Happy New Year

Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Psalm 72:19

Whiter Than Snow

 

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness;

    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins

    and blot out all my iniquity. 

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from your presence

    or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation

    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

    so that sinners will turn back to you.

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,

    you who are God my Savior,

    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

Open my lips, Lord,

    and my mouth will declare your praise.

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;

    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;

    a broken and contrite heart

    you, God, will not despise. 

May it please you to prosper Zion,

    to build up the walls of Jerusalem. Psalm 51:7-18

Sisters in Christ

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10

For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren. Hebrews 2:11 

Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.” 1 Samuel 20:42

To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. Mark 12:33

A Stonecroft Bible Study started 25 years ago in my neighborhood. We meet once a week September through April except on holidays. Three leaders have taken us through the years, and we have traveled from Genesis to Matthew, taking each book in order. We love taking our time with each lesson. We met last Friday and one of the questions our Max Lucado study asked was, “Where do you feel God’s presence the most?” One of our members, who continues to come back even after moving away from our neighborhood, says it is right here, right here at this study.

We all feel like family and pray together and for each other. The leadership fell into my hands and preparing the lessons has been such a blessing to me. Each of the present 14 members bring so much to the table that I am taught by them each meeting. Friends do make the best presents.

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, thank you for placing me right where I live and surrounding me with these wonderful Christian friends. Thank you we can help each other grow in knowledge of our Lord Jesus. Help us to be friends with all those around us during this Christmas season. Amen.

Sandra Hilsabeck (photo below submitted by Sandra)

 

The Magi Visit the Messiah

 

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

  “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for out of you will come a ruler

    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2:1-12

Glory to God in the Highest

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, 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 heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:1-20

Ready or Not, Here I Come!

This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger. Luke 2:12

Sometime back in elementary school, we built our own nativity set. The characters were simple: pre-made wooden figurines which we transformed with colored felt and lots of glue into Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the three wise men. The main piece, the stable, was made of plywood with a shake roof. And the manger was nothing more than a matchbox with four matches as legs. That was good enough.

But what wasn’t good enough, what didn’t turn out was the angel. No matter how many times I tried: these heavenly creatures just never looked right. At least not like the ones I had pictured in my mind. They looked fake. Unbelievable. Or even worse: like ghosts!  So I finally gave up. And up to this day every Christmas, when my parents set up my clumsy childhood nativity set, the angels who are supposed to enlighten the sky above the stable and sing God’s glory - are missing. 

And maybe this is quite fitting. Because: In the time leading up to Christmas, I’ve found myself more than once in that same classroom again, where I tried to build angels. I tried to get at least some angel glamor into my home, I would get myself into the “Christmas spirit” with music, spices, and gatherings, yes, with my best intentions to be on a journey to Bethlehem. But while I kept telling myself “This year will be different,” I found that I often just added yet another stress to my Advent days, that of “trying to do Christmas correctly”! Let’s face it: I am pretty lousy at building angels or making Advent special or creating heaven on earth for that matter. 

And maybe that’s ok. 

The reformer Martin Luther tells the story about a good, pious man who wanted to get to heaven even during his lifetime. Therefore, he tried to do good every day, and mounted each day on the ladder to perfection, until one day his head was high enough that he could get a glimpse of heaven. But he was very disappointed: Heaven was dark, empty, and cold. Because God wasn’t up there. God was on earth, lying in a manger. 

So if you find yourself struggling that you’re nowhere close to done with your preparations for the holidays, take heart! The good news of the nativity is this: that God came down and took residence - not among the singing angels nor in a perfectly prepared home, but rather in a place that was quite shabby and not ready at all. So right where I am. 

Prayer: God of love, thank you that you humbled yourself to be one of us to convince us of your love. You are Immanuel - “God with us” whether I’m ready or not; whether I feel worthy or not. Open my eyes, so I can see you; and in myself, in family, friends, neighbors, and strangers what you see: each one a beloved child. Amen. 

