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DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2017
“I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV))
What should have been one of the happiest days of my life ended up being one of the loneliest. Eight days before my graduation from seminary, my wife decided she didn’t want to be married any more. I felt hopeless. When I met my parents on the day before graduation, my mother gave me a card which contained the scripture quoted above.
Jeremiah wrote this scripture to the Israelites who were exiled in Babylon to give them hope that God had not forgotten them. In my own exile, my time of loneliness and despair, the verse reminded me that I am God’s child. God still loved me and had not forgotten me.
After the divorce, I resigned from my job and moved back home with my parents. Even in the hardest moments, God was faithful. It took two years, but I eventually found work in a church and even remarried.
Sometimes when life doesn’t go the way we plan, we may feel that God has forgotten us. But the words of Jeremiah remind us that when we are in our own times of exile — hurt, lonely, afraid — God still loves us and cares about us.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Holy God, thank you for loving us and wanting the best for us. Help us to trust you even when life looks bleak. Amen.
* * *
Jeremiah 29:10 “For here is what Adonai says: ‘After Bavel’s seventy years are over, I will remember you and fulfill my good promise to you by bringing you back to this place. 11 For I know what plans I have in mind for you,’ says Adonai,‘plans for well-being, not for bad things; so that you can have hope and a future. 12 When you call to me and pray to me, I will listen to you. 13 When you seek me, you will find me, provided you seek for me wholeheartedly; 14 and I will let you find me,’ says Adonai. ‘Then I will reverse your exile. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have driven you,’ says Adonai, ‘and bring you back to the place from which I exiled you.’
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God loves me and wants good things for me.
Someone going through a divorce
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DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2017
Father God, help us to experience you in our lives every day, not just at Christmastime. We pray as Jesus taught us, saying, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (Matthew 6:9-13, kjv).
The angel said to [the shepherds], “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause
great joy for all the people.” (Luke 2:10 (NIV))
Our family had just enjoyed a delicious Christmas dinner and gift exchange. Our relatives were headed back to their homes. “Well, I guess Christmas is over for another year,” my husband sighed as he settled into his favorite chair.
“Not so fast,” I laughed. I challenged our family to keep the reason for the holiday alive in our hearts for the rest of the year.
The physical evidence of celebrating Christ’s humble entry into our world disappears from our lives soon after December 25th. The Nativity scenes are dismantled; the decorations are stored away, and schedules resume a regular routine — but the celebration doesn’t have to end.
Following Christ’s example, we can demonstrate through our character, conduct, and conversations that the spirit of Christ lives in us. Our character can become a steady flame to warm a cold heart. Our conversation will be kind and caring. Our conduct will show a hurting world — 365 days a year — that we have hopeful expectation in our Lord and Savior.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Our family had just enjoyed a delicious Christmas dinner and gift exchange. Our relatives were headed back to their homes. “Well, I guess Christmas is over for another year,” my husband sighed as he settled into his favorite chair.
“Not so fast,” I laughed. I challenged our family to keep the reason for the holiday alive in our hearts for the rest of the year.
The physical evidence of celebrating Christ’s humble entry into our world disappears from our lives soon after December 25th. The Nativity scenes are dismantled; the decorations are stored away, and schedules resume a regular routine — but the celebration doesn’t have to end.
Following Christ’s example, we can demonstrate through our character, conduct, and conversations that the spirit of Christ lives in us. Our character can become a steady flame to warm a cold heart. Our conversation will be kind and caring. Our conduct will show a hurting world — 365 days a year — that we have hopeful expectation in our Lord and Savior.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
* * *
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with feelings of compassion and with kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with one another; if anyone has a complaint against someone else, forgive him. Indeed, just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must forgive.
14 Above all these, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together perfectly; 15 and let the shalom which comes from the Messiah be your heart’s decision-maker, for this is why you were called to be part of a single Body.
And be thankful — 16 let the Word of the Messiah, in all its richness, live in you, as you teach and counsel each other in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude to God in your hearts. 17 That is, everything you do or say, do in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
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I can celebrate Christ’s presence in me every day of the year.
