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Friday, December 15 - Love Came to Redeem

12/15/2017

Galatians 4:4-5a - 4 When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5a to redeem those under the law

Reflection: The first thing i noticed in this verse is “when the time came to completion,” which is saying that God knew when the time was right to send His Son down to earth. And He did that so that we may be redeemed and live life fully and abundantly.

If you look at the last part of the verse it says “to redeem those under the law”. God sacrificed His only Son so He would redeem US, to set us free from the Law. God did that just for us, which shows just how big His love is for us.

Danny Tully

Prayer: Lord, I just want to thank You for the sacrifices You made just so that we could live abundantly. And thanks for Your unending love You pour out for us, You truly are the one true king. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Thursday, December 14 - Wise Men Love through Giving

12/14/2017

Matthew 2:11b - 11b Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Reflection: This was a fulfillment of prophecy, “May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts.” Psalm 72:10. These wise men or kings came from a great distance to pay tribute to the one they believed to be the King of the Jews with their precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. When they entered in they saw Mary with Jesus and knelt down before Him and presented their gifts out of love and respect for Jesus. Now, do we have gold, frankincense and myrrh? Maybe some have some gold coins, but frankincense and myrrh, I doubt it. What do we have to present to Jesus that would compare to what these kings presented?

2 Cor. 4:7 tells us that “we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” The treasure we have is the Gospel. The Gospel of light and grace is put in us, jars of clay, and though weak and frail we might be, this only further demonstrates the all-surpassing power of the Gospel. This happened at the moment we first believed. We each possess this treasure. And how do we present this treasure?

I believe it is through living generously in every setting and circumstance. Which means extending grace and seeking to understand. It means letting go of expectations and initiating acceptance. It means letting the Holy Spirit do His job, and loving unconditionally---even when I wish someone had made a different choice. This is loving Jesus---giving out of our treasure within, the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Al Costlow

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the unsurpassed treasure You have placed in my heart, the gospel of grace and mercy. May I demonstrate my love for You by giving it away at every opportunity, freely and generously. Holy Spirit have Your way in me. In Jesus’ name… Amen.

Wednesday, December 13 - Wise Men Love through Worshipping

12/13/2017

Matthew 2:11a - 11a Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him.

Reflection: First right off, I think it is so cool that the wise men automatically recognized the child as the Savior. I mean, the angel told them what to look for, but if you saw a small, helpless baby would you think he’s going to save humanity?

The great wise men, in the form of royalty, displayed love by kneeling before a feeding trough with a baby in it. Especially after a worldly, rich and powerful king had ordered them to lead people back to kill the baby. But they truly loved Jesus and chose to honor Him rather than kill Him.

Eli Cox

Prayer: Thank You Lord for the love you show us and your Son shows us every day. Thank You we can experience life with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Tuesday, December 12 - It was His Love For Us that Saved Us

12/12/2017

Titus 3:3-8 - 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life. 8 This saying is trustworthy.

Reflection: All around the city are billboards promoting a local university. In big bold letters it says DEFINE YOURSELF WITH A DEGREE FROM…

You have been defined, but it has nothing to do with the report cards you’ve received, the letters (or lack thereof) after your name or any of the associations you may or may not have.

You are defined by a gift given and received.

Friends, the Father LOVES you! So much so that He gave us Himself through the Spirit that we may be now and forever defined by His gift!

You are accepted! Dearly loved! New!

It’s better than any diploma! This I know is true.

Jonathan Haag

Prayer: Thank you, Father! The gift You gave me came at a tremendous price, but You gave it to me without hesitation. Thank You, Father for showing me kindness and loving me into someone totally new. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Monday, December 11 - A Child Given out of Love

12/11/2017

Isaiah 9:6 - 6 For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Reflection: Jesus came to us as a newborn babe. He came as a helpless child. He came the same way we all entered this fallen world, in need of his mother's nourishment and tender care. The Word became flesh for us, who were sinners. An all powerful all knowing God became the same as us, in order to save us. The ultimate example of love.

God gave His only Son to us as an offering out of love. Jesus came to this world and became flesh for us, out of love. "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." God, Jesus, the Eternal Father, loves us unconditionally, so much so that He laid down His life so that we might have life eternal!

Robert Baldonado

Prayer: Dear Jesus, bless our Church and help us love like you love. Bless our families and help us love them the way you love. As leaders, help us lead our families in Your way. And show us Your love everyday. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sunday, December 10 - Third Advent Candle (Red): Love

12/10/2017

John 3:16 - 16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Reflection: Whenever I read this verse, I always feel a sense of comfort, or maybe even just complete awe. I believe this verse is a great example of the awe of God. God loves us so much, that He sent His only Son just so our sins would be forgiven and so that we would live life eternally with Him. God loves each and every one of us unconditionally with no ifs, ands, or buts.

This truly amazes me because some people find it in themselves to hate others because of the most minuscule things, and they seem to forget that believers are forgiven because of God who lives in us. We are loved, we are forgiven, and we are living an eternal life because of the Father of all fathers. Let that sink in: the Son who was nailed to the cross to give us eternal life and to be completely forgiven, is living in you right now.

Sophia Dolbeer

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for this day. Thank you for everything you’ve given us and everything you haven’t given us. Thank you for the ups and the downs, the good days and the bad. I pray that you ease our minds, let us remember you are living in us and find comfort in that. Let us remember that you think of us more than there are grains of sand. Let us find peace in the fact that every day you give us life and let us live it abundantly. And please God, I pray we never forget you are our Father and you have rid us of our sins. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Saturday, December 9 - There is Peace in Truth

12/9/2017

Luke 2:16-20 - 16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.