Rev. Thomas Dummermuth, reprinted from the 2013 Advent Devotional

Traditions

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8  

In my home, Christmas traditions can be specific ornaments or decorations and where they’re displayed. This occurred to me the other day when we hauled out the Christmas boxes and totes and considered getting it all out, or judiciously leaving some items boxed up, simply because they’re a lot of work to pack again after Christmas. However, when something is left behind in the boxes and settled back in the attic, a family member may notice its absence and comment on it.

I have many items that were handed down from my grandmother and family friends. I guess an appreciation for vintage is the reason behind my collection. One such vintage decoration is a set of letters, “NOEL”, probably from the fifties or sixties. I think of my grandmother and where she displayed these letters each year when I get them out of their box. And if I forget to set those "NOEL" letters on the bookshelf, my adult children may notice and comment on their absence.

I think of traditions as safe places. Safe in that they’re predictable, and we can count on them. Traditions are also great memory keepers; they launch us into reminiscing.

God is our safe place. He is predictable in that He offers salvation, forgiveness, grace, and love. Knowing we can count on these things is comforting.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for the safety of your love. Knowing we can trust that you are the same today, tomorrow, and forever brings comfort and peace. Be with those who need the safety of your comforting arms this season of Advent. Amen.

Donna Gustafson (reprinted from 2019)

Christmas Mysteries

Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. Luke 2:4 (New Oxford Bible)

As children, we start to learn our Christian faith through the Bible stories we hear/read in Sunday school. As we grow in faith and accept the teaching of these stories, we see little things that make us wonder and we ask why.

As a senior citizen, I’ve heard the Christmas story multiple times and love it more each time I hear it and I accept it, questions, mysteries and all. However, I still keep wondering why Jesus had to be born in such a small town like Bethlehem.  Why did Mary bring swaddling bands with her? Was that the normal way to dress newborns back then?  My last question has always been who were those shepherds and how did they get there so fast? 

There seem to have been various answers to all my questions over the years, yet somehow these answers always left me wondering. Still, I accept the story - all of it. I just can’t resist the beauty and the mystery of the story of our newborn baby Jesus.   

What if I searched for answers to my questions from a new perspective? A friend gave me a copy of “The Book of Mysteries,” written by messianic Rabi Jonathan Cahn. Maybe a messianic rabbi who has read the writings of the ancient rabbis could shed some light on some of my questions and help solve some of the mysteries. 

Why was Jesus born in Bethlehem (in Hebrew: Beit – house; lechem – bread)?  Where else would we expect to find “The Bread of Life” than in Bethlehem (Beitlechem) - the House of Bread?

Who were those shepherds, and how did they recognize the baby Jesus as God’s perfect sacrificial lamb? According to Rabbi Cahn, they weren’t just any shepherds. They were the shepherds that attend the birth and raise the perfect sacrificial lambs for the Temple in Jerusalem. Their flocks grazed in the hills outside of Bethlehem. How did the shepherds recognize Jesus as “The Perfect Lamb of God,” who takes away the sins of the world?

In the chaos of lambing season, these shepherds are responsible for separating the perfect sacrificial lambs from those with even the tiniest of blemishes. They wrap the perfect lambs in swaddling bands and place them in mangers. I’d never heard that before! 

Now what seemed to me to be random happenings surrounding the birth of the Christ child are revealed to be the meticulous plan of God Our Father for the perfect birth and recognition of His one and only beloved Son.

Is it any wonder we love this story so much?

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we praise and thank you for this beautiful story of the birth of Your perfect gift to all of us – Your Son, Our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.  It’s in His holy name we pray.  Amen

Judy Welch

Room at Your Inn

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Luke 2:1-7

Jesus was born into the world in a stable because there was no room in the inn. What kind of room do you give him? Do you say "I have no room in my life for you"? Do you relegate him to the stable or corners of your life? Do you give him the cheap economy room or give him only a little of your life? Are you giving him the penthouse, the very best room or your own room? I hope you are giving him the run of the inn (your life) and have reserved the ballroom and invited all of your friends and acquaintances in to meet him. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, into this world. Please help us to let you into all the corners of our lives. Amen.

