The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. from The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States “Miracle mothers meet”*Luke 1:39 Without delay, Miryam set out and hurried to the town in the hill country of Y’hudah 40 where Z’kharyah lived, entered his house and greeted Elisheva. 41 When Elisheva heard Miryam’s greeting, the baby in her womb stirred. Elisheva was filled with the Ruach HaKodesh 42 and spoke up in a loud voice,
“How blessed are you among women!
And how blessed is the child in your womb!
43 “But who am I, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy! 45 Indeed you are blessed, because you have trusted that the promise Adonai has made to you will be fulfilled.”
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Elizabeth’s young, unmarried relative, Mary (cf. Luke 1:36), came to her home unexpectedly. Elizabeth’s baby “leaped in her womb,” and she welcomed Mary with God-given insight, offering her affirmation and encouragement. What an amazing atmosphere of support and faith
must have enveloped Elizabeth and Mary as they compared notes about their unexpected pregnancies! Elizabeth summed it all up, saying, “Happy is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill the promises he made to her.”
• Elizabeth knew God was at work, and that Mary’s child was uniquely wonderful. In fact, Elizabeth was, it seems, the first person to call Jesus “Lord”: “Why do I have this honor, that the mother of MY LORD should come to me?” (The gospels recorded that women were also the first witnesses and proclaimers of Jesus’ resurrection.) In what ways does calling Jesus “Lord” involve surrendering the right to live your life any way you please? In what ways has Jesus’ lordship changed your way of life?
• Notice how fully Elizabeth gave Mary “the spotlight,” despite her joy about her own amazing pregnancy, saying, “Happy is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill the promises he made to her.” How easy or hard is it for you to give the spotlight to someone else, rather than drawing it back to yourself? Who can you affirm and encourage today?
Prayer: O God, what wonderful models Elizabeth and Mary are for me! Keep reminding me that you kept your promises to Elizabeth and Mary—and that you still do that today. Amen.
* This beautiful title is the section heading for Luke 1:39-56 in Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downer’s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
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Wow! Can you imagine what it felt like for Elizabeth when her womb “leaped with joy?” Have you ever felt such joy that your insides screamed “get out of the way?” And for which at any moment you really thought you were going to burst?
True joy manifests itself within each of us and yet some of us struggle to let it come alive in our daily life. Is it because we have been conditioned to accept struggles in life and happiness as partners? Or are we simply finding "joy" through the distractions that are keeping us from truly experiencing what it means to be joy filled? True joy is within reach. The search does not have to be further than in your relationship with your neighbors, peers, friends or simply family.
My mom lives at an assisted living facility. She is one of the most loving and thankful people that I know, and someone who has shaped my life. After visiting her on any given day I have enjoyed our visit; however I am ready to go home and put my feet up. Most likely it has been a 10-hour day and I am ready to kick off those cute shoes that I just had to have that are now causing me much pain. Usually when walking towards the exit I see from down the hall a resident wheeling themselves to their room. I can either turn right and exit the building or continue straight and help wheel the resident to their apartment. Each one of us is given a choice every day to live out Jesus teachings and bring to life HIS love. I go straight, as I approach Shirley, Donna, Jane or any one of the residents to ask them if I can help take them to their room. I am immediately gifted with a huge smile. Each resident has shared many stories with me, and as a result I have a much deeper understanding, and have been blessed with gratitude and overflowing joy.
God knows where my struggles lie--the fact that my “sight” has not always been as clear as it is today, and the need for much more clarity in my life. I thank God for helping me view pain as an insight to joy in the most unexpected places. I pray that God continues to teach me to be the kind of person who doesn’t wait to make the right choices but rather, go searching for opportunities to choose right.
To be filled with joy is a fruit from the Holy Spirit that takes on the most amazing dimensions. We can only begin to understand some of them as we read Luke 1:39-45.Luke 1:39 Without delay, Miryam set out and hurried to the town in the hill country of Y’hudah 40 where Z’kharyah lived, entered his house and greeted Elisheva. 41 When Elisheva heard Miryam’s greeting, the baby in her womb stirred. Elisheva was filled with the Ruach HaKodesh 42 and spoke up in a loud voice,
“How blessed are you among women!
And how blessed is the child in your womb!
43 “But who am I, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy! 45 Indeed you are blessed, because you have trusted that the promise Adonai has made to you will be fulfilled.”
ELISA VELEZ-MAKAR
Elisa Velez-Makar is the Global Impact Ministries Training and Logistics Program Director also mom to Sebastian the “thespian.”
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"A journey song: God our protector"
Tuesday, 20 December 2016
Psalm 121:(0) A song of ascents:
(1) If I raise my eyes to the hills,
from where will my help come?
2 My help comes from Adonai,
the maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip —
your guardian is not asleep.
4 No, the guardian of Isra’el
never slumbers or sleeps.
5 Adonai is your guardian; at your right hand
Adonai provides you with shade —
6 the sun can’t strike you during the day
or even the moon at night.
7 Adonai will guard you against all harm;
he will guard your life.
8 Adonai will guard your coming and going
from now on and forever.
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Psalm 121 was in a collection of psalms closely linked to a journey all devout Hebrews made, or aspired to make, often. “Most likely Psalms 120-134 were collected as a songbook or prayer book for travelers on the journey to and from Jerusalem.” It seems likely that this song promising God’s protection would have been on Mary’s mind (and perhaps her lips) as she went to see Elizabeth.
• Sometimes, when life got difficult, even psalmists were tempted to think that maybe God had dozed off (cf. e.g. Psalm 44:23). But although God does not always prevent situations that we find hard, Psalm 121:3 carried the assurance that “your protector won’t fall asleep on the job.” In what parts of your life has that promise especially mattered for you?
• Typically, people built shrines to Canaanite idols at the top of hills and mountains. Verse 2 said those “gods” couldn’t help people. The God who made the mountains was the only dependable source of help and strength for life. What are some of the “gods” our culture
today tells us to look to for security, strength and safety? What helps you to remember that in the end “My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth”?
Prayer: Lord God, in Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan created a vivid picture of your people traveling through dangers and distractions toward the New Jerusalem. Hold me safely in your hands on my journey, as you did Mary and your people Israel long ago. Amen.
* J. Clinton McCann, Jr. Sidebar note on “The Pilgrimage Songs” in The CEB Study Bible (Nashville: Common English Bible, 2013), p. 980 OT.
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When I think about the times God has been my help, I do have a few supernatural strokes of luck to look back to--moments I can’t really explain that brought me to where I am today. It’s easy to forget the much more subtle ways in which God has saved my hide. I look at the changes to my character and integrity over the years as a result of following God’s teachings, or the work ethic I’ve developed from examples of servanthood, and there are multitudes of examples of times when God has helped me through situations.
I’m reminded of times when my call to do the right thing even when nobody else was watching saved my career when projects went horribly wrong and I was found completely blameless. I’m reminded of times when my call to love everyone as a neighbor developed relationships, sometimes with complete strangers, that helped me out of some very tough spots. I’m reminded of times when the insight I gained into human nature through studying Scripture helped me to resolve some very tense situations. These are all times God has been my help along the way just as much as times when he’s intervened in circumstance to save me.
God’s resolve to be your help and comfort transcends the here and now. He’s provided each of us with teachings, social connections, a cultural history of faith, and many other things to help us along the way. In that light, there are very few things I do that aren’t aided by God. Heed and give thanks for the many subtle and not-so-subtle ways God watches over us, and remember to trust even when it seems unnecessary.
BRANDON GREGORYBrandon Gregory is a volunteer for the worship and missions teams at Church of the Resurrection. He helps lead worship at Vibe, West and Downtown services, and is involved with the Malawi missions team at home.
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"A journey song: God our savior from sin"
Wednesday, 21 December 2016
Psalm 130:(0) A song of ascents. By David:
(1) Adonai, I call to you from the depths;
2 hear my cry, Adonai!
Let your ears pay attention
to the sound of my pleading.
3 Yah, if you kept a record of sins,
who, Adonai, could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that you will be feared.
5 I wait longingly for Adonai;
I put my hope in his word.
6 Everything in me waits for Adonai
more than guards on watch wait for morning,
more than guards on watch wait for morning.
7 Isra’el, put your hope in Adonai!
For grace is found with Adonai,
and with him is unlimited redemption.
8 He will redeem Isra’el
from all their wrongdoings.
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As we saw on Monday, Elizabeth praised Mary for trusting that God would keep God’s promises. One of those promises was that, even when we had strayed from the path, God would forgive and show mercy. Trust and hope in that promise was the central theme of Psalm 130, another of the “journey songs,” or “psalms of ascent.” This resilient, persistent hope is one reason we light the candle of hope every year on the first Sunday of Advent.
