“Second Advent” by Cal Mann

Westminster Christian ChurchAdvent Devotional

2017

THE WEARY WORLD REJOICES

Introduction

In his book Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ,Timothy Keller notes, “One of the first indications of the Christmas season is theappearance of lights. Lights on trees, candles in the windows, radiance everywhere. . . .This is appropriate, because December 25 follows the darkest time of the year in theMediterranean world and Europe, where Christmas celebrations took shape. But thelights are not just decorative; they are symbolic.”

What exactly do Christmas lights symbolize? They symbolize one of the central truthsof the Christmas season: our world is a dark place, and we will never find our wayunless we first find some light.

According to the Bible, our world is dark because it is filled with evil and suffering.We only need take a quick glance at current events to know that this is true – as I writethis, our country is recovering from a series of severe natural disasters and the worstmass shooting in modern U.S. history. It’s by no means a stretch to say that the worldis weary from the weight of evil.

And yet, our situation is far from hopeless. I think the prophet Isaiah says it the best:

“The people walking in darknesshave seen a great light;on those living in the land of deep darknessa light has dawned,” (Isaiah 9:2).

You and I can have hope in the midst of darkness precisely because the true Light,Jesus Christ, has shined upon us! Our weary world can indeed rejoice!

This year, our Advent Devotional has been designed to take you on a journey throughthe darkness and into the Light. During the first week of Advent, we will emphasizethe pre-existence of the Light, the creation of the universe, and the coming of darkness.During the second week of Advent, we will take a look at several prophecies regardingthe coming of the Light. During the third week of Advent, we will see what happenedwhen the Light was born into human existence. Finally, during the fourth week ofAdvent, we will celebrate the birth of our Lord!

May you experience the thrill of hope as you reflect on the coming of the Light over thenext twenty-two days.

Happy Advent!

December 3rd – First Sunday of Advent

COLOSSIANS 1:15-20

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;16 for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, thingsvisible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers orpowers – all things have been created through him and for him. 17He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, thefirstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place ineverything. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,20 and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things,whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood ofhis cross.

Matt Stiveson

VEILED IN FLESH

Did you know that Santa Claus once punched a heretic in the face? No, this is not theset-up of a bad joke…it is an actual fact of history! Saint Nicholas, who is the historicalbasis for Santa, was the bishop of Myra in the early fourth century.

In 325 A.D., Nicholas and other church leaders (over 300 in total) were invited toattend the pivotal Council of Nicaea. The Roman Emperor Constantine had convenedthe Council to address a theological controversy. You see, another bishop, Arius, hadbeen teaching some concerning things regarding Jesus Christ; namely, that Jesus is notfully God.

During the Council, Arius argued his position at length, and the other bishops listenedrespectfully. Well, most of them anyway. Tradition says that one bishop—Nicholas—grew increasingly agitated during the course of the debate. He believed that Arius’position was a direct attack on the gospel itself. Eventually, the outraged Nicholasstood up, crossed the room, and slapped Arius across the face!

Nicholas was punished for the outburst. But the majority of the bishops who attendedthe Council ultimately agreed with him. They went on to summarize their position inthe Nicene Creed, which states:

“We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten ofthe Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God;begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all thingswere made. Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, andwas incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man.”

Why does this matter? Well, suppose for a moment that Arius had been correct, thatJesus was just a human. Would it be possible for a mere human, no matter how specialthey are, to save the whole of humanity from the oppression of sin? The bishops ofNicaea did not think so. They believed that only God Himself could accomplish such afeat. And that is precisely what is at the heart of the gospel—that on the firstChristmas, the fullness of God came to earth, veiled in human flesh, to reconcile allthings to Himself!

December 4th

JOHN 1:1-5

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, andthe Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All thingscame into being through him, and without him not one thing cameinto being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the lifewas the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and thedarkness did not overcome it.

Tom Stiveson

THE WORD WAS GOD

_ The Word• A Bridge between life on earth and eternal life in Heaven• Divine• The Word = Jesus • The Word = Godg "And the Word was God"

_ Jesus from the start• God• Creator• Giver of Life

_ Jesus came to earth to live among humanity• Our Light

D A R K N E S S C A N N O T W I N !

December 5th

Genesis 1:1-5

1 In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 2 theearth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep,while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. 3 Then Godsaid, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw that thelight was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 Godcalled the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there wasevening and there was morning, the first day.

Susan Daniels

IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED. . . .