Jan Mitchell (from the 2008 Eastridge Devotion book)

Peace: Everything in His Timing, Including Peace

The worst of my fears has come true, what I’ve dreaded most has happened. My repose is shattered, my peace destroyed. No rest for me, ever—death has invaded life. Job 3:25-26 (Message) 

God makes his people strong. God gives his people peace. Psalms 29:11 (Message) 

The people who walk in darkness shall see a great Light—a Light that will shine on all those who live in the land of the shadow of death. In that glorious day of peace there will no longer be issuing of battle gear; no more the blood-stained uniforms of war; all such will be burned. Isaiah 9:2 & 5 (The Living Bible)

At Christmas we sing of the “silent night”, the “little Lord Jesus asleep peacefully on the hay”, “of peace on earth” and the “quiet little town of Bethlehem.” Job had fears and his peace was destroyed; death invaded his life.

We may not have had the president we wanted picked by the voters. Our family may have become broken, we may have had to move out of our home or we may have a rift with a friend or family member. We must listen to the words of Silent Night, Away in a Manger, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day and O Little Town of Bethlehem. Let the calming words bless us giving us peace. Because the coming of the Messiah has won over death. Jesus was born according to the exact timing of God and he will appear again on the day the Lord knows with a great Light.

Prayer: Our Father who is in heaven, thank you for your promise of a room in your house for us sinners. Thank you for Jesus who overcame death and gives us hope. As we sing the Christmas hymns help us to carefully and earnestly hear them. Almighty God, your timing is perfect for us. Amen.

Sandra Hilsabeck (reprinted from 2016)

We Are Free

But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after you were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions. Hebrews 10:32 

Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. Hebrews 32-34 New International Version 

Some of us remember the Vietnam War and some of our oldest generation remember World War II as my husband does. We studied about WWI, slavery, and the Civil War in our schools. We need these remembrances to appreciate the freedom we have. Some of our past caused fellow Americans many afflictions and great suffering. Women were exposed to insult and had to fight for the right to vote. Today, every citizen in our country who is 18 years of age has the right to vote.

We voted as a nation by having a war, the Civil War, and freedom for all people was restored. It was slow as it was new, but it has come. Many lives were lost on both sides. We just watched a Civil War movie and saw the people were brave and fought for what they thought was right. Women fought for the right to vote and won that freedom. Our constitution insured freedom when we followed it.  

Saying the FIRST woman, the FIRST black, the FIRST Latino continues to divide us. We need to respect every citizen of all colors of skin and from all countries.

Prayer: Oh Lord Almighty, you are the supreme leader, please help us to understand we are your people, the people you created. Help us to treat each and every one with respect and love, especially this Christmas season. Help us to spread love that is deep, like your love for us in sending your son at Christmas, to all people. Amen. 

Sandra Hilsabeck

Reason for the Season

The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! Luke 2: 11 (NIV)

Advent is the season of preparing and waiting for the Lord to come. I have been trying to back away from the stress that a worldly Christmas can make. The presents, food, traditions, and celebrating are sometimes so overwhelming that I can forget the reason for the season: Jesus! As I was reading the book Discovering Advent by Mark Roberts, he says that the main point of Advent is growing into a deeper, and truer relationship with God and sharing that with our faith community. I am hoping to make this Christmas more special by focusing on less materialistic things and more on strengthening my relationships with others with Christ at the center.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for this season that prepares us for the coming your Son. Please help us to put you at the center of our lives and guide us through this time.  Amen

Jen Olsen, from the 2013 Advent Devotional

Giving

Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little." II Corinthians 8:13-15 written by Paul and Timothy 

Just as Paul writes to the church at Corinth, we to are held to these teachings. At this time of year in particular, I am filled with joy and love and celebration of the Christmas season. My heart also feels convicted to do more for others...Maybe even shame, that I have been blessed with so much and there are so many in this world with nothing. There are many right here, without enough food to eat, no place to call home, with no family to visit, with so many hardships that they have lost hope.