• In verse 6, the psalmist repeated for emphasis the image of a watchman in a dark, dark night (there were no electric streetlights!) waiting, hoping, for the morning. Then he said,
“Israel, wait for the Lord!” (verse 7) A spiritually dark world waited for the arrival of a Redeemer. Jesus’ birth made that hope a reality. Where do you see “darkness” in your life, in your world? How can Jesus still bring the light of hope into darkness?
• There was a historical basis for the psalmist’s hope. “[Faithful love] is one of the fundamental qualities of God revealed shortly after God had forgiven Israel for the sin of the gold calf (see Exodus 34:6). This was indeed a great redemption, and serves as the
foundation for the confidence stated in Psalm 130:8.”* In what ways does the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus give you an even stronger historical basis for trusting in God’s forgiveness?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, this world waited centuries for you. Now, too often, I take you for granted. This Advent season remind me that living in hope and trust, even when I have to wait, is one key to the good life you have for me. Amen.
* J. Clinton McCann, Jr. Study note on Psalm 130:7 in The CEB Study Bible (Nashville: Common English Bible, 2013), p. 986 OT.
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5 I hope, Lord.
My whole being hopes,
and I wait for God’s promise.
6 My whole being waits for my Lord—
more than the night watch waits for morning;
yes, more than the night watch waits for morning!
[Psalm 130:5-6]
I've sat a few night watches. I've waited through the night for babies to be born, and for people I loved to take their last breath. Five years ago at around this time, I was sitting the night watch alone in the dark, contemplating my own cancer diagnosis and waiting for the promise of healing and hope. This Scripture, Psalm 130:5-6, is one of the verses a friend sent me, and one I returned to again and again as I held the night watch, praying about the future, and thankful that because of Jesus I did not have to face that future, or the night, alone.
Because of that little baby lying in the manger, the sins that separated me from God were erased, and I could sit the night watch knowing that, whatever happened, The God of Mercy would be with me. I could have hope and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. I would not sit the night watch alone. And the morning! The morning would come and the Eastern sky would begin to lighten up, and I would be reminded again of God’s love and promise.
These days of Advent are special because of the hope and promise that we celebrate. The hope of abundant life because we never have to sit the watch, or walk through our days, alone. The promise of mercy and love fill the waiting days of Advent and soon we will celebrate the moment Hope entered the world.
Merry, Blessed Christmas!
JENNIFER CREAGERJennifer Creagar facilitates the Prayer Ministry and coordinates the Financial Care and Assistance ministries. She is married, has three great kids and three perfect grandchildren whom she loves spending time with, and she enjoys writing and photography.
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"Jesus: a sign that God is with you"
Thursday, 22 December 2016
Isaiah 7:10 Adonai spoke again to Achaz; he said, 11 “Ask Adonai your God to give you a sign. Ask it anywhere, from the depths of Sh’ol to the heights above.” 12 But Achaz answered, “I won’t ask, I won’t test Adonai.”
13 Then [the prophet] said,
“Listen here, house of David!
Is trying people’s patience
such a small thing for you
that you must try the patience
of my God as well?
14 Therefore Adonai himself
will give you people a sign:
the young woman* will become pregnant,
bear a son and name him ‘Immanu El [God is with us].
15 By the time he knows enough
to refuse evil and choose good,
he will [have to] eat
curdled milk and [wild] honey.
16 Yes, before the child knows enough
to refuse evil and choose good,
the land whose two kings you dread
will be left abandoned.
Isaiah 8:3 Then I had sexual relations with my wife; she became pregnant and gave birth to a son; and Adonai said to me, “Name him Maher Shalal Hash Baz; 4 because before the child knows how to cry, ‘Abba!’ and ‘Eema!’, the riches of Dammesek and the spoil of Shomron will be carried off and given to the king of Ashur.”
Matthew 1:20 But while he was thinking about this, an angel of Adonai appeared to him in a dream and said, “Yosef, son of David, do not be afraid to take Miryam home with you as your wife; for what has been conceived in her is from the Ruach HaKodesh. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua, [which means ‘Adonai saves,’] because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this happened in order to fulfill what Adonai had said through the prophet,
23 “The virgin will conceive and bear a son,
and they will call him ‘Immanu El.”[Matthew 1:23 Isaiah 7:14]
(The name means, “God is with us.”)
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Three kings were plotting to attack Israel, and King Ahaz was frightened. The prophet Isaiah said to ask for a sign that God was with him. The stubborn king refused, but Isaiah gave him a sign anyway—a young woman would give birth to a son. Before the boy reached age 13, the plotting kingdoms would lose their power (and they did). Pastor Hamilton wrote, “Matthew was not confused nor was he misinterpreting Isaiah…. I think he was saying, ‘Jesus, like that first Immanuel, was a sign sent by God that you might know God is with you, that you might know he will never leave you’…. Jesus, in a way that the first Immanuel could not, incarnated the presence and love of the God who rules over the entire universe.”*
• Matthew, quoting Isaiah, linked Jesus with the name “Immanuel,” which meant “God with us.” Matthew 18:20 quoted Jesus as saying, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I’m there with them.” And in the gospel’s final verse, Matthew 28:20, Jesus pledged that “I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.” What settings or practices help to make God’s presence real to you? What makes God’s presence as important for you as it was for King Ahaz?
• Scholar William Barclay summed up Matthew’s message: “Jesus is the one person who can tell us what God is like, and what God means us to be. In him alone we see what God is and what man ought to be.”† In what ways have you made Jesus central to your understanding of what God is like? Has that helped you to avoid some of the negative,
frightening images of God some people have? If so, how?
Prayer: O Lord, on that first Christmas you came into our midst. You were human, but you were also more. Give me insight and humility as I grapple to take in the divine mystery that you were Emmanuel, “God with us.” Amen.
* Adam Hamilton, The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2011, p. 48. (Pages 46-50 of the book offer a more complete explanation of Isaiah’s prophecy and the way Matthew applied it.)
† William Barclay, The Gospel of Matthew—Volume 1, Chapters 1-10 in The Daily Study Bible Series. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1976, p. 21.
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I have distinct memories of my mother sitting me down and explaining my name to me. “Christopher means ‘Christ-bearer.’” She went on to explain my middle name and, turning to my brother, explained his name as well. (I don’t remember what his name means. Guilty.) She talked about our names, making sure we knew the meaning and importance of the words chosen for us.
Words and names are strange things, aren’t they? It turns out I became and continued to be a “Christ-bearer.” But the name had meaning before I ever made my appearance. It had meaning to my mother, whose faith was and still is a huge part of her identity.
As a minister who has been privileged to experience a number of newborn hospital visits, one of my favorite parts of my visit is to hear what the parent(s) decided to name the child. Sometimes a family name is chosen, with the desire to pass on a legacy to the child. Sometimes it’s simply a name that sounds right. It may not even be a common name, but the motive is to let the child be who they will be—no matter how unique. And sometimes a name is chosen with conviction. The parent or parents want to know “what does this mean and how will it impact who they become?”
But with all of these approaches, the hopes and anticipations of the parents are somehow caught up in the naming of the child.
In our GPS Reading from Isaiah today, two names appear. The first is one you’re familiar with, a child will be born and called “Emmanuel.” As you may already know, this means “God with us.” But think about it from the parents’ perspective. This isn’t simply a prophecy. It’s the years of hopes and dreams and anticipation for things to change channeled into one name.
But if you looked closely, there’s another name only a chapter later. “Maher-shalal-hash-baz.” Even with the tendency of people to choose unique names for their children, I’ve never met a Maher-shalal-hash-baz. And probably for a good reason. It means “He has made haste to the plunder!” Scholars think this refers to the incoming invasion of Assyria into the larger region.
If Emmanuel represented all of the hopes and dreams of the people, Maher-shalal-hash-baz represented the things beyond our control—the empires that seek only to consume and profit without concern for the people. I can’t say I would name a child after this!
And yet this 2500+ year old passage still has relevance today. We have to live with forces beyond us. Empire-sized corporations fighting over natural resources, entire wars begun and ended based on the profits that could be attained, entire elections hanging over the issue of creating jobs, the messy intentional politics of countries trying to gain power. If we stop and pay attention, the spirit of Maher-shalal-hash-baz is alive and well.
Isaiah used baby names to paint a bigger reality. There is a tension in the world. A battle between forces beyond us. Even our stories and books touch on this theme again and again over the ages. You may have already seen the new Star Wars film, which features… a battle between forces at work in the universe.
