Advent Devotion Book 2017

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ADVENT DEVOTIONALS 2017 A collection of devotionals written by members of Bethany United Methodist Church Compiled by Patsy Cruser

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 ~ Read Mark 13:24-37

Y|Üáà fâÇwtç Éy TwäxÇà In this passage, Jesus talks about his coming again. This is not at all a “touchy-feely” passage. Jesus talks about a darkened sun and moon and stars falling from the heavens. Jesus also admonishes us to be alert, awake. And I wonder what happens if I am caught sleeping when he returns. When I remember a sermon from long ago, I am comforted. Bob Grimes told the congregation about a conversation he had had with his wife, Mary Beth. He asked Mary Beth what she would do if she knew Jesus were coming that day. Her reply went something like this: “I would continue doing the laundry, fix supper, continue with my daily chores.” In other words, continue living. If we are living as Christ told us to live, we will have nothing to worry about when he returns. Continue to live, continue to love, continue to serve. Be aware and awake, but do not lose sleep from worry. “Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.” We repeat these words in a communion ritual. We are to believe that Christ will return, but we should not be fearful. Neither should we be complacent. We should continue to follow the path our Lord has laid out for us. The words I take to heart are, “Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned” (see Matthew 25:35-40). “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Mark 13:31) So prepare for the coming of Jesus by living as Jesus taught us to live. Lord, prepare my heart for Your coming, as I prepare to celebrate Your birth. Amen. Patsy Cruser

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 4 ~ Read Luke 1:8-17 Preparing the Way – John the Baptist [the angel to Zechariah:] “Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous – to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:16, 17, NIV) These verses make me think of Seedbed – Sowing for a Great Awakening. Perhaps this is the modern day version of the task assigned to John the Baptist. What does it mean – “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord”? I will leave you to ponder that question. What is very obvious is that our country needs to be brought back to the Lord their God. It will involve a change of heart and a healthy dose of obedience to His definition of righteousness. In a society in which it has become impossible to know what is truth and what is fake news and where the definitions of good and evil often seem to be reversed, we need an awakening. Grow Groups and this year’s sermon series emphasize making disciples, as Jesus commands. In making disciples, God is also making a people prepared for the Lord. We will need more of the Holy Spirit and a lot of prayer for an awakening and for spiritual growth. At the time of John the Baptist, before the Holy Spirit was given to all believers, this power from God was described as the spirit and power of Elijah – a great prophet of Israel. As we prepare for Advent and a new year – what are we doing to promote a Great Awakening? Are we growing spiritually? And what could we do to grow more?

Jesus, help us ponder what it means “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Amen. What does it mean for us personally and how do we help reach others? Bruce Leach

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5 ~ Read Psalm 46; Luke 10:38-41

STOP “Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10) I often study the steps of Jesus but fail to study the stops of Jesus. I need to learn when to stop, put an end to any motion or action and just be still in His presence. Maybe you as well? Jesus stopped what He was doing to listen to people and to help them. He stopped to rest, to have dinner with friends, to go to a wedding and to do lots of other simple but important things. When Jesus visited Mary and Martha, Mary knew when to stop, but Martha didn’t. Mary sat at Jesus’ feet so she would not miss the moment, but Martha kept working (Luke 10: 38-41). As we enter into the busy holiday season, let’s remember to take time to be in stillness with our Savior. To feel His love wash over us, calm us and just be one on one with sweet Jesus. How many times in this life do we miss the moment because we don’t know when to stop? Dear Lord Jesus, help us slow down long enough to experience Your presence with us. You want so much to be in communion with Your children. We make plans, but You determine our steps. We trust You, Lord, and commit all our plans to You. Bless the work of our hands as we serve You and others and nudge us when it’s time to rest. In Your precious Name, amen. Gayle Kneupper

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6 ~ Read Isaiah 9:2-7; Matthew 1:18-21 Emmanuel – The Promise Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14) It is thought that Isaiah made this promise to the people of Israel around 700 years before the birth of Jesus. All those who heard the prophecy were waiting for this child to be born. Waiting for someone to come and save them. Waiting for someone to rescue them from their enemies. During Advent we often sing or hear the hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”: O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. Why did it take God so long to fulfill this promise? Why does it take God so long to answer our prayers today? No, I do not have the answer to either question. But scripture reminds us that God’s time is very different from our time. 2 Peter 3:8-9 says, “Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise as some understand slowness.” When the time was right (God’s time) he sent an angel to remind and prepare Mary and Joseph for the arrival of this special child. First the angel Gabriel visited Mary telling her she would give birth to the Son of God. Then Gabriel visited Joseph telling him the promised child was the baby Mary was going to give birth to. A baby conceived by the Holy Spirit. The child Joseph and Mary would welcome into their home. The child who would be our Messiah. God made a promise to his people and he kept his promise. The people who first heard the promise were no longer living when Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled. The people who knew Jesus during his lifetime on earth are no longer living. But that promise of a Savior was also a promise to us and is why we celebrate Advent. We have four weeks to reflect on God’s promise to us. We have four weeks to prepare for the celebration of the fulfillment of God’s promise to us. In response to this promise – how will you prepare? How will you remember? We thank you, God, for fulfilling your promise of a Messiah; someone to save us, someone to free us and someone to love us. Amen. Pauline Lacey

