Sharing Provisions

S. "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? "

Isaiah 58: 6-7

O. I am sitting in my family room this morning...the Christmas tree lights are on the only lights on...it is quiet (accept for the coffee pot brewing!)...I am very content and happy and enjoying the lazy morning with all the comforts in the world. And then my phone rings and I am given information about one in need. I really don't know what it is like to be in need. I have been so blessed in my life...God has always provided and I have had more than enough all my life. As the need is explained to me, I realize that I will have to leave the comforts of my home this morning. As the thoughts of leaving this lazy morning behind goes through my mind, I read today's text. The kind of fasting and caring that God requires calls me into action. I am compelled to go and even more so after hearing God's words about the need to help others in their time of need. I am commanded "not to turn away from your own flesh and blood". I consider it a high calling to be used by God in my ministry. It is a joy to offer what I can to help those in need.

A. I am honor to be used by God today and every day.

P. God, I am constantly aware of your provision in my life. I open my hands and my very life and offer them for the building of YOUR kingdom. Amen

Heirs of God

S. "So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir." Galatians 4: 7

O. I don't know what it is like to know have a family. I have been blessed with such a loving family over the years...parents who cared for me and nurtured my physical and spiritual growth, grandparents who loved me and encouraged me in so many ways. Aunts and uncles who have been supportive through their presence and direction in my life...in-laws who have taken me in as a son...and I have always been surrounded by a loving, caring church family as well. Now I have a family of my own...a caring, loving wife who has been so much support to me through the years, both personally and in my ministry...three sons who are smart, fun and growing in the Lord...I HAVE BEEN BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE!

So thoughts of being adopted are foreign to me. Perhaps the only way that I can understanding is to grasp the reality of my context and know that being adopted would bring someone into the kind of supportive environment that I have enjoyed all my life. We can be loved by God in even greater ways as a child of God...and get so much more than just being a son...we become heir of God as well. The thought of becoming an heir of God is overwhelming to me. As an heir, I receive the same things that Christ receives....meaning I can have the fullness of God in my life. How awesome is that! I carry around in my life the fullness of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. Every resource I need for life is available to me. I don't have to worry about being denied...because I am entitled to all that God has for me.

A. In our earthly life, someone has to die in order for us to receive an inheritance. Well, Jesus died on the cross and when He did, he made it possible for us to become the heirs of God...our inheritance is due us right now...and I need to live has one who have inherited such an awesome gift.

P. Lord, I am overwhelmed by the gifts...the inheritance that you give to me even today. I accept your grace and mercy today and will live my life as a reflection of this great gift. Amen.

How Great Is Our God

S. "Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness" Psalm 150: 2

O. This summer, my family and I went on an adventurous trip across the country. We saw the handiwork of God in places like the rolling hills of Kansas, the Rocky Mountains, Garden of the God's, the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, the southern region of Arizona peppered with large cactus plants and the Pacific Ocean. It was quite a trip and I think that I spoke about the awesomeness of God more than once. When I see creation, I marvel at God's handiwork. But that is not the only place where I see God's greatness. When I think about the human body, the intricate parts and how they all work together...it screams the greatness of our God. And then I think about my own life: My sinfulness that at time seems to be so apparent...my self-centered attitude that gets in the way of relationships and ministry...my neglect of important things in life and ministry and I wonder why God still loves me. It is overwhelming to think of the most powerful act of God. The giving of his Son Jesus...Immanuel, God with us...a gift that would culminate in Jesus becoming the ultimate sacrifice for my sin, making it possible for me to be loved an accepted by God. Jesus took my sin and disobedience and failures and made me whole and complete in Him alone! Now that is what I call greatness!

A. Today, I receive the great gift of forgiveness from my God. I will live in such a way as to give him praise with my life for his awesome gift.

P. Your greatness is awesome and wonderful...beyond measure. Your kindness to me, your sacrifice for me is overwhelming. As I receive your gift of mercy and grace, I recognize your greatness and your love for me. Accept the offering of my life! Amen

My Heavenly Father

S. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." (1 John 3: 1)

O. I love this verse! God's love for me is so great! It is overwhelming. I am sitting here pondering how to describe His love for me and words just can't express what God's love means to me. The verse says that we can be called the children of God. I don't know what it is like to be without parents. I have been surrounded by their lives many years. Even though my mother died several years ago, I still received much love from her and still do from my father. There is a comfort in knowing I am a child of my father. There is a sense of security is knowing that he is there. We can live in the comfort of knowing that God is our faith. He has fully adopted us into His family and we are called His. Those who trust in Him with their life, who accept his forgiveness and grace in our lives, are part of God's eternal family.