We all feel these things at work in our world. And so did Isaiah and the Gospel writers. When they name Emmanuel, they’re making clear which side they are on. Christmas can even feel this tension. It can be a time when Jesus can be overshadowed by presents, busyness, and decorations. We can forget the meaning behind the name and forget the “meaning for the season,” as the phrase goes.
So don’t let your Christmas be about Maher-shalal-hash-baz and the plunder under the tree. We're part of a bigger story, God's story. Like your names or the names of your children, remind yourself and your family of the name of that matters--the name that began this holiday in the first place.
Emmanuel. God with us.
CHRIS ABELChris Abel is the Young Adults Pastor at Resurrection, and he describes himself as a "Pastor/Creative-type/Adventurer." A former atheist turned passionate follower of Christ, he completed his seminary education in Washington, DC. Before coming to Resurrection, Chris was a campus pastor near St. Louis, MO.
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"Marriage and child—but where?"
Friday, 23 December 2016
Matthew 1:24 When Yosef awoke he did what the angel of Adonai had told him to do — he took Miryam home to be his wife, 25 but he did not have sexual relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Yeshua.
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Whether because he told the story from a man’s point of view, or perhaps simply because his sources gave little information, Matthew wrote almost no details about Jesus’ actual birth. His succinct account didn’t even identify where the birth took place until after the fact (cf. Matthew 2:1). But he reported two key facts: despite his earlier reluctance, Joseph did marry the pregnant Mary, and he named the child she bore “Jesus” (the Greek form of Joshua, which meant “God saves”).
• Luke 1:38 showed Mary saying, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” Matthew 1:24 said Joseph “did just as an angel from God commanded.” Neither of them could see it at the time, but today millions, perhaps billions of people worship during
Advent because two humble Hebrew peasants listened, believed and obeyed. What is God calling you to listen to, to believe, and then to do or be this Advent season?
• Take part in Christmas Eve services tonight or tomorrow, at any Resurrection campus or online (go to www.cor.org/christmas for schedule information). On the Leawood campus, this will be our final Christmas Eve in the current Building B sanctuary, a milestone in which you may want to participate.
Prayer: Lord God, give me a spirit like Joseph’s and Mary’s, willing to obey you, not only in the easy times, but all of the time. Amen.
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As we read the Christmas story through the eyes of Joseph, we feel the daunting calling God has placed on his life. Joseph couldn’t imagine the impact his decisions would make on the world--the decision to stay with Mary, to have faith above the struggle, to believe the angelic vision, to trust Mary’s word, to risk his own life, to risk the lives of those he loved--to trust God above all.
Joseph chose love. He married Mary and fathered Jesus. Joseph’s faithful acceptance of his divine assignment enabled the holy night we celebrate as Christians today.
Every year, I pull out my tattered sheet music of “O Holy Night,” still marked with notes from my piano teacher. As I play these beautiful chords, I try to imagine, to feel the holy night that Mary and Joseph experienced.
But it was only recently I noticed words that I had passed over before:
"He appeared and the soul felt its worth”
Does your soul feel its worth? The unconditional, unending worth given by God? I pray that you feel your worth. And I pray that we, as humanity, feel our collective worth and value the souls of others, equal to ours in God’s eyes. In this year of divided emotions, terror for so many people, and fear so apparent in the world, I pray that we come together more than ever before to honor the worth of our individual souls and value our collective soul as humanity. We are all made in the image of God.
"O hear the angel voices!”
Joseph and Mary honored angel voices. I hope you do too. There are angels in our midst and a cloud of witnesses who have traveled before us. Honor their message and guidance when you feel it. For those searching for purpose, pay attention to the angel voices. They may come through the voices of people around you, or in dreams, or in sensing a presence beyond our sight. Pay attention and feel the guidance, as Joseph and Mary did.
“Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother; And in His name all oppression shall cease.”
I first noticed these lyrics in a video of Josh Groban singing “O Holy Night.” Then I looked up the history and source of the song, and found that the abolitionists found hope and healing in these words. I hope we each reflect on the purpose of the holy night we celebrate on Sunday, as well as our contribution toward living into the vision Jesus intended for our lives. We each have a calling to break the chains and help others to see every human’s worth.
On this holiest of nights: our Savior was born, our soul felt its worth, angel voices were heard, chains were broken, and oppression was intended to cease. Our divine assignment is to carry on the work that this holy night began. We can do that through accepting and giving unconditional love to every human. Love others as God loves you.
Joseph chose love. We can too. The secret to true Christmas joy is to choose love instead of fear. God is with you every step of the way.
Click here to watch a beautiful video of O Holy Night with scenes from The Nativity Story.
Click here to read some interesting history on the song "O Holy Night."
GINGER ROTHHAASGinger Rothhaas is a seminary student at Saint Paul School of Theology and has served in Congregational Care at Resurrection.
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"The journey to Bethlehem"
Saturday, 24 December 2016
Luke 2:1 Around this time, Emperor Augustus issued an order for a census to be taken throughout the Empire. 2 This registration, the first of its kind, took place when Quirinius was governing in Syria. 3 Everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 So Yosef, because he was a descendant of David, went up from the town of Natzeret in the Galil to the town of David, called Beit-Lechem, in Y’hudah, 5 to be registered, with Miryam, to whom he was engaged, and who was pregnant.
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Caesar Augustus’ purpose was straight-forward. He wanted to collect more taxes for his far-flung empire. God “bent” Caesar’s decree to divine purposes, using it to bring Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem (a difficult trip for pregnant Mary). There the baby Jesus was born, as
Micah 5:2 had prophesied. There, only a few miles from where Herod feverishly plotted and schemed as to how he might deserve the title “the Great,” the truly great God-man who would reshape all of human history was born in a humble setting.
• Pastor Hamilton wrote, “This was not a journey Mary wanted to take…. Of course, this was not to be the last of Mary’s unwanted journeys. A short time after Jesus’ birth, Herod would try to kill the child, and she and Joseph would take the infant Jesus and flee to Egypt as refugees. Thirty-three years later, there would be another journey she would take with her son, this time down the Via Dolorosa as she followed him to Calvary…. All of us take unwanted journeys, but God always walks with us on these journeys. God works through them and redeems them, and these difficult journeys will never be the end of our story!”* What unwanted journeys have you faced, or are you facing right now? How can Mary’s story bring you hope that, beyond what we see or imagine, God is at work even during
those unwanted journeys?
Prayer: Be near me, Lord Jesus. I ask thee to stay close by me forever, and love me, I pray. Amen.
* Adam Hamilton, The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2011, p. 100-101.
Family Activity: Read Luke 2:1-5[Luke 2:1 Around this time, Emperor Augustus issued an order for a census to be taken throughout the Empire. 2 This registration, the first of its kind, took place when Quirinius was governing in Syria. 3 Everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 So Yosef, because he was a descendant of David, went up from the town of Natzeret in the Galil to the town of David, called Beit-Lechem, in Y’hudah, 5 to be registered, with Miryam, to whom he was engaged, and who was pregnant.]. Gather your family and prepare for a journey in your car. Travel to several different nativity set sites in your community. Choose some with flashy lights and some with more of a humble, realistic appearance. At each one, pause to discuss one or two thoughts or feelings Mary and Joseph might have had on their journey to Bethlehem. You could also discuss what you imagine they may have taken with them on their journey. If you are adventurous, end your evening at an empty shelter in a park. Discuss how the shelter might resemble a stable and how amazing it is that Jesus came into the world in that way. Pray and thank God for Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and for Jesus who was born for all people.
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Cure for the Christmas Control Complex
Notice that Mary is not the subject of any of the sentences in today's reading. The Emperor decrees. Joseph follows the Emperor’s decree. Mary’s parents had promised her to Joseph in marriage. God planted a baby in Mary’s belly. Joseph takes Mary with him on a 70+ mile journey by foot/donkey while she is pregnant. Mary is surrounded by men who seem to decide everything for her – her Father, Joseph, the Emperor. Some people would also put God in that category. What about Mary? I suppose that as a female child in that culture, she was already familiar with the feeling of powerlessness.