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7 ~ Read Luke 2:1-7 And she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7, TLB) The temperature had gone down to 51 degrees during the night. Somehow, someone found her – a newborn baby girl – in a dumpster at local apartments. They called 911, thinking she was dead because her body was purple. When the rescuers arrived they discovered the baby was breathing and rushed her to the hospital. She has since opened her eyes, but it will be a while before it is known whether her body or brain suffered damage. It was on the news on TV, so now many people are praying for her to be OK and get placed into a loving home. But how will she overcome the fact she was left for dead in a dumpster like a piece of discarded trash by her own mother? This is not a nice Christmas story. The birth of Jesus was hard, but he was loved and cared for by loving parents. His rejection happened 33 years later when he was treated like a common criminal and crucified by the very people he had come to save. Yet he knew, because of many beliefs and circumstances, they did not really know what they were doing and he prayed for their forgiveness. There was a time in my life when I rejected Jesus. I knew that the life I was living was not right, but I was caught up in it and did not want to change. God knew my beliefs and circumstances which caused me to live this way. Over the next twenty years he protected me from many things and saved me to know his ways, love, and redemption. I was able to overcome and forgive those in my previous life, including myself. Somewhere there is a frightened young woman who has to live knowing she threw her baby away. Can she come to know the same forgiveness and healing I have received? The birth of the human baby Jesus means everything to me. I love babies and can feel my “Grandma” arms longing to hold him, to hold that baby girl, and to hold that broken mother. God longs to hold all of us even more. It doesn’t matter when Jesus was born; it only matters that he was. His holiness and humanness saves us all. Imagine this young woman kneeling and crying at the manger, reminded of her baby she threw away. Think about the different, difficult decisions and circumstances Mary and Joseph had to face in order for Jesus to be born. Do you think they understand the pain leading up to the birth of the baby who was tossed away? Can the mother ever realize baby Jesus is for her, too? Can we believe Jesus would forgive her and loves her just as much as he loves us? Can God redeem her life and that of her baby girl? It is truly Amazing Grace that has led to my knowing God’s love and forgiveness today. A stable isn’t the same as a dumpster; yet nothing is impossible to God. Thanks be to God! Dear God, all of us are helpless against the evil of this world without You. All of us are loved by You, even when we don’t know You or think we want to. Thank You for Your human understanding. Thank You for Your Holy salvation. May all experience Your love, know Jesus Christ, and grow in his image, in spite of sin. Amen. Gayle Calmes

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8 ~ Read Matthew 28:1-6 The Big Story 1

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come; see the place where he lay...” Readers, I do not have my holidays mixed up! About 164 years before Christ was born, the Jews of Palestine attained independence after a series of foreign empires ruled the land. After an initial good start, the Maccabean rulers got pretty bad. The Jews invited the Romans to restore order in 63 B.C. That proved to be an uneasy relationship since the Romans had little respect for Jewish traditions. At the time of Jesus’ birth there was Herod on the throne (who had killed his relatives to consolidate power), a Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, actually ruling the country, and the Sanhedrin, whose upper class membership and nebulous powers were resented by the majority of working class people. Times were bad and hope was low for the Jewish people. Speed this up by 1000 times and we see a similar story in Holy Week. Jesus enters Jerusalem in triumph. Soon things go bad with plotting, arrest, trial, crucifixion, and burial. Loss, hopelessness, and betrayal are in people’s minds. Times are really bad! In both cases, people desperately pray for something good to happen, and it does. There is Christmas and there is Easter. These two stories of despair turning to joy, of defeat turning to victory, are the two great stories of our faith. Not only are they similar in how God, over and over, restores His people, but also one story leads into the other. Moreover, the story continues today. You and I can lend a hand, lift a spirit, give some small joy with a smile, with a gesture of friendship or respect, or with sharing some time. This Christmas, don’t just celebrate Christ’s birth. Celebrate the whole story, darkness to light, despair to joy, sadness to happiness. Celebrate every day, whenever, wherever, and with whomever you can. Father God, empower me to carry Your story forward with courage and wisdom every day of my life. Amen. Richard Baumgartner

