Advent Devotional 2010

St. Luke Advent Devotional 2010

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November 28, 2010
“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will fulfill the gracious promise I
made to the house ofIsrael and to the house ofJudah.
“In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s
line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Je-
rusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righ-
teousness.” Jeremiah 33:14-16
The Prophecy
Chorus
Behold,the days are coming when the Lord will raise up a righteous branch for David.
Behold the days are coming when a King shall reign and prosper and shall execute judg-
mentand justice in the earth.
In His days, Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell in safety and this is the name
whereby He shall be called: The LORD our Righteousness.
Today is the first day of Advent, and at worship we will be lighting the 1st candle on
the Adventwreath – the candle ofhope. The English term Advent comes from the Latin Ad-
ventus,which means ‘coming.’ Advent, then, is a season in the church where we observe a
time of expectant waiting and preparation for the 2nd coming of Jesus while remembering
His 1st coming in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. The candle of hope is appropriate for this day
because it focuses our attention on the end resultofJesus’ 1st coming and His future return
– hope.
Jeremiah has been known as the ‘weeping prophet’ for 2,500 years because ofthe
message God called him to deliver to his people. He was born into a priestly family in Ana-
thoth, a quiet little town just north ofJerusalem. Jeremiah probably believed he would grow
up to live the life of a priest, quietly going about his business, traveling between the temple
in Jerusalem and his family’s home in the suburbs. ButJeremiah lived in dangerous times
and God had other plans for his life.
Jeremiah is believed to have been born between 645-640 B.C. This was a time
when Judah was in serious political and religious decline, and his life was spentproclaiming
to the people and rulers ofJudah – Jerusalem in particular – thatthe end was coming, and
they needed to repent from their sinful ways. Jeremiah’s sad prophecies proved true when
Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians in 588 and was destroyed in 586. A large number ofthe
people ofJudah were taken off to Babylon in exile. The future looked bleak for God’s people
and they were full of despair, sadness, and had no hope for their future.
It was in this suffering and sense ofhopelessness thatJeremiah, in chapter 31, pro-
claimed to them a message of hope – that God had not forgotten them, in fact, God had
made a ‘new covenant’ with his people – a covenant full ofjoy, happiness, and hope! The
reading above from Jeremiah 33 speaks to the fulfillment of that new covenant. The right-

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eous branch springing up from King David is Jesus—itis in Jesus and Jesus alone thatwe
find hope. The focus of Advent is remembering the hope placed in Jesus’ 1st coming to rec-
oncile us with our Heavenly Father – and it is preparing and anticipating His 2nd coming –
when the hope of resurrection life is fully set into place – when Jeremiah’s ‘new covenant’
prophecy is fully realized…
I pray you all have a happyand productive Advent season.
Pastor Mark

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November 29, 2010
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will
give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel. He will eatcurds and honeywhen He knows
enough to rejectthe wrong and choose the right. Isaiah 7:14-15
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Verse 1
O come,O come,Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel;
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Chorus
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
Verse 2
O come,Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine adventhere;
Disperse the gloomy clouds ofnight,
And death’s dark shadows putto flight.
Verse 3
O come Thou Wisdom from on high,
And orderall things, far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And cause us in her ways to go.
Verse 4
O come Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou oursad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of peace.
“Immanuel” – God with us. Such an amazing, gracious concept. God is transcen-
dent, outside the limits of human experience; He is above us, holy and completely different
from us with our sinful nature and our clumsy, weak, physical bodies. And yet, Immanuel,
God with us: near us, like us, next to us, touching us, healing us, holding us, calming us,
ministering to us, comforting us, loving us with His own physical body. (A body butno sinful
nature – the only one.) Jesus.
When Isaiah’s prophecy (“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and
will call Him Immanuel”) was made to Israel, there was still a period of over 700 years until
its fulfillment. The Israelites were waiting, waiting, waiting for their Messiah; waiting to be

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“ransomed,” waiting for the “gloomy clouds of night” to be dispersed, waiting for “the hearts
of all mankind” to be bound together. The Israelites were in the midst oftremendous politi-
cal turmoil and national threat when this prophecy/promise of hope was given. And as we
know from experience today, political turmoil and national threat have an impacton our ev-
ery day living, on how we feel and reactto events going on, an impacton our relationship to
God and to our families and neighbors. Whathappens ‘outthere’ affects whathappens ‘in
here.’ We can relate to this situation Israel was in. The promise would help the Israelites to
hold on. Immanuel- God Almighty (El), with us (immanu): a holy, powerful God who is able
to face, withstand and conquer whatwe cannot, with us, ahead ofus, atour backs, protec-
ting us, upholding us, keeping us.
Rejoice! Rejoice! The lyrics are written from the future perspective, that He “shall
come to Thee, O Israel.” Rejoice! Rejoice! O brothers and sisters! He has come and will
come again, just as he promised. Immanuel, God with us, (who can face, withstand and
conquer what you cannot) is atyour side, (near you, touching, healing, holding, loving you).
Rejoice! Rejoice!
I pray that as we prepare for the Christmas season and sing the beautiful carols and
read the familiar scriptures, thatGod mightbless us with a deeper understanding ofwho He
is, why He came and how much He loves us.
Melissa Gould