A. Today has been a great day! I am so blessed to have my family, my church family and my health to live and serve in his name. I will live today in the security of the love of my Heaven Father.

P. Lord, thank you for loving me as your own. Amen.

White as Snow

S. “Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Isaiah 1: 18

O. I think that we are going to get some snow in tomorrow. I love the snow (except when I have to get out in it...which is all the time). I live to see the snow falling down, a field that is completely covered...so beautiful and peaceful. Here is prophet Isaiah describes our lives being made like the white snow...pure and holy only because of the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. Our lives are constantly stained by sin...we must be faithful to as forgiveness for our sins (daily!) and when we do, God is faithful and will forgive us of all sin. 1 John 1: 9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." We can be made clean...just by asking. And when we are made clean, then we have a responsibility to live as though we are clean. To walk in the ways of Christ...to be constantly aware of opportunities to be like Christ in any and every situation. I am concerned that some people who say they are forgiven don't live a life that reflects such a wonderful gift from God. As a Christian, I want to point other to Jesus Christ, and I think we have no higher calling. We were created in the image of God and we are constantly being recreated by the gift of God's forgiveness through his Son Jesus Christ.

A. I want to live every day in a way that reflects the love of Christ to all around me...my family, my friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ...everyone!

P. Lord, you have created me for your glory...you have saved me by your grace...you are constantly renewing my life by your mercy. I pray that my life will be a vivid reflection of your awesome and powerful gives to me. Amen

God for and with Us

S. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1: 14

O. This is the question that was posed in today's reading...How is God "for" us different than God "with" us? First of all, we need to understand that God came in the flesh...Jesus is the fulfillment of in incarnation...he was 100% God and 100% man. That is the mystery of the incarnation. So now to the question. I think that God with us conveys the sense of God's continuing presence in our lives. Jesus' coming to earth was part of that gift and we know that he walked on this earth and lived like we live day to day. But he state himself that he would be better for him to leave so that the Holy Spirit could come and be "with" us. God is constantly with us through the power of the Holy Spirit.

God "for" us speaks to the atoning work of Jesus on the Christ. He was "for" us in the fact that he bore our sins on the cross. In him we have life and life that is full of love and joy and peace and forgiveness.

A. I am so thankful for God's presence in my life and for his saving love that was give to through Jesus. Today, I will take in the wonder of God's presence in my life!

P. Lord, thank you for being with me and for me in Jesus Christ. I am overwhelmed with your goodness and grace in my life. Amen

Eternity with Christ Now

S. "But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses"
1 Timothy 6: 11-12

O. The scriptures are clear to point to Jesus as the one who would come and reign over the earth eternally. He was prophesied and will be fulfilled in the second advent of Jesus (see Is. 9: 6-7; Rev. 19: 1-16). But there is another advent of Jesus...the coming of Jesus into our lives and I believe Paul is right when he talks about fleeing from an unrighteous life and pursuing a righteous life in Jesus. When we hold in our lives the power of eternity, it should change our perspective on everything. We have the chance to spend eternity with Christ and it starts now. We don't have to wait for His eternal kingdom to come...we can enjoy the pure, righteous, godly holy life of faith and love today.

A. I am constantly challenged to view my life with an understanding of eternity. I am constantly being driven to my knees in prayer asking for God's filling to make a change in my thoughts, my actions and my words. Today, I recognize once again the power of Christ's presence in my life to live holy, an blameless before Him.

P. Lord, I accept your gift of holiness and righteousness in my life. Today, I give my life to you and ask that you use me as your vessel. Amen.