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9 ~ Read Luke 2:1-7 Beginning The child awoke and cried For he had a dream Of pain and something thorny at his brow. His mother smoothed the prickly straw. He fell asleep once more Soothed by his mother’s love. The child awoke and cried For he had a dream Of thirst and something bitter at his lips. His mother took him to her breast Where he suckled hungrily Fed by his mother’s love. The child awoke and cried For he had a dream Of crowds of people; then of loneliness. His mother picked him up and rocked. The child received the comfort He would give his mother back one day. And the child sleeps And a cross waits And love and peace Follow strife and pain. Lord, may we always remember that Your birth is followed by Your death and resurrection. Amen. Patsy Cruser (poem from Life Is a Poem to God by Patricia Cruser)

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10 ~ Read Matthew 1:1-16

fxvÉÇw fâÇwtç Éy TwäxÇà The Genealogy of Jesus Genealogy is interesting. It happens to be a hobby and we subscribe to ancestry.com. It is interesting to try to go back many generations to trace your ancestors as they changed locations and eventually immigrated to the USA. Sometimes one finds surprises – both good and bad. Two of my mother’s ancestors were on the Mayflower; another ancestor came from Ireland and changed his name because he had a price on his head. Some were war heroes and others deserted families. Secrets hidden for hundreds of years are revealed by modern DNA testing or computer searching. In the study of my genealogy I recognize the difficulty of listing 42 generations. Most family trees are not known that far back. According to the notes about the passage there are some gaps in the listings. One appreciates how that could happen if you try to go back that many generations. For me, it meant going back to about AD 300 and there are gaps and some links are questionable. Even with ancestry.com and a Mac computer there are uncertainties. Rather than pick at problems of the listing, focus on the accomplishment of Matthew capturing so much history. The listing of the genealogy of Jesus goes through the male lineage. Three women are also listed in addition to Mary, the mother of Jesus. These are Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth. Rahab and Ruth were not Jewish. Rahab helped the spies Joshua sent to Jericho. The story of Tamar is in Genesis 38, Rahab in Joshua 6, and the book of Ruth tells her story. One has to wonder, why are those three listed? The genealogy ends with Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. For years I wondered why the genealogy would go through Joseph when he was not the actual father. Doesn’t that make the listing extraneous? Not the way genealogies are kept even today! Last year I took a DNA test. My grandmother had an English mother and a German father. I should have about 12 percent Western European (German) DNA. Instead I have only a trace. Clearly my grandmother’s legal father was not her actual father. My grandmother’s actual father was an unknown Englishman. Because my great grandparents were married, my grandmother had a legal father and, by our genealogy rules, the legal parents are in the family tree and part of the family even though they may not be blood relatives. The same is true of adopted children. It has been interesting how a study of modern genealogy results in a better understanding of the first verses in the New Testament. Joseph is in Jesus’ family tree. As we enter Advent season, prepare our hearts for Your coming. Amen. Bruce Leach

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 11 ~ Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15; Galatians 6:9-10; Psalm 89:1-4 Blessed Generously – Give Generously You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion. (2 Corinthians 9:11) It’s only October and we have started receiving requests from various charities for Christmas donations. Over the past few months we have received requests for all kinds of donations for the victims of hurricanes, floods, wild fires, and earthquakes. These disasters have killed hundreds and left thousands without a home. We have responded to these disasters, and our budget for charity giving is already in the red. And now comes the holiday season with charities asking for more. They are feeling the effects of so many disasters. They are receiving fewer and smaller donations. And more people are in need. What should I do? Do I stop giving and say I’ve already given? Has God blessed me and made me rich? Well, I live in the United States, own my home and eat three meals a day. That makes me rich. Compared to billions in the third world I am very wealthy. They worry about if they will have food to eat each day while I think about what or where I will eat. Yes, I am blessed. In my praying time I’ve been getting nudges from God, and I know he wants me to continue doing more for others. Several ideas are also being formed for ways to give more. I’m at an age where I am required to take a distribution from my IRA each year. Since it is a small amount I never include it in the budget, so that is one source I can use. I’ve started a new Christmas list, not of things I want, but of ways I can serve God by reaching out to others. For several years our gifts have included donations to charities honoring family members and friends, and this year I will increase the amounts. And one of the groups I belong to has already suggested we skip our gift exchange and donate the money to a charity. These types of gifts can be purchased from home and are a lot less stressful. There are many ways to serve. Many ways to thank God for being generous with his blessings. Many ways to thank God for the first Christmas gift, His Son. Blessed Lord, I thank You for the blessings You have given me. Open my eyes to the ways You would have me use these blessings to serve others. Amen. Pauline Lacey Rewritten from a 2005 devotional (year of Hurricane Katrina)