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November 30, 2010
The people walking in darkness have seen a greatlight; on those living in the land of
the shadow ofdeath a lighthas dawned. Isaiah 9:2
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Verse 1
Let all mortal flesh keep silence and in fear and trembling stand.
Pondernothing worldly minded,for with blessing in His hand
Christ our Lord to earth descendeth ourfull homage to demand.
Verse 2
King of kings yet born of Mary, as of old on earth He stood.
Lord of lords in human vesture,in the body and the blood,
He will give to all the faithful His own self for heav'nly food.
Verse 3
Rank on rank, the hostof heaven,spreads its vanguard on the way.
As the Lightof light descendeth,from the realm of endless day,
That the pow'rs of hell may vanish as the darkness clears away.
Verse 4
At His feet the six winged Seraph,Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the Presence. As with ceaseless voice they cry,
“Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Lord MostHigh!”
Nature. I love it. It’s one of the places where I feel closestto God.
Music. I love it. Listening to and singing music are two activities that help me feel
close to God.
This song. I love it. Especially the version recorded by Twila Paris. The key is mi-
nor, so there’s already a mysteriousness to it. Then Twila echoes herself. IfIclose my eyes
as I listen to Twila, I can imagine being with the shepherds, out in nature, the night Jesus
was born:
 The sheep are quiet.
 The sky is amazinglyspectacular, one star in particular.
 Then to add to the amazementwe all feel, an angelappears and speaks to us! (My
mortal flesh would definitely have been silent and trembling in fear!)
 And then! – and THEN! – MORE angels (orheavenly host) appear,praising God
with alleluias crescendoingand fading and crescendoingagain. Imagine…
I imagine, with the help of Twila’s echoing “Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia Lord MostHigh,”
a wind-like noise – an eerily quiet, but powerfully overwhelming music thatsurges through-
out my mortal flesh into the very core of my being until the fear is transformed into an exhil-

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arating sensation of warmth, awe, and light. “A lighthas dawned”…”as the Lightoflight de-
scendeth”…,and darkness is cleared away.”
My prayer is that each of us feels thatsurge ofoverwhelming and powerful host mu-
sic that heralds the Manifestation of God, and that each of us glows with the Light of light
within us to help each other on the way to the manger and to the life the Babe in the manger
calls us to live. Alleluia, Lord MostHigh!
Allegra Jrolf

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December 1, 2010
Isaiah 9:6-7 – For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the governmentwill
be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase ofhis governmentand peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding itwith jus-
tice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will
accomplish this.
For Unto Us a Child is Born
Chorus
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon His
shoulders.
And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father,
the Prince ofPeace.
And the governmentshall be upon His shoulders.
Once again in the Old Testamentwe read and receive a prophecy aboutthe coming
Messiah. This Child will grow into a King ofKings who will rule with perfectfairness and jus-
tice from the throne of David and bring true justice and peace to all the nations ofthe world.
We know and believe this is going to happen because the LORD of heaven’s armies has
dedicated Himselfto do it!
In a time of great darkness during which we fear that our sorrows and troubles will
never end, Isaiah, generally considered to be one of the greatest prophets, calls on us to
turn away from lives of sin and warns us of GOD’s judgment and punishment if we do not
repent. Isaiah tells the people to return to GOD, repentand be renewed, and trustin GOD’s
redemption, because all ofthis will be attained through the coming Messiah.
In these passages Isaiah uses five names to describe the coming Messiah, Jesus
Christ. These names have specialmeaning to us. Wonderful – He is exceptional, distingui-
shed, and without peer. Counselor – He gives the right advice. The Mighty God – He is
GOD Himself. The Everlasting Father – He is timeless, He is GOD our Father. The Prince of
Peace – His governmentis one ofjustice and peace.
During difficult times, and despite the darkness, Isaiah informs the people GOD is
sending the Messiah to save his people. He will set up His own kingdom as the faithful
Prince of Peace and rule with righteousness.He will come as sovereign LORD, butwill do so
as a servantwho will die to take away sins, our sins.
Isaiah, while delivering these words of judgment, also brings words of comfort. The
dark times will indeed end because the future Redeemer is coming and will reign forever
and ever. Isaiah’s message, though tough, is one ofhope. Isaiah tells us GOD freely offers
forgiveness to all who turn to Him in faith. This is GOD’s message ofcomfortto us because
those who heed itfind eternal peace and fellowship with Him. Through the coming Messiah,
GOD provides His people hope, and through this GOD promises comfort, deliverance, and

