they may see His light and praise You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them." Luke 1:67-68

Take the time to read Luke 1:67-79. In that reading we see where parents’ true joys lie: to watch their lineage blossom and grow and move out into the world to do great things in the Lord.

Zechariah was able to watch his son, John the Baptist, grow into a young man who could “turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.”

For those of us who are parents, we share in Zechariah’s joy when we see our children, or grandchildren or great-grandchildren, go out in the world and make a difference. On this eve of Christ’s birth, give thanks for the parents (chosen or birth) who have, like John the Baptist, pointed you toward the Lord, and set you free to do the same for others.

Heidi Hagstrom

Dear Heavenly Father of love and mercy, help me to follow the example of Zechariah and trust You enough to set children free to point others to You. Amen.

An angel of the Lord said,] "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:11-14, New International Version

The sign to the shepherds was a baby in a feed trough. Pretty potent sign, isn't it! The Almighty Creator of the universe sleeping where the sheep and goats have eaten their grain and hay. That God would love us so much as to reduce himself to such an inauspicious beginning reminds us why the angels praise him so. He is glorious and yet he chose not to hide or protect that glory, but instead he shared it so we could find it, too

My Prayer

God of the manger and Ruler of the constellations, I join my heart and my voice with the angels in praise to Your glorious and holy name. Your sacrifice is so profound I am awe-struck. You could have chosen any sign to show Jesus to the shepherds, but You chose the lowly manger. Thank You for revealing yourself in such a common place so I could find your sign and come home to you. I pray in Jesus' name with all my love. Amen.

No matter how much we talk about it, read about it, or write songs about it, love remains our fascination.

For people of faith, it is the very thing that keeps us faithful at all.

Love comes to us often when least expected. Still, enter these next moments with anticipation and adoration.

So he told them this parable: “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." Luke 15:3-7

As a child, I would have been mortified if I had strayed so far from the group that someone had to leave others to find me. I followed directions, was obedient, and respectful of those in authority, and would get angry if others didn’t have the same level of compliance.

Kenda Creasy Dean, in her new book Almost Christian, writes, “niceness masks...our tendency to reduce others to replicas of ourselves, which contradicts the nature of Christian discipleship.” Following Jesus, she says, requires “radical particularity, which – along with genuine openness to the others – is made possible only by taking part in God’s particularity and openness through Jesus Christ.”

The Bible, Kenda reminds us, has nothing to say about being nice and everything to say about kindness and compassion. God doesn’t really care if I always follow directions. God is far more concerned about loving me, and me loving others, even (or maybe especially) if they are not like me. Heidi Hagstrom

Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to believe I am worthy of being pursued by You who has sacrificed and Who continues to love me over and over and over again. Amen.

WORD

When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. Luke 2:43-51

Can you imagine all the things that Mary had to treasure and ponder? What must it have been like to be the mother of Jesus? This scene shows that it was not always easy. Mary and Joseph didn’t always understand what he was up to or why, or what he said to them. I imagine they often thought about those early days – the angels, the miraculous birth, the shepherds, Simeon, the Wise Men – and tried to make sense of it all. Who was this boy? Who would he become?

As Jesus grew into a man and began his ministry, surely Mary was joyful as she remembered those miracles she had pondered from long ago. She had questions – and some misunderstandings along the way. And as Simeon foretold, her soul was pierced at the foot of the cross. But Mary – obedient Mary who found favor with God, who followed a difficult path, who was surprised by God over and over, whose heart was stretched and broken – surely no one was more joyful than she on Resurrection Day.

Amy Derrick

Incarnate God, it’s not always easy to follow You in joy. The path is sometimes difficult. I don’t know where I am headed. I have questions and misunderstandings. I am often surprised. And sometimes my soul is pierced with grief. Like Mary, I find myself pondering who You are and what You are up to. Help me, like Mary, to trust You above all. To trust that who You are is Emmanuel – God with us. Help me to remember that “God with us” means GOD with me, and that this epiphany is enough to cause my soul to sing a magnificent song of praise, and to cause me to joyfully follow – today and always. May it be with me according to Your word. Amen.

When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. Matthew 2:9-12

The visit of the wise men is celebrated in many places on January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. Epiphany, for Western Christians, celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, the Wise Men. “Epiphany” also means “a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something.”

For Mary, perhaps the realization that these foreign dignitaries had traveled and searched for months, maybe even years, to come and worship her child as king of the Jews, was an epiphany for her – a sudden perception into the reality of her child. Even these foreigners, these Gentiles, recognized him. After the newness of it all had worn off, after the shepherds and angels were only memories, these men from a distant land showed up. They rejoiced that they had found the family, declared her child the Christ, worshiped him and left very expensive gifts. After the dust settled, Mary was left again to ponder and perhaps to realize anew exactly who it was she was holding in her arms.