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12 ~ Read Psalm 126 The people along the Texas Gulf Coast say, “Restore our fortunes, O LORD!” The people of Puerto Rico say, “May we find joy!” The people from the Florida Keys say, “May our mouths be filled with laughter again!” The people in the Northwest United States say, “Do great things for us, O LORD!” The people who have lost loved ones in Las Vegas say, “Wipe away our tears!” The people of Lower Manhattan say, “May we see the end of our weeping!” Lord, as we celebrate Your birth, help us to remember those who are struggling to find comfort during this holiday season. In Your holy name we pray, amen. Patsy Cruser

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13 ~ Read Luke 2:1-7 “Whom Does He Favor?”

… and (Mary) gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manager because there was no room for them in the village inn. (Luke 2:7, The Living Bible) Sometimes when babies are born, family members who have not yet seen the child assume he/she will look somewhat like one of the parents and will ask, “Who does he (or she) favor?” (They hardly ever correctly say “whom” but the question is understood.) We ask that question about Jesus in a slightly different way if we ask, “What did he really look like?” No one knows for sure, of course, because iPhones had not yet been invented and there were no other cameras, and as far as we know, no artist ever painted his portrait. Most of the imaginative paintings we have ever seen depict him as looking much like a Caucasian. Interestingly and increasingly, however, artists all over the world often paint Jesus, both as an infant and as an adult, to resemble themselves. Oriental artists draw him with dark black hair and slanted eyes. African artists paint him with black skin. Of one thing we can be pretty sure, he did not look like some of the famous paintings we have seen showing him with blue eyes and almost blonde hair. He was, after all, born to what we now call Middle Eastern parents whose eyes are almost always brown and whose skin tones are usually much darker than Caucasians. What do these artistic differences mean? They seem to indicate that people all over the world identify themselves with Jesus to the extent that, in their mind’s eye, they see him as they see themselves. His appeal is to all humankind. Years ago I was standing nearby when the black custodian of a church saw a copy of that year’s Christmas issue of our United Methodist devotional guide, “The Upper Room.´ The cover artist had portrayed Mary and Joseph as black and featured an infant black child lying in a manger. The custodian who had faithfully served that church for many years proudly exclaimed, “Well whatta ya’ know? We done made the cover of The Upper Room!” That “we” was significant. It said to me, “Archie sees Jesus as he sees himself and others of his race.” The appeal of Jesus to people of all lands, races, and tongues is powerful. Dear God, help us hasten the day when Jesus Christ will be universally accepted by people everywhere as their Lord and Savior. In His name, amen. Rev. Gus Browning

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14 ~ Read Psalm 141

Help Me! O, Lord I am calling to you. Please help! Listen when I cry to you for help! (Psalm 141:1) My son, daughter-in-law, and grandson came for a visit one Sunday afternoon a while back. We sat in the living room while the baby played nearby. All was well until 15 month old Josiah Bonham wandered into the kitchen and, seconds later, let out a cry of pain. He’d opened a drawer filled with cookbooks. The weight caused it to slide shut automatically, pinching his teeny fingers in its grip. We jumped from our seats and ran, nearly tripping over each other in our haste to help him. Why? Because we love this child. We care for his well-being. There’s no way in the world we would have stayed on the sofa and ignored his pleas. So it is with the Lord. He is attentive to His children’s cries for help. Sometimes we experience immediate relief, but at other times our pain lasts much longer than we wish. “When are You coming, Lord?” we cry. We might wonder if Jesus is ignoring us, if He even cares about our hurts, or if he’s distracted by bigger concerns. This last one is the one I usually gravitate to: “Why would Jesus spend time on my petty little problem when there are so many truly suffering people in the world?” But He does care for each and every one of us. We cannot comprehend His capacity for love, His ability to see and hear each of His children when we reach up to Him. His rush to our aid is always right on time from an eternal perspective even when we feel it’s delayed. Today, call out to Jesus. Tell Him your concerns. Ask Him to help you. Believe He will respond, and then watch for His answer, for He loves you with all His heart! Faith Step: My youngest sister was a single Mom to her two sons for many years. A neat thing she taught her young sons to do was to pray for the people who were waiting for the ambulance, firetruck, or first responder whose sirens they could hear. I adopted the practice too, now anytime I hear a siren I pray for the comfort and well-being of those involved. Perhaps you do this too; if not, try it. Dear Father God, our help in ages past and our hope in years to come, Your amazing grace toward us is so awesome. You always faithfully listen to us when we seek You. Show us Your ways and strengthen our faith when we are weak and question Your care for us. Your Word tells us that if we ask anything according to Your will You hear us. We know, Father, that we need not worry or be anxious about anything, for You care deeply for us. Help us be patient as we wait at Your throne of grace. You are full of mercy, Lord God, and we love You! Amen. Gayle Kneupper