This year my family has done away with adult gift giving. Instead, we pooled the money we would have spent on each other and anonymously gifted someone in great need. The recipient was brought to tears on several occasions while telling the story, but the real impact was in our hearts. This is what Christmas and giving are all about. We will be forever changed and now have a new giving tradition. 

Prayer: Gracious and giving Father, may we realize all you have given us; and may we share and bless others who are less fortunate. May we remember that all we have is truly yours and use our blessings to glorify you. Amen.

Shirlette Hershiser, from the 2013 Advent Devotional

When Does the Journey Begin?

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.  I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. Genesis 12:1-2 

When and where does the journey to Christ begin?  It could be creation of heaven and earth or creation of humankind or Noah and the flood.  It seems to me that this journey begins with Abram and Sarai.  The Lord says go and they went.  They took everything they had and left their home and went to Canaan as God had told them.  They had no map. They had no GPS or On-Star.  They had their trust in God, their faith and each other. 

What an incredible undertaking.  How often has the Lord told us to do something and we have ignored it or made excuses.  Like, “Use me Lord, but not right now”. 

Prayer: Dear Lord God, help us to listen for your call and to respond so that we may be a blessing to others as we have been so richly blessed.  In Jesus Name we pray.  Amen 

Kathy Kuehn, from the 2013 Advent Devotional

Keep Watch

But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.  So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matthew 24:36-44 

I read a blog by Timothy Merrill, editor of Homiletics Online, about how not to sleep through a sermon.

ONE: Never fall asleep flat on the pew. To keep this from happening, it's actually better to sit in a crowded pew, shoulder to shoulder with people on your left and right. Otherwise, if you fall asleep, you might lean right over on the pew and that's not good.

TWO: When you sleep, don't fall completely asleep, but just power nap instead. If you fall completely asleep, your sleep apnea might kick up and that's embarrassing. Better to just go half-asleep, so that you're vaguely aware of your surroundings. It helps to use a Bible to prop your chin up, or lean against your head. You can close your eyes, as long as the Bible is in view because the preacher will think you're praying. If you power nap, you'll be ready if the pastor asks you to pronounce the benediction.

THREE: Have a friend be a watcher. Sit with someone who's sympathetic to your plight. Your spouse may not be the right person. You need a friend who will nudge you if the preacher seems to be looking in your direction a lot. Make sure a Bible is open on your lap, or is prominently in view. Your friend can rouse you so that you can say "Amen" and get back to your nap.

FOUR: Don't sit in the back pew. Believe it or not, this is the first place preachers look for sermon slackers. If you sit in the first or second pew, you can actually get more sleep in because preachers will just look right past you.

FIVE: Don't sleep through the entire sermon. After all, the preacher has something from the Lord you probably need to hear. But when you've heard it, you have no further obligation to stay awake. Still, if you can be awake for some of the sermon, you can then refer to it when you're leaving the church and shaking the pastor's hand. "Wonderful sermon, Reverend! I especially enjoyed the part where ...." 

Matthew’s lesson is about staying awake! One does not know the hour or day or time when the Lord will return, not even Jesus. So every moment cannot be wasted. One thing is for sure, I do not blame the clergy staff of Eastridge for preaching boring sermons at all! But I am challenging us this Advent to be alert and wakeful in our daily moments and routines. 

One thought that may help is to “seize-the-moment!” Live in the moment with a sense of expectancy and alertness! Even find the hallowedness of a mere routine such as doing the dishes after dinner or putting out the trash. Treasure the mundane as holy and see what this time of Advent Waiting could really mean with wakeful alertness and readiness for the One Whose birth we anticipate. 

