The Tag on God's Christmas Present to You

Thoughts taken from the Christmas Eve Sermon by Pastor Paul Gysan

Luke 2: 1-20

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’

We at Christ the King hope that you had a Merry Christmas Day and that you continue to enjoy the entire Christmas season.

We also hope that you found that very special gift under your Christmas tree...the one sent by God himself...here is a photo of the tag on this present. If you still do not know what the present is, listen careful to the angel’s message, “to you is born this day a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to keep the love and joy in our hearts throughout the coming year. Amen.

Postlude: Searching and Proclaiming Throughout the Cyber-World

Advent is a time of searching. Whether you are Mary and Joseph searching for a place at the inn, the shepherds searching in Bethlehem after hearing the angel proclamation, or the wise men searching for the child after seeing the star, we are all searching. And once we find the child, we proclaim him Messiah.

Our modern, cyber-based world allows people worldwide to search and proclaim in new and unusual ways. At Christ the King, we have found the Christ Child and have continued to proclaim him Messiah throughout the cyber-world using our Advent Devotions. During our first two weeks of publication, 183 unique visitors read this web edition of our Advent Devotions. Our U.S. visitors – from Cleveland, Chicago, Minnesota, San Francisco, Denver, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas City, St. Louis, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Boston, New York, Atlanta, Southern California, Baltimore, and Northern Virginia– came and viewed an average of nearly three devotions per visit. Our international visitors came from Jakarta, Indonesia, Vienna, Austria, Bombay, India, and Hong Kong, China.

We also sent our Advent Devotions out each day to 39 subscribers via email. While we know that many of these are members or friends of Christ the King, a few remain unknown to us – they simply visited the devotions web site and asked to be added to subscription list. We do know that the devotions emails were distributed far and wide – from Brooklyn, New York, to Ft. Worth, Texas, to Lakeside, Montana.

As we close the 2006 Advent Devotions, let us hope and pray that all of us – from those here in Great Falls, Virginia, to those located throughout the world – each day continue to search and find the Christ Child and then go away, like the shepherds, proclaiming him Messiah.

His Name Is...

Devotion by: Pastor Paul Gysan

Isaiah 9:1-6

¹But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
²The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
³You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
⁴For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
⁵For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
⁶For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

It’s the dawn of a new day! Many households are up early today, with anticipation of seeing the gifts Santa Claus has left. As a youngster my brother and I had flashlights ready, journeying even in the darkness to see gifts we received.

It’s a dawn of a new day! Jesus the light of the world is born. For centuries people “sat in darkness” but now is the dawn of a new day! A name was given to this child – Jesus. The name fully describes his purpose, for he has come into the darkness of the world to save people from their sin. Jesus is his name! This savior has four descriptive attributes: “wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, prince of peace.” Amid corrupt rulers, Jesus’ rule and counsel would signify that a new day has dawned!

Which of these attributes best fit Jesus as you know him? Has Jesus been to you a counselor bringing enlightenment and help, lifting you out of darkness into the dawn of a new day? Is Jesus for you a “divine hero” who stands above all earthly heroes in giving his life on the cross for you? Is Jesus like an everlasting father, one there to comfort, support, and guide you? Is Jesus like a “prince of peace” who offers security amid the turmoil of this world?

It’s the dawn of a new day! The gift of Jesus was given to you and me. Rise and greet this day with thanksgiving and joy, for Jesus is His name, and he is the light of the world, “wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Merry Christmas!

Prayer: O God, thank you for the gift of Jesus who lights up my life! I celebrate a new day that has dawned, for my Savior has been born! God, this gift came from you, but it has my name on it. I’m so thankful for this gift. Help me to daily unwrap anew the power of Jesus’ presence, and live in the light of God’s grace. What a joyous day this day. Happy Birthday Jesus! Amen!!!

Lighting of Fourth Candle: The Runt

Devotion by: Victoria Wagner

Micah 5:1-4a

⁵Now you are walled around with a wall;
siege is laid against us;
with a rod they strike the ruler of Israel
upon the cheek.
²But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days.
³Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labour has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return
to the people of Israel.
⁴And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth;

It’s Christmas Eve, and we’re awaiting the arrival of our King ~ not just any king, but our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The preparations are complete ~ the cookies have been baked; the packages have been wrapped; the cards have been addressed and mailed; the trees have been trimmed; but none of these things matter to our King, for our King is coming as a baby.