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 ~ Read Galatians 4:4-7; Psalm 127 Secret or Special …since you are a son/daughter, God has made you also an heir. (Galatians 4:7) Within two months during 2008 two friends passed away. I considered each of them special friends. Before that time, I was a member of the Joy Circle at Bethany. One year we drew names to see who our secret friend would be for the year. While it was fun trying to guess who was sending me cards, I realized I was not learning anything about the person. Before the next year we voted to have “special” friends so we could spend time together and get to know each other. And that was how several special friendships were formed over the years including the beginning of my friendships with Verna and Mary. It’s the same with our relationship/friendship with God. If we keep it a secret and not seek information about Him, we won’t really know Him. It’s important to read scripture to learn who He is. It’s important to pray and have conversations with Him (“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.” Psalm 62:1). It’s important to be still and listen (“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10). Many people spend hours working on their family genealogy. Currently popular are the DNA testing kits. Galatians tells us that we are heirs of God. How well do you know the genealogy of God (your spiritual family)? What is the background of being a Christian? It’s in the Bible so you only have to research one book! And there are many classes available at Bethany for studying the Bible and for developing your prayer life. Christmas will soon be over, and we’ll be starting a new year. As you think about your resolutions for 2018, why not top the list with: I will strengthen my relationship with God by doing all I can to make it a special relationship. Just as the infant Jesus was taken to the temple and presented to the Lord (Luke 2:22), let us present ourselves to the Lord, today and every day. Next year when we listen to the Christmas song “Sweet Little Jesus Boy” and hear the words “Sweet little Holy Child, we didn’t know who You were,” we can change those words to “now I know who You are!” Jesus will no longer be a secret. He will be our special friend. Heavenly Father, guide me and help me find ways to strengthen our relationship and discover the joys of being Your heir. Amen. Pauline Lacey Revised and reprinted from 2008

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16 ~ Read Philippians 2:5-7 Christ’s Humility Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (Philippians 2: 5-7, NIV) The main humility for Jesus had to be leaving the presence of the Father and coming to earth in the form of a human. However, it went beyond this. We tend to be proud of where we were born and lived. Consider Jesus and the statements made in scripture concerning his birthplace and where he grew up. Birthplace – Bethlehem, least of the cities of Judah Birth announcement – to shepherds Early life – Egypt, where Jesus lived in exile for a time to escape Herod Established hometown – Nazareth – Nathanael would comment in John 2:46, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” One wonders if the subtitle should be “God Living Undercover in Israel.” No, Advent was not a cable TV 24/7 event by any means. Quite the contrary. The humble Advent beginnings bring to mind the statement of Jesus that the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, the smallest of seeds, that grows into a tree. Surely that was true in the events associated with Jesus’ birth. It was also true of the early church. We can see the same growth profile of Christianity today. Many mission activities in the last century or two started small. Today those have grown into major portions of the United Methodist Church; for example, Africa. As many Christian initiatives begin small and grow, we pray that the seeds being planted today will grow into much fruit for the Kingdom of God. Amen. Bruce Leach

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17~ Read Isaiah 12:2-6; John 14:16, 17

g{|Üw fâÇwtç Éy TwäxÇà Rejoice – Great is the Holy One of Israel Among You Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you. (Isaiah 12:6, NIV) The advent season should be a time of rejoicing as we dwell on Jesus and what his coming meant. Reflect on todays scripture selection and the many reasons it gives to give thanks to the Lord. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. In that day you will say: “Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you. (Isaiah 12:2-6) We celebrate Advent, the coming of Jesus to earth, with joy in our hearts. Surely he is our salvation. But there is even more reason to rejoice. John 14:16-17 gives Jesus’ promise to us that is even better than being “among you.” Jesus told his disciples, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” If you don’t feel God’s presence in your life, the words of the old chorus gives the solution: Just ask. Into my heart, Into my heart, Come into my heart, Lord Jesus; Come in today, Come in to stay, Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. (Harry D. Clarke, Cokesbury Worship Hymnal, 190) Jesus, thank You for coming. Thank You for Your presence with us. Amen. Bruce Leach