Prayer: O Gracious Lord, Emmanuel (God with us!) may we really know that you are truly with us in this moment of reading and in the moments that we live with anticipation of what is yet to be. In faith and in joy we eagerly await the next event with anticipation in Jesus’ name. Amen

Rev. Dr. John J. Duling, Honorably Retired 

A Full Year

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 

Long, long ago, Isaiah wrote of the coming of the baby Jesus. He told not only of the coming of the Baby but gave the many names that would be given to this small babe. Many years were spent waiting for that prophecy to come true. God’s gift to mankind finally arrived in a manger just as the prophet had promised. Today, we journey through our church year to find ourselves at last in the Advent Season. We leave the scarred dark feeling of Lent, the elation of Easter, enjoy the children of vacation church school, give thanks for our bountiful harvest at Thanksgiving and at long last find ourselves ready to greet the baby, our Savior. 

Walking down the aisles of the stores, I find myself searching for mention of the child. There is a lot of tinsel, many trees covered with ornaments, mention of Santa but no Christ Child. Finally, in the very back of the store, we see a small child holding on to his/her mother’s hand. He/she reaches for an ornament, and we find what we have been searching. Joy, love and hope for the future abides in this child. Hope that he/she will journey through life and find the baby still waiting in the manger. Born to all and born to bring peace to us and the world. 

Prayer: Dear God, once again, we have come to that wonderful time of year. Once again, the baby has come to bring peace in our hearts and minds and joy to the world. Thank you for your awesome gift over and over again. Amen.

Carolyn F. Olsen, from 2013 Advent Devotional

The Greatest Gift

Receiving a gift is like getting a rare gemstone; any way you look at it, you see beauty refracted. Proverbs 17:8 (The Message)

Christmas has become a huge gift-giving holiday. In some ways, shopping and buying gifts for Christmas has taken center stage ahead of the true reason for the season. We pore over the advertisements in the newspaper and plot out our route for the sales on Black Friday. Or we spend hours online checking for the best prices on Amazon and "googling" for the latest and greatest new toy. 

Exchanging Christmas presents is a wonderful tradition that gives us an opportunity to show others we care for them. Some say the tradition helps remind us of the gifts given to the baby Jesus by the Three Wise Men:  gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And others suggest the tradition arises from winter celebrations of the Pagans.

No matter the origin of the gift-giving tradition, it's important that we do not let it take over. What if we spent just as much time reflecting on the greatest gift we ever received:  the baby Jesus. Christmas gives us the opportunity to consider the beginning of Jesus' ministry on earth. And to thank God for sending Jesus as an infant to show us the way. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank you for sending your son Jesus as a baby and for the chance to reflect on that gift during the Christmas season. The gift of that rare gemstone is the greatest gift we have ever received. Help us to appreciate the true meaning of that gift. Amen. 

Robin Hadfield (reprinted from 2016)

Readjusting to the Dark

Read Luke 2:15-20

If you live in the northern hemisphere, Christmas means winter, cooler temperatures, shorter days, and longer nights. The shortest day and longest night of the year—the winter solstice— falls just a few days before we celebrate Jesus’ birth. We are eager and ready to connect Jesus’ birth to the return of light and warmth!

But in the southern hemisphere, Christmas falls during summer, just a few days after the longest day and shortest night of the year. In Australia, some people have pool parties on Christmas day! Though Christmas is full of light, it also starts a season of shorter days and longer nights. Jesus’ coming is still good news, no matter where you are! The Gospel is about inclusive, unconditional love.

After the shepherds encountered the angels in bright light, they were suddenly left in darkness again. To find the newborn baby, Jesus, they readjusted from the sudden bright light to begin their journey in the dark. Of course, they’re not the same shepherds as they were before the angels came to them. Now they know about Jesus, and they are on a journey toward him. That doesn’t change the fact that it’s dark, but it does change what they do in that darkness and how they travel through it: with hope and wonder.