Reflection: One of the best ways to enjoy a period of time or a certain circumstance is to just sit back and breath it all in. Look around, observe the people around you. Listen to them and the things moving around in the hustle and bustle. Embrace that moment, whether it’s a point of pure joy or just one of those crummy times in life. To completely accept where you are in the moment and meditate. I cannot imagine the excitement, uncertainty, stress, and faith Mary had in her life during the nine months leading up to Jesus' birth. The fact that Mary took a minute just to meditate on her thoughts and what was in her heart at that time can speak on many levels. I believe it was her way just to take in the moment.

Now, when Mary sat down to take in this moment, she quite literally got to do it while sitting there with the Son of God, her newborn baby. What an experience. I would dare say equally as cool as what we have as believers in Christ. We walk around every second of every day with the Spirit of God roaring inside. Sitting down, standing up, and running around while meditating on moments and what is in our heart will never look the same. As believers we get to embrace these moments in life, good or bad, knowing He is with us, living in us, and living through us. It can become easy to just take a breath, look around you, and embrace the moment when you know He is with you. In fact, taking that minute to meditate is all the better when you get to do it with the Spirit.

Cory Kennedy

Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank you for your Son that you sent to us. Living life would not be the same without living with Your Spirit inside me. Giving me the strength and comfort every second of my day. I enjoy the time I can focus on you and the blessing you have provided. I pray during the times I meditate and focus on You I get to learn more about Your vast love for us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Friday, December 8 - Peace Leads to Knowing

12/8/2017

Luke 2:15 - 15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

Reflection: Peace . The stress of the holidays can’t remove it, the demands of life can’t erase it, and our feelings don’t define it. You don’t have to force it, you can’t create it, and it won’t be found in a tropical paradise -- despite what the world says. Fear runs from it, thoughts don’t generate it, and it never, ever flees. Nothing can take it away from a believer, and the non-believer will only experience the reality of it upon belief. Those who have it will grow in knowing the Father, while those who don’t will keep trying to find it in all the wrong places. Peace be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10).

We have been given the priceless gift of Peace as part of our harmonious relationship with Jesus. How awesome is that? Jesus died for us, and not only did we get the gift of the Holy Spirit, but we also gained Peace as part of that package. The mind fixed on the Spirit will experience life and peace (Romans 8:6). Resting in this unexplainable Peace allows believers to grow in knowing the Father, and who we are in Him. We don’t have to spend time chasing peace as the world does, and we don’t have to fear that a situation will ruffle it. We also don’t have to trust our thoughts to create it. Instead, we get to rest in the Peace of the Spirit, as we constantly commune with the Father. He is the source of unshakable, unchangeable, unimaginable peace. As we keep our minds fixed on the Spirit and rest in his Peace, we will grow in knowing our loving Creator more deeply.

Natalie Johnson

Prayer: Father, I pray that we would rest in You today and everyday, not chasing after what You have already given. I pray instead that our minds would be fixed on You, our source of life and peace. Thank You for this gift, and for the harmonious relationship that we have gained through belief in You. Help us to rest in knowing what’s already been given. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thursday, December 7 - Peace to the Believers

12/7/2017

Luke 2:13-14 - 13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!

Reflection: Experiencing peace and joy amidst life’s most troublesome circumstances is a gift from Jesus that is available to all His believers. For me, taking to heart the promises in Philippians 4:6-7 is the way to joy regardless of how difficult my personal problems may be.

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I meditate on these verses whenever it seems I am losing the battle of thoughts in my mind. When I bring these troubles to God in prayer (with gratitude), he always guards my heart and mind in Jesus Christ. The end result is always a more joyful and peaceful David!

David Olthoff

Prayer: God of Peace, I know that you want peace for me and the only way I can truly experience that in my life is through trusting You. Lord, thank you for the gift of peace. Teach me to trust You in dealing with my thoughts. In Jesus’ name I pray. In Jesus' name, Amen

Wednesday, December 6 - Peace Comes Through a Child

12/6/2017

Luke 2:10-12 - 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”

Reflection: “’Don’t be afraid.’ Relax. Calm down. It’s going to be alright.” I’m sure not one of us has been spared from some sort of tragedy. Death, divorce, disease, victimization, financial loss or suffering of any kind. Our tendency is to try and reassure those who are suffering by saying “it’s going to be alright." But life circumstances aren't always going to “be ok." There are no guarantees in this life. Our guarantee of restoration from tough times comes only from knowing Jesus. The Prince of Peace will walk alongside us and carry us in fact, if needed. Remember, “… a Savior was born for you.”

It is well with my soul~ I do believe things happen for a reason. God has a plan for us, and it isn’t always what we would choose. Was this the direction Mary saw her life going in? But when these things come across our path we CAN choose our next path. Faith in Him will sustain us. How can we bring about peace again? What can we do to turn bitter into sweet? Can we find the good in the tragedy? Can we see the pain as a gift? Can we see this as a chance to make amends? Can we see this as an opportunity to share our story? Can we see God at work in all things that happen? Have faith, for God is with us. He is the Peace that passes all understanding.

Angela Ellison

Prayer: Heavenly Father, peace, peace, wonderful peace. We are humbled by the gift of your Son, this Babe in a manger who has come to save us from ourselves. Thank you for making us worthy even when we don’t see our own worth. Thank you for loving us when we feel unloved. Thank you for being the calm during our storms. Help us to pause when we feel hurried. Let us remember what this season really means. Your gift to us is your Son, our Savior. Our gift to you is our faith and obedience. We are your servants, Lord. Now let us go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is King! ~Amen

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