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 18 ~ Read Luke 1:46-50 Praise for Advent And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.” (Luke 1:46-50, NIV) This scripture is the first part of Mary’s song which we have recorded on the visit of Mary to Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist. It is in response to the greeting of Elizabeth who called Mary, “blessed,” for being the mother of Jesus. Certainly Mary has been called blessed in every generation since, and every Advent season we remember her. Every manger scene reminds us of the humble state of Mary and Joseph and the setting for the birth of our Savior. Advent is a time for us to praise God for what he has done. Perhaps if we remove the phrase, “From now on all generations will call me blessed”, which has particular application only to Mary, the mother of Jesus, we can insert our name in the above for “Mary” and use the remaining words as the basis of our praise. And (your name) says: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. For the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.” These words capture the meaning of Christmas. It was by God’s mercy to mankind that he sent His Son. Truly through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, that mercy has been extended generation to generation. “For the Mighty One has done great things for me…” The Advent season is a time to reflect on all the blessings God has provided. Certainly the greatest of these is salvation and adoption into God’s family. There are many other blessings – many other great things God has done in our lives. Take time to think about these and thank God for what he has done in your life. Father, we thank You for the great things you have done and are doing in our lives. We thank you that You extended your mercy to us. We praise Your holy name as we recall the birth of Your Son this season. Amen. Bruce Leach

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19 ~ Read Hebrews 12:1-3 A Routine Life Do you see what this means – all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running-and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how He did it. Because He never lost sight of where He was headed-that exhilarating finish in and with God-He could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now He’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility He plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! (Hebrews 12:1-3,The Message) The other day my retired husband lamented, right after we’d discussed the maintenance that needed to be done on the house, that he needed time to work on his projects. Well, that was the wrong thing to say to me at that particular moment in time, because what followed was a five minute barrage of all the mundane, routine, ordinary tasks that take up so much of my time planning, shopping for, and preparing meals; cleaning house, doing laundry, ironing, yard work, keeping our household books – oh and did I mention cleaning house! “It never ends,” I said much too loudly, I fear. “And,” I continued, “I’ll never ever retire from it!” My husband just stared at me when I finally finished, his mouth slightly agape. I was stunned at my outburst and a little embarrassed – but beyond that I realized I had deeply seated and pent up feelings about a huge part of my life’s work. I didn’t always appreciate its role or its importance, and clearly I didn’t think my husband did either. I read books and watch movies about women who’ve accomplished amazing things, helped thousands of people, changed the world in some way or another. I watch as many of you are working with your great talents to effect great change as well. My contributions – far less. Getting older can put one in this frame of thought. So in studying the life of Jesus in the gospels with fresh eyes and mindset I was surprised to discover that much of His day-to-day was filled with ordinary tasks: teaching obstinate disciples the same lessons over and over again; loving angry enemies day after day; walking long, dusty roads to get to the next town only to arrive and find more hurting, needy people everywhere He turned. Complainers and why-aren’t-you-doing-more people. His was a life of repetition and unexceptional moments. And yet because of one underlying purpose, Jesus’ work became extraordinary. All He did – all the mundane, difficult, annoying, ordinary tasks – was to bring glory to God. (John 12:27-28) Our routine life was never intended to confine us or define us, but it can refine us if we let it. When we keep our eyes on Jesus and do everything for the same joy – to bring glory to God – then every one of our tasks becomes extraordinary too! Help us to see You in every task we undertake, Lord Jesus, for it is in the mundane work of our earthly lives that we serve You and others. Help us be Your hands and feet this holiday season and beyond. Amen. Gayle Kneupper