How does one care for a baby? I remember when my children were babies, a long time ago. A mother never forgets ~ holding that tiny bundle who is totally dependent on us for all its physical and emotional needs. A baby is entrusted to us to care for and love ~ it’s pure and simple.

But we’re expecting a King, not a baby! A king comes in majesty, not as a tiny babe. Yet, that’s how God chooses to come to us. We’re required to love and care for this tiny treasure ~ it’s pure and simple. With loving hearts, we’re called to nurture and care for one another, for we are God’s tiny treasures. Each of us came to this world as a baby, requiring the simplest care ~ love.

As we’ve grown to adulthood, let us remember how simply we came to this world, and what our purpose is in this world ~ to love as God loves us.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, as we finalize our holiday preparations, please help us to realize that it’s our hearts that need to be prepared to receive the love that you’re sending in your Son, Jesus. Lord, we give thanks for all the many blessings you bestow on us every day ~ may our lives simply reflect the love that you give us so that we may reflect your love to others. Amen.

On That Day

Devotion by: Anonymous

Malachi 3:1-4; 4:5-6

³See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. ²But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; ³he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness.^{* 4}Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

⁵ Lo, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. ⁶He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents, so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse.

While the name “Malachi” means “my message”, it is not known if it was the name of a real prophet; however, it is an appropriately named Book of the Bible . . . for it contains very important messages from God. John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus. Prophets foretold this. It appears in Malachi 3:1 that the messenger could be John the Baptist or the Lord himself. My Bible notes that if this messenger is the Living God, it is the only place in the Bible where God speaks of Himself this way. God is confronting His people in person. May God prepare your heart today.

As we prepare for Christmas, the religious holiday known and celebrated around the modern world as a day of gift giving, let us, as Christians, celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, our Savior, who gave us the greatest gift, His love, eternal and everlasting and let us prepare our hearts with love for God and our world. De-stress by putting the focus on righteousness, which is right-relatedness. Put your gift-buying efforts into building the right relationships: with God, your loved ones, your co-workers, your fellow human beings, as we are all children of God.

That last-minute gift may best be purchased and given with your love, not your money and a sense of obligation. A hug or words of love and appreciation are everlasting when compared to the hurt caused by a stressed out, bad-behaving loved one, especially toward a family member or sensitive stranger. Drop the ‘go out and buy plan’ because every day we should be thinking of Our Judgment Day, when we come face to face with God. Other suggestions of gifts: bring someone to church and give them one of our free gift Bibles. Two years ago, Jane Cooper gave me “Simplify Your Christmas” by Elaine St. James, which is a great read. And remember the gift of . . . a pure heart. What gifts of righteousness will we have to bring on That Day?

Prayer: Dear God, help me to give a simple gift of love to all whom I meet today. Direct me from sin and open my heart to your will. Keep me focused on your greatest gift to us, your Son Jesus, born in humble circumstances, who taught us to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Magnify

Devotion by: Bill Carbaugh

Luke 1:46-56

⁴⁶And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
⁴⁸for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
⁴⁹for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
⁵⁰His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
⁵¹He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
⁵²He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
⁵³he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
⁵⁵according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
⁵⁶And Mary remained with her for about three months and then returned to her home.
I’m pregnant! What excitement – what anticipation – what the heck is going on with my body? Mary and Elizabeth are sharing the excitement of both expecting at the same time. As Mary so delicately puts it, “My soul doth magnify the Lord.”

The Lord does not enter this world on a chariot with legions of soldiers and trumpets a blazing. He comes in the form of child . . . born to an ordinary woman . . . in a stable. Anyone who has witnessed the birth of a child knows of the amazing and overwhelming joy as the baby takes it first breath of life and lets out its first cry. Even though the baby is covered in goop, it is a beautiful sight and with a few wipes with cotton towels, the beautiful child is placed in the mother’s arms, whose tears of exhaustion and joy stream down upon the new arrival.

