Someplace Special
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Someplace Special
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Read Matthew 1:18-24 “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. His mother, Mary, was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph, her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had it in mind to divorce her quietly.” Matthew 1:18-19 Well, now as a man, what would you do if you found out that your bride-to-be is with child and you “know” it is not from you? As a woman what would you tell your husband-to-be as how you came to be with child? Fortunately we don’t have to make that decision but they did. As we read in vs. 20 God came to Joseph in a dream and explained to him how Mary came to be with child. Aren’t we glad that Joseph was able to except God’s explanation as told to him in the dream. To me this lesson is just one example of FAITH. FAITH-----tough word isn’t it? FAITH, in it’s simplistic form, is trusting and believing in something we are told even though we can’t see it, touch it, or hear it. Praise God that He places his words and thoughts on our hearts so that we come to know and love Him as our God and Father. Prayer Father, thank you for sending us your son, Jesus. Thank you for FAITH and, most of all, Father, thank you for loving us. Amen Tom Gardner Sr.
Read Luke 1:26-38 “And the Angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the most high will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called Holy, the Son of God’” Luke 1:35 The Angel answered Mary’s questions of uncertainty by assuring her that the Holy Spirit would guide her through her experience. Only when we allow God to be the final authority to guide our pathway, can we be sure that God’s creative process will not be hindered. Jesus had even promised his disciples that he would ask God to send the Holy Spirit to them. We should believe that the same Spirit lives in our hearts and gives us strength to face the future. The Holy Spirit is always with us to comfort, guide, and most of all, to love us. Just as we should be concerned about our physical well-being, we need also to be sure that we stay in good shape spiritually. We exercise our spiritual selves by prayer, scripture reading, worship, and daring to follow the way of Jesus in what we say and do each day. Though we cannot literally perceive the Holy Spirit through our natural senses of sight, touch, sound, smell, or taste, we are given FAITH. FAITH is the lens that allows us to see God. With God nothing is impossible. PrayerWe realize the Holy Spirit is our only guide, and is always with us. Give us the ability to understand what you want for us and the will to obey. Amen Thought for the Day Christmas is the Spirit of good will that’s everywhere. Let us take time for the Spirit of sharing. June Taylor
Read Luke 1:39-45 Mary Visits Elizabeth “For as soon as I heard your greeting, the baby within me jumped with gladness.” Luke 1:41 Have you ever been at home, watching TV or reading a book when the phone rings? You pick it up and at the other end is a dear friend, a family member or some one else whom you dearly love. Think back as to how the hearing of this person’s voice made you feel. Can you remember the smile that crept across your face? Can you remember the warm feelings you had? Can you picture this moment in your mind’s eye? Can those around you sense this joy and happiness that you have? Can they tell just by looking at you how glad you are? Now, imagine that you are the one placing this call. Imagine that when your call is answered so far away, the one you are calling is thrilled just to hear the sound of your voice. This one you are calling is ecstatic to be in conversation with you. Imagine that you actually mean that much to anyone. Imagine that person is your Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Pick up the phone. Make the call. Jesus longs to be in conversation with us all. Let’s put a smile on Jesus’ face by metaphorically simply dropping that coin in the slot & dialing His number. He will be elated that you took the time to call. Prayer We live in a world of gratification. We often forget that we are not worthy of the abundance You so graciously bestow upon us. We love You and we thank You. Help us to let You know just how much. In Jesus’ holy name we pray. Amen. Jeff Storch
Read Luke 1:46-56 “He has helped his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy as we spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.” Luke 1:54,55 I was spending time with a spiritual friend who was passing in the next phase of his eternal life. We said the “Hail Mary” that night and in the morning he had moved on from his physical life. Afterwards, a few days later, I asked his family if he was ever a Roman Catholic in his physical life and it was told to me that during the war the men, when found in dire straights and felt they might not get out alive, they all said the “Hail Mary” in seeking comfort in Jesus through his mother. Prayer Hail Mary full of grace, blessed are you amongst women. Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen Brother Bernie Bruenn of Buffalo
Read Psalm 25:4-5, 8-10 “Show me your ways, Oh Lord, and teach me your paths; Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God, my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:4-5 David in this Psalm, as well as in others, is praying to God his Savior. In this prayer to God he is asking God not only to forgive him of his sins but he is asking God to show and teach him how to be more like God himself, at least in his actions. If we are to pattern ourselves to be like someone else, who else better than God himself. Take note in vs. 5, that he asks God to teach him in his truth. He trusts God to the point where he knows that whatever God teaches him will be the correct way in which to do things. The important lesson to learn here is that for us to learn to do things in our lives correctly, we need to ask God to teach us in his ways. Prayer Dear God, Humble me, teach me in your ways, light my paths as I walk in darkness and always make me mindful that without you, my life here on earth is meaningless. For it is you that gives my life purpose. Amen Tom Gardner Sr.