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20 ~ Read Isaiah 7:14, 9:6; Luke 1:26-33; Luke 2:1-11 Emmanuel – The Person “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (John 1:14a) The title might also be Emmanuel In The Flesh. Or Emmanuel With Us. The birth of Christ was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in the Old Testament. Emmanuel means God With Us. God had been with his people for hundreds of years but never in the flesh, as a person like you and me. With the birth of Jesus, God was now dwelling among the people. He was teaching. He was healing. He was fulfilling the scripture. So why was he called Jesus and not Emmanuel? And what is the correct spelling, Immanuel or Emmanuel? Both spellings are correct. Immanuel is the English translation from Hebrew text. Emmanuel is the English translation from Greek text. However it is spelled – it means God with us. I like using the NIV Bible, and in Isaiah 7:14, the prophet says the child will be called Immanuel. And later, 9:6, he says he will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” But in Matthew and Luke, the angel Gabriel tells Mary and Joseph the child will be named Jesus. Isaiah is referring to titles and qualities of the Messiah while Gabriel is giving an actual name. Our own relationship with the Messiah will determine the titles we will use. The more time we spend learning about Jesus by reading scripture, praying, taking Bible study classes, attending worship services, being His servant, and reaching out to others will help us define his role in our life. How many names do you use when referring to Jesus? How many qualities/adjectives do you use when telling others about Jesus? While writing my earlier devotion (Emmanuel – the Promise) and searching for the words to the hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” (p. 211), I discovered a second hymn, “Emmanuel, Emmanuel” (p. 204) which is not an Advent hymn. The words are: Emmanuel, Emmanuel, his name is called Emmanuel. God with us, revealed in us, his name is called Emmanuel. Did you notice the words “revealed in us”? What qualities of Jesus are revealed in me and through me? Thank you God for revealing Yourself to us through Jesus. May we always reveal the teachings of our friend, our teacher, and our Savior to all those around us. Amen. Pauline Lacey

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21

Thirty Minutes of Joy I have a red t‐shirt that has a green Christmas ornament on it and the words "30 Minutes of  Joy" wri en in green le ers across the front of the shirt. It is a Curves t‐shirt and supposed to  imply that your circuit workout at Curves will bring you 30 minutes of joy (and sweat)! To me,  the joy comes in losing a few pounds from the workout!    Then I started thinking about Advent and Christmas and how some people are lucky to   experience thirty minutes of joy during the en re Christmas season. They are stressed because  they a end too many par es, eat too much food, drink too much alcohol, and gain too much  weight. They are overwhelmed because they stand in too many store lines, buy too many gi s,  and spend too much money. They are  red because they spend too much  me baking   Christmas goodies, decora ng the house, wrapping gi s, and wri ng Christmas cards. Let's face  it, these are unhappy people!  Where is the joy in Christmas?    What if, instead, people experienced thirty minutes of joy every day during Advent and   Christmas? If you assume that Advent has a minimum of twenty‐four days and Christmas has  twelve days, then by doing the math, you could have a total of 1080 minutes or eighteen hours  of joy during the Christmas season! So, what could you do for thirty minutes each day that  would bring you JOY?    Try doing something for Jesus. What about par cipa ng in some special Advent programs  like the Hanging of the Greens, the Christmas music program, the Live Na vity, the Christmas   cantata, or the Christmas Eve services? What about giving Jesus a special financial offering on  Christmas Eve in celebra on of his birthday? What about singing praises to him with Advent  and Christmas hymns?    Try doing something for Others. What about delivering a care basket to someone who is sick  or lonely, or buying a gi  for someone on the Giving Tree or Angel Tree? What about   making sandwiches for Mobile Loaves and Fishes or serving breakfast to the homeless for Feed  My People, or giving a Bag of Grace to a homeless person on the street corner?    Try doing something for Yourself. What about reading Advent devo onals, the prophesies in  Isaiah and the Psalms, or the Christmas story in the gospels? What about giving yourself   thirty minutes of quiet  me in a candle‐lit room to reflect on the significance of Jesus' birth?  What about listening to Christmas carols while enjoying your favorite ac vity?    So, today I'll put on my red t‐shirt, sing "Joy to the World" (J), crochet a hat for the   homeless (O), and read an Advent devo onal (Y) to experience my "30 Minutes of Joy"! 

  Vickie Koelling

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22 ~ Read Romans 16:25-27 Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith – to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 16:25-27) Our Father, to You be the glory forever. Amen. Prayer added/repeated by Patsy Cruser

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23 ~ Read Deuteronomy 4:32 Merry Christmas Ask now about the former days, long before your time … (Deuteronomy 4:32) Well, I did have to stretch it to get a scripture for this one. Christmas traditions are important. We tend to remember our childhood Christmas experiences. So as parents it is important to establish family Christmas traditions that our children will remember fondly for their lives. Best is to establish some traditions that will remind them of God and the great gift of his son, Jesus, the reason we celebrate Christmas. One of the things I remember is that before exchanging gifts, Mother would hand Dad the Bible and have him read the Christmas story from Luke 2. We continued this tradition in our own family. Christmas was also a time to visit the grandparents and a time to play with our cousins. We would sing, “Over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house we go,” as we drove to our grandparents’ home. Not by horse and sleigh, but the song passed the time. It was a time of Christmas programs in elementary schools and churches. And there was always a bag of candy, nuts, and fruit awaiting at the end of the evening. Bethany offers a variety of Christmas programs and services for both adults and children. Our prayer is that you have used these as part of your Christmas tradition or to start a Christmas tradition. Tomorrow, Sunday, is Christmas Eve. Plan to attend one of the many Christmas Eve services. Jesus, as we remember Your coming, we want to be ready for You. As we recall the days of Christmas past, may our thoughts turn to You. Amen. Bruce Leach