Amy Derrick

My Father, My Savior I often take for granted exactly who You are. In my daily life, I see You as just my own and forget that You are Emmanuel – God with us. God with us. GOD ...WITH...US. God – Yahweh, Creator, Savior of the World – here with us. With me. With all of us. This truth is worthy of searching for and rejoicing over. It is worthy of my worship. It is worthy of any gift I could possibly give.

God...with...us. What an epiphany! All praise and Glory to You oh Lord Jesus, Amen.

WORD: Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout.... It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple;... Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed — and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Luke 2:25a, 26-27a, 28-35

In spite of all of the strange and miraculous events, Mary was still a brand-new mother, a new wife under awkward circumstances, and a young girl. Newlyweds giving birth away from home would be stressed under normal circumstances; imagine it with all of the extenuating factors for Mary and Joseph.

With all of this life change – and all of the divine surprises to ponder – Mary and Joseph were amazed again, this time by the elderly Simeon’s prophetic words about their baby and about Mary herself. It was another miracle of God that Mary was able to keep functioning with so much to try to sort through. Other people were responding in joy, believing this child to be the son of God – exactly as the angel originally said. But with Simeon’s blessing came an ominous prophecy. What could it all mean? Amy Derrick

Prayer;

Dear Heavenly Father, God of the unknown future, life is full of change, stress, miracles and blessings. It is also full of fear, mysterious outlooks, strange possibilities and innumerable questions. You are Lord of all – my amazement at the miraculous present and my anxiety over tomorrow’s forecast. Guide me, keep me, remind me that joy is not dependent on happiness or circumstance, but is found in You, in the midst of change, stress, miracle, blessing and uncertainty. Help my eyes to see Your salvation through it all. In Jesus Name, all Praise and Glory, Amen.

WORD

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:15-19

Mary had been on quite the journey for nine months. She’d been visited by an angel, experienced conceiving the child of God as a virgin, been validated by her relative Elizabeth who had experienced her own miraculous conception, been accepted and loved by Joseph against all societal norms, and had given birth in a barn. After all that – as they were tired and dirty and uncomfortable in a smelly stable - Mary, Joseph and their newborn baby are visited in the middle of the night by a bunch of shepherds who claim they’ve been visited by an angel choir, and who somehow know that this child is of God.

Maybe by now Mary is getting more used to the surprises. She is clearly paying attention...treasuring each word.

There is certainly a lot to ponder. Amy Derrick

God of wonder, help me to pay attention to Your unpredictable work in my life. Help me to treasure the miracles You bring across my path, even when – perhaps especially when – they are well disguised, like dirty shepherds. And help me to ponder Your surprises, to see more clearly Your hand in my life, so that I can follow You in joy. All praise and glory to You Lord Jesus. Amen.

And Mary said, “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.” And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. Luke 1:46-56

I find myself shamed by Mary’s Song of Joy, her Magnificat. Have I ever, when overwhelmed with God’s presence, uttered such beautiful words of praise? Have I ever composed such a work of prophetic perfection? My own words to God seem so ordinary, so empty in comparison. Comparison, however, is probably not the point here. Perhaps the point is modeling.

Mary puts into words the joy of her spirit. She expresses her awe that God chose her and recounts all of the ways God has worked. She focuses on God’s heart, God’s action in the world, and her resulting faith. It is a model for me. How does my spirit feel? Where do I see God? What have I seen God do before? I can rejoice; I can express my trust in God’s goodness and faithfulness, too. Maybe my words won’t be so beautifully put together that generations to come will recite them, but pure joy and praise expressed to God are always a precious offering, holy and treasured. My soul magnifying the Lord. My own magnificat.

Amy Derrick

Prayer: My soul magnifies You, Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior. You have seen me and You have acted in my life. You know me and claim me as Your own. What greater blessing could there be? You are at work in my life, in ways I can see and in many, many ways I can’t see. You are strong, You are giving, You are holy, You are just. You are God – in my life as in the lives of all who have followed You throughout the ages. Hear my song of joy today, Lord. You are magnificent! All praise and glory to You, Amen.

Joy might be the one most sought-after gift of this season. Though it can be elusive, people of faith remain ever open to its coming.

Pause now and open your soul to the joy lurking at the edges of your awareness. Receive the gift with gladness.

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” Luke 1:39-45

Where do we turn when life seems upside down? Usually we go to someone we trust, who has been there. When I was young, when some girls got into a predicament like Mary they were sent to an auntie in another town to have the baby. It must have been a very lonely feeling but Here the angel had told Mary about Elizabeth’s miracle, so it makes sense that she went to see her. Elizabeth was perhaps the only person who would believe her, understand and celebrate with her. Mary probably expected a warm welcome, but this? Imagine what Mary felt at Elizabeth’s greeting; overwhelmed, but surely relieved as well.