December 6th

GENESIS 3:1-7

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal thatthe Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘Youshall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to theserpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; 3 but Godsaid, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle ofthe garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’” 4 But the serpentsaid to the woman, “You will not die; 5 for God knows that when youeat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowinggood and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good forfood, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to bedesired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she alsogave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then theeyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; andthey sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

Donna Ainsburg

STRATEGIES FOR VICTORY

Because of Adam and Eve’s yielding to Satan’s original temptation, the human race wasplunged into sin. Since then each person has struggled with temptation. Becoming aChristian and even walking with God many years does not eliminate the dangers oftemptation. As Christians who want to please God, we must understand howtemptation works so that we can learn how to resist it.

Before the fall, Satan had to approach Eve from without. Since the fall, he usuallyleaves us to our own inward lusts which respond to the temptation in the world. Knowing this we can devise strategies for victory over Satan’s temptations.

� Satan is crafty and deceptive, not straightforward. Strategy for this is to be cautiousabout any “new” doctrine or practice.

� Satan challenges the authority of God’s work. Strategy is to affirm the authority ofGod’s Word.

� Satan impugns God’s character. Strategy is to affirm God’s character as revealed inHis Word.

� Satan contradicts the certainty of God’s judgment. Strategy is to affirm the reality ofGod’s judgment. The fact judgment is not immediate does not mean it is not certain.

� Satan promises pleasure, but does not mention the pain. We must remember thatsin gives fleeting pleasure, but results in pain which far outweighs the pleasure.

I would like to share a story I read – At a Christian summer camp for children thecounselor was leading a discussion on the purpose God had for everything He hadcreated. They talked about the good reasons for clouds, trees, rocks, rivers, animals,and just about everything else in nature. By then one of the kids broke in with thequestion, “If God had a good purpose for everything why did he create poison ivy?” The counselor gulped and was fumbling for an answer when one of the other childrencame to his rescue saying, “The reason God made poison ivy is because He wanted us toknow there are certain things we should keep our cotton-pickin’ hands off.”

PRAYERAlmighty God, we pray for knowledge and strength to deny the temptations that goagainst all You want for us. Help us to trust in You that You know how we should live. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

December 7th

GENESIS 3:8-15

8 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at thetime of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselvesfrom the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.9 But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where areyou?” 10 He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I wasafraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who toldyou that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which Icommanded you not to eat?”

12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, shegave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said tothe woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said,“The serpent tricked me, and I ate.” 14 The Lord God said to theserpent,

“Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures;upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers;he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Danette Silaban

GOD’S GRACE AND LOVE

The Christmas season is a time filled with joy and wonder for many. It is one of myfavorite times of the year in which time seems to slow down a bit despite the fast bustlearound me. It’s fun to be involved in all the parties and events celebrating the holidayseason. Participating in our Christmas traditions and passing them on to othergenerations is one of my favorite activities. Things like making tamales for ourChristmas Eve dinner, volunteering, and our ornament exchange with all the ladies inour family are done with a childlike joy. It’s a time of love and celebration. Everythingis planned and completed with great care; special dinner recipes, picking the perfectgift, wrapping presents with just the right bow. Planned to perfection. With just oneproblem – we are not perfect. No matter how hard we try there will be something thatdoesn’t go quite right this Christmas season. There will be something that goes wrong– a flat tire on the way to dinner, an undercooked turkey, a lost or forgotten gift, adisappointed or tearful child, a lost temper.

Genesis 3:8-15 is a powerful passage that reminds us that we are imperfect despite ourbest intentions. We are prone to disobedience and deception. We have the power offree will to be used to make good or bad decisions. We are sinners. Despite this, God’slove for us reminds us of the beauty of the Christmas story, that Baby Jesus came intothe world that night as our Savior. God’s grace and love for us is unending. This is awonderful reason to celebrate Christmas together.

PRAYERDear Lord, thank you for Your love and eternal grace now and always. Help us toremember to always keep You at the center of our lives in all we do. Amen.

December 8th

1 JOHN 3:8

Everyone who commits sin is a child of the devil; for the devil has beensinning from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for thispurpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

Jackie Cutler

HOW MUCH GOD LOVES US!

As a child, it was easy to look away from God and forget that “baby” Jesus came to saveus from a life of sin. I think back on all the wonderful Christmases I have celebrated inmy life time.

I feel very blessed to have had an earthly father who taught me the true meaning ofChristmas. My dad took me and my sisters to church every Sunday and taught theAdult Bible School Class for years. He instilled in me the truth and love God has for allof us.

Following my dad’s example, my husband and I took our children to WestminsterChristian Church, so they would know how much God loved them. Christmas is notonly a celebration of the birth of Christ, but a time for all of us to reflect on how muchGod really loves us.

PRAYERHeavenly Father, I thank You for all the love You have for us. I thank You for myfamily and for my church family here in Westminster. May we never forget all theblessings You have given to us and how much You truly love us. In Jesus’s name wepray, Amen.