The Lord’s mercy was shown to Mary, who “feared” or “respected” the Lord. As with Mary, the Lord exalts those of low degree and fills the hungry with good things. This is a message of hope — for we all hunger for many things and should look to the Lord (rather than the Malls) to fill this hunger.

But what of those who don’t fear the Lord? He will put down the mighty from their thrones, he will send the rich away empty. All this from a little baby? Yes, a little baby who in fact is the Son of God, part of the triune God who fulfills his promises … the promises that he made to Abraham and his descendants and the promises he still makes to us today. And that indeed is Good News to all who believe in him.

Prayer: We thank you for the gift of baby Jesus . . . for sending us big things in small packages. We also thank you for your servant Mary and for her tender care of the Lord Jesus and for her example of faith during a time in which she must have also been fearful of many things. Please help us to put our faith in you and to fear you and to check our pride at the door and always be your humble servant as Mary was many years ago. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Wait

Devotion by: Bill Wagner

Psalm 33:2-12, 20-21

²Praise the Lord with the lyre;
make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.
³Sing to him a new song;
play skilfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
⁴For the word of the Lord is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness.
⁵He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord
⁶By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
and all their host by the breath of his mouth.
⁷He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle;
he put the deeps in storehouses.
⁸Let all the earth fear the Lord;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
⁹For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
¹⁰The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
¹¹The counsel of the Lord stands for ever,
the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
¹²Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.
²⁰Our soul waits for the Lord;
he is our help and shield.
²¹Our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.

The first section of this psalm is focused on praising God with music and song for all he has done. Then it mentions how His plans can overtake the plans of people and nations. Finally, the last two verses state that “our soul waits for the Lord……our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in His holy name”. As humans, we all have a problem with waiting, whether in traffic, in the line at the checkout counter, for the results of medical tests, for the long-awaited TV special, or for Christmas and the birth of the Baby Jesus. We should make use of the time of Advent to embrace the spiritual discipline of waiting. During Advent we can experience the spiritual gifts of waiting – patience, loss of control, living in the present, compassion, gratitude, humility and, most of all, trust in God. In our present society, everything seems to be geared to “instant gratification”. E-mail has to be answered at once, and if this is not fast enough, then people do “instant messaging”. Cell phones allow us to be in instant communication at all times. For many of us, we sometimes long for the past when people wrote letters and had time to think about what they were writing and then waiting for the answer to your letter, perhaps in 2-3 weeks or more. Advent is a time for us to sit back, and experience the wonderful sense of anticipation as we await the coming of Jesus in the stable in Bethlehem.

Prayer: Lord, help us to use this time of waiting to be grateful for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to be patient and know that we are not in charge of all things. Give us the gifts of humility and compassion as we put our trust in God during this wonderful season of Advent. Amen.

Signs

Devotion by: LaVonne Gysan

Isaiah 7:10-14

¹⁰ Again the spoke to Ahaz, saying, ¹¹Ask a sign of the your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. ¹²But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. ¹³Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? ¹⁴Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.

How many of us have asked God for a sign to validate something we want to do or to seek a truth? Once my husband was joking with me when we were contemplating a life-changing move. He knew I liked to eat at the Dutch Pantry (they were popular 30 years ago). As we were hunting for a place to have dinner he said, “If we find a Dutch Pantry restaurant, that will be the sign for us to move.” The first restaurant we saw was a Dutch Pantry, and we did move to Pittsburgh soon afterwards. (However, much prayer was given for divine guidance too!)

Ahaz, a king of Judah was given a chance to ask for a sign from God when enemies were threatening Judah. He refused to ask because in his heart he wanted to side with foreign powers instead of relying on God’s protection.

Isaiah tells Ahaz the sign from the Lord. “Look, the young woman (or Virgin) is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel (that is, “God is with us.”)” This message was passed down from generation to generation. Over 700 years later, the sign became a reality – Jesus was born. God has given us all the signs we need to believe in Him. Let us give thanks for Jesus, the sign of Love!

Prayer: Thank you for coming, Immanuel. In your name. Amen.

