Someplace Special
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Someplace Special
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Read James 5: 7-10 “Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.” James 5:7-10 Today is an opportunity for me to come clean and admit a devilish secret… You see, my parents will read this devotion and my guilty admission. “I searched high and low for Christmas presents whenever you left Laura, my sister, and me alone in the house. First, I checked the cedar closet below the basement stairs. Then I made a frenzied dash around the house until the garage door went up and sounded the alarm that you might catch me snooping.” I wish that I could confidently state that my patience improved as I got older, but it hasn’t. Now, I am an impatient 30 yr old and I pestered my boyfriend for clues about the birthday present he got me. I think impatience is a symptom of the instant gratification world we live in. Who can’t remember the good ole’ days of shaking the Jiffy Pop popcorn tray over the range? Now, we throw a bag of popcorn in the microwave and in 2 minutes and 19 seconds we’re back in front of the television. In James 5, we are reminded to be patient. Patience is especially hard when someone you love is sick and in pain. You pray to the Lord and ask Him to heal them; you want instant results. As you finish your prayers, you secretly hope the person will bolt out of the hospital bed and proclaim how great they feel. We grudgingly know that it never happens that way. We have all waited weeks or years for someone to heal. Sometimes it seems like our prayers are left unanswered. A friend of mine once recommended that I keep a prayer journal. I kept a journal for a while and wrote down all the things that were on my mind. It was a great way to illustrate for me that my prayers had been answered. I looked back at what I had written months before and saw many of the things were no longer issues. People who had been in the hospital were recovering at home. Friends who had lost loved ones were coping well. I had successfully budgeted through a time when money was tight. All of these things were prayers that had been answered. I missed the light-bulb moment when the prayer was answered, but the prayers were answered in the Lord’s time--I just needed to be patient. We have all bitten into a piece of fruit that wasn’t ripe. After nearly breaking your teeth on the too hard flesh, you are left with a bitter unsavory snack. When we are patient and wait the few days for the fruit to ripen we are rewarded by the fruit’s sweet taste. Bitter unripe fruit is just one of God’s practical reminders that we should practice patience. This holiday season, let’s all make an effort to be more patient. When we look back, we will surely see the rewards of our patience. Prayer Lord, please help me to be patient. I also ask that you help me to know that my prayers will be answered. Amen. Kirsten Braley
Read Luke 1:5-25LISTEN----AND HAVE FAITH“But the angel said to him: Do not be afraid! Listen,..” Luke 2: 10 We pray, as Zechariah did, for God¹s intervention and help but, too often, we don¹t think God is hearing us. We, like Zechariah, get agitated. The angel responded to him, “Do not be afraid----your prayers have been heard”. Our prayers, too, are heard. We need to prepare ourselves to listen for the answer, and then be ready to act, in faith, on that answer. I was privileged to preach the sermons at Grace Church on Sunday, November 3rd in Pastor¹s absence. I used this story as an illustration of the faith that we need as we ask for answers to our prayers. A man was walking along the top of a 500 foot mountain when he suddenly slipped and began tumbling down the barren cliff. As he was falling, about half way down, he reached out and caught hold of a limb of a small bush that stopped his fall. There he was, dangling from a small limb, over 200 feet to certain death. He needed help, and looked up and yelled, over and over, and prayed for help---“Is anyone up there??” Finally the huge voice of God answered from the heavens, and the man asked, “What should I do?” The huge voice responded, “Let go, I will save you!” The man looked down, thought for a minute, looked up and said, “Is there anyone else up there?” “Do not be afraid! Listen,…“ PrayerHeavenly Father, help me to open my mouth to pray, open my ears to hear and strengthen my faith to accept your certain help. AMEN Bill Goldbach