December 9th

HEBREWS 2:14-18

14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, He himselflikewise shared the same things, so that through death He mightdestroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 andfree those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.16 For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but thedescendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to become like Hisbrothers and sisters in every respect, so that He might be a mercifuland faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice ofatonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because He himself wastested by what He suffered, He is able to help those who are beingtested.

Karen Stiveson

JESUS GETS US

JesusFlesh and blood came to earth – fully human, yet fully God

_ He knew pain_ He felt sorrow_ He wept_ He turned angry_ He comforted_ He loved

Jesus Knew_ Hunger_ Thirst_ Exhaustion_ Loneliness_ Enticement and temptation

Jesus Remained Sinless_ He followed the narrow path_ He approached God as High Priest_ He paid the sacrifice of atonement_ He broke the power of death_ He released us from our bonds

Jesus GETS Us_ He loves us_ He helps us_ He chose me_ He chose you

P R A I S E B E T O G O D !

December 10th – Second Sunday of Advent

ISAIAH 25:6-8

6 On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoplesa feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines,

of rich food filled with marrow,of well-aged wines strained clear.

7 And He will destroy on this mountainthe shroud that is cast over all peoples,the sheet that is spread over all nations;

8 He will swallow up death forever.

Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces,and the disgrace of his people he will take away from

all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.

Matt Stiveson

THE BRIDEGROOM COMES IN SIGHT

If you are hosting an event, then there is one thing I can virtually guarantee that youwill need: food! No party, celebration, or gathering is complete without it. It shouldnot surprise us, then, that Isaiah uses the image of a meal, an elaborate feast, to give usan idea of what the greatest celebration to ever take place will be like – it will be like awedding feast full of rich food, like bone marrow and well-aged wine.

Now, I know that bone marrow and well-aged wine do not necessarily appeal to ourpallets, but Isaiah’s use of those two particular items is significant nonetheless. Thinkof it this way: if you were to host a party for a Broncos game, what kind of food wouldyou serve? Probably something crunchy, spicy, or greasy, like pizza, wings, chips, orburgers. But what if you were to host your family’s Christmas dinner? You wouldprobably make something a little bit more substantial, like a ham, turkey, or steak—the best of the best.

The menu in Isaiah 25:6 sounds a lot more like a Christmas dinner than a footballparty! That is because the feast described in this passage will take place to celebratean incredibly important occasion. What is the occasion? The second advent of JesusChrist!

Take a look at the end of verse 7. Isaiah says that the great heavenly feast willcommence after God “swallows” up death forever (notice the word play here—Godwill swallow up death, then we will eat). Of course, you and I are still subject to deathin the present. We know this to be true, most of us painfully so. But Isaiah is notlooking to the present…rather, he is looking to a future event wherein the Messiah willreturn to the earth to put an end to death once-and-for-all and gather His bride – theChurch – into His Kingdom for eternity!

That is certainly something worth celebrating, isn’t it?

December 11th

ISAIAH 7:14

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Look, the youngwoman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name HimImmanuel.

Leslie Rock

EXTRAORDINARY LIVING IN ORDINARY TIMES

Isaiah, a real prophet, in our scripture for today, is preparing us for the coming Messiah. Inthe Gospel of Matthew we read how this prophecy is fulfilled. An angel appears to Joseph in a dreamand says to him, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because whatis conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him thename Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lordhad said through the prophet, “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they willcall him Immanuel” which means, “God with us.”

I read about a woman who pretends to go shopping each Christmas season in the Nordstromdepartment store located in her wealthy Los Angeles suburb. She “pretends to go shopping” atNordstrom because the store is so upscale that she rarely purchases anything there. But she goes thereduring the Christmas shopping days because the ambience is spectacular. This woman gets herself aNordstrom shopping bag, fills it with tissue paper, and meanders around the store, enjoying thedecorations and listening to the live music playing in each department.

On one of these Christmas visits to Nordstrom, this woman was on the top floor, where themost expensive dresses were for sale, when the doors of the elevator opened and a bag lady from offthe streets stepped out. When she saw this woman, she fully expected that a couple of security guardswould show up momentarily to usher the woman out of the store. After all, this woman, whoseraggedy clothes were covered with dirt from the streets, was not the kind of person who could affordto buy much of anything at Nordstrom, let alone one of the expensive dresses for sale on the top floor.But instead of security guards, a tall, stately saleswoman appeared and went up thehomeless woman. She asked, “Can I help you, Madam?”

“Yeah!” said the homeless woman in a gruff voice. “I want a dress!”“What kind of dress?” inquired the saleswoman. “A party dress,” was the answer.“You’ve come to the right place,” the saleswoman replied. “We have the finest dresses in the

world.” Indeed they did! The least expensive dress on the rack of evening gowns cost just under athousand dollars.

