2015 Advent Devotions (12/14/15)

12/14/2015 Monday

Isaiah 57:14-16      A Command to Build Up

This passage from Isaiah reminds us that God is “the high and exalted One”. As Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6:16, God “lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.” It’s not possible for us, on our own, to ascend into heaven and appear before Him. Instead, God chose to come to us, in Jesus, to bridge the gap between God and us. God came to us in Jesus, not for judgement, but to comfort and revive us, and to empower us to be God’s hands and feet on earth to “prepare the road” and “remove the obstacles” for all people to see the goodness of God and receive His love and blessing.

We must not feel that we are insignificant in God’s plan to bring love and peace to the world. We must not feel that “anyone could do it.” As a created child of God we have been given a special place and special mission in fulfilling God’s plan. Each of our contributions is unique and individual and we must work hard to recognize the places where God is calling us to act in the world. We must know that, in working to fulfill that mission, God is always there to revive our heart and spirit to give us the strength and skills needed to fulfill God’s mission for us.

Restoring God, keep us ready to act on your behalf to bring your love, healing, forgiveness and mercy into this suffering world. Amen

Mary Beth Commisso

2015 Advent Devotions (12/13/15)

12/13/2015 Sunday

Ezra 1:1-4; 3:1-4, 10-13      Rebuilding the Wreckage

God chooses us as part of his plan to fulfill the Kingdom of His righteousness. Gentile or Jew, bond or free, male or female, adult or child – all have a specific role in His grand design to bring His saving Grace to full fruition. Isaiah 60:3 tells us “Gentiles shall come to Thy light and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” And so in our reading from the prophet Ezra tells us that as unlikely an instrument as a gentile King of Persia, Cyrus is the instrument of God to free His people Israel from the bondage in Babylon. God has made Nebuchadnezzar to bow to him in the grass and his son Belshazzar to lose his kingdom to Cyrus’ army. Cyrus fulfills God’s promise of redemption by freeing his people that they might return to Jerusalem. The holy city is restored and Ezra and Nehemiah rebuild the wall. The city foursquare is a symbol of God’s presence with us and His promise to prepare a dwelling place for us. Isaiah 58:12 tells us “Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up the age-old foundations; And you will be called the repairer of the breach, The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.” Jesus later tells us He goes to prepare a place for us. God’s places are sacred sanctuaries. Paul speaks of our body as a temple in which to dwell. As we await the arrival of our Redeemer as a little child, let us shore up the breaches in our hearts and minds that we might be a fitting dwelling for the Christ Child.

Franklyn Commisso 

2015 Advent Devotions (12/12/15)

12/12/2015 Saturday

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NT)      Old Things Made New

Paul intends for us to see the world in a completely new way, so that our actions stem from this new understanding, not from trying harder. He wants us to become so thoroughly transformed that we become members of a “new creation.” The mention of creation refers us back to Genesis, the story of God’s creation of the world. God intended that we work together, with Him as a reality of our existence.

God brings the new creation into existence by sending his Son into the old creation to transform or reconcile it. Those who follow Christ are ambassadors for Christ to all the world. Our work every day is that of evangelism, discipleship conflict resolution, and providing goods and services that meet genuine needs and improve the quality of life and care for God’s creation.

Prayer:

Gracious Lord, as we walk with You, help us bring You praise in the choices we make, the people that we influence, the words that we speak, and the actions we take in this coming year. We know that we are not guaranteed a single new day, but we want each day that we live to be a day we have lived for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Joanne Icken

2015 Advent Devotions (12/11/15)

12/11/2015 Friday

John 14:1-7, 27-29 (NT)      Do Not Let Your Heart Be Troubled

Here is one way to look at this passage. It is not the traditional textbook way, but it frames it in such a way that you can easily wrap your mind around it. The answer comes first and then you wonder, what is the question?

The answer is, God is the answer and Jesus is the way.

What is the question? What is the answer to why is there life? Or. Why do I have consciousness? Or. Why do I exist? Or. Is there a reason for all this?

The answer to all the big questions is God.

