2007 Advent
 
Daily Devotional Guide 
 

ADVENT IV—  DECEMBER 23-29, 2007  A Time of Hope

 
Our hope springs eternal

Thru God’s promises made to man.

Fulfilled by his son Jesus,

If for Him we’ll take a firm stand.

 
Aren’t you glad that God sent us Jesus

Some two thousand years ago.

To live and walk among us,

To give our lives that heavenly glo,

 
When God sent baby Jesus,

He raised us up from despair.

Thru the pure sacrifice of Jesus

He would claim us as His heavenly heir.

 
Hope really does make life different,

The hope that only Jesus can bring;

When He finally establishes his Kingdom

And we worship Him as our true King.

Layman Cash—2007

Advent icons source: http://divinity.lib.vanderbilt.edu/lectionary/AAdvent/index.htm

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Sunday December 23, 2007                                                                       Advent IV: Hope

♫”My Hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness”♫

Please read Matthew 1:18-25.

My Dad’s youngest brother just recently found out he has pancreatic and liver cancer.  He is 63 years old.  What a shock this was to our family!  How does a person who has been presented with this kind of news deal with it?  How would you deal with it?  Give up?  Pretend it is not true?  People with cancer are often told to “not give up hope.”  So, what does this mean?  You’ve just been told you have cancer, how hopeful is that?  Well, it all depends on what you put your hope in.

Webster’s Dictionary defines hope as “to cherish a desire with anticipation.”  As a niece, my “desire that I cherish with anticipation” is that the chemotherapy my uncle has to go through will rid him of his cancer.  But, as a Christian, my “desire that I cherish with anticipation” is that my uncle spends eternity in heaven.  For all of us, our hope for eternal life is found in Matthew 1:21, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”  Jesus is our hope; our hope for eternal life.  Paul wrote in Titus 1:2, “a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.”  Wow!  God, “who does not lie,” promised us the hope of eternal life thousands of years ago.  Isn’t that amazing?

As we ever so closely approach Christmas Day, remember, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: The Virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel – which means, ‘God with us.’” Matthew 1:22-23.  Make sure your “Hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”

Our dear Heavenly Father, we pray that during this Christmas season, we will remember what we are celebrating, the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ.  Because of Him, we do have the hope of eternal life.  Thank you for loving us that much!  Amen.  

Martha Brady

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Monday December 24, 2007                                                                     Advent IV:  Hope

Matthew 1:18-25

Key Verse:  “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”   Matthew 1:21

I think that I’ve asked God to give me Faith and Love more than HOPE.  Because of things I’ve read which document the value of hope, I’m working to change that oversight.

A psychologist at Virginia Commonwealth University, Timothy Elliott, reports that spinal-injury patients with high hope have a far better recovery record than those with identical injuries and low hope.

Charles Snyder, University of Kansas psychologist, tested thousands of college freshmen on a “hope scale” and found the level of hope a more accurate predictor of future grades than SAT scores.

And a “lack-of-hope” scale to identify high-risk mental patients has been developed by Dr. Aaron Beck of the University of Pennsylvania.

I carry hope in my heart.  Hope is a feeling that life and work have meaning. . .whatever the state of the world around me.  It is a gift of God. . .filling our lives with the assurance of His purpose in good times and in bad.  All of this is true because of that tiny baby born so many years ago ------JESUS!!

“God shall be my hope. . .

My Stay, my guide and lantern to my feet.”  William Shakespeare

Father, increase my hope. Amen

Linda Wayne

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Tuesday December 25, 2007                                                            Christmas Day:  Joy

“Glory to God in the highest, and on the earth peace among Men in whom He is pleased.”  Luke 2:14

Christmas Day is special with the coming of the Christ child to the world.  The opening of gifts, the feast of a great meal with family and friends, even the celebration of my own birthday on this wonderful day cannot compare to the joy of the shepherds as they hear about Jesus being born in Bethlehem.

There is a feeling of excitement and joy in the air because the holy child of God comes, quietly bringing peace on earth for all who believe in Him.  The Psalmist tells us to shout, to sing and to praise the Lord with our voice.  The angels break forth in glorious song to honor and respect the majesty of the Prince of Peace.  The shepherds rise up quickly and travel to the manger stall to see the great news of Bethlehem.  The news travels and is shared with others throughout the years and centuries to come; proclaiming gladly that the Messiah is here.  Rejoice!  Rejoice! Rejoice!  Oh Israel!  Oh Judah!  Oh Greensboro! Rejoice!  The promised one has come.  Our King is here!

What does this little one come for?  Does he come to spread the peace of God?  If he does, our world desperately needs it.  We need the wars to stop whether they are on the battlefield of Iraq or Iran, or in the desert of the African Sudan, or in the schools between prejudice and pride, or out in the other parts of our world where the people are being victimized by abuse and hate.  Violence is rampant and our society has become numb and hope appears to be lost.  Peace needs to come soon.