The two women looked over the dresses as they talked about which color would be best, giventhe homeless woman’s coloring. After a discussion that went on for more than ten minutes, theypicked two dresses off the rack. Then the saleswoman said, “Follow me, Madam. I want you to try onthese dresses to see how you look in each of them.”

The woman was flabbergasted. She knew the saleswoman must have realized that thishomeless woman didn’t have the means to buy any of the dresses for sale in the store.

When the two women went into the dressing room to try on the dresses, the woman went intothe dressing room next to theirs and put her ear against the wall so she could listen to what they said. After a while, she heard the homeless woman say, “I’ve changed my mind. I’m not going to buy adress today.”

The saleswoman answered, “That’s quite all right, Madam, but I’d like you to take my card. Should you come back to Nordstrom, I would consider it both a privilege and a pleasure to wait onyou again.”

The woman was more than surprised by the kind and respectful way in which this saleswomantreated a woman who obviously had not the means to buy anything in that upscale store.

Think about this: This saleswoman did what a Christian should do! In all probability, shetreated everyone she met in her everyday encounters in the work place as Jesus would treat them.

Do I need to say anything more about the meaning of Christmas? Isaiah said it all nearly threethousand years ago: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call himImmanuel” which means, “God with us.” When God is with us, we are empowered to live inextraordinary ways.

PRAYERBless, O Lord, our lives this Christmas with a faith that exemplifies the humility and commitment to away of living that the babe of Bethlehem would exhibit. In His Name we pray, Amen.

December 12th

ISAIAH 9:6-7

6 For a child has been born for us, a son given to us;

authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace

for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it

with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Erika Lasda

A BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT - FOR US!

Isaiah has something to announce, something to proclaim. Something wonderful iscoming. In the form of one child, a newborn baby even, the world will receive a Kingto bring lasting peace, a Father forever, an almighty and all-powerful God, and aCounselor to guide us in the divine wisdom of God. All of this, with us, in the world.He will be “God with us,” Emmanuel. What an amazing announcement!

It’s hard to be far away. I moved from upstate New York to Virginia when I startedcollege. I lived in Mexico for a semester during a study-abroad program. I volunteeredat an orphanage in Honduras for a just over a year. And ultimately I moved toColorado, despite the fact that my family was in New York and New Jersey, and my bestfriends were in Virginia. The separation was hard. I’m sure you know the challengesof having family and good friends in far-away places. Sometimes you miss out onhaving their support and advice for the things that you are facing. Sometimes you wishthat they were right there to help you. Sometimes you ache for them, wishing theycould be with you. Skype and Facetime are great, but it’s just not the same. Imaginehow much more the Israelites felt their distance from God. Their lives were hard. Things were uncertain.

Isaiah’s prophecy is a grand announcement for those Israelites, for the people in Jesus’stime, and for us today. God will be with us, in all His mighty forms, in the world,wherever we are. Announcing a baby - For Us! Announcing a Son - For Us!Announcing a King - For Us! We never need to feel separated from God again. Isaiahis truly announcing an everlasting connection with God - For Us! Praise Him!

PRAYERDear God, for us, You sent Your Son Jesus into the world. You created for us aneverlasting connection and abolished our separation. Thank You for this salvation.We praise You for Your wonderful wisdom, Your almighty omnipotence, Your tendercompassion, and Your eternal reign of peace. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

December 13th

ISAIAH 11:1-3

1 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

2 The Spirit of the Lord shall rest on Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and might,the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

3 His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.He shall not judge by what His eyes see,

or decide by what His ears hear.

Peggy Nightingale

DELIGHT IN THE LORD

My grandson, Jackson, and I planted a fruit tree in my backyard. He was two or threeat the time. The tree was a plum tree that had been grafted so many different kinds ofplums could grow from the same tree. Jackson was about as tall as the tree, and wasvery excited about it. He helped take very good care of it. He was anxious to see whatfruit would grow.

Well, the years have gone and the tree has grown, but no fruit. This last summerJackson went out to the yard to see the tree and said, “Maybe next year, right, Nana?”I told him “Yes, maybe.”

Today’s scripture is about a very important tree, a shoot from the root of Jesse. This is a prophecy about the coming Messiah who would be from the lineage of Jesse and ofDavid. His fruits of wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, and knowledgeand respect for God will be for all people. How He will “delight in the Lord.” Let usshow our “delight in the Lord” during this Christmas season!

PRAYERDear Jesus, sometimes it is hard to open our minds and hearts to understand YourWord. Help us to understand and learn from You. In Your name, Amen.