People traveling for Christmas
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Link2Life - BY WILMA ROSE VERNICH (TENNESSEE)
Vernich family at Jill and Daniel's wedding on March 18,2017From left: son Kyle; husband, Bill; daughter, Jill; son-in-law, Daniel; and Wilma
The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church of Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Wednesday, 27 December 2017 "A Moving Experience" by Rose McCormick Brandon (Ontario, Canada) - Psalms 107:1-8
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017
O Lord, help us to remember that you have gone ahead of us to prepare the way. Amen.
Ruth replied [to Naomi], “Where you go I
will go, and where you stay I will stay.” (Ruth 1:16 (NIV))
The verse quoted above sounds romantic when it is read at a wedding ceremony, but when it came to packing up and following my husband to a new city, it struck me as unfair. As I prayed, I began to believe, with some reluctance, that relocation wasn’t my husband’s idea alone; it was God’s. It pained me to leave our first home and the church and friends we loved. With a lump in my throat, I buckled our two toddlers into their car seats, and we made the long journey to our new city.
My husband worked long hours in his new job, and while I cared for our two young children, I had more quiet hours alone to read, pray, and study scripture than I ever would have had if I’d stayed where I was. Brenda, a Christian neighbor, became a good friend. Together, we started a women’s Bible study. In the months following, many women attended and became believers in Jesus Christ. A year later, we founded a city-wide fellowship of women. As a result, twelve Bible studies began in homes across our city.
When we face significant change, we can think of it as a holy adventure. Wherever we go, God is already there preparing experiences for us.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
The verse quoted above sounds romantic when it is read at a wedding ceremony, but when it came to packing up and following my husband to a new city, it struck me as unfair. As I prayed, I began to believe, with some reluctance, that relocation wasn’t my husband’s idea alone; it was God’s. It pained me to leave our first home and the church and friends we loved. With a lump in my throat, I buckled our two toddlers into their car seats, and we made the long journey to our new city.
My husband worked long hours in his new job, and while I cared for our two young children, I had more quiet hours alone to read, pray, and study scripture than I ever would have had if I’d stayed where I was. Brenda, a Christian neighbor, became a good friend. Together, we started a women’s Bible study. In the months following, many women attended and became believers in Jesus Christ. A year later, we founded a city-wide fellowship of women. As a result, twelve Bible studies began in homes across our city.
When we face significant change, we can think of it as a holy adventure. Wherever we go, God is already there preparing experiences for us.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
* * *
Psalms 107:1 Give thanks to Adonai; for he is good,
for his grace continues forever.
2 Let those redeemed by Adonai say it,
those he redeemed from the power of the foe.
3 He gathered them from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the sea.
4 They wandered in the desert, on paths through the wastes,
without finding any inhabited city.
5 They were hungry and thirsty,
their life was ebbing away.
6 In their trouble they cried to Adonai,
and he rescued them from their distress.
7 He led them by a direct path
to a city where they could live.
8 Let them give thanks to Adonai for his grace,
for his wonders bestowed on humanity!
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Wherever I go, God goes ahead to prepare the way.
Families moving to a new town
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Link2Life -
BY ROSE MCCORMICK BRANDON (ONTARIO, CANADA)
Rose and her husband, Doug
The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church of Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Tuesday, 26 December 2017 "Lots of Living to Do" Nwosu Nelson Chidera Omoregbe (Anambra, Nigeria)) - Psalms 16:7-11
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2017
Dear God, thank you for friends and strangers who show us how to live out the joy you offer. Amen.
The Teacher wrote, “I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and
to do good while they live.” (Ecclesiastes 3:12 (NIV))
Some say that happiness is what we make it. The more time I spend with a certain friend, the more I’m convinced that’s true. My friend was a successful businessman. Then one of his employees showed up with a gun, intent on killing as many people as he could. In an attempt to disarm the man, my friend lost a hand and an eye. When he was released from the hospital weeks later, his savings were gone and he moved into a shelter for people who are homeless. He also has Parkinson’s disease and a deadly form of skin cancer. He struggles to walk or get out of a chair by himself, but he is one of the most cheerful and positive people I have ever met.