I had to take an unwanted journey when I was 7 months pregnant with my second child. My husband abruptly decided he didn’t want to have anything to do with us anymore. Because of his decisions, I no longer had a place to live. I had to travel 325 miles across state lines to my parents’ house. While I was driving, I remember feeling completely out of control of my own life. I was angry and exhausted. My days and nights were spent responding to the needs of my toddler, and I had to birth my second child in a state, in a hospital, and with a doctor that I didn’t choose. If you’ve ever had control issues, my completely quack prescription to cure them is to get acquainted with the feeling of powerlessness. Real, complete, horrifying powerlessness. And stay there a little while. But if that doesn't sound like much fun to you, let me share a few lessons I learned there:
1. I learned to live by the serenity prayer. It’s a great gift. Repeat it over and over, especially when you feel your inner control freak rising up. "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
2. I learned to quit holding expectations for other people or situations. Instead, I simply hope for the best. You might think that having high expectations for other people or for how events turn out is a good thing, but prolonged powerlessness taught me to chuck expectations. Someone once told me, "An expectation is nothing more than a premeditated resentment." To hope for the best instead makes me have a greater sense of gratitude if things work out and a greater ability to let go when things don't go the way I hoped.
3. I learned that I am never a helpless victim. I almost always have choices over myself. But even if my physical reality is such that my personal rights and choices are all stripped from me, I still have a choice over my attitude and whether or not my spirit turns toward God or away from God. Those two choices always give me considerable power. Just read Mary's song to God in Luke 1:46-55. She was no victim; she was a great warrior.
I hope to wake up tomorrow morning. I hope to have a magical Christmas day with my family. I hope my car gets us to church. I hope I don't burn the cinnamon rolls. I hope my kids don’t fight. I hope Santa brings me good stuff. I hope you have a lovely Christmas, too. But in the end, no matter what comes my way tomorrow or any day I hope to be able to say along with Mary, "My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46-47, NRSV) and “Let it be with me just as you have said.” (Luke 1:38, CEB)
AMIE LITTRELLAmie Littrell is a Saint Paul Fellow. She is a full-time student, part-time Pastoral Intern, and Mom of three.
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Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
•Nikki Nollen and family on the death of her husband Craig Morris, 12/12
• Brandi Scafe and family on the death of her mother Maggie Vogel, 12/8
• Carol Edds and family on the death of her mother Hildred Snedegar, 12/8
• Laura Horen and family on the death of her brother-in-law George William “Bill” Steele, Jr.,
Lt. Col. USAF (Ret.), 12/8
• Tom Taylor and family on the death of his sister Frieda Troupe, 12/7
• Family and friends of Mae Winters on her death, 12/3
• Jan Kauk and family on the death of her mother Betty P. Bennett, 11/30
• Family and friends of Louis Milberger on his death, 11/29
• Josh Stark and family on the death of his father Jack Stark, 11/19
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Sunday, December 25, 2016 – "Christmas Through Joseph’s Eyes"
Scripture – Luke 2:1 Around this time, Emperor Augustus issued an order for a census to be taken throughout the Empire. 2 This registration, the first of its kind, took place when Quirinius was governing in Syria. 3 Everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 So Yosef, because he was a descendant of David, went up from the town of Natzeret in the Galil to the town of David, called Beit-Lechem, in Y’hudah, 5 to be registered, with Miryam, to whom he was engaged, and who was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth; 7 and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in cloth and laid him down in a feeding trough, because there was no space for them in the living-quarters.
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Sunday, 25 December 2016 – "Prayer Tip: Bridge Over Troubled Water"
Daily Scripture:
Luke 2:1 Around this time, Emperor Augustus issued an order for a census to be taken throughout the Empire. 2 This registration, the first of its kind, took place when Quirinius was governing in Syria. 3 Everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 So Yosef, because he was a descendant of David, went up from the town of Natzeret in the Galil to the town of David, called Beit-Lechem, in Y’hudah, 5 to be registered, with Miryam, to whom he was engaged, and who was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth; 7 and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in cloth and laid him down in a feeding trough, because there was no space for them in the living-quarters.-------
Prayer Tip:
Let us remember and give thanks for the true reason for this season…
Lord God, we thank you for sending Jesus all those years ago. Help us to remember, especially on this day, amidst all the gifts and meals and gatherings with family and friends, that today is not about us. That it’s about the beginning of the final chapter of the redemption story. Remind us that Jesus – who came as an innocent baby, was executed as a sacrifice for us all, and was raised from the dead to give us hope that we share in the resurrection promise – has always been, still is, and will always be the greatest gift we ever receive.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Angela LaVallie Tinsley, Prayer and Funeral Ministries
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Join us for worship today - see our worship times and locations here. If you are not in the Kansas City area, you can take part in our worship via live Web stream at rezonline.org.
Download a printable version of this week's GPS.
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"Born to lift up the lowly"
Monday, 26 December 2016
Luke 1:46 Then Miryam said,
“My soul magnifies Adonai;
47 and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior,
48 who has taken notice of his servant-girl
in her humble position.[Luke 1:48 1 Samuel 1:11; 2:1]
For — imagine it! — from now on, all generations will call me blessed!
49 “The Mighty One has done great things for me!
Indeed, his name is holy; 50 and in every generation
he has mercy on those who fear him.[Luke 1:50 Psalms 103:17; 111:9]
51 “He has performed mighty deeds with his arm,
routed the secretly proud,
52 brought down rulers from their thrones,
raised up the humble,
53 filled the hungry with good things,
but sent the rich away empty.
54 “He has taken the part of his servant Isra’el,
mindful of the mercy
55 which he promised to our fathers,
to Avraham and his seed forever.”
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What did Jesus’ birth mean? This week we’ll read six Bible answers to that question. We often call today’s reading "The Magnificat" (magnificat is the first word of Mary’s song in the Latin Bible). Mary's song was full of joy, anticipation and hope about the honor of bearing God's Son. Her song (which echoed the song Samuel’s mother sang in 1 Samuel 2:1-10) also said her pregnancy showed God’s care for the lowly, hungry and oppressed. The eternal king God was sending would upend many human values.
• Mary’s song alluded to Old Testament promises that God would one day deliver Israel from oppressors (Romans in her day). More than just being a mother, Mary rejoiced that through her son God would make real the promise of ending all the world’s oppression and evil.
What do you rely on to keep your faith strong? We still await evil’s final destruction, but what are some ways you can think of in which the Christmas child’s influence helped reverse evil and oppression?
• Pastor Adam Hamilton wrote that many of us “fail to realize how subversive, even revolutionary, Mary’s song really was…. Mary’s words should make us uncomfortable. They point to a concern God has for the poor, and a sense that the rich have received theirs already.… We have the obligation and calling to be used by God to ‘fill the hungry with good things.’”* In what ways are you rich? In what ways “lowly”? Are you willing to accept help in your “lowly” areas? Are you willing to use your God-given ability to lift the
burdens of those who are lowly in areas where you are stronger?
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, I take up the freedom and challenge of living as a citizen of your kingdom, even if it means I’ll have to wrestle to live by your values, which are so different from ours. Amen.
* Adam Hamilton, The Journey: A Season of Reflections. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2011, pp. 87-90.
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Today’s Bible passage, “The Magnificat,” reminds me of the importance of paying attention. Mary paid attention. She paid attention to the angel Gabriel who gives her the frightening news she is going to have a son, even though she is not yet married. I believe Mary paid attention to the nudging of the Spirit that urges her to make a hurried trip to her cousin Elizabeth’s house. When she enters the house Elizabeth greets her with praise and prophecy and Mary responds with hope and joy.
When I pay attention my faith is strengthened. Paying attention might be easy for some, but it’s something I struggle to do. I felt awful when a church member who I work with regularly told me he had passed me in a coffee shop and I didn’t acknowledge him. The next time I visited that shop I was careful to pay attention in case he was present and greeted him when we passed.
We are coming off a busy holiday season and I’m sure there were other times when I was distracted and didn’t pay attention. When I did focus on what was happening around me I saw many instances of God at work. A week before Christmas a business collected funds to bless a family in need but didn’t know how to deploy the funds. One organization we work with had several families who came to them at the last minute asking for help. The organization didn’t have any way to help, but took their names and wish lists, hoping for the best. The last minute donation by this one small business was enough to provide gifts and food for all three families. One willing volunteer spent two days carefully selecting the gifts on the family’s wish list, including two children’s bikes, which she maneuvered into her car for delivery.
As a staff member blessed to work with our JOY in Serving leadership team, if I pay attention there are hundreds of instances like this during the holiday season; instances where God nudges people to help others who are struggling in ways that provide hope and honor their dignity. The ripples caused by each individual act of giving during the holiday season will continue far into the coming year. The stories of God at work, bringing hope and comfort continue throughout the year, if I am alert and pay attention.
ROBERTA LYLE
Roberta Lyle has been on the Resurrection staff since 2006. She serves as the Program Director for Local Impact Ministries, concentrating on Education, Life Skills and Youth Focused Ministries.