In Silent Witness

Devotion by: Emma Miller-Cvilikas

Luke 1:5-25

⁵ In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth<. ⁶Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. ⁷But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years. ⁸ Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, ⁹he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. ¹⁰Now at the time of the incense-offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. ¹¹Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ¹²When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. ¹³But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. ¹⁴You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, ¹⁵for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’ ¹⁸Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.’ ¹⁹The angel replied, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. ²⁰But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.’ ²¹ Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. ²²When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. ²³When his time of service was ended, he went to his home. ²⁴After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, ²⁵‘This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favourably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.’

I can be very inpatient; the whole “your prayers will be answered in time” doesn’t go down well in my book. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in God, I am just not good at waiting for his answers. In this reading I am reminded of myself. Zechariah goes into the sanctuary to give his offering of incense when he receives a visit. The visitor goes by the name Gabriel (sound familiar?). Zechariah is delivered AMAZING news that his wife will give birth to a son and Zechariah will name him John. Instead of receiving this information and moving on he begins to question Gabriel. Gabriel becomes angry and starts to say things like, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.” If only Zechariah had known that his wife Elizabeth would give birth to John the Baptist? What if he knew that Elizabeth’s Cousin Mary would give birth to our savior? But Zechariah let his logic get in the way and kept questioning Gabriel, (it happens to the best of us),and then Gabriel silenced him by turning him into a mute. If only we could know our plan, our future, our destiny? We do not want to be mute, but by not trusting that’s what we become. I have never felt comfortable putting my life in someone else’s hands but I also know I’ve never had my life in my hands. I don’t think I will ever stop wondering and I am happy that God is guiding me. God is watching over me and that’s all that really matters.

Prayer: Dear God, Please help us to remain calm in our daily lives so we can hear your voice and our future can be more enjoyable. Amen.

Be Not Afraid

Devotion by: Andrea Sweet

Matthew 1:18-25

¹⁸ Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. ²⁰But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ ²²All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:²³‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel’, which means, ‘God is with us.’ ²⁴When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, ²⁵but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

My sister is very afraid of being alone at night. She says she is afraid of bad guys under her bed. So she calls out in the middle of the night to our mom or dad and sometimes to me to sleep with her. This has been going on for years. She still does it occasionally but hopefully she is getting over it. I think God was giving her a test and was seeing if she would know God is with her. We know that God is bigger than us and can save and help us but it is God's will to do what he wants. If that happens we need to believe in Him and come to Him in times of fear and know that he is with us.

Prayer: Dear God, please help us not to be afraid, for we know you are with us, in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Lighting of Third Candle: The Joyful Message

Devotion by: Greta Rymal

Isaiah 12:2-6

²Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the Lord is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.
³ With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
⁴And you will say on that day:
Give thanks to the Lord,
call on his name;
make known his deeds among the nations;
proclaim that his name is exalted.
⁵Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
let this be known in all the earth.
⁶Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

These passages are familiar to me, especially verse 2 “Surely God is my salvation” and verses 4-5 “Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among nations what he has done . . . let this be known to all the world.”

These were themes in the recent funeral service for my Mother, especially as we sang “I Love to Tell the Story”. My Mom made sure that my sister and I knew the story of Jesus and his gift of salvation, even as we moved from place to place during my Dad’s military career. I don’t remember the earliest time she told me the story, but it may well have been the Joyful Message of the birth of Jesus.

As you tell the story to your children or grandchildren, or as you recall the story for yourself, praise God also for the person who shared the story with you.

Prayer: Dear God, please help us not to be afraid, for we know you are with us, in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Love and Care

Devotion by: Nick Nicolai

Psalm 80
¹Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock!
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
² before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.
Stir up your might,
and come to save us!
³Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
⁴O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
⁵You have fed them with the bread of tears,
and given them tears to drink in full measure.
⁶You make us the scorn of our neighbours;
our enemies laugh among themselves.
⁷Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
⁸You brought a vine out of Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.
⁹You cleared the ground for it;
it took deep root and filled the land.
¹⁰The mountains were covered with its shade,
the mighty cedars with its branches;
¹¹it sent out its branches to the sea,
and its shoots to the River.
¹²Why then have you broken down its walls,
so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?
¹³The boar from the forest ravages it,
and all that move in the field feed on it.
¹⁴Turn again, O God of hosts;
look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine,
¹⁵ the stock that your right hand planted.
¹⁶They have burned it with fire, they have cut it down;
may they perish at the rebuke of your countenance.
¹⁷But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,
the one whom you made strong for yourself.
¹⁸Then we will never turn back from you;
give us life, and we will call on your name.
¹⁹Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.