My friend has now moved to an apartment, where he lives on a small pension. Regardless of what he is doing or how arduous it is for him, my friend’s goal is to never leave anyone without a smile. He learns people’s names and remembers them the next time he sees them. He finds opportunities to build people up and is generous with compliments. Many people in his position would blame God or become bitter, but not my friend. “That’s no way to live — and I’ve still got a lot of living to do,” he has told me. As today’s reading reminds us, the Lord shows us the path of life and fills us with joy.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Some say that happiness is what we make it. The more time I spend with a certain friend, the more I’m convinced that’s true. My friend was a successful businessman. Then one of his employees showed up with a gun, intent on killing as many people as he could. In an attempt to disarm the man, my friend lost a hand and an eye. When he was released from the hospital weeks later, his savings were gone and he moved into a shelter for people who are homeless. He also has Parkinson’s disease and a deadly form of skin cancer. He struggles to walk or get out of a chair by himself, but he is one of the most cheerful and positive people I have ever met.
My friend has now moved to an apartment, where he lives on a small pension. Regardless of what he is doing or how arduous it is for him, my friend’s goal is to never leave anyone without a smile. He learns people’s names and remembers them the next time he sees them. He finds opportunities to build people up and is generous with compliments. Many people in his position would blame God or become bitter, but not my friend. “That’s no way to live — and I’ve still got a lot of living to do,” he has told me. As today’s reading reminds us, the Lord shows us the path of life and fills us with joy.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
* * *
Psalms 16:7 I bless Adonai, my counselor;
at night my inmost being instructs me.
8 I always set Adonai before me;
with him at my right hand, I can never be moved;
9 so my heart is glad, my glory rejoices,
and my body too rests in safety;
10 for you will not abandon me to Sh’ol,
you will not let your faithful one see the Abyss.
11 You make me know the path of life;
in your presence is unbounded joy,
in your right hand eternal delight.
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Today I will show others the joy of the Lord.
To live joyfully
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church of Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Monday, 25 December 2017 "Christmas Day" Linawati Santoso (East Java, Indonesia) - Matthew 5:43-48
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2017
Dear Lord, give us patience when we are insulted, and help us to forgive everyone who hurts us. Help us to bring the true meaning of Christmas to everyone around us. Amen.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they
will be called children of God. (Matthew 5:9 (NIV))
Just before our church’s Christmas celebration, my phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number, so I did not answer the phone. I only sent a text message to the caller, asking who the person was.
A few minutes later, I received a text message back from the caller — who turned out to be one of my colleagues. Judging by her insulting language, I concluded that she was angry with me. Sadness, anger, and disappointment filled my heart. I wanted to send back an angry reply, but then I remembered that it was Christmas night.
Christmas is about Christ, and Christ is about love. He came to earth bringing peace and love to all people, both the pleasant and the unpleasant, the good and the evil. I asked myself, How can I be angry and quarrel with someone on Christmas night?
When I prayed for the strength to be patient and to forgive my colleague as Jesus has forgiven me, God turned my sadness, anger, and disappointment into peace and joy. On that day, I realized the true meaning of Christmas. It’s not about having an excuse for a party; it’s about proclaiming the kindness and love of Jesus Christ.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Just before our church’s Christmas celebration, my phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number, so I did not answer the phone. I only sent a text message to the caller, asking who the person was.
A few minutes later, I received a text message back from the caller — who turned out to be one of my colleagues. Judging by her insulting language, I concluded that she was angry with me. Sadness, anger, and disappointment filled my heart. I wanted to send back an angry reply, but then I remembered that it was Christmas night.
Christmas is about Christ, and Christ is about love. He came to earth bringing peace and love to all people, both the pleasant and the unpleasant, the good and the evil. I asked myself, How can I be angry and quarrel with someone on Christmas night?
When I prayed for the strength to be patient and to forgive my colleague as Jesus has forgiven me, God turned my sadness, anger, and disappointment into peace and joy. On that day, I realized the true meaning of Christmas. It’s not about having an excuse for a party; it’s about proclaiming the kindness and love of Jesus Christ.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
* * *
Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Love your neighbor[Matthew 5:43 Leviticus 19:18] — and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 Then you will become children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun shine on good and bad people alike, and he sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike. 46 What reward do you get if you love only those who love you? Why, even tax-collectors do that! 47 And if you are friendly only to your friends, are you doing anything out of the ordinary? Even the Goyim do that! 48 Therefore, be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
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With whom will I share the love, peace, and joy of Christmas this year?