Letting Jesus Come In

S. I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ Matthew 25: 43

O. I often wonder about the inn keepers that turned Mary and Joseph away on that night in Bethlehem when Jesus came into the world. They did not know that something special was going to happen, so they turned them away. I think that there are times when people do the same thing to Jesus today. They are given the opportunity to invite Jesus in, to make room for Him in their life and offer a part of themselves to him completely. But people turn away from God and reject his coming into their lives. Perhaps they don't realize the urgency of accepting Jesus into their lives. Maybe they don't consider eternity something to think about today, but I don't know if we have that luxury. We need to consider today...in the hear and now what the truth about our eternal state. One day Jesus is going to return to the earth and we will be separated into two camps...those who acknowledged Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives and lived for Him in every way and those who did not. We don't know that hour or the day when we will be faced with entry...but we will have to stand before Christ in judgment.

Don't push Jesus away! Don't walk around with an attitude on indifference in their heart and mind. Make up your mind to open the door of your life to Jesus' present eternally in you. I know that you will not be disappointed.

A. Today, I will look for opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to the world. I will look around me to identify what I really must do to follow Jesus.

P. Lord, I pray that you will look upon my life and show me if there be any wicked and unrighteousness in me. I want to live for you and serve you with all my heart. I love you. Amen.

Gifts

S. "The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give." Exodus 25: 1-2

O. Exodus 25 is a very detail account of how the Israelites were to build the ark of the covenant and other fixtures in the temple. The process of making the articles began with an offering. The Israelites were instructed to bring an offering of the elements that were needed to make the ark and table for the temple. This was a free will offering. It would be given by each man and family as God prompted their hearts. So when God would call them to give, man would have to choose to make the sacrifice for the Lord. I think this is much like today. We are called to give sacrificially to the work of the Lord. Our giving allows God's work to continue in this community and around the world. We are prompted by the spirit of God to give and we must respond. God set an example before us in the giving of his only son to free us from our sin. Such a gift should compel us to give of our very lives!

A. Christmas is a time for giving gifts. I have been overwhelmed with the response of our congregation to give Christmas to others. We have offered gifts for five family and will be distributing about 55 food baskets in a couple of weeks. But the giving needs to be personally. What will I give to someone in need today?

P. Lord, thank you for your great gift in Jesus Christ. I accept that give and offer my life as a gift to further the gospel of Jesus Christ. Amen

The Greatest Gift

S. "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4: 10

O. This is the season of giving gifts. If you are like me, you are constantly trying to think of the best gift that you could give...something a person would want, or need or maybe just something that would WOW them! Some people are easy to buy for and other are difficult. So we spend our time looking for gifts and our money buying them so that we can experience the joy of giving gifts.

I also like to watch people open the gifts that have been given. I love the to see the anticipation of what the gift is and then to see the joy on their faces. It fills my heart! And isn't that what God fills as we receive the gift of his son. He wanted to give the greatest gift...and he did that in sending His one and only son into the world (see John 3; 16). And I have a feeling that he watches with joy and anticipation as people receive the gift of salvation which comes through His son Jesus Christ. He gave in love and continues to give His love to us daily. He gives his love freely and unconditionally to those who come with a repentant, humbly heart. Have you received his love today?

A. I have received the love of God and will continue to receive this gracious gift daily. I will do all within my power to give this same love to others.

P. Lord, thank you for giving the greatest gift of all! Amen

Jesus and Light and So Am I

S. "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." Isaiah 9:2

Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5: 14

O. I have never put these two scriptures today. That is way it is good to keep reading the Bible over and over...we never tire of finding new ideas and insights into God's word. I needed to hear this message today in my life. I have been reminded that I once walked in darkness and because of the birth of Jesus Christ, I have been brought into the light of God presence and forgiveness. When one asked Jesus Christ into their lives...when they surrender their lives to Him, he pours the light of God into our lives, exposing sin and other filth in our lives and replacing it with love and the goodness of God. And at that point what Jesus said was truth...we become the light of the world...we will be the illumination of Jesus to others around us. They will no longer had to walk in the darkness of sin...they can see Jesus in us and ultimately receive Him into their lives.

A. I need to realize that I am a light at all times. With Christ in my life, I am filled with the Light of Jesus Christ and must let that light shine in the darkness around me. I want to be that light.