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24

YÉâÜà{fâÇwtç Éy TwäxÇà V{Ü|áàÅtá Xäx Jesus' First Blanket Let me tell you the story about how Jesus received his first blanket. It began 20 years ago, in the spring, in the little town of Bethlehem. I was thirteen at the time, tending my father's sheep in a pasture just outside of town. That wasn’t too unusual, except for the fact that I was a girl! My mother had three daughters and no sons, and as the oldest child, it fell upon me to follow in my father's profession, which was that of a shepherd. That spring one of the ewes gave birth to two lambs. One was stillborn, and the other was tiny and weak. My father didn't think the lamb would make it, but I convinced him to let me feed and take care of the little lamb. Soon the lamb followed me everywhere, and so I named her Ruth. Ruth had such dazzling white wool that was silky soft and fluffy. When it came time for her first shearing, I asked my father if I could keep her wool. Something told me this wool would be special. I had my grandmother Lydia show me how to spin it into yarn. I stored it in a linen bag next to my sleeping mat and sometimes used it as a pillow. On those nights I would dream of a little baby lying in a manger, covered up in a blanket made from the wool in that bag. One winter's night that year I witnessed the most amazing sight! Angels suddenly appeared in the dead of night and announced the birth of a savior, born in a Bethlehem stable. All the other shepherds ran off to find the baby, but being the youngest shepherd, I had to stay with the sheep. When the shepherds returned, they told me the story of the Christ-child, lying in a manger filled with straw, with only strips of cloth to keep him warm. I immediately knew the purpose of Ruth's wool! It would keep Jesus warm and give him a soft place to sleep. I ran home and asked grandmother Lydia to show me how to crochet the yarn into a baby blanket. I crocheted every stitch with love and adoration for the newborn baby. Three days later I took it to the stable where Jesus was staying and presented it to his parents as a gift for the Christ-child. Mary gently picked up Jesus and tenderly wrapped him in the soft, warm blanket. The baby Jesus smiled at me and immediately fell into a peaceful sleep. It was as if he knew his calling to be a shepherd to God's people. My heart was filled with joy that I could give him such a loving gift. Ever since, I have kept each lamb's first wool, spun it into yarn, and crocheted it into blankets for the babies of Bethlehem, to remind them and their parents of God's unending love.

Vickie Koelling 

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 25 ~ Read Psalm 8

CHRISTMAS DAY Crowd Around – It’s Christmastime!

In my almost thirty years of teaching very young children in a Christian environment there wasn’t a time of year I enjoyed more than Advent and Christmas. As is my nature I spent hours after school and on weekends decorating the classroom for the season, including ceiling lights, a little tree, and numerous nativity scenes. I love the excitement little children bring to the season (this year at Christmas an 18 month old grandbaby!!). We’d sing endless Christmas carols and dance as well. Before class each day I’d arrange each manger scene, spreading the shepherds and wise men far out around the perimeter of the stables. The animals would occupy the rear of the stable. The crèches were, of course, for the children to play with, and at the end of every day after the children had left, I’d go about straightening up the classroom for the next day, and it never failed that each nativity scene had every character and every animal crowded around the newborn Baby Jesus in the manger. The little stables were jam-packed with shepherds, wise men, lambs, and cows! Then it dawned on me, these little ones were right – we need to crowd around our Savior. No more standing back. We must stand up for Him in all we do and say every day. Does it really matter how early retailers put up Christmas decorations? I don’t think so. What does matter is what we as professed Christians “put on” every waking minute. We represent Christ to the world – an awesome responsibility not to be taken lightly. So go forth, sisters and brothers, and proclaim the news; our Savior, who is Christ the Lord – for whom we’ve waited, is born – let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation! Merry Christmas! I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart. I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you. I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. (Psalm 8:9) Lord, You came among us in humbleness so that we would be humbled. In the celebration of Your birth, I will not forget that. I love You, Lord Jesus. Amen. Gayle Kneupper

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