But by God’s good favor, the Christ child enters our world.  He comes with the ability to see our need to love one another for who we are.  He comes with a challenge for us to reach out in peace; to break down the walls of discrimination and arrogance and hate; to let God’s goodness reign in our hearts and minds.  Through grace, God points us to the innocence and the joy of the babe in the manger.  The glory of God comes to a very dismal world with the shouts of praise of a heavenly choir; offering glad tidings of wonders and bliss to all who can hear and see and feel His presence.  Christ enters in to save us from our sins and transform us to His image of love and care.

Christmas is here!  “Joy to the World the Lord has come.”  Worship and be glad; God offers His peace through the babe lying in swaddling clothes in the manger of Bethlehem.  Rejoice, and again I say rejoice.

Oh God, Let our joy, hope, faith and love spill over with our praise as we worship the coming king; the peaceful baby of the manger in Bethlehem.  The shepherds hear the heavenly voices sing.   May we hear them too, as we praise you today amidst the chaos and pain of life. Amen

 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among Men in whom He is pleased!”

Chris Phelps

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Wednesday December 26, 2007                                                                       Advent IV: Hope

Loneliness can set you apart from God; you can suffer greatly when you don’t let God be in control of your life.  He is the most loving friend a lonely person can have if they have a relationship with God.  It’s so terrible when a lonely person doesn’t feel a God-given purpose or believe life is worth living.

As Christians and church members we can become a real blessing to our community.  We need to be attentive to His direction and spirit if we hope to reach new people and tell them that life is worth living.

Recently I heard about a young 18 year old who was so troubled and desperate that she  hung herself on a playground swing.  As a teacher and friend to some depressed people with clinical depression or bipolar illness, I was deeply affected or obsessed with some past days of my life when church members and family weren’t supportive of my situation.

All too often it seems that church members or congregations are expected to help with needs of the poor, hungry, elderly and children. We have places organized to offer affordable medicine and groceries.  We also have support groups for people with drug, alcohol, grieving and cancer problems.  We support the construction of Habitat for Humanity houses.  Homeless families also get help after a disaster or go to Salvation Army Agencies.  BUT it’s easy to avoid the depressed, emotionally ill and lonely individuals who need a friend, relative or counselor.  They can be more in need of a listening stranger, or individual hug, before they possibly feel there is no desire to keep living.  We need to offer time and our ears and heart to meet the needs of hurting lonely persons rejected by their overstressed and misunderstood family.  We need to reach out and learn to identify warning signals of very lonely and isolated individuals or victims.  Yes, it takes more work and planning than to fix a few meals or give a check.  We should be filled with unselfish love if we attempt to relieve the burden of our fellowman at holidays, especially Christmas.

I hope you’ll help a truly desperate person and treat them with a caring heart.  Accept the challenge if you really care about people.

Dear Lord, if we get too busy with life and jobs, help us to be sensitive or aware of the LONELY person with whom we may come in contact.  Help us know that financial aid or a hot balanced meal is not all that we can donate to a needy person.  He or she may need us to listen and care with an open mind and unlimited time.  We may be the one last person who the victim comes to talk to.  The hugged and loved victim could decide to keep trying at life.  Show us where to go and who needs to open up because we might be their lifeline.  Thank you for helping us to reach out.  In His precious Name,  Amen.

Jane Branch

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Thursday December 27, 2007                                                                       Advent IV: Joy

“Say among the nations, ‘The Lord is King!  The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.  He will judge the peoples with equity.’  Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it.  Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy for He is coming to judge the earth.  He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with his truth.  Psalm 96: 10 -13

Joy…these verses speak of how the whole earth is filled with joy that our Lord is King.  The heavens, the sea, and the field are all rejoicing.  I have loved the idea that the trees are described as singing and spreading joy since I was in youth choir and we sang, “For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”  Isaiah 55:12

Trees singing and clapping their hands, what a wonderful image of  an emotion so powerful that it must be shared, even by strong, tall trees that need a strong wind to cause them to move at all.  I have been blessed to feel the joy of God’s love many times in my life.  I remember feeling overwhelming joy when Caroline, our first daughter, was born.  The night after she arrived, I woke up in the hospital, a bit confused, not quite sure where I was.  Then I remembered that Caroline had been born and I was filled with such peace and joy.  I couldn’t wait for the nurse to bring her to my room so that I could hold her again.  I had not felt anticipation like that since I was four or five years old and couldn’t contain my excitement on Christmas morning as we opened the den door to see what Santa Claus had brought us.  I wasn’t sure I would be overwhelmed with that kind of overpowering joy and love ever again.  I didn’t have to wait too long; 26 months later Rosemary arrived and I was filled with that awesome feeling of joyfulness once more.

Although these are my own personal experiences with joy, I can’t help but think Mary had these same feelings of love and total devotion for Jesus, her newborn son.  She didn’t have the luxury of a warm hospital room with an experienced medical staff to care for her.  She shared her room with farm animals, but she had been chosen to be the mother of the Savior of the world, who would be called Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace.