For peace
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Giving Thanks for Christmas Day BY LINAWATI SANTOSO (EAST JAVA, INDONESIA)
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” (Luke 2:14, NIV)
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in Heavenly peace
Sleep in Heavenly peace
How peaceful we feel as we sing this song above! Since my childhood, Christmas has always been a moment of peace and joy. Even though my family did not have anything to celebrate Christmas — no Christmas tree, no Christmas decorations or gifts, no special food — we were always happy to welcome Christmas day.Today’s devotional was my experience in 2015. On that night, I had two choices: to be angry or to forgive. In my mind, I thought it was better for me to type and send back an angry reply: “No, I am not the one like you say!” But when I looked at the Christmas decorations, the smiles of my friends, and remembered Christ, my heart said: “Keep calm! Don’t be angry! Today is the best time for you to show that you are Christian!”
Because I chose to forgive, now I still have good relationship with my colleague. I thank God for Christmas. On Christmas day, God sent Christ, his only beloved Son, not only to redeem me from sin, but also to help me to live peacefully with others. On Christmas day, our situations may not be peaceful. But in Christ, we can always find peace in our hearts, whatever our situation may be!
Have a peaceful Christmas and God bless us.
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church of Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Sunday, 24 December 2017 "Christmas Eve" by Martha M. Cusimano (Alabama) - Matthew 5:14-16
Michael and Houston
Michael and Houston fishing
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2017
If we walk in the light as [God] himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7 (NRSV))
At the end of our Christmas Eve service, each person lights the candle of the next person in the pew, symbolically sharing the light of Christ. It is a moving sight when each person holds a glowing candle in the darkened sanctuary. This past Christmas Eve, as I watched the light being passed, my candle was nearly extinguished by melted wax that collected around the wick. When I noticed this, I tilted my candle to let the melted wax run down the candle toward the holder, and once again, the flame burned brightly.
It occurred to me that the pooling wax could represent the attitudes that can keep us from reflecting the light of Christ to others. Later, I made a mental list of some of the things that can block this light: ingratitude; worry and negative thoughts; not forgiving ourselves or others; being judgmental; focusing on material possessions; stressing over what others think of us. What is the remedy? We can start by focusing on loving God rather than on the things and opinions of the world. We can be grateful for and trust in God’s love, give and accept forgiveness, and love others unconditionally. In these ways, we can get rid of excessive “wax” and let the light of Christ shine through us.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
At the end of our Christmas Eve service, each person lights the candle of the next person in the pew, symbolically sharing the light of Christ. It is a moving sight when each person holds a glowing candle in the darkened sanctuary. This past Christmas Eve, as I watched the light being passed, my candle was nearly extinguished by melted wax that collected around the wick. When I noticed this, I tilted my candle to let the melted wax run down the candle toward the holder, and once again, the flame burned brightly.
It occurred to me that the pooling wax could represent the attitudes that can keep us from reflecting the light of Christ to others. Later, I made a mental list of some of the things that can block this light: ingratitude; worry and negative thoughts; not forgiving ourselves or others; being judgmental; focusing on material possessions; stressing over what others think of us. What is the remedy? We can start by focusing on loving God rather than on the things and opinions of the world. We can be grateful for and trust in God’s love, give and accept forgiveness, and love others unconditionally. In these ways, we can get rid of excessive “wax” and let the light of Christ shine through us.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Dear Father, thank you for showing us each day how to receive and reflect the light of Christ. Amen.
* * *
TODAY'S READING: Matthew 5:14-16
Matthew 5:14 “You are light for the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Likewise, when people light a lamp, they don’t cover it with a bowl but put it on a lampstand, so that it shines for everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they may see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
What is keeping me from shining the light of Christ to others?
PRAYER FOCUS:
Christmas Eve worship leaders
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church of Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Saturday, 23 December 2017 " - Isaiah 49:8-16
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2017
The Lord says, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” (Isaiah 49:15-16 (NIV))
While I was taking my nine-year-old son to Bible class, we encountered a woman going in the opposite direction. As we passed, she greeted him with, “Good morning, Houston.” To help him out in a shy moment I said, “Say hello to Ms. Allison.” Without skipping a beat she said, “You know, Allison is a nice name, and I really like it — but I usually go by my other name, Sarah. That’s the one my mother gave me.”