December 14th

ISAIAH 11:6-9

6 The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid,the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.7 The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.9 They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain;for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Jacquelyn Dennis

LIKE CATS AND DOGS

Romeo is a nine year old blue and white Italian greyhound, and I have hadhim since he was about ten months old. Isabella is a ragdoll cat I got whenshe was a small kitten. Now she is ten and a half years old, white with ablack tail with light gold color on her ears. Romeo stands a little bit tallerthan Isabella, but they are about the same size. While Romeo doesn’t havemuch hair she is covered with a long white coat.

Even though they are a cat and dog, they get along really well with a littlecoaching by me. I think they get along so well because they have grownup together and have learned how to play without hurting one another.Sometimes they will be sleeping near each other on my bed when I gethome from work, or they will both cuddle up with me at bedtime. Eventhough Isabella has her own food and water she will help herself to thedog’s food and water dish. She will look at Romeo to make sure he sees hereating his food, but he doesn’t care.

There is a saying that people fight like cats and dogs, and I think if peopledon’t know much about each other they tend to fight and not get along.But if we are given the chance to get to know each other, then people getalong better. We need to be understanding of our similarities anddifferences and show respect for others. We learn to do this with guidancefrom Jesus, studying His teachings, reading the Bible, through prayer,worship and fellowship.

PRAYERDear Heavenly Father, as we prepare to experience Christmas this year,please be with us and guide us to live in peace with our neighbors, family,friends and those we may not know much about. Help us recognize oursimilarities and differences and celebrate them with joy. Amen.

December 15th

REVELATION 19:6-9

6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a greatmultitude, like the sound of many waters and like thesound of mighty thunderpeals, crying out,

“Hallelujah!For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.7 Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory,for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready;8 to her it has been granted to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure”—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are thosewho are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Andhe said to me, “These are true words of God.”

Emma Hurt

The Marriage Feast of the Lamb

Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.Let us celebrate! Let us rejoice! Let us give Him the glory!

Amen!

December 16th

REVELATION 21:1-5

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the firstheaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea wasno more. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem,coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a brideadorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice fromthe throne saying,

“See, the home of God is among mortals.He will dwell with them;they will be His peoples,and God Himself will be with them;4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes.Death will be no more;mourning and crying and pain will be no more,for the first things have passed away.”

5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I ammaking all things new.” Also He said, “Write this, for thesewords are trustworthy and true.”

Steve Smith

ALL THINGS MADE NEW

In this passage of scripture, John is shown a new heaven and a new earth, forthe old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. The sea was also gone.The holy city, the New Jerusalem, is coming down from God out of heaven.

Then a loud shout is heard coming from the throne, saying, “Look, God’shome is now among His people!” He will live with them, and they will be Hispeople. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from theireyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All thesethings are gone forever.” Then the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I ammaking everything new.”

Can you imagine living in a new place where everything is pure and bright,and where impurity doesn’t exist? There is no sickness, war, sadness,darkness, or evil. There is only brightness, happiness, and peace. We wouldbe able to focus all of our attention to fulfilling our purpose of glorifying andpraising God our Father, through His Son Jesus Christ. This definitely soundslike my kind of place!

During this Christmas Season, let us not forget the true meaning of theseason. This holy Child, Jesus, the Messiah, came to earth to dwell with us.He would live with us, teach us, and lead us to a relationship with God. Evilmen would take His life and shed His blood on the cross. This was Hisdestiny. But thankfully neither death, nor the grave could contain Him. Hearose, ascended to heaven and lives today to guide us by the Holy Spirit. Allpraise, glory, and honor to God the Father, and Jesus Christ His Son, now andforever!

PRAYERFather God, we thank You for sending your only Son, Jesus, to be with us. Wethank You for the ultimate sacrifice made on our behalf, so that we canexperience the new heaven and new earth prepared for us. Thank you again!In Your Son’s blessed Name we pray, Amen.

December 17th – Third Sunday of Advent

JOHN 1:10-14

10 He was in the world, and the world came into beingthrough Him; yet the world did not know Him. 11 He cameto what was His own, and His own people did not acceptHim. 12 But to all who received Him, who believed in Hisname, He gave power to become children of God, 13 whowere born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of thewill of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and wehave seen His glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, fullof grace and truth.

Matt Stiveson

THE GREAT CREATOR BECAME OUR SAVIOR

Kaleb Persons recently shared a drawing with me that he had made for hispersonal portfolio. It was so good that I asked him if I could share it withyou! The drawing is called, “Teeming.”

The word teeming simply means “to be full of or” “alive with.” I thinkthat this title is incredibly appropriate for Kaleb’s drawing! Not only is thedrawing teeming with tiny little dots, but it also represents the fact that ourearth is bursting with life.