We need to share our joy in the Lord with others as we are shown in Luke 2.  The angels sing praises and bring the good news of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds.  The shepherds visit Mary, Joseph, and Jesus and tell of their experience with the angels.  “…Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:19  Perhaps her joy was increased, as was the shepherds, as they went on their way praising God.  We don’t need to keep our gladness to ourselves.  Like the angels and the shepherds, it is our responsibility as Christians to share the love and the joy in our hearts that comes from our relationship with Jesus. We need to spread the joy of the singing, clapping trees.

Dear Heavenly Father, Help us to be mindful of the many blessings You give us each day.  Your gift of your Son was the most amazing gift anyone could receive.  Guide us to share your love with others so that they may receive the joy that You have given to the world.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Becky Phelps

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Friday December 28, 2007                                                                       Advent IV:  Joy

Joy

Psalm 100:1-5
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
3Know that the LORD is GOD. It is he who made us, and we are his: We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to HIM and praise HIS name.
5For the LORD is good and HIS love endures forever; HIS faithfulness continues through all generations.

This is my favorite Psalm because it is simple to understand and the meaning behind it is very clear. Shout for Joy to the LORD. Why? Because HE made us, and we are HIS. That alone is something to be joyful about. We are His even though we are sometimes greedy, boastful, unwilling to do His work, selfish and needy. HE still loves us and wants us to be HIS. HE is right by your side guiding you to a purpose and a place that will bring you home to Him. So shout for joy, let Him hear your happiness and let Him know you appreciate Him and love Him. HE is listening to you and working for you.

Our Father in heaven, We come to You in prayer to tell You that we are joyful for all the gifts You have given us. We want You to know that we acknowledge your presence and appreciate your love and patience with us. Thank you for all the gifts You have given us in our lives to make them more enjoyable. Please forgive us our vainness when we take a gift from You for granted. Help us to always be joyful even through the hard times, because you are there with us, holding our hands and sometimes carrying us through the hardships of life. For that we are joyful. We love You LORD, thank You for loving us. Amen.

Cynthia Roberts

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Saturday December 29, 2007                                                                       Advent IV:  Joy

“Joy”

♫“When we all get to heaven, What a day of rejoicing that will be!  When we all see Jesus, We’ll sing and shout the victory.”♫

Please read Luke 2:1-14.

2007.  A year of badly behaving 20s and 30s something Hollywood women:  Lindsay Lohan, Britany Spears, Paris Hilton, and Anna Nicole Smith.  Joy.  “A feeling of happiness; intense gladness; delight.”   Do you think these women are or were joyful?  Where can all of us find real joy?

“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11).  Real joy.  Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  How amazing, but yet how simple it is to find real joy in our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  By believing on him, we are promised eternal life!  Now that is definitely something to be joyful about!  Do you think you would be joyful if you knew you were going to spend an eternal life in hell?  Think about it.

Make 2008 a joyful year.  If you haven’t accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please do so before it is too late.  If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then remember what Paul says in Philippians 4:4-5, “Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.”

Our dear heavenly Father, thank you so much for your Son, Jesus Christ.  We are so thankful we can experience real joy every year because we know we have eternal life, through Him.  We are so grateful that “When we all get to heaven, What a day of rejoicing that will be!  When we all see Jesus, We’ll sing and shout the victory!” “Hallelujah, What a Savior!”  We pray that 2008 will be a joyful year for all of us.  We love You with all our heart, our soul, our strength and our mind.  Amen.

Martha Brady

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Sunday after Christmas  - DECEMBER 30, 2007 A Time of Praise

 Praise God for sending us Jesus

To be the Saviour of all mankind.

Let us seek his presence daily

In our hearts and in our minds.

 
Only he deserves the honor,

Give glory to his Holy name.

Devote your life fully to him,

His forgiveness you can claim.

 
Praise him daily in your prayers,

Spend much time on bended knees,

For Jesus is the only one

You really seek to please.

 
The King is coming, yes he’s coming.

He came to earth back then.

Praise God with Hallelujahs!

For he’s coming back again.

Layman Cash - 2007

Advent icons source: http://divinity.lib.vanderbilt.edu/lectionary/AAdvent/index.htm

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Sunday after Christmas  -                                                                DECEMBER 30, 2007 Praise

Everyday we make choices, what to wear, what we're going to eat for lunch or how we are going to spend our day. But do we ever wake up and think 'How am I going to praise God today?' Everything we do should praise God.  Our words, our actions, our very lives should be living testaments to what God has done for us. Let your praise be your witness. Let your praise be you singing along with K-Love songs on the way to work. Let your praise be how you treat your co-workers or classmates. Let your praise be taking time out of your day to thank God. As we celebrate Christmas this year let us focus more on praise rather than the season. Praise God for allowing you to have a meal to eat, praise Him for allowing you to buy gifts for your loved ones and praise God that you are able to spend some time with your family this Christmas.  Psalm 148

Prayer: Heavenly Father I come to you in prayer right now and just praise you God. I praise you for all of the joyful blessings that you have given me. I praise you Lord for the fact that I am alive and well enough to celebrate Christmas with the ones I love. Thank you God for this season, my family and your sacrifice. In your name I pray, Amen.

R. J. Barnett

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