As we age, names of children, family members, and lifelong friends can escape us. We forget birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions. We walk from one room to the next, unable to recall why we went there in the first place. We may forget not only where we put our car keys but where we put the car.
The Bible is full of forgetful people. The disciples forgot that Jesus had fed a multitude with a few loaves and fish. (See Mark 8:18-19.) Israel forgot that God had delivered them, so they returned to worshiping idols (Ps. 106:21). Peter forgot Jesus’ words and denied him three times (Mark 14:72). Sometimes we are also guilty of forgetting God’s promises and all the wonderful and mighty things God has done in our lives. The good news is that although we sometimes forget, God never forgets us. God will never leave us nor forsake us. (See Deut. 31:6.)
TODAY'S PRAYER:
While I was taking my nine-year-old son to Bible class, we encountered a woman going in the opposite direction. As we passed, she greeted him with, “Good morning, Houston.” To help him out in a shy moment I said, “Say hello to Ms. Allison.” Without skipping a beat she said, “You know, Allison is a nice name, and I really like it — but I usually go by my other name, Sarah. That’s the one my mother gave me.”
As we age, names of children, family members, and lifelong friends can escape us. We forget birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions. We walk from one room to the next, unable to recall why we went there in the first place. We may forget not only where we put our car keys but where we put the car.
The Bible is full of forgetful people. The disciples forgot that Jesus had fed a multitude with a few loaves and fish. (See Mark 8:18-19.) Israel forgot that God had delivered them, so they returned to worshiping idols (Ps. 106:21). Peter forgot Jesus’ words and denied him three times (Mark 14:72). Sometimes we are also guilty of forgetting God’s promises and all the wonderful and mighty things God has done in our lives. The good news is that although we sometimes forget, God never forgets us. God will never leave us nor forsake us. (See Deut. 31:6.)
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Dear God, thank you for never forsaking us, even when we forget your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
* * *
TODAY'S READING: Isaiah 49:8-16
Isaiah 49:8 Here is what Adonai says:
“At the time when I choose, I will answer you;
on the day of salvation, I will help you.
I have preserved you, and I have appointed you
to be the covenant for a people,
to restore the land and distribute again
its ruined inheritances to their owners,
9 to say to the prisoners, ‘Come out!’
to those in darkness, ‘Show yourselves!’
They will feed along the paths,
and all the high hills will be their pastures.
10 They will be neither hungry nor thirsty;
neither scorching wind nor sun will strike them;
for he who has mercy on them will lead them
and guide them to springs of water.
11 I will turn all my mountains into a road,
my highways will be raised up.
12 There they come, some from far away,
some from the north, some from the west,
and some from the land of Sinim.”
13 Sing, heaven! Rejoice, earth!
Break out in song, you mountains!
For Adonai is comforting his people,
having mercy on his own who have suffered.
14 “But Tziyon says, ‘Adonai has abandoned me,
Adonai has forgotten me.’
15 Can a woman forget her child at the breast,
not show pity on the child from her womb?
Even if these were to forget,
I would not forget you.
16 I have engraved you on the palms of my hands,
your walls are always before me.”
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God will not forget me.
PRAYER FOCUS:
Those who are forgetful
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Link2Life - December 23 BY MICHAEL FULKS (TENNESSEE)
Michael and HoustonMichael and Houston fishing
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church of Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Friday, 22 December 2017 "Community of Light" by athy K. Norman (Alabama) - 1 John 1:5-9
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017
The true light that gives light to everyone
was coming into the world. (John 1:9 (NIV))
It was the fourth Sunday night of Advent. We heard the wind whistling around the building as the congregation stood passing the flame from candle to candle in the stillness of the church sanctuary. We formed a quiet procession as we exited the building and headed toward our youth group’s living manger scene on the street corner. Youth in costumes had been standing in the cold for an hour, gazing at the babe in the manger to remind those passing by that the Christ child was near. Outside, our tiny flames were no match for the fierce wind. With each step someone’s candle was snuffed out. Friends stopped and relit each other’s candles until we arrived at our destination where the manger scene sheltered us from the wind. Our candles flickered in the darkness as we sang carols celebrating the birth of Immanuel, God with us.