P. Lord Jesus, you are the light of life in me and I thank you for exposing the darkness of sin in my life. I receive the light of life in me and give my life so others will see it in my life today and everyday. Amen

Welcome the Children

S. “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." (Mark 9: 37)

O. Who doesn't want to welcome a little child? I love to see all the children at church, especially at this time of year when they are excited about Christmas, the decorations, etc. Jesus says that the one who welcomes a children into his life, will also welcome him. It is that simple and that powerful. I see one of the main messages that Jesus is offering here is the simplicity to believing in him and also in God the father. Jesus came as a child, and some did not welcome him and understand him. When we welcome the gift of the Christ child into our lives, we welcome the very one who sent him...our loving God.

A. I want to live today and one who has welcomed the Christ child into my life. I want to live a servant of Almighty God today and everyday.

P. Lord, thank you for coming as a child. You could have some in many different ways, but you chose to come as a baby to this world...to love us and serve us. Thanks for giving all of yourself to me and all people. Amen.

Such Great Excitement!

S. "So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger." Luke 2: 16

O. So much excitement...I don't know if I have ever been in a situation like the shepherds experienced that night when the angel chorus sang to them announcing Jesus' birth. There hearts must have been racing, adrenaline must been flowing, their minds overloaded with all they were experiencing in just a few moments. No wonder that hurried off to see Jesus...they had to see what they had just been told. So off they went and their excitement did not wane once at the manger. They ran around telling others about what had happened.

A. The excitement about Jesus coming into the world should be no different than the excitement of Jesus coming into our individual lives today. And his coming is a daily event in our lives. He is present with us always and will continue to pure his love and mercy into our lives. Today, I need to live in such excitement and joy in my heart...so full of God's good news in my life that I can't stop telling others about it.

P. Lord, today I receive your give to me and ask for the a joy that will lead others to you. Amen.

Doing What Gods Asks

S. When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. (Matthew 1: 24-25)

O. Today's reading was the first chapter of Matthew. In this chapter we have the genealogy of Jesus. I find it very interesting that it includes kings and priests and slaves and ordinary people. People who found life in following their God and walking with him through ups and downs of life. And then there is Joseph. A simple carpenter who was learning his father's trade, carrying on the family business and looking forward to a quite normal and average life in Israel. And then comes the angel...telling Joseph exactly what to do and how things would happen. This was quite a diversion from his planned life, but he had enough trust and faith in God that he followed in obedience to "did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him...".

A. I have been reflecting this morning on how I react to things that God calls me to do. Am I quick to follow in obedience when God calls, or am I prone to put it off and hope that it is not really what will happen? I want to say the I am obedient, but I also know that there are times in which I fail to follow the Lord. The reality is that God has planned our days and we just need to trust in him and follow obediently through this life. I know that we will be blessed as we do.

P. Lord, today is a new day to follow your call for my life. I completely surrender my will and my life to you today. Use me to bring your love and life to those around me. I am yours Lord!
Amen

Anticipating the Presence of Christ

S. On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. When the time of their purification according Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”) Luke 2: 21-23

O. Have you ever waited for something to happen? I remember as a child waiting for Christmas to come...waiting on a ballgame to start...waiting for school to be finished...and more. This was great anticipation and a sense of long for the moment to arrive.

While this scripture seems to be a very normal scene...Joseph and Mary taking Jesus to the temple on the eighth day for his circumcision and the blessing of the priest for his life...there is much more behind the scenes.

Simeon is the priest who is on duty and he has been "waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him" (vs. 25). He had faithfully served the Lord, knowing that one day he would see the Messiah. Can you imagine his joy when Jesus was brought to the temple? He must have been so filled with joy and hope in the truth of all that God had promised. Another person, a prophetess name Anna. The scripture says "Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem" (vs. 38). She worshiped and fasted daily in the temple and she sees in Jesus the completion of God plan...the fulfillment of prophecy which had been spoken for many years. Both Simeon and Anna must have been overwhelmed with the work of God in their lives.

A. I guess the truth and application I found this the stories of Simeon and Anna is that the God who was at work in their lives to bring before them the salvation of Israel in the person of Jesus Christ is the same God who is at work in my life today. I asked myself the question today, "I am waiting in anticipation of when Jesus could come into my life and do a work of faithfulness in me?" During this season of advent, I really want to open my life to receive the Christ child anew in my life.

P. Lord, I am so glad to celebrate the first advent of your son Jesus Christ. I love this time of year and it is my prayer that because of Jesus' first advent, I might live complete in your love, forgiveness and strength every day. I open my life to the transforming power of the Spirit of Christ in my life. Amen