Read Malachi 3:1-4 ABehold, I send my messenger to prepare the way.......,he is coming says the Lord” Malachi 3:1Imagine for a moment that you are an oppressed person and feeling as if you have been deserted by God. If you can accomplish this then you can understand how renewing these words must have felt to those who heard them for the very first time. Malachi represents the last prophetic utterance in the Old Testament and was spoken about 450 before the Advent of Christ. The words of God spoken by Malachi are an announcement of an end to an era and it anticipates a different era to come. As I look forward to Christmas, I can=t help but think of the words of Malachi. God has always been faithful to his word and this gives me a great deal of comfort. When my life is at one of those low-times, I can hear the promise of God and because I am a New Testament person, I know that God has fulfilled his promise in the incarnation of Christ. Now I wait and labor in anticipation of the second coming of Christ. Laboring means sharing the love of God through action and witnessing to what God has done and is doing in my life. With labor and witnessing comes the hope that through me, God will restore sight to the blind and bring out the prisoners from the dungeon (Isa. 42:7) of despair and disbelief. PrayerDear Lord, we thank you that you fulfilled your promise of a Savior. Be encouraging of us as we labor and witness during this Advent season. Amen. Pastor Billy
Read Luke 2:1-14 “.....and when they opened their treasures, they presented him with gifts of or gold, frankincense, and myrrh” Matthew 2:11. Christmas morning is a time of excitement as children and adults scamper about opening their gifts of toys, clothing and various others trappings. Life for Jesus on the first Christmas morning was very different. Rather than receiving gifts, Jesus came as a gift to the world. This gift was no wrapped in expensive paper and ribbons, but was wrapped in bands of cloth like that used by peasants. Only later would Jesus receive his first gifts which would come from three Wise Men dispatched by Herod to discover Jesus= whereabouts. The gifts they brought, gold, frankincense, and myrrh were fitting gifts for Jesus= characteristics and work. Gold is the gift of a king. Gold is the king of metals. Jesus was the AMan born to be King,@ but he was to reign not by force but by love; and he was to rule over human hearts, not from a throne, but from a cross. We do, however, need to remember that Jesus Christ is King. We can never meet him on equal terms. We must always meet him on terms of complete submission. Before we can be friends with Jesus we must submit Jesus. Frankincense is the gift for a priest. The sweet perfume of Frankincense was used in Temple worship and at the temple sacrifice. The function of a priest is to open the way to God for women and men. The Latin word for priest is pontifex which means bridge builder. The priest is the one who builds a bridge between humanity and God. That is what Jesus did. He opened the way to Go. Jesus made it possible for us to enter the very real presence of God. Myrrh is the gift for one who is to die. Myrrh was used to embalm the bodies of the dead. Jesus came into the world to die. Jesus came into the world to live for humanity and in the end, to die for them. Jesus came as a gift to give for us his life and death. Gold for a king, frankincense for a priest, myrrh for one who is to die are the gifts of the wise man. Christ is the gift that offers new life and forgiveness. As we gather around the tree and the dinner table, let us remember the true gift of Christmas, Jesus Christ our Lord. Prayer O Lord, our God on this very special day we are reminded of the gift of love that you bestowed upon us. Amen Merry Christmas and a very blessed New Year to everyone. Pastor Billy |
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