This seems to me to be a plea of forgiveness to God to restore Israel and its chosen people. Just before I sat down to write this, I was sitting in a room with two Israeli engineers, going over the flight plan for a test flight. My airplane is manufactured in Israel but final assembly & finish work is done here in the US. As my fellow pilot, also a Christian, and I got to know these engineers better we began to discuss religion—Judaism and Christianity. The were amazed with our Bible knowledge, especially of the old testament. I was amazed at their reluctance to accept Christ as The Messiah. I guess it shouldn’t surprise me. Even in the Psalmist’s writings for today, the Jews were unwilling to totally submit to God’s will. They were complaining of their trials and tribulations and were asking to be restored. Today they are still waiting on their Messiah. They are still the source of contention to their neighbors. We truly are blessed that we are the seed of Judah. We are forgiven and have been restored our OUR rightful kingship. We are the vine brought out of Egypt.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, Bless us this holiday season as we prepare for a celebration of life—your life. Especially your birth and resurrection. Help us to not turn away. Help us to use this season as an opportunity to grow the vine. Amen.

Don't Compare

Devotion by: Scott Wainner

Matthew 11:16-19
¹⁶ ‘But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market-places and calling to one another,
¹⁷“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we wailed, and you did not mourn.”
¹⁸For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon”; ¹⁹the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!” Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.’

Jesus is making a point to the people of the nation that we can justify any action we want through rationalization. In the absence of a divine truth, we can declare every action, word spoken, or thought as morally right. However, the divine truth does exist in the Word of God provided to us such that we may have a framework to live a life of integrity and moral righteousness He expects us to learn and live by that law. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness given through Jesus Christ can we hope to live by His Word.

Prayer: May God grant us the wisdom to discern His will, the strength to live by His law, and the love to share with others. Through Him all things are possible. Amen.

Re-Joy-ce

Devotion by: Michelle Hawkins

Psalm 145
¹I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name for ever and ever.
⁹The Lord is good to all,
and his compassion is over all that he has made.
¹⁰All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your faithful shall bless you.
¹¹They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom,
and tell of your power,
¹²to make known to all people your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendour of your kingdom.
¹³Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
The Lord is faithful in all his words,
and gracious in all his deeds.

What a difference a year makes!. If you had told me a year ago that I would be going to a new church, reading my first bible, going to a weekly bible study, and teaching Sunday School, I would have thought you were crazy! Yet here I am, looking at how much my life has changed in the last nine months. Last year I would have told you I had a better chance of winning the lottery than being so involved in a new church. In my opinion, I have won the lottery. God has changed my life in so many ways.

I had surgery a couple of months ago and witnessed the compassion of God’s people firsthand. The members of my new church showed our family such support in so many ways. Each said it was a privilege to be able to help, because as God’s people we support each other. During this time, I knew God was working in my life. He was showing his compassion and love through His people. I learned very quickly I had to accept the help, and be grateful.

We’ve all been told God loves us. But have I really thought about that? I love my children so incredibly much, but God loves them even more. I teach my children to have good manners and to say “please” and “thank you.” Do I tell them as often to be thankful to God for all he has given us? For my children, they noticed the support we received and my oldest son said repeatedly how nice it was that so many people from our new church helped us. What a wonderful way for them to see God’s love for us!

During this season of giving, it is important for us to remember to give to others in need. To show others God’s love for us through our lives and our deeds. It’s through our actions as Christians that we show others how faithful God is to all of us He has made.

Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for working in my life. During the times I have struggled, I knew you wouldn’t send me more than I could handle. And when it did get to be too much, you sent your people to help me. Thank you for showing me your love through my new church family. I know you are with me in times of sickness and in health. I thank you for being so faithful and loving. Amen.