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"Born to be a mighty, merciful Savior"
Tuesday, 27 December 2016
Luke 1:67 His father Z’kharyah was filled with the Ruach HaKodesh and spoke this prophecy:
68 “Praised be Adonai, the God of Isra’el,[Luke 1:68 Psalms 41:14(13); 72:18; 106:48]
because he has visited and made a ransom to liberate his people
69 by raising up for us a mighty Deliverer
who is a descendant of his servant David.
70 It is just as he has spoken
through the mouth of the prophets from the very beginning —
71 that we should be delivered from our enemies
and from the power of all who hate us.
72 “This has happened so that he might show
the mercy promised to our fathers —
that he would remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath he swore before Avraham avinu
74 to grant us that we, freed from our enemies,
would serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness
before him all our days.
76 You, child, will be called a prophet of Ha‘Elyon;
you will go before the Lord to prepare his way[Luke 1:76 Malachi 3:1; Isaiah 40:3]
77 by spreading the knowledge among his people
that deliverance comes by having sins forgiven
78 through our God’s most tender mercy,
which causes the Sunrise to visit us from Heaven,
79 to shine on those in darkness, living in the shadow of death,[Luke 1:79 Isaiah 9:1(2)]
and to guide our feet into the paths of peace.”
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In a poetic psalm, Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, spoke about the meaning of Jesus’ birth. He said of the child Mary would bear, God “has raised up a mighty savior for us in his servant David’s house…. He has brought salvation… he has shown mercy.” The angel Gabriel had said John would “turn many people in Israel back to their God… herald God's arrival in the style and strength of Elijah… kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics… get the
people ready for God” (Luke 1:17, The Message). Zechariah said his boy would proclaim, “The dawn from heaven will break upon us, to give light to those who are sitting in darkness.”
• Through the prophet Nathan, God told King David, “The Lord will make a dynasty for you…. I will raise up your descendant—one of your very own children—to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom…. Your dynasty and your kingdom will be secured forever before me.” (2 Samuel 7:11-16). At first that seemed to describe King Solomon, but history made it clear no human king could live up to this promise. The first Christians declared that, in Jesus, the promise came true. What meaning does “Jesus is king of my life” have for you? In what ways have you given Jesus authority to rule over you?
• When people in the Judean hill country heard of the events around John’s birth, they asked, “What then will this child be?” Zechariah, who’d listened to the angel, knew about his son John’s mission, as verse 76 showed. Who played John’s role in your life—who prepared the way for your faith, and introduced you to Jesus?
Prayer: King Jesus, rule over my life. Empower me to give more and more of myself over to your authority, and by your power to live into my “child-of-God” self. Amen.
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Today’s GPS asked the question, “What meaning does ‘Jesus is king of my life’ have for you?
Immediately a song popped into my head as I read this question--“Take my Life,” by Scott Underwood. Here are the lyrics to the chorus:
“Take my life and form it/Take my mind, transform it/Take my will, conform it/To yours, to yours, oh Lord.”
(Click here to watch the song in a YouTube video.)
It’s a simple song, but I think it answers the question posed above so well. For me, to have Jesus as King of my life means that I give my life over to Jesus, that I allow myself to be changed. It means I allow Jesus to transform me into the person God intended me to be.
I don’t know about you, but for me change can be a very hard thing. I’m a creature of habit and struggle at times to adapt to change, even if it’s good change. I think what’s even harder is the uncertainty that can come with change. When we trust Jesus with our lives, we’re never quite sure what direction we are headed--what God might be calling us to do, what person we are supposed to extend God's love to next, and so on.
However, when we trust Jesus, and allow Jesus to transform us, we one-by-one begin creating God's beautiful kingdom here on earth. As we were lighting candles the other evening at the Christmas Eve candlelight service, Pastor Adam talked about how Jesus was the light of the world, and then spread His light to one disciple, then to another disciple, on and on until the whole community and beyond was changed. What a reminder that when we let Jesus reign in our lives, we become more loving persons, who will in turn spread his love to others, and then those people will in turn keep spreading the love. One-by-one, we are transforming the world.
COURTNEY FELZKE
Courtney Felzke is Chaplain of Silver Link, providing Pastoral Care to many within the Silver Link Ministry as well as doing work behind the scenes in the ministry. She coordinates care for those served by the ministry and recruits and trains new volunteers.
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"Born to be a light to Gentiles as well as Israelites"
Wednesday, 28 December 2016
Luke 2:21 On the eighth day, when it was time for his b’rit-milah, he was given the name Yeshua, which is what the angel had called him before his conception.
22 When the time came for their purification according to the Torah of Moshe, they took him up to Yerushalayim to present him to Adonai 23 (as it is written in the Torah of Adonai, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to Adonai”[Luke 2:23 Exodus 13:2, 12, 15]) 24 and also to offer a sacrifice of a pair of doves or two young pigeons,[Luke 2:24 Leviticus 12:8] as required by the Torah of Adonai.
25 There was in Yerushalayim a man named Shim‘on. This man was a tzaddik, he was devout, he waited eagerly for God to comfort Isra’el, and the Ruach HaKodesh was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Ruach HaKodesh that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah of Adonai. 27 Prompted by the Spirit, he went into the Temple courts; and when the parents brought in the child Yeshua to do for him what the Torah required, 28 Shim‘on took him in his arms, made a b’rakhah to God, and said,
29 “Now, Adonai, according to your word,
your servant is at peace as you let him go;
30 for I have seen with my own eyes your yeshu‘ah,
31 which you prepared in the presence of all peoples —
32 a light that will bring revelation to the Goyim
and glory to your people Isra’el.”
33 Yeshua’s father and mother were marvelling at the things Shim‘on was saying about him. 34 Shim‘on blessed them and said to the child’s mother, Miryam,
“This child will cause many in Isra’el to fall and to rise,
he will become a sign whom people will speak against;
35 moreover, a sword will pierce your own heart too.
All this will happen in order to reveal many people’s inmost thoughts.”
36 There was also a prophet named Hannah Bat-P’nu’el, of the tribe of Asher. She was a very old woman — she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage 37 and had remained a widow ever since; now she was eighty-four. She never left the Temple grounds but worshipped there night and day, fasting and praying. 38 She came by at that moment and began thanking God and speaking about the child to everyone who was waiting for Yerushalayim to be liberated.
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Jesus’ parents, devout Jews, followed the laws about a newborn (cf. Exodus 13:2, 12; Leviticus 12:8 allowed poor Israelites to bring doves instead of a lamb). Joseph and Mary wouldn’t have known many people in Jerusalem. It must have been unexpected, maybe even
alarming, when the elderly Simeon and Anna came up to them. In the busy Temple court, where others saw only a poor couple with a baby, those two elderly saints recognized Jesus as the Savior. They praised God, blessing the parents and the baby.
• Simeon’s words echoed Isaiah 42:6 and 49:6, which said “the servant of the Lord” would be a light to the Gentiles. When later even many of Jesus’ followers struggled to accept Gentiles (cf. Acts 11:2-3, 15:1-5), what qualities do you think allowed Simeon to see and accept Isaiah’s far-reaching vision? Most American Christians are Gentiles ethnically. Who are the “Gentiles” you might struggle to accept in God’s family today?
• Simeon warned Mary that many would reject Jesus, and pain like a sword would pierce her heart. (Click here to see an icon of Mary in The Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, which vividly shows the pain Simeon warned her about). Cary Gibson wrote, “Mary couldn’t
control or protect Jesus, and the personal cost to her as a mother was severe (John 19:25-27).” * What helps you trust God and live out God’s purposes when it’s not easy or popular? Has following God ever brought you pain, as well as good things?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I look forward to the New Year and the challenges it will bring—because you will be with me to strengthen and uphold me. My hope is in you. Amen.
*Cary Gibson, “Portrait” of Mary, Jesus' Mother in The CEB Women’s Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2016, p. 1287.
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"Born to be a king who shepherds God’s people"
Thursday, 29 December 2016
Matthew 2:1 After Yeshua was born in Beit-Lechem in the land of Y’hudah during the time when Herod was king, Magi from the east came to Yerushalayim 2 and asked, “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard of this he became very agitated, and so did everyone else in Yerushalayim. 4 He called together all the head cohanim and Torah-teachers of the people and asked them, “Where will the Messiah be born?” 5 “In Beit-Lechem of Y’hudah,” they replied, “because the prophet wrote,
6 ‘And you, Beit-Lechem in the land of Y’hudah,
are by no means the least among the rulers of Y’hudah;
for from you will come a Ruler
who will shepherd my people Isra’el.’”[Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:1(2)]
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The Greek word magoi, which Matthew used here, usually identified students of the stars. They most likely came from modern Iran, though “from the east” could mean a whole range of places. They arrived an unspecified amount of time “after Jesus was born in Bethlehem.” These notable visitors said, “We… have come to worship him.” Israel was just a minor Roman province. No one would expect non-Hebrew scholars to travel far to see, much less worship, even a “king of the Jews.”