One of the most startling, and yet awesome truths about Christmas is thatthe God who created our teeming world is the very same God whograciously and tenderly laid aside His splendor and became like us, so thatwe might become like Him! Hallelujah!

December 18th

MATTHEW 1:18-20

18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in thisway. When His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph,but before they lived together, she was found to be withchild from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being arighteous man and unwilling to expose her to publicdisgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just whenhe had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared tohim in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not beafraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived inher is from the Holy Spirit.”

Krista Stiveson

FROM FEAR TO HOPE

The birth of our son, Samuel, was one of the hardest, yet greatest days ofmy life. My water broke on August 6th, five days after my original duedate. It was a very surreal moment. Matt and I were incredibly excited –we would finally get to meet our little guy!

But things didn’t go quite as we planned. My labor was slow and difficult.After 19 hours of active labor and three hours of pushing, there was stillno baby. I felt defeated and scared, exhausted and weary.

I was so grateful to have Matt in the room with me. He was such a greatsupport during labor. From giving me water, to moving around the roomto help me find a comfortable position, to playing music on my iPod. Hehelped however he could!

Eventually, our doctor recommended that I deliver via a c-section. Butthere was a catch – Matt, my support, couldn’t be in the operating roomwith me right away. I was so worn out by that point that I was just readyto get the ordeal over with, but was still worried about going intosurgery alone.

Matt later told me that he felt absolutely terrified as well. But I didn’tsense that from him whatsoever. Whether or not he knows it, I think Godgave Matt comfort in a time that he needed it, during a time when hedidn’t have control over what was happening. Perhaps, like Joseph, Mattheard the words, “Matt, do not be afraid!”

Advent is such a wonderful time to remember that God promises to be withus when we are scared. As a matter of fact, the Bible talks about fear about365 times. That’s a verse about fear for every day of the year! It’s obviousthat God knows that we have fears and wants to help us have hope duringthe moments that we are most afraid. So whatever you are going throughright now, know that God is with you! Amen!

December 19th

MATTHEW 1:21-23

21 She will bear a son, and you are to name Him Jesus,for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 All this tookplace to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord throughthe prophet:

23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,and they shall name him Emmanuel,”

which means, “God is with us.”

Jackie Rimmer

IMMANUEL – “GOD WITH US”

When I had my children I did not have the advantages of today to knowif it was to be a boy or girl, so in the choosing of a name I had to come upwith both.

When my first son was born I did not have a name ready for him. I hadseveral names in mind and then when I spoke to my Mother-in-law, shetold me that my husband was to be called ‘Colin’ but his father objected,so the name chosen was Raymond. In view of this I decided to call my sonColin Raymond.

The choice of a name for a child is a huge responsibility as it is not easilychanged. Our Lord has many names we use to talk to Him: Jesus, Lamb ofGod, Good Shepherd, Holy One, Alpha and Omega, Emmanuel, Almighty,Cornerstone, Light of the Word – to name but a few.

In Mary’s case she had been told she would be with child from the HolySpirit and the name chosen was Jesus. The chosen name was to fulfill aprophecy from the Lord who had said to Joseph in a dream, “Your childwill be called Immanuel, which means ‘God with us.’ Your child isdestined to save people from their sins.”

This was a great deal for Joseph to take in but he loved Mary and he stoodby her when she was afraid of the actual fact of having a child out ofwedlock. Joseph’s love for Mary saved her life and saved the Baby she wascarrying – Our Savior Jesus.

PRAYERHeavenly Father, thank you for the gift of life and the grace which is given. Holy Father, help me to remember that life is all about Love. Today I willtake the time to love all the people You place in my path. Remind me thatloving others is never a waste of time. Teach me to love those who seemunloveable and give them what they need – not what the deserve. InJesus’s Holy Name I pray.

December 20th

LUKE 2:1-7

1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustusthat all the world should be registered. 2 This was the firstregistration and was taken while Quirinius was governor ofSyria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered.4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galileeto Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because hewas descended from the house and family of David. 5 Hewent to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engagedand who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there,the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gavebirth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in bands ofcloth, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no placefor them in the inn.

Jacquie Jeffreys

NOT JUST ANOTHER ORDINARY NIGHT

This world has witnessed many nights since it was created by God. Many ofthose nights passed without anything remarkable taking place. Others sawprofound changes in history take place.

On April 14, 1865 America went to bed thankful that the long, bloody WarBetween the States was finally over. America awoke the next morning todiscover that President Abraham Lincoln had been assassinated. OnDecember 6, 1941 America went to bed watching war spread across Asia andEurope, and thankful that, for the time being, America was being left out ofthe conflict. They awoke the next morning to news of the surprise Japaneseattack on Pearl Harbor, and to the awareness that avoiding war was no longera possibility.