Creator

Devotion by: Joni White

Isaiah 40:25-31
²⁵To whom then will you compare me,
or who is my equal? says the Holy One.
²⁶Lift up your eyes on high and see:
Who created these?
He who brings out their host and numbers them,
calling them all by name;
because he is great in strength,
mighty in power,
not one is missing.
²⁷Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel,
‘My way is hidden from the Lord,
and my right is disregarded by my God’?
²⁸Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
²⁹He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless.
³⁰Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
³¹but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.

God created us in his own image--an image of never-ending strength and life without end. In spite of our sinful weaknesses, he fervently wants to have an intimate relationship with each of us by name.
In our Crossways class, we've been learning that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. God was with such a group of people 25 years ago, when Christ the King Lutheran was founded. I give thanks to God for creating this extraordinary church and congregation! This church family has opened my eyes to God's everyday miracles and his uncommon grace. It will be an honor to place my signature on our Living Charter document as we ordinary people begin our next 25 years as a congregation, created by our "everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth."

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You will not grow tired or weary, and your understanding no one can fathom. You give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Our hopes rest in you, LORD. We give thanks and praise to you in the name of your redeeming son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Cry Out

Devotion by: Nori Huckabay

Isaiah 40:1-11
⁴⁰Comfort, O comfort my people,
says your God.
²Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that she has served her term,
that her penalty is paid,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.
³A voice cries out:
‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
⁴Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
⁵Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’
⁶A voice says, ‘Cry out!’
And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’
All people are grass,
their constancy is like the flower of the field.
⁷The grass withers, the flower fades,
when the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
surely the people are grass.
⁸The grass withers, the flower fades;
but the word of our God will stand for ever.
⁹Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good tidings;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,
lift it up, do not fear;
say to the cities of Judah,
‘Here is your God!’
¹⁰See, the Lord God comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
¹¹He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead the mother sheep.

Even though things seem to be bleak, everything will be okay for those who trust in God. The Lord takes care of His own and wants His people to boldly proclaim His message of hope.

Prayer: Dear God, please comfort us during difficult times and help us to believe in your message of hope. Amen.

The Highway

Devotion by: Gale Bobzien

Isaiah 35:1-10
³⁵The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus ²it shall blossom abundantly,
and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
the majesty of our God.
³Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
⁴Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
‘Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
He will come and save you.’
⁵Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
⁶then the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
⁷the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
⁸A highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Holy Way;
the unclean shall not travel on it,
but it shall be for God’s people;
no traveller, not even fools, shall go astray.
⁹No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
¹⁰And the ransomed of the shall return,
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

As I write this devotion, I am preparing for three very different birthdays. My granddaughter Katelyn celebrates her 12th birthday November 22 (and Kyle turns seven in January). Youth, energy, and unbounded potential come to mind. Early in December I reach a major birthday milestone – one that ends in zero. Retirement planning, long term health care, and estate planning come to mind; two very different birthdays.
With this birthday in mind, the 35th chapter of Isaiah resonates with me, “Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees…” And there’s more, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer…” I like that image.

But that image would not be possible without that third birthday. The best was saved for last. This is the birthday for which each of us prepares this time of year as we look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. I am awed each Christmas Season as I enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas and realize that all of this started 2000 years ago with one birth.

The prophet Isaiah goes on to tell us, “A highway shall be there…the redeemed shall walk there.” That’s us! That’s what this one birth, life, death, and resurrection did for us. These three birthdays often mark life’s highway: youth, maturity, and life eternal.

Prayer: Gracious and Merciful God, thank you for birthdays. May each birthday we celebrate bring us closer to the one whose birth we celebrate each Christmas. Lead us along the highway of the redeemed so we may have life everlasting. This we pray in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Lighting the Second Candle- - Confidence

Devotion by: Melanie Miller-Cvilikas

Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11
⁴constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, ⁵because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. ⁸For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. ⁹And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight ¹⁰to help you to determine what is best, so that on the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, ¹¹having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

This letter to the Philippians is so positive, joyful, upbeat and encouraging people are surprised to learn that Paul wrote this letter from prison. Many people feel today as if their life circumstances leave them feeling as if they are in a prison. The stressors of our world are real and too numerous to list. Paul’s message remains relevant. The love of Christ Jesus knows no prison walls. We can be confident that Jesus can find us, hear us, protect us, speak for us and love us wherever we are. Stressful times can leave us feeling anxious and afraid, and can cloud our ability to make wise choices. Leaning on Christ will help us to “discern what is best and may be pure and blameless.” When we worry all we see are the circumstance and all others see in us is the stress. When we believe in God despite the circumstances, we see the glory of God.