Read Psalm 85:9-13 "Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. Psalm 85:9 When I started to read this psalm, and read the first verse that connected "fear" of God with "salvation," I couldn't help but think of the stern way in which the Old Testament views God. To get a more complete idea of what was being discussed in this psalm, I went back to the beginning and read the whole thing. This reading confirmed what I suspected--that it appeared in the beginning to be a lament to God to restore his people to favor. The earlier part of the psalm pleas for forgiveness yet again and begs God not to be "angry with us forever." The second part of the psalm, the portion given in this devotion, affirms that "God will speak peace to his people...to those who turn to him in their hearts." The "fear" that is mentioned appears to take on a different meaning, closer to awe than terror. The psalm goes on to say that "steadfast love and faithfulness will meet...and kiss each other." Faithfulness will come up from the ground (human beings) and righteousness will peer down from the sky (God). The message of Psalm 85 is one of limitless grace to those who believe in him. The Lord will continue to give good things to his people and make their land bountiful. This is reassuring that, in spite of the many errors we make in going about our daily lives, we will be forgiven. As we reflect on Advent as a time of introspection and preparation, we need to consider the implications of God's gift of grace and how it is shown in our lives. PrayerLord, look upon us with favor and help us to surrender our wills, our ways, our gifts, and our time to your perfect plan for our lives. Through Christ, we pray. Amen. Debra Fridman
Read Isaiah 45:21-25 “That to me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take oath. He shall day, ‘Surely in the Lord I have righteousness and strength.” Isaiah 45:23, 24 “What a mighty God we serve! What a mighty God we serve! Angels bow before Him, Heaven and earth adore Him. What a mighty God we serve!” -Author Unknown We ask our creator to enrich us to be little creators of hope, charity and love to one another. We ask that God work through us to be a blessing to others for His glory. Remember with God, nothing is impossible. Prayer God, grant us the opportunities to put others first for your greater Glory. Amen Brother Bernie Bruenn of Buffalo
Read Isaiah 54:1-10 “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10 When the readings came out in the October “Grace Notes” for this devotional booklet I sat down, looked up each passage, and read them. When I read Isaiah 54 I thought what in the world does this mean, I will not pick this passage, I don’t understand it. I once was told to look at what you understand not what you do not. I kept reading to the end of the passage which was verse 10. I am glad I did because I understood verse 10 and found it very comforting to me. God’s love and peace will not be taken away from me ever! Boy, is that a wonderful thing to know! Prayer God, it is wonderful to know that your love and peace is with me always. Thank you. Amen. Penny Paschka
Read Matthew 1:1-17 “A record of genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac…and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.” Matthew 1:1-2a & 16 This genealogy of Jesus, as recorded by Matthew, differs from others that are found in the Bible. Well, if they differ which is right and which is wrong. They are all right. How is this possible you ask? Well, I’m glad you did and here is why. Matthew’s version of Jesus’ genealogy begins with Abraham and ends with Mary where the other versions start with Adam and end with Mary. The Jewish people were promised a King and Savior almost from the beginning. Well, here is their proof that Jesus was sent by God for them from Abraham. But what about the rest of the world? Was Jesus their Savior also? Yes, of course, Jesus came to be all people’s King and Savior. This is why Luke’s genealogy list takes us all the way back to Adam, to show us that Jesus was meant to be Lord and Savior for all people. Prayer Father God, thanks you so very much for sending your son, Jesus Christ, to us. Amen Tom Gardner Sr.
Read Jeremiah 23:5-8 Hope for the Future “The time is coming…” Jeremiah 23:5a The time is indeed coming. When Jeremiah prophesied the coming of this descendant of David, this one to be called “The Lord Our Salvation”, it was 600 years before Jesus the Christ would be born in a humble stable in Bethlehem. When we read these words today, December 18th, we will be just days from the celebration of His holy birth. The time is indeed coming. But, when will Christ come again? Are we living our lives to His glory? What will He say to us when he returns? Will we be prepared? Will we be worthy in His eyes for salvation? Are we doing all we should to be His disciple? What if He were to come today? Or tomorrow? Or next week, or next month? Will we be ready? Am I ready? Are YOU ready? The time is indeed coming. Prayer Jesus, you are our light, our life and our salvation. Instill in us Your Holy Spirit, that we may be your hands to labor here on earth. Help us to know your will and give us the courage and determination to act as we need to please You. Teach us, love us and hold us close until that time does indeed come when we shall forever worship You. In Your name we pray. Amen. Jeff Storch |
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