• Roman historians Suetonius and Tacitus both wrote that at the time Jesus was born, an ancient prophecy led many to believe a world ruler would rise in Judea. Both historians said the prophecy must have meant Emperor Vespasian. Those Romans missed the true king, but so did the priests and legal experts who rattled off Micah’s prophecy about Bethlehem. The eastern wise men didn’t. In what ways can you keep your mind and heart open, so as not to miss where God is at work?
• In Ezekiel 34:1-16, as well as in Micah 5:2, God promised Israel that he would shepherd them. Jesus, grown up, claimed to be the promised “good shepherd,” offering those who follow him “life to the fullest” (John 10:1-15). In what ways do ads for everything from cars to computers, alcoholic beverages to hair-care products, hold out that promise? How easy or hard do you find it to trust, in your day-to-day life, that Jesus truly offers you the fullest, most satisfying life?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, keep my eyes and my heart open to signs that you are at work in and around my life. Thank you for being the shepherd who guides me to life to the fullest. Amen.
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"Born to be God’s light in the darkness"
Friday, 30 December 2016
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing made had being.
4 In him was life,
and the life was the light of mankind.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not suppressed it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was Yochanan. 7 He came to be a testimony, to bear witness concerning the light; so that through him, everyone might put his trust in God and be faithful to him. 8 He himself was not that light; no, he came to bear witness concerning the light.
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The prologue to John’s gospel daringly linked the worlds of Greek and Hebrew thought. Numerous Greek philosophers had identified “the Word” (Greek logos) as the great Idea behind the world. The Hebrew Bible began (like John) with “in the beginning,” and said God spoke into being all that is. John’s poetic prologue said Jesus embodied all that power and wisdom.
• “In the beginning,” in any language, carries us back to areas of mystery of which, even today, science is just scratching the surface. John didn’t say the Word “began” in the beginning; he said the Word “was.” It was a way of saying Jesus has always been here,
and will always be here. He is eternal; he is God. In what ways does it matter to your faith that Jesus is more than just a good man?
• “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light” wasn’t just poetry. As we see on Christmas Eve, even a large room full of darkness cannot hide or put out the light of the one small Christ candle when it comes into the room. When has it felt to you that darkness was trying to put out God’s light in your life? What spiritual practices have you found that help keep you close to God, so that God’s light keeps shining in you?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for shining the life-giving light of your love and grace into my life. Amen.
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"Born to fully reveal God’s glory, truth and grace"
Saturday, 31 December 2016
John 1:9 This was the true light,
which gives light to everyone entering the world.
10 He was in the world — the world came to be through him —
yet the world did not know him.
11 He came to his own homeland,
yet his own people did not receive him.
12 But to as many as did receive him, to those who put their trust in his person and power, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 not because of bloodline, physical impulse or human intention, but because of God.
14 The Word became a human being and lived with us,
and we saw his Sh’khinah,
the Sh’khinah of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.
15 Yochanan witnessed concerning him when he cried out, “This is the man I was talking about when I said, ‘The one coming after me has come to rank ahead of me, because he existed before me.’”
16 We have all received from his fullness,
yes, grace upon grace.
17 For the Torah was given through Moshe;
grace and truth came through Yeshua the Messiah.
18 No one has ever seen God; but the only and unique Son, who is identical with God and is at the Father’s side — he has made him known.
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The gods the Greeks and Romans worshipped carried out their purposes far from the day-to-day concerns of human beings. If one of them visited earth, people had best try to placate him or her or get out of the way. But “the Word,” John said, was entirely different. He brought light for all people, and gave all who believed in him the right to become children of God. He capped it off with the astonishing assertion that “the Word became flesh and made his home among us.” Neither Greeks nor Jews believed even God could bridge a gap that wide. But by becoming flesh, “the Word” showed us what God is really like. The light wasn’t just about God—the light was God in person, in our midst.
• John, taking his cue from Jesus (John 3:3-8), said the life Jesus brought is so new it’s like being born anew as a child of God. When did your spiritual journey start? In what ways has walking with Jesus given you a whole new life? John’s prologue included a tragic note: “the light came to his own people, and his own people didn’t welcome him.” What blocked people’s ability to recognize their Creator? How can you avoid that kind of blockage? How does the person of Jesus shape your understanding of God? What difference does what you believe about God make in day-to-day life?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, on this last day of 2016, I thank you for being with me through the year. And I’m so grateful for your assurance that your life-giving presence goes with me into every day of 2017. Amen.
Family Activity: Mary and Joseph were full of joy at the birth of Jesus. Then the angel joyfully told the shepherds that Jesus had been born and the shepherds joyfully told others! How can you joyfully tell others about the birthday of Jesus? First, create a list of people with whom you want to share the good news of Jesus. Consider neighbors, community workers, store clerks, family, and friends. Next, discuss fun and creative ways you could share the exciting news of Jesus’ birth and his love. You might bake treats, design cards, create a simple craft or write a simple note. Deliver your items to people. Let each person know you are praying for him or her during this Christmas season and throughout the year. Share the joy of Jesus with everyone!
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Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer
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Sunday, December 25, 2016 – "Christmas Through Joseph’s Eyes"
Scripture – Luke 2:1 Around this time, Emperor Augustus issued an order for a census to be taken throughout the Empire. 2 This registration, the first of its kind, took place when Quirinius was governing in Syria. 3 Everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 So Yosef, because he was a descendant of David, went up from the town of Natzeret in the Galil to the town of David, called Beit-Lechem, in Y’hudah, 5 to be registered, with Miryam, to whom he was engaged, and who was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth; 7 and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in cloth and laid him down in a feeding trough, because there was no space for them in the living-quarters.
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Sunday, 25 December 2016 – "Prayer Tip: Bridge Over Troubled Water"
Daily Scripture:
Luke 2:1 Around this time, Emperor Augustus issued an order for a census to be taken throughout the Empire. 2 This registration, the first of its kind, took place when Quirinius was governing in Syria. 3 Everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 So Yosef, because he was a descendant of David, went up from the town of Natzeret in the Galil to the town of David, called Beit-Lechem, in Y’hudah, 5 to be registered, with Miryam, to whom he was engaged, and who was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth; 7 and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in cloth and laid him down in a feeding trough, because there was no space for them in the living-quarters.-------
Prayer Tip:
Let us remember and give thanks for the true reason for this season…
Lord God, we thank you for sending Jesus all those years ago. Help us to remember, especially on this day, amidst all the gifts and meals and gatherings with family and friends, that today is not about us. That it’s about the beginning of the final chapter of the redemption story. Remind us that Jesus – who came as an innocent baby, was executed as a sacrifice for us all, and was raised from the dead to give us hope that we share in the resurrection promise – has always been, still is, and will always be the greatest gift we ever receive.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Angela LaVallie Tinsley, Prayer and Funeral Ministries
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Join us for worship today - see our worship times and locations here. If you are not in the Kansas City area, you can take part in our worship via live Web stream at rezonline.org.
Download a printable version of this week's GPS.
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"Born to lift up the lowly"
Monday, 26 December 2016
Luke 1:46 Then Miryam said,
“My soul magnifies Adonai;
47 and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior,
48 who has taken notice of his servant-girl
in her humble position.[Luke 1:48 1 Samuel 1:11; 2:1]
For — imagine it! — from now on, all generations will call me blessed!
49 “The Mighty One has done great things for me!
Indeed, his name is holy; 50 and in every generation
he has mercy on those who fear him.[Luke 1:50 Psalms 103:17; 111:9]
51 “He has performed mighty deeds with his arm,
routed the secretly proud,
52 brought down rulers from their thrones,
raised up the humble,
53 filled the hungry with good things,
but sent the rich away empty.
54 “He has taken the part of his servant Isra’el,
mindful of the mercy
55 which he promised to our fathers,
to Avraham and his seed forever.”
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What did Jesus’ birth mean? This week we’ll read six Bible answers to that question. We often call today’s reading "The Magnificat" (magnificat is the first word of Mary’s song in the Latin Bible). Mary's song was full of joy, anticipation and hope about the honor of bearing God's Son. Her song (which echoed the song Samuel’s mother sang in 1 Samuel 2:1-10) also said her pregnancy showed God’s care for the lowly, hungry and oppressed. The eternal king God was sending would upend many human values.