Prayer: Dear Lord, we know you can see the big picture of our lives when we can’t seem to take the next baby step. Please fill us with your peace as you confidently orchestrate our life circumstances for we know you are doing this out of the deep love you have for each one of us. Amen.

God's Work

Devotion by: Prue Welsh

Matthew 9:35-10:8 ³⁵ Then Jesus went aboutall the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. ³⁶When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; ³⁸therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’ ¹⁰Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. ²These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; ³Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax-collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him. ⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, ⁶but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ⁷As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.”⁸Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.

Jesus said to his disciples in verses 37 and 38, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Just as Jesus called his disciples to tell others about God’s love, as Christians, it is our duty to continue Jesus’ work today. We too can harvest the fields of nonbelievers or those who have strayed from their faith.

Invite a family member, friend, neighbor or coworker to share Advent and Christmas worship with us. Reach out to those in need offering your time, talents and gifts. Helping others brings us closer to God and helps others see the power of Christ’s love for us.
Prayer: Lord, help us to have the courage to reach out to others in need, to help or share our lives as Jesus taught us to do. Amen.

According to Your Word

Devotion by: Rudy Chatlos

Luke 1:26-38
²⁶In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you. ²⁹But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. ³¹And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³²He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. ³³He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ ³⁴Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ ³⁵The 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 holy; he will be called Son of God. ³⁶And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. ³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.’ ³⁸Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.

I feel mystery and wonder as I read this passage; I always have. We know this gospel was written by Luke, the Greek physician, who traveled with Paul. He used interviews and eyewitness accounts to write about the humanity and divinity of Jesus only 30 years after his death. Who could be more precise and factual than Luke? But it is still full of mystery.

And yet Luke reports of a virgin birth, one conceived by the Holy Spirit as if he were in the very room at the time. His whole gospel is filled with miracles. In this passage, the angel says to Mary, “you will be with child and give birth to a son…give him the name Jesus”. Mary, out of her humanity, comes back, “How will this be…since I am a virgin?” Gabriel says, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you…the power of the Most High will overshadow you...nothing is impossible with God.” Mary responds, “I am the Lord’s servant…may it be to me as you have said.”
Prayer: Even though I may not fully understand (just like Mary), may I also be willing to be God’s servant, touched by the Holy Spirit, filled with new life, and working to bring God’s great gift to the world through Jesus Christ. Amen.

A Brick House

Devotion by: Yvonne Powell

Matthew 7:21, 24-27
²¹Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven. ²⁴Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. ²⁵The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. ²⁶And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!

In these verses, Jesus talks about following in his footsteps and obeying his commands. A wise person follows Jesus and his house can not be shaken. I was driving to work one day and these words came into my mind. Deny thyself—pick up your cross and follow me. What wonderful words to meditate upon. When I do not focus my life on Jesus, I tend to slip on the sand like the foolish person in the text. But when I turn my whole attention to the voice of Jesus, he keeps me standing strong to face all adversity. He is my rock!

Prayer: Lord, I ask that you come into my heart and stand with me against all evil forces that shake my innermost being. Please be my strong rock. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Comfort and Joy

Devotion by: Steve O’Connor

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside still waters;
³ he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
⁴Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.
⁵You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.
Here is a familiar passage of Scripture needing no introduction. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. . . .” These are calming, comforting, and peaceful words indeed.

For many, the holiday season is anything but peaceful. Preceded by Thanksgiving gatherings with family, and followed by New Year festivities, the Advent/Christmas season can become an endurance race for some. Events, such as parties at work and home, compete for limited free time with other obligations of the season: shopping for and wrapping gifts; mailing Christmas cards; buying a tree; decorating the tree and the home; planning, shopping for, and preparing meals for family and friends (to name a few). Sometimes it seems like there are always more things that need doing to prepare for Christmas than time will permit. It can be, in a word, hectic.