God created us, to be his companion. God guides us, towards him. God gives us gives us a reason to move forward, to be closer to him. And since we lost our way a long time ago, he gives us a guide, Jesus, to help us back to the path he set us on so long ago.

Jesus is trying to tell his disciples the central reason for his presence on earth. The disciples get the first part of it (believe in God and me, and where I am going and you will be with me), but unsurely ask Jesus where is this place and how do they get there. He replies, I am the truth, the way, and the life. (He tells the truth about God, love and salvation.) No one comes to the Father, except through me. (I have shown you the path and what you must do.) If you know me, you know the Father also. (I am the triune God.) From now on you have known him and seen him. (By seeing me and following me, you are seeing God and what he wants from you.)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, “I am going away and I am coming to you.” If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. (Jesus gives his disciples his benediction of peace and tranquility, and a portending of the future so they will have concrete knowledge of God’s power.)

Don Icken

2015 Advent Devotions (12/10/15)

12/10/2015 Thursday

Psalm 46:1-7      A Song Trust in God

Have you heard and or even said yourself, “God help me!” or today’s favorite expression “OMG” which is asking for God’s help when we are hurting or frightened by occurences in the news. This is the reaction of most people. Even those who claim they don’t believe in God use these expressions probably not even realizing that they are looking to God for answers. God sees us through storms, tornados, hurricanes and other violent weather scenarios but He is also there for our personal troubles. We can and do turn to Him as our refuge and strength. When a family member is in need of comfort and we as individuals or as a church ask for God’s help He is there. Not always giving us the answwers we woud like but supporting us with comfort and the strength to carry on. As a country we acknowledge God’s help and turn to Him when in the Pledge of Allegiance we use the phrase “under God.” We turn to Him when we need strength and He is there, but let us remember to give thanks for all the support we get.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for being our refuge and strength as ask that you continue to be there for all who need you, whether they believe in you or not. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Deacon Dorothy Kafalas

2015 Advent Devotions (12/9/15)

12/9/2015 Wednesday

Philippians 4:4-6 (NT)      Rejoice! Give Thanks!

To a musician, the first line of our reading rings forth the sweet assurances of Henry Purcell’s so-called “Bell Anthem.” It begins with the descending peal of a clock tower that reminds us that in this Advent season the bells ring out the message of Christ’s coming and His redeeming love for all of the creation. Paul tells us to “rejoice always” and this recalls to mind that he also tells us to “pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5) and also to rejoice. Sometimes it seems easier to pray without ceasing than to rejoice always. This means rejoice not only in uplifting times redolent with love and peace but also in times of trouble and trial. But we are admonished to rejoice in our adversity because we have the fast assurance that the Lord is with us at these times as well, holding us up, bolstering our faith, providing the solid rock to which we cling. Rejoice when storm clouds gather. Hold fast to the rock of our salvation. The Lord is at hand, and never more encouragingly as when we meditate on His advent. The King is coming! Our sure foundation is born as one of us, among us, leading us by a star to the place where He abides. Perhaps the Magi sang as they followed that star, rejoicing all the rugged way.

Franklyn Commisso

2015 Advent Devotions (12/8/15)

12/8/2015 Tuesday

Romans 15:7-13 (NT)      A Word of Promise Even to “Outsiders”

Welcoming is the word in my mind that comes to me on reading this text. In this text the writer is telling the Christian Community in Rome that Christ came not just for the Jewish Community but to the Gentiles also. “Praise the lord, all you Gentiles and let all people praise him” from the Old Testament is quoted.

I have been reading Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber. What I am impressed by in the book is how people need to hear that they are loved by God and are important the way they are. The book has many stories of how different individual have come to believe in God and thereby believe in themselves. What brought them to God were people of the Church community listening to them and affirming them.

What I see ourselves trying to do in our church and our lives is to affirm the people we have around us by listening to them and sharing our stories. It is not easy and takes time but that is how God’s love is shared.

Prayer: “May God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace by means of your faith in him, so that your hope will continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit” Romans 15:13

Irene Germain