• Mary’s song alluded to Old Testament promises that God would one day deliver Israel from oppressors (Romans in her day). More than just being a mother, Mary rejoiced that through her son God would make real the promise of ending all the world’s oppression and evil.
What do you rely on to keep your faith strong? We still await evil’s final destruction, but what are some ways you can think of in which the Christmas child’s influence helped reverse evil and oppression?
• Pastor Adam Hamilton wrote that many of us “fail to realize how subversive, even revolutionary, Mary’s song really was…. Mary’s words should make us uncomfortable. They point to a concern God has for the poor, and a sense that the rich have received theirs already.… We have the obligation and calling to be used by God to ‘fill the hungry with good things.’”* In what ways are you rich? In what ways “lowly”? Are you willing to accept help in your “lowly” areas? Are you willing to use your God-given ability to lift the
burdens of those who are lowly in areas where you are stronger?
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, I take up the freedom and challenge of living as a citizen of your kingdom, even if it means I’ll have to wrestle to live by your values, which are so different from ours. Amen.
* Adam Hamilton, The Journey: A Season of Reflections. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2011, pp. 87-90.
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Today’s Bible passage, “The Magnificat,” reminds me of the importance of paying attention. Mary paid attention. She paid attention to the angel Gabriel who gives her the frightening news she is going to have a son, even though she is not yet married. I believe Mary paid attention to the nudging of the Spirit that urges her to make a hurried trip to her cousin Elizabeth’s house. When she enters the house Elizabeth greets her with praise and prophecy and Mary responds with hope and joy.
When I pay attention my faith is strengthened. Paying attention might be easy for some, but it’s something I struggle to do. I felt awful when a church member who I work with regularly told me he had passed me in a coffee shop and I didn’t acknowledge him. The next time I visited that shop I was careful to pay attention in case he was present and greeted him when we passed.
We are coming off a busy holiday season and I’m sure there were other times when I was distracted and didn’t pay attention. When I did focus on what was happening around me I saw many instances of God at work. A week before Christmas a business collected funds to bless a family in need but didn’t know how to deploy the funds. One organization we work with had several families who came to them at the last minute asking for help. The organization didn’t have any way to help, but took their names and wish lists, hoping for the best. The last minute donation by this one small business was enough to provide gifts and food for all three families. One willing volunteer spent two days carefully selecting the gifts on the family’s wish list, including two children’s bikes, which she maneuvered into her car for delivery.
As a staff member blessed to work with our JOY in Serving leadership team, if I pay attention there are hundreds of instances like this during the holiday season; instances where God nudges people to help others who are struggling in ways that provide hope and honor their dignity. The ripples caused by each individual act of giving during the holiday season will continue far into the coming year. The stories of God at work, bringing hope and comfort continue throughout the year, if I am alert and pay attention.
ROBERTA LYLERoberta Lyle has been on the Resurrection staff since 2006. She serves as the Program Director for Local Impact Ministries, concentrating on Education, Life Skills and Youth Focused Ministries.
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"Born to be a mighty, merciful Savior"
Tuesday, 27 December 2016
Luke 1:67 His father Z’kharyah was filled with the Ruach HaKodesh and spoke this prophecy:
68 “Praised be Adonai, the God of Isra’el,[Luke 1:68 Psalms 41:14(13); 72:18; 106:48]
because he has visited and made a ransom to liberate his people
69 by raising up for us a mighty Deliverer
who is a descendant of his servant David.
70 It is just as he has spoken
through the mouth of the prophets from the very beginning —
71 that we should be delivered from our enemies
and from the power of all who hate us.
72 “This has happened so that he might show
the mercy promised to our fathers —
that he would remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath he swore before Avraham avinu
74 to grant us that we, freed from our enemies,
would serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness
before him all our days.
76 You, child, will be called a prophet of Ha‘Elyon;
you will go before the Lord to prepare his way[Luke 1:76 Malachi 3:1; Isaiah 40:3]
77 by spreading the knowledge among his people
that deliverance comes by having sins forgiven
78 through our God’s most tender mercy,
which causes the Sunrise to visit us from Heaven,
79 to shine on those in darkness, living in the shadow of death,[Luke 1:79 Isaiah 9:1(2)]
and to guide our feet into the paths of peace.”
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In a poetic psalm, Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, spoke about the meaning of Jesus’ birth. He said of the child Mary would bear, God “has raised up a mighty savior for us in his servant David’s house…. He has brought salvation… he has shown mercy.” The angel Gabriel had said John would “turn many people in Israel back to their God… herald God's arrival in the style and strength of Elijah… kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics… get the
people ready for God” (Luke 1:17, The Message). Zechariah said his boy would proclaim, “The dawn from heaven will break upon us, to give light to those who are sitting in darkness.”
• Through the prophet Nathan, God told King David, “The Lord will make a dynasty for you…. I will raise up your descendant—one of your very own children—to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom…. Your dynasty and your kingdom will be secured forever before me.” (2 Samuel 7:11-16). At first that seemed to describe King Solomon, but history made it clear no human king could live up to this promise. The first Christians declared that, in Jesus, the promise came true. What meaning does “Jesus is king of my life” have for you? In what ways have you given Jesus authority to rule over you?
• When people in the Judean hill country heard of the events around John’s birth, they asked, “What then will this child be?” Zechariah, who’d listened to the angel, knew about his son John’s mission, as verse 76 showed. Who played John’s role in your life—who prepared the way for your faith, and introduced you to Jesus?
Prayer: King Jesus, rule over my life. Empower me to give more and more of myself over to your authority, and by your power to live into my “child-of-God” self. Amen.
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Today’s GPS asked the question, “What meaning does ‘Jesus is king of my life’ have for you?
Immediately a song popped into my head as I read this question--“Take my Life,” by Scott Underwood. Here are the lyrics to the chorus:
“Take my life and form it/Take my mind, transform it/Take my will, conform it/To yours, to yours, oh Lord.”
(Click here to watch the song in a YouTube video.)
It’s a simple song, but I think it answers the question posed above so well. For me, to have Jesus as King of my life means that I give my life over to Jesus, that I allow myself to be changed. It means I allow Jesus to transform me into the person God intended me to be.
I don’t know about you, but for me change can be a very hard thing. I’m a creature of habit and struggle at times to adapt to change, even if it’s good change. I think what’s even harder is the uncertainty that can come with change. When we trust Jesus with our lives, we’re never quite sure what direction we are headed--what God might be calling us to do, what person we are supposed to extend God's love to next, and so on.
However, when we trust Jesus, and allow Jesus to transform us, we one-by-one begin creating God's beautiful kingdom here on earth. As we were lighting candles the other evening at the Christmas Eve candlelight service, Pastor Adam talked about how Jesus was the light of the world, and then spread His light to one disciple, then to another disciple, on and on until the whole community and beyond was changed. What a reminder that when we let Jesus reign in our lives, we become more loving persons, who will in turn spread his love to others, and then those people will in turn keep spreading the love. One-by-one, we are transforming the world.
COURTNEY FELZKECourtney Felzke is Chaplain of Silver Link, providing Pastoral Care to many within the Silver Link Ministry as well as doing work behind the scenes in the ministry. She coordinates care for those served by the ministry and recruits and trains new volunteers.
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"Born to be a light to Gentiles as well as Israelites"
Wednesday, 28 December 2016
Luke 2:21 On the eighth day, when it was time for his b’rit-milah, he was given the name Yeshua, which is what the angel had called him before his conception.
22 When the time came for their purification according to the Torah of Moshe, they took him up to Yerushalayim to present him to Adonai 23 (as it is written in the Torah of Adonai, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to Adonai”[Luke 2:23 Exodus 13:2, 12, 15]) 24 and also to offer a sacrifice of a pair of doves or two young pigeons,[Luke 2:24 Leviticus 12:8] as required by the Torah of Adonai.
25 There was in Yerushalayim a man named Shim‘on. This man was a tzaddik, he was devout, he waited eagerly for God to comfort Isra’el, and the Ruach HaKodesh was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Ruach HaKodesh that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah of Adonai. 27 Prompted by the Spirit, he went into the Temple courts; and when the parents brought in the child Yeshua to do for him what the Torah required, 28 Shim‘on took him in his arms, made a b’rakhah to God, and said,
29 “Now, Adonai, according to your word,
your servant is at peace as you let him go;
30 for I have seen with my own eyes your yeshu‘ah,
31 which you prepared in the presence of all peoples —
32 a light that will bring revelation to the Goyim
and glory to your people Isra’el.”