Elizabeth’s declaration confirmed what the angel told Mary. She knew immediately that she didn’t have to explain anything or try to convince Elizabeth. Elizabeth was rejoicing with her from the first moment. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for several months, with lots of time for conversation and processing, and lots of time to prepare for going home with a visible pregnancy. This time was crucial for Mary; it strengthened her for the road ahead. Elizabeth was another divine gift to Mary. God provided a confidante who loved her, validated her experience, shared her joy and helped equip her for the difficult days ahead.

Prayer: God who understands my humanity, thank You that You know what I need even before I do. Thank You that You provide for me in ways I could never expect. Thank You for the people You place in my life who give me a safe place, who listen to me and love me, who help me to have perspective and who strengthen me for what lies ahead. They are You with skin on, just when I need it. They make following You in joy possible. For that I am profoundly grateful. All praise and glory to you Lord Jesus. Amen.

WORD

But the hawk and the hedgehog shall possess it; the owl and the raven shall live in it. He shall stretch the line of confusion over it, and the plummet of chaos over its nobles. They shall name it No Kingdom There, and all its princes shall be nothing. Thorns shall grow over its strongholds, nettles and thistles in its fortresses. It shall be the haunt of jackals, an abode for ostriches. Wildcats shall meet with hyenas, goat-demons shall call to each other; there too Lilith shall repose, and find a place to rest.

Isaiah 34:11–14

Elie Wiesel once said, “Indifference, to me, is the epitome of evil.” I think he meant the worst thing that can happen in the world is for people not to care. As a Holocaust survivor he had good reason to say this. At age fifteen, Wiesel and his family were sent to Auschwitz, a Nazi concentration camp. Wiesel’s mother, father, and younger sister all died in the camp; Wiesel and his two older sisters survived. When he talks about the evil of not caring, we need to listen.

The prophet Isaiah calls us into action. This call challenges us to move from evil (indifference, doing nothing) to goodness (seeking peace, working for justice). There is brokenness all around us and God needs each of us to actively pursue peace and justice to heal the brokenness. During this time of Advent, as you prepare for Christ’s birth, what can you do today to accept Isaiah’s challenge?

Michael Harper

Healing Heavenly Father, stir me from my indifference. Though the world’s brokenness sometimes feels overwhelming, give me strength to accept the challenge of pursuing your perfect peace. Amen.

Be alert, Be on Guard, Prepare for it now,

WORD

Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who are workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors, while mischief is in their hearts. Psalm 28:3

One of my favorite teachers from middle school was Ms. Galvan. At the time, I knew I didn’t resent going to her class every day, which was a major accomplishment for any middle school teacher. Once I was out of her class for a few years, I figured out what made her such an amazing teacher. She practiced what she preached and, well, she “preached” a lot. She was constantly telling us about manners and how to be respectful. She even challenged us to do things to change the world. All of her advice fell on eager ears because she lived the life that she was challenging us to lead.

People like Ms. Galvan are the opposite of those described by the psalmist, who talk peace but have mischief in the hearts. Living in God’s peace is so much more than talk; it’s about answering God’s call to give one hundred percent of our lives to God. How might today look different for you if you dedicated your entire self to God’s peace? Michael Harper

Heavenly Father, do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who are workers of evil. Help me live in your peace, working with all of my being to spread your love in the world. Amen.

Prepare for it now,

The gentle presence of the Spirit.

WORD:

   But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, "First seek the counsel of the LORD."

    -- 1 Kings 22:5

THOUGHT:

   This verse is from the wonderful story of Micah the prophet.

Jehoshaphat knew not to trust the counsel of false prophets. He was adamant that before they went into battle with anyone, God's people needed to first seek the counsel of the Lord! This should also be our approach to life. So often we ask God to bless what we've already decided rather than spending time in prayer, fasting, and Scripture seeking our Father's Will. Let's not rush our decisions. He has promised to listen and give us His guidance.

God has promised that He would lead us with his Spirit; let's not rush the Spirit's input, or even worse, ignore it and then ask God to bless us anyway!

PRAYER:

   Heavenly Father, ruler of all nations and Sovereign over all creation, please guide my decisions as I seek your Will and your Glory. I want my life, my family, my work, and my ministry to be lived in your Will. I want to be your servant and not seek my own way and my own glory. Thank You for sending Your Spirit to help illuminate Your Word and lead me and to equip and empower me to serve You. In Jesus name I pray. Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.

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Follow the Star Devotion - Day 2

Follow the Star Devotion - Day 1