This is what we do as people of faith! We gather together in community, passing the small light we have to those experiencing loss, need, sadness, sickness, and pain. We remind one another that no matter how difficult our present circumstances, the Christ child is always near, bringing light into our world.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
It was the fourth Sunday night of Advent. We heard the wind whistling around the building as the congregation stood passing the flame from candle to candle in the stillness of the church sanctuary. We formed a quiet procession as we exited the building and headed toward our youth group’s living manger scene on the street corner. Youth in costumes had been standing in the cold for an hour, gazing at the babe in the manger to remind those passing by that the Christ child was near. Outside, our tiny flames were no match for the fierce wind. With each step someone’s candle was snuffed out. Friends stopped and relit each other’s candles until we arrived at our destination where the manger scene sheltered us from the wind. Our candles flickered in the darkness as we sang carols celebrating the birth of Immanuel, God with us.
This is what we do as people of faith! We gather together in community, passing the small light we have to those experiencing loss, need, sadness, sickness, and pain. We remind one another that no matter how difficult our present circumstances, the Christ child is always near, bringing light into our world.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus into our world to illuminate all the shadows in our lives. Help us to share your love with others today. Amen.
* * *
TODAY'S READING: 1 John 1:5-9
1 John 1:5 And this is the message which we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him — none!
6 If we claim to have fellowship with him while we are walking in the darkness, we are lying and not living out the truth. 7 But if we are walking in the light, as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of his Son Yeshua purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim not to have sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we acknowledge our sins, then, since he is trustworthy and just, he will forgive them and purify us from all wrongdoing.
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
How can I brighten someone’s day with God’s love?
PRAYER FOCUS:
Those without shelter
More from Kathy Norman BY KATHY K. NORMAN (ALABAMA)
It is a blessing to connect with you through the devotional “Community of Light” as we celebrate the Christmas season together. I have loved to write since my stint as a journalist on my high school newspaper staff. After a multi-faceted career as a missionary in Colombia, schoolteacher, freelance writer, and assistant in my husband Vic’s medical office; retirement has blessed me with time to blog and to work on my first book. Vic and I are writing a book together about the practical strategies for creating a healthier chemical-free life that helped me recover from the physical symptoms and spiritual struggle of coping with the chronic illness fibromyalgia.
Because we live in a toxic world where constant exposure to harmful chemicals in ordinary things we use each day like cleaning products, cosmetics, personal care items, and processed food makes us sick, I look for practical ways to eliminate as many harmful substances as possible from my daily life. I make my own cleaning products out of natural ingredients like white vinegar and baking soda and buy nontoxic cosmetics, laundry detergent, and personal care items. Since processed food is loaded with harmful chemicals, I focus on real food recipes that are convenient and fun. Because I make practicality a priority, I still have time to write, play competitive Scrabble, travel around the country in our motor home, chase after my grandchildren, and search for unique nativities to add to my collection. I have been collecting nativities for over 40 years. These are two of my favorites.
I found this South American nativity in Barranquilla, Colombia when we served there as missionaries for six years. It is made out of rustic unfired local clay.
I added this nativity to my collection when we took a volunteer medical mission team to the northern Andes Mountains region of Ecuador. It is made of bread dough meticulously shaped by hand, left in the sun to dry, and then painted in a profusion of bright colors.
May your Christmas be filled with brightness, color, family, friends, celebration, and joy. And may we always be known as a community that shares the light of Jesus at home and around the world, not only during the Christmas season, but during every day of the year. Merry Christmas!
For real food recipes, chemical-free living tips, and life hacks about everything, check out my blog: http://www.kathyknorman.com/blog
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church of Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Thursday, 21 December 2017 "Too Wonderful" by Bailey Gerber (Indiana) - Job 42:1-4
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017
Job replied to the Lord, “You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know." (Job 42:3 (NIV))
Job was one of the most upright men in the Bible, but in the face of unbearable trials, he cursed the day he was born and begged God for death. God responded with a barrage of questions, asking Job if he knew how vast God’s power was. Humbled, Job realized how quick he had been to speak of things far too wonderful for him to understand.