On June 5, 1944 the world went to bed wondering when Adolph Hitler andhis Nazi armies would be defeated and the people of Europe delivered fromhis iron grip. The world awoke the next day to news of the Allied invasion atNormandy on D-Day.

The nights I just mentioned brought radical changes to the world. Othernights have brought incredible circumstances to pass, and the world failedto notice. One such night is the one portrayed in our text. The night JesusChrist was born was an ordinary night from a human standpoint. Theshepherds are watching their sheep. The people in the villages and towns ofIsrael sleep off the weariness of another long, hard day. In Jerusalem, theHigh Priest and the other men of religious power sleep as though it was anyother night. King Herod has no idea that his kingdom has been invaded, andthat a new King is about to be revealed. The world over people drifted off tosleep not knowing that God was transacting eternal business in their verymidst. They did not know that a Savior was being born in Bethlehem. Thenight Jesus was born had all the appearances of being just another common,ordinary night. Yet, the events that occurred that night reveal it to be like noanother night in human history.

One night, long, long ago, God moved Heaven and earth to provide a Savior.Miracle after miracle took place in the birth, life, death and resurrection ofthe Lord Jesus Christ. Every single miracle was for you. Everything God did– He did so that you might have a Savior.

PrayerGracious God, “thank you” seems such an inadequate response to You for thegift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. We pray that we never look at His birth, Hislife, His sacrifice and glorious resurrection as ordinary. In His Name, Amen.

December 21th

LUKE 2:8-14

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields,keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel ofthe Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shonearound them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel saidto them, “Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you goodnews of great joy for all the people:11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, whois the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: youwill find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in amanger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel amultitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,and on earth peace among those whom He favors!”

Kay Stevens

PEACE TO YOU!

As a child, I grew up on a farm away from any town and night was darkexcept for the stars and moon. There were so many stars to see and it wasso peaceful and still. I also was afraid of the dark, fearing there werecreatures around. One night, being the oldest, I was sent out to bring inthings we left out and one of my sisters took advantage of my fear andstarted making scary sounds through the window. I raced for the house,terrified!

As an adult, I love the night and camping away from town and enjoyingthe brilliance of the stars and the quietness.

God trusted the news of the Savior’s birth to ordinary people like us. Howquickly the shepherds’ fear turned to awe and eagerness to share the secretwith those around them. And they, in turn, shared it with others.

Would we, like the shepherds, recognize the significance of the night andthe news, or would we be afraid? The angels recognized God’s glory andshared it, encouraging them not to be afraid. Salvation has come andPeace is given to all who please God.

Let us encourage others and help them find that same peace during thisAdvent Season that only God can give.

PRAYERFather God, help us to recognize the significance of the Gift You havebrought to us and that sharing this Gift with everyone around us is thebest gift we can give. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

December 22nd

LUKE 2:15-20

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, theshepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehemand see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord hasmade known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and foundMary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been toldthem about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazedat what the shepherds told them.

19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered themin her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying andpraising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had beentold them.

Zack Jeffreys

GOOD NEWS!

Have you ever heard or been given a piece of news that was so good you justhad to tell someone right away? Have you ever been so happy or excited thatyou just couldn’t keep it in? I think the shepherds in our scripture must havefelt that way. Can’t you just hear the shepherds singing this carol all throughout Bethlehem? Let this be our carol throughout this season and our lives.

Love has come – a light in the darkness!Love shines forth in the Bethlehem skies.See, all heaven has come to proclaim it;Hear how their song of joy arises:Love! Love! Born unto you, a Savior!Love! Love! Glory to God on high.

Love is born! Come, share in the wonder.Love is God now asleep in the hay.See the glow in the eyes of his mother;What is the name her heart is saying?Love! Love! Love is the name she whispers.Love! Love! Jesus, Immanuel.

Love has come and never will leave us!Love is life everlasting and free.Love is Jesus within and among us.Love is the peace our hearts are seeking.Love! Love! Love is the gift of Christmas.Love! Love! Praise to You, God on high!

December 23rd

JOHN 3:16-17

16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son,so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish butmay have eternal life.

17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world tocondemn the world, but in order that the world might besaved through Him.”

Jacquie Jeffreys

DON’T MISS THE OBVIOUS!

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson went on a camping trip. Aftersharing a good meal and a bottle of wine, they retire to their tent for thenight.

At about 3 AM, Holmes nudges Watson and asks, "Watson, look up intothe sky and tell me what you see?"

Watson said, "I see millions of stars."

Holmes asks, "And, what does that tell you?"

Watson replies, "Astronomically, it tells me there are millions of galaxiesand potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn isin Leo. Horologically, it tells me that it’s about 3 AM. Meteorologically, ittells me that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. Theologically, it tellsme that God is great and we are small and insignificant. What does it tellyou, Holmes?"