Our world doesn’t always feel hopeful or love-filled. On Christmas, we celebrate the hope and love Jesus continues to bring to our hurt and pain. Still, even as we adjust to the world again after the celebrations of Christmas, following Jesus changes how we live and the way we move through the world. Because of Jesus, we try to show love and have hope in a world needing both. 

Discussion/Reflection Questions:

•  How would you celebrate Christmas if it was during the summer instead?

•  What happens when you first go from a well-lit place into darkness?  What happens to your eyes so you can see even without a light?

•  What are some hard things about the world today?  How does Jesus teach us to respond to those hard things?

Activity:

All over the world, people are participating in the season of Advent, looking forward to Christmas Day. As we learned in the reflection today, some places celebrate Christmas with sunshine and hot weather. Some places celebrate Christmas with snow and cooler temperatures.

For example, Costa Rica is in a tropical region where Christmas occurs during the rainy season. It is warm and wet! Costa Ricans love to eat apples at Christmas time—they are a special treat!

In cold subarctic Finland, people often light up cemeteries with Christmas lights and decorations. The Finnish spend Christmas remembering their loved ones who have died.

Now, take a moment and pray for the people of all regions that they might be safe, well- nourished, and joyful this Christmas season.

Prayer: God, thank you for the people of ___________. You love them very much, and you care about their needs. Today we pray they might be safe, have the food and supplies they need, and find joy during this Advent season. And if there is a way for us to bless the people of ___________ , please help us find it and we will get to work. Thank you for our siblings in all the countries of the world. Amen.

Reprinted with permission from An Illustrated Ministry, originally shared in 2020.

Advent Pruning!

Read Matthew 3:1-12

One thing that struck me about this scripture from Matthew is the readiness of a fruit bearing plant to produce good fruit – alluding to the need to keep one’s heart and life worthy.

People came from the whole region to hear John the Baptist preach and be baptized, including some Pharisees and Sadducees. John was quick to question their intentions and genuine desire for repentance and change. He called them the offspring of snakes (my term!) 

However, I find it hopeful that the Pharisees and Sadducees came and may have even been baptized following John’s challenge. Were their hearts and lives worthy and able to accept the challenge? One way that challenge could be met is through a pruning of one’s life and heart of things that choke and suffocate the heart and life of bearing real good fruit of faith and devotion.

I recall when Cathy and I had just been married and we moved to our first ministry in Illinois. In the back yard of our manse was a grape vine which had some concord grapes growing. The problem was the vine had not been pruned.  We tried some of the grapes and they had a bad taste! We shared that experience with the clerk of Session of the church. She had a grape vine in her yard, and she said she would come over and take care of the vine. When she did, she cut the branches so far back that it looked like a dead vine with no life whatsoever! We questioned why it had to be so radically cut back. She said to wait, have faith, and watch the vine grow and bear fresh grapes. When the growing season came, the branches did grow back and produced some beautiful concord grapes!

That pruning of the grape vine was a lesson that could relate to what John the Baptist challenged those who listened and were baptized. Were their hearts and lives so pruned so as to bear good fruit of faith and service?

In this season of Advent waiting, I pray we may question our own lives to see if our hearts and lives are bearing good fruit or need a radical pruning. May God grant us to be like a vine that bears good fruit!

Prayer: O Divine Grapevine Dresser and Keeper, open us to the reality of our faith and help us see that our hearts and lives are so pruned and ready for bear good fruit of service and witness for the kingdom of God. We pray in the name of the Coming Christ. Amen

Rev. Dr. John J. Duling, Honorably Retired

Ancestry

This is the family tree of Boaz, beginning with his ancestor Perez; Perez, Hezron, Ram, Amminadab, Nashon, Salmon, Boaz, Obed, Jesse, David. Ruth 4: 18-22     

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called, "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. Isaiah 9: 6-7 

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.  In that day the root of Jesse shall stand as an ensign to the peoples; him shall the nations seek, and his dwellings shall be glorious.  Isaiah 11: 1,10

I enjoy watching the current ancestry programs which track the guests’ families back through multiple generations. It has set me to wondering what it would be like if Jesus was on one of these shows. The host of course would thank Jesus for taking time from his busy, busy schedule of traveling around the area preaching, teaching, and healing.