My first “Job moment” happened when I started college. Before then, my life felt so certain. I believed what my family believed and did what my family told me to do. In college, I had freedom. With that freedom came uncertainty: What is my next step? What will happen if I choose the wrong thing? One day I called my mom, begging her to let me take a year off so I could figure everything out. The idea of continuing without knowing what would happen next made me anxious. It seemed that God wasn’t listening to me, and I felt lost.
Reading the Book of Job, I found my way. Job was in the same position I was — asking God for answers. Job and I were asking questions about things too wonderful for us to know. I’m learning that my uncertainty fits into a plan I cannot understand. I only know that God’s will for me is good, and I’m learning that it’s also enough.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Job was one of the most upright men in the Bible, but in the face of unbearable trials, he cursed the day he was born and begged God for death. God responded with a barrage of questions, asking Job if he knew how vast God’s power was. Humbled, Job realized how quick he had been to speak of things far too wonderful for him to understand.
My first “Job moment” happened when I started college. Before then, my life felt so certain. I believed what my family believed and did what my family told me to do. In college, I had freedom. With that freedom came uncertainty: What is my next step? What will happen if I choose the wrong thing? One day I called my mom, begging her to let me take a year off so I could figure everything out. The idea of continuing without knowing what would happen next made me anxious. It seemed that God wasn’t listening to me, and I felt lost.
Reading the Book of Job, I found my way. Job was in the same position I was — asking God for answers. Job and I were asking questions about things too wonderful for us to know. I’m learning that my uncertainty fits into a plan I cannot understand. I only know that God’s will for me is good, and I’m learning that it’s also enough.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Dear Lord, remind us that your silence is not abandonment. Give us faith to trust in you for the things that are too wonderful for us to understand. Amen.
* * *
2 “I know that you can do everything,
that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3 “[You asked,] ‘Who is this, hiding counsel,
without having knowledge?’
Yes, I spoke, without understanding,
of wonders far beyond me, which I didn’t know.
4 “Please listen, and I will speak.
[You said,] ‘I will ask questions; and you, give me answers’ —
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Even though I cannot see God, I can trust God’s powerful ways.
PRAYER FOCUS:
People who feel abandoned
READ MORE:
In the Waiting BY BAILEY GERBER (INDIANA)
December always marks the start of the Christmas season—my family has had a Christmas tree Advent calendar, equipped with 25 ornaments to count down the days, since I was a little girl. My sister and I always used to argue over who got the privilege of hanging up the day’s ornament.
Advent. A season of hopeful expectation. The assurance that Love is coming.
This Advent season, though, I feel a different kind of waiting. There is a heaviness to it. No matter how many Christmas songs I listen to, my brain keeps wandering back to the Israelites and their 400 years of darkness. Four hundred years they waited for rescue, while all of creation groaned in the silence, waiting.
This year I am there, too. Waiting. I’m waiting for the jobs, the grad school acceptance letters, the divinely-whispered “next step.” It hasn’t come yet.
I may not have experienced 400 years of silence—but I have experienced the ache in the waiting. I reflect on Job and how he spoke of things he could not understand. I think of Moses and his endless pleading with Pharaoh. I read about Hosea, who must have been heartbroken a hundred times over by his unfaithful bride.
I think of me. Of the thousands of missteps. The silly mistakes. Everything that has taken me off the straight and narrow and into the arms of whatever worldly pleasures might drain me of my vitality.
In that awful tension—that dead silence—I sit with my Bible and my coffee mug. One word is imprinted on the ceramic of the mug: Still. It reminds me that even after 400 years, God still fulfilled his promise.
He still remembered his people, though hardly in the way anyone expected. He still showed up. He still came to the rescue.
That truth? It’s still true today. Even in the darkness, the silence, the waiting—our God still shows up for us.
As I hang tiny little ornaments up on my Advent calendar, I am reminded every day that I am still waiting. But the countdown to Christmas—the celebration of the fulfillment of promises—reminds me even more powerfully that I do not wait in vain. None of us do. Because—just as he did years ago—our God still comes for us.
“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall never be shaken” (Psalm 62:1-2, NRSV).
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Header Photo Credit: "Harvested Land," Beth Shumate. August 15, 2014. (link)
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