Holmes retorts, "Someone stole our tent.”

While it may not have cost Dr. Watson very much to miss the obvious,it can cost us everything, if we miss out on the most basic of God’s truths,namely that we are Loved. So much so that you and I can know Godthrough the life of His Son. So much so that God sacrificed His only Sonso that you and I can have our sins removed as if they never happened. Somuch so that you and I can live eternally with God.

This is what we have been celebrating all through this Advent Season –that God came to live among us. To share in the same experiences we face. To demonstrate the greatest love of all – “that while we were yet sinners,Christ died for us.” God loves us all the way from the Manger to the Crossto Eternity! Hallelujah!

PrayerThank you, God, for loving me so much that You gave Your only Son, sothat I might believe in Him and might not perish but will have eternal lifewith You. In Jesus’s Name I pray, Amen.

December 24th – Fourth Sunday of Advent – Christmas Eve

PHILIPPIANS 2:5-8

5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

6 who, though He was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.And being found in human form,8 He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.

Matt Stiveson

O Holy Night

Merry Christmas Eve! I don’t know about you, but Christmas Eve is probably myfavorite day of the year. There is just something...so special about today. There issomething about it that invokes a sense of wonderment, something that draws ourattention to God’s presence unlike anything else during the course of a year. AsShakespeare says in Hamlet, “So hallow’d and so gracious is the time.”

So what is it that makes Christmas Eve so holy? Well, consider the following parable,which was originally written by the Danish philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard:

“Suppose there was a king who loved a humble maiden. The king was like noother king. Every statesman trembled before his power. No one dared breathe aword against him, for he had the strength to crush all opponents. And yet thismighty king was melted by love for a humble maiden who lived in a poor villagein his kingdom. How could he declare his love for her? In an odd sort of way,his kingliness tied his hands. If he brought her to the palace and crowned herhead with jewels and clothed her body in royal robes, she would surely notresist – no one dared resist him. But would she love him?

“She would say she loved him, of course, but would she truly? Or would shelive with him in fear, nursing a private grief for the life she had left behind? Would she be happy at his side? How could he know for sure? If he rode to herforest cottage in his royal carriage, with an armed escort waving bright banners,that too would overwhelm her. He did not want a cringing subject. He wanteda lover, an equal. He wanted her to forget that he was a king and she a humblemaiden and to let shared love cross the gulf between them. For it is only in lovethat the unequal can be made equal.

“The king, convinced he could not elevate the maiden without crushing herfreedom, resolved to descend to her. Clothed as a beggar, he approached hercottage with a worn cloak fluttering loose about him. This was not just adisguise – the king took on a totally new identity – he had renounced his throneto declare his love and to win hers.”

Do you see where this is going? Just like Kierkegaard’s king, the Son of God was soenamored with us that He gave up everything to declare His love and to win ours!Indeed, on the first Christmas Eve, the Incarnate One took on our poverty so that wemight gain His riches, He allowed Himself to be humiliated for the sake of our honor,He willingly stooped down into human existence – and willingly experienced the pain,ugliness, frustrations, and limitations that are found therein – so that we might becomelike Him. You see, Christmas Eve has the power to totally alter our lives! For on thisday, we remember that in Jesus Christ, humanity has been remade and given a newcourse – our ruined ways have been restored and our limitless ability to destroy ourown lives is itself destroyed!

December 25th – Christmas Day

NOELJ.R.R. Tolkien

Grim was the world and grey last night:The moon and stars were fled,

The hall was dark without song or light,The fires were fallen dead.

The wind in the trees was like to the sea,And over the mountains' teethIt whistled bitter-cold and free,

As a sword leapt from its sheath.

The lord of snows upreared his head;His mantle long and pale

Upon the bitter blast was spreadAnd hung o'er hill and dale.

The world was blind, the boughs were bent,All ways and paths were wild:

Then the veil of cloud apart was rent,And here was born a Child.

The ancient dome of heaven sheerWas pricked with distant light;

A star came shining white and clearAlone above the night.

In the dale of dark in that hour of birthOne voice on a sudden sang:

Then all the bells in Heaven and EarthTogether at midnight rang.

Mary sang in this world below:They heard her song arise

O'er mist and over mountain snowTo the walls of Paradise,

And the tongue of many bells was stirredin Heaven's towers to ring

When the voice of mortal maid was heard,That was mother of Heaven's King.

Glad is the world and fair this nightWith stars about its head,

And the hall is filled with laughter and light,And fires are burning red.

The bells of Paradise now ringWith bells of Christendom,

And Gloria, Gloria we will singThat God on earth is come.