33 Yeshua’s father and mother were marvelling at the things Shim‘on was saying about him. 34 Shim‘on blessed them and said to the child’s mother, Miryam,
“This child will cause many in Isra’el to fall and to rise,
he will become a sign whom people will speak against;
35 moreover, a sword will pierce your own heart too.
All this will happen in order to reveal many people’s inmost thoughts.”
36 There was also a prophet named Hannah Bat-P’nu’el, of the tribe of Asher. She was a very old woman — she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage 37 and had remained a widow ever since; now she was eighty-four. She never left the Temple grounds but worshipped there night and day, fasting and praying. 38 She came by at that moment and began thanking God and speaking about the child to everyone who was waiting for Yerushalayim to be liberated.
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Jesus’ parents, devout Jews, followed the laws about a newborn (cf. Exodus 13:2, 12; Leviticus 12:8 allowed poor Israelites to bring doves instead of a lamb). Joseph and Mary wouldn’t have known many people in Jerusalem. It must have been unexpected, maybe even
alarming, when the elderly Simeon and Anna came up to them. In the busy Temple court, where others saw only a poor couple with a baby, those two elderly saints recognized Jesus as the Savior. They praised God, blessing the parents and the baby.
• Simeon’s words echoed Isaiah 42:6 and 49:6, which said “the servant of the Lord” would be a light to the Gentiles. When later even many of Jesus’ followers struggled to accept Gentiles (cf. Acts 11:2-3, 15:1-5), what qualities do you think allowed Simeon to see and accept Isaiah’s far-reaching vision? Most American Christians are Gentiles ethnically. Who are the “Gentiles” you might struggle to accept in God’s family today?
• Simeon warned Mary that many would reject Jesus, and pain like a sword would pierce her heart. (Click here to see an icon of Mary in The Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, which vividly shows the pain Simeon warned her about). Cary Gibson wrote, “Mary couldn’t
control or protect Jesus, and the personal cost to her as a mother was severe (John 19:25-27).” * What helps you trust God and live out God’s purposes when it’s not easy or popular? Has following God ever brought you pain, as well as good things?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I look forward to the New Year and the challenges it will bring—because you will be with me to strengthen and uphold me. My hope is in you. Amen.
*Cary Gibson, “Portrait” of Mary, Jesus' Mother in The CEB Women’s Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2016, p. 1287.
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"Born to be a king who shepherds God’s people"
Thursday, 29 December 2016
Matthew 2:1 After Yeshua was born in Beit-Lechem in the land of Y’hudah during the time when Herod was king, Magi from the east came to Yerushalayim 2 and asked, “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard of this he became very agitated, and so did everyone else in Yerushalayim. 4 He called together all the head cohanim and Torah-teachers of the people and asked them, “Where will the Messiah be born?” 5 “In Beit-Lechem of Y’hudah,” they replied, “because the prophet wrote,
6 ‘And you, Beit-Lechem in the land of Y’hudah,
are by no means the least among the rulers of Y’hudah;
for from you will come a Ruler
who will shepherd my people Isra’el.’”[Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:1(2)]
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The Greek word magoi, which Matthew used here, usually identified students of the stars. They most likely came from modern Iran, though “from the east” could mean a whole range of places. They arrived an unspecified amount of time “after Jesus was born in Bethlehem.” These notable visitors said, “We… have come to worship him.” Israel was just a minor Roman province. No one would expect non-Hebrew scholars to travel far to see, much less worship, even a “king of the Jews.”
• Roman historians Suetonius and Tacitus both wrote that at the time Jesus was born, an ancient prophecy led many to believe a world ruler would rise in Judea. Both historians said the prophecy must have meant Emperor Vespasian. Those Romans missed the true king, but so did the priests and legal experts who rattled off Micah’s prophecy about Bethlehem. The eastern wise men didn’t. In what ways can you keep your mind and heart open, so as not to miss where God is at work?
• In Ezekiel 34:1-16, as well as in Micah 5:2, God promised Israel that he would shepherd them. Jesus, grown up, claimed to be the promised “good shepherd,” offering those who follow him “life to the fullest” (John 10:1-15). In what ways do ads for everything from cars to computers, alcoholic beverages to hair-care products, hold out that promise? How easy or hard do you find it to trust, in your day-to-day life, that Jesus truly offers you the fullest, most satisfying life?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, keep my eyes and my heart open to signs that you are at work in and around my life. Thank you for being the shepherd who guides me to life to the fullest. Amen.
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"Born to be God’s light in the darkness"
Friday, 30 December 2016
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing made had being.
4 In him was life,
and the life was the light of mankind.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not suppressed it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was Yochanan. 7 He came to be a testimony, to bear witness concerning the light; so that through him, everyone might put his trust in God and be faithful to him. 8 He himself was not that light; no, he came to bear witness concerning the light.
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The prologue to John’s gospel daringly linked the worlds of Greek and Hebrew thought. Numerous Greek philosophers had identified “the Word” (Greek logos) as the great Idea behind the world. The Hebrew Bible began (like John) with “in the beginning,” and said God spoke into being all that is. John’s poetic prologue said Jesus embodied all that power and wisdom.
• “In the beginning,” in any language, carries us back to areas of mystery of which, even today, science is just scratching the surface. John didn’t say the Word “began” in the beginning; he said the Word “was.” It was a way of saying Jesus has always been here,
and will always be here. He is eternal; he is God. In what ways does it matter to your faith that Jesus is more than just a good man?
• “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light” wasn’t just poetry. As we see on Christmas Eve, even a large room full of darkness cannot hide or put out the light of the one small Christ candle when it comes into the room. When has it felt to you that darkness was trying to put out God’s light in your life? What spiritual practices have you found that help keep you close to God, so that God’s light keeps shining in you?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for shining the life-giving light of your love and grace into my life. Amen.
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"Born to fully reveal God’s glory, truth and grace"
Saturday, 31 December 2016
John 1:9 This was the true light,
which gives light to everyone entering the world.
10 He was in the world — the world came to be through him —
yet the world did not know him.
11 He came to his own homeland,
yet his own people did not receive him.
12 But to as many as did receive him, to those who put their trust in his person and power, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 not because of bloodline, physical impulse or human intention, but because of God.
14 The Word became a human being and lived with us,
and we saw his Sh’khinah,
the Sh’khinah of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.
15 Yochanan witnessed concerning him when he cried out, “This is the man I was talking about when I said, ‘The one coming after me has come to rank ahead of me, because he existed before me.’”
16 We have all received from his fullness,
yes, grace upon grace.
17 For the Torah was given through Moshe;
grace and truth came through Yeshua the Messiah.
18 No one has ever seen God; but the only and unique Son, who is identical with God and is at the Father’s side — he has made him known.
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The gods the Greeks and Romans worshipped carried out their purposes far from the day-to-day concerns of human beings. If one of them visited earth, people had best try to placate him or her or get out of the way. But “the Word,” John said, was entirely different. He brought light for all people, and gave all who believed in him the right to become children of God. He capped it off with the astonishing assertion that “the Word became flesh and made his home among us.” Neither Greeks nor Jews believed even God could bridge a gap that wide. But by becoming flesh, “the Word” showed us what God is really like. The light wasn’t just about God—the light was God in person, in our midst.
• John, taking his cue from Jesus (John 3:3-8), said the life Jesus brought is so new it’s like being born anew as a child of God. When did your spiritual journey start? In what ways has walking with Jesus given you a whole new life? John’s prologue included a tragic note: “the light came to his own people, and his own people didn’t welcome him.” What blocked people’s ability to recognize their Creator? How can you avoid that kind of blockage? How does the person of Jesus shape your understanding of God? What difference does what you believe about God make in day-to-day life?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, on this last day of 2016, I thank you for being with me through the year. And I’m so grateful for your assurance that your life-giving presence goes with me into every day of 2017. Amen.
Family Activity: Mary and Joseph were full of joy at the birth of Jesus. Then the angel joyfully told the shepherds that Jesus had been born and the shepherds joyfully told others! How can you joyfully tell others about the birthday of Jesus? First, create a list of people with whom you want to share the good news of Jesus. Consider neighbors, community workers, store clerks, family, and friends. Next, discuss fun and creative ways you could share the exciting news of Jesus’ birth and his love. You might bake treats, design cards, create a simple craft or write a simple note. Deliver your items to people. Let each person know you are praying for him or her during this Christmas season and throughout the year. Share the joy of Jesus with everyone!
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Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer
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