I felt this way most strongly six years ago. In that year, on the Thursday before the first Sunday of Advent, I had to leave my home and begin a new chapter in my life. Because I could not close on my new home until mid-December, my belongings went off to storage and I went off to live in a one room suite at a local hotel. Despite the abnormal circumstances, I was determined to make that first Christmas as normal as possible for me and my children. So while I struggled to adapt to my new existence, I also frantically rushed to and fro trying to find tree lights, ornaments and other trimmings, putting up the tree, buying and wrapping gifts, etc. It was not only hectic, but also stressful. Eventually, Christmas Eve day arrived. After enjoying dinner with the kids, we set out for church and the family service. Following a tumultuous 24 days, here at last was a chance to catch my breath. And as we sang along to Walt’s beautiful music the words of the familiar carols, I began to feel that sense of peace which is so wonderfully expressed through the psalmist’s words.

Thankfully, since that “first” Christmas six years ago the Advent season has not been quite so hectic for me. But when the stress of uncompleted holiday tasks begins to rise, I try to focus on that peaceful that comes with remembering what the Advent season is all about.

Prayer: Gracious God: lead us beside quiet waters during this Advent season. Bless us with your Spirit, and keep us mindful that the comfort and joy of Christmas does not originate within ourselves. It is your gift to us. Amen.

A Holy Spirit

Devotion by: Greta Rymal

Isaiah 11:1-10

¹¹A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
²The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
³His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord,
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide by what his ears hear;
⁴but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
⁵Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
⁶The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.
⁷The cow and the bear shall graze,
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
⁸The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
⁹They will not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
¹⁰On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

There are so many messages in that passage that we can draw, so I hope you read the whole passage from your Bible. A part of our Baptismal liturgy is derived from verse 2 in which Isaiah tells us “the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him (the Messiah).” But what struck me the most this time in reading the passage are the images of justice (verses 3-4).

“He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness…”

I am prone to making snap judgments about people, about facts, and many other things. During the recent election campaign period we were bombarded with sound bites seeking to influence our judgment through our eyes and our ears. How comforting this passage is for me to know that the Messiah will judge by righteousness (v. 4) and faithfulness (v 5). No wonder we are excited about his coming!
Prayer: Lord, let me open my heart and mind to your always present Holy Spirit and let my judgments be led more by your will than by what my eyes think they see or my ears think they hear. Amen.

Only Say the Word

Devotion by: Gerald Teitman

Matthew 8:5-11
⁵When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him ⁶and saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralysed, in terrible distress.’ ⁷And he said to him, ‘I will come and cure him.’ ⁸The centurion answered, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁹For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, “Go”, and he goes, and to another, “Come”, and he comes, and to my slave, “Do this”, and the slave does it.’ ¹⁰When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, ‘Truly I tell you, in no one^* in Israel have I found such faith. ¹¹I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.


The Roman Centurion, a non-Jew, and the leader of a century (100 soldiers in a century; 60 centuries in a Legion) recognizes the religious authority of Jesus and displays a profound faith in Jesus’ authority over sickness and even death. This faith is rewarded. Jesus tells the centurion, “Go home. It shall be done because you trusted.” At that very moment the boy got better.
Most of us do not possess the faith of the centurion. Our faith is fragile, either awaiting the next sign or miracle in our life to reinforce that God still loves us. I have often felt that had I the experience of Paul or Thomas or the centurion, I, too, would have an unshakeable faith.
But, God did give us each a sign on which to base our faith, the Cross. The seed of faith that was sown and watered in Baptism, nourished by Word and Sacrament, can be rejuvenated by focusing on the Cross and the eternal life that it bought for each of us. A gift that only requires the faith to know it is so.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the gift of Your Son and His redemptive death on the cross. During the many times that my faith is less than that of the Centurion, give me the gift of remembering Your forgiveness of my sins, past, present and to come and Your promise of an eternal life with You. Amen.