Host: You must know that generally it is very hard to trace the individual ancestry of the Jews past a few generations. There are few hard copy records except for the Torah of course, and most of it comes from word of mouth through the ages. However, we were surprised to find that your ancestry goes back through 42 ancestors. Did you have any idea that this existed?

Jesus: Well, I heard that I was of the lineage of David and that made me special.

Host: What do you know about your immediate family?

Jesus: Well, my father, Joseph, was a hard-working carpenter, very compassionate, and loved my mother Mary very much. My mother was a young virgin when they were married. I have heard rumors that I was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Host: There seems to be a great deal of prophesies regarding someone like you. What do you think about this?

Jesus: I have been sent to earth by my Heavenly Father to teach all of mankind about my Father. I particularly enjoy the prophecies from Isaiah and the other prophets. 

Host: Is your message just for the Jews?

Jesus: The Jews are my father's favorite, but my message is for all the world, including the gentiles. If you look at my heritage, you will find gentiles like Ruth, Rahab, Tamar who played important roles.

Host: Are you telling me you are the long-awaited Messiah?

Jesus: What do you think? The blind see, the deaf hear, the crippled walk, and the dead are raised from the grave back to life.

Host: Truly you must be the long-awaited Messiah!

Prayer: Thank you Lord for your love. We, like the 42 ancestors, are awaiting the Messiah, and now with awe, you have come into our midst like the ancient prophesies stated. Thank you for being the savior of the Jews as well as the gentiles. As we prepare again for the wonders of your birth, help us remember that God is the God of creation and of all time, and that his kingdom shall have no end. Amen.

Nancy Hall

Magnificat

 

And Mary said, 

I’m bursting with God-news;

    I’m dancing the song of my Savior God.

God took one good look at me, and look what happened—

    I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!

What God has done for me will never be forgotten,

    the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.

His mercy flows in wave after wave

    on those who are in awe before him.

He bared his arm and showed his strength,

    scattered the bluffing braggarts.

He knocked tyrants off their high horses,

    pulled victims out of the mud.

The starving poor sat down to a banquet;

    the callous rich were left out in the cold.

He embraced his chosen child, Israel;

    he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.

It’s exactly what he promised,

    beginning with Abraham and right up to now. 

~The Magnificat, as translated in The Message

Today is the Day

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 (NIV) 

A popular praise song by Lincoln Brewster is called "Today Is the Day."  Here are some of the lyrics:  "I’m casting my cares aside, I’m leaving my past behind, I’m setting my heart and mind on You Jesus. I’m reaching my hand to Yours, Believing there’s so much more, Knowing that all You have in store for me is good. Today is the day You have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it; And I won’t worry about tomorrow, I’m trusting in what You say. Today is the day."

The song particularly struck home with me this time. Especially the phrase, "I won't worry about tomorrow." I have to admit that I worry a lot. And usually it's about things that I have no control over anyway, so the worrying is a waste of time. Like the weather. Or it may be something I have at least some control over; like whether I have enough money to retire. And sometimes it's something that really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things; like what to wear to a special event.

I need to work on trusting in what God has to say and in setting my mind and heart on Jesus. God has made the day and everything in it, and He watches over me at all times. I struggle with wanting control over everything, when it would be better to remember that God is in control. All he has in store for me is good. As the scripture states, tomorrow will worry about itself. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, as we approach a new year, we realize every day could present problems, but it doesn't help to worry. The Lord has made each day, and we need to rejoice and be glad in it. God is in control and will handle our worries if we simply turn them over to him. Please forgive us for thinking we can handle everything ourselves and for wasting time worrying about the future. Help us to cast our cares aside and reach our hand to yours. Amen.

Robin Hadfield (reprinted from 2017)