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restoration in His future kingdom. The Messiah will rule over His faithful followers in the age
to come. Even in the darkestof times, hope is indeed possible, because for unto us a Child
is born, and thatChild, Jesus Christ, is coming!
Christ’s Peace this Holiday Season,
Mike A. Gould

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December 2, 2010
A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in
the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and
hill made low; the rough ground shallbecomelevel,the rugged places a plain. And the glory
of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth ofthe LORD
has spoken.” Isaiah 40:3-5
And the Glory of the Lord
Chorus
And the glory, the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together for
the mouth ofthe LORD hath spoken it.
Ever played basketball without the ball? Or have you ever cooked without ingredi-
ents? How about read a book without pages? NO! Everything we do requires preparing.
The next question is have you ever been a Christian withoutpreparation? This question is
the same as the question “Have you ever cooked withoutingredients?”butit’s disappointing
to say that so many people answer these two questions in opposite ways. Many don’t pre-
pare for Christ coming again. Isaiah 40:3-5 say to prepare the way for the Lord. Also, Ad-
vent is Latin for coming. So with open hearts letus prepare for the coming.
Rebecca Hughes

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December 3, 2010
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him – the Spiritofwisdom and ofunderstanding, the Spirit
of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD – and He will
delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what He sees with His eyes, or decide
by what He hears with His ears; but with righteousness He will judge the needy, with justice
He will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His
mouth; with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be His belt and
faithfulness the sash around His waist. Isaiah 11:1-5
Lo! How a Rose E’er Blooming
Verse 1
Lo, howa Rose e’er blooming from tenderstem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming, as men of old have sung.
It came,a floweret bright,
Amid the cold of winter, when half spentwas the night.
Verse 2
Isaiah ’twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
With Mary we behold it, the virgin mother kind.
To showGod’s love aright,
She bore to men a Savior, when half spentwas the night.
Verse 3
This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;
True Man,yet very God,
From sin and death He saves us, and lightens every load.
This is one of my favorite Christmas carols. I first sang it in high school. My school
was about 95%Jewish, butour choir director was a good Baptistwho had us singing lots of
greatChristmas music. Our arrangementofthis carol bore the title,
“Lo, How a Rose in Bloom!”
Of course,to Jewish ears,it sounds like
“Lo, howa Rosenbloom!”
The song and the prophetic words ofIsaiah use a beautiful word-picture to describe
Jesus. He is like a tender shoot growing from the stump of a tree. A stump appears to be
dead, butit is not. Even after many years, a tiny little tree may start to grow from it.
So it was with the family line of Jesse and David. After the Babylonian invasion, that
family of kings appeared to be dead. But God would not letHis promise fail. The Messiah
was indeed born ofthatline, and He will reign forever.

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But that is a small part of the Isaiah passage. Most of ithas to do with His character
as a ruler, and the prophet gives the credit to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest
upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge and reverence
for God. This enables Him to rule in faithfulness, righteousness and justice.
Jesus didn’t begin His ministry until the Holy Spirit came upon Him. The Spirit gave
Him power to work miracles. The Spiritgave Him understanding ofthe Scriptures. Itenabled
Him to heal, to know the hearts and minds ofothers, to call a stranger by name, to tell a Sa-
maritan woman her sordid history, to confound the religious men, to go to the cross, to give
up His life, and to take it up again.
Before leaving them, Jesus told his disciples to waitfor the Spiritto come upon them.
After that, they were to do His work. Yes, they believed in Him, lived with Him, loved Him,
and learned from Him for three years. But they needed more.
Jesus wants us to have that Spirit, too. It is His Christmas gift. He said, “Ifyou sinful
people give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the
gift of the Holy Spirit to those who ask for it?” If Jesus needed it, His apostles needed it,
and the early church needed it, how much more do we need the Spirit of the Lord resting
upon us?
Lord,I wantthis gift. Send YourSpirit upon me so thatI can be more like You.
Amen.
Ted Horowitz

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December 4, 2010
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Verse 1
Come,thou long-expected Jesus,born to set ourspirits free.
From ourfears and sins release us;let us find ourrest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,hope to all the earth Thou art.
Deardesire of ev'ry nation: joy of ev’ry longing heart.
Verse 2
Born Thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever, nowThy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit, rule in all ourhearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit, raise us to Thy glorious throne.
As I thought about the meaning of this song, it brought to my mind how difficult and
exciting it is to anticipate something wonderful we expect to happen. Whether itbe a wed-
ding, birth of a child, a vacation, Christmas or birthday celebrations, itis hard to wait. Keep-
ing busy getting ready for the coming event helps the time to pass more quickly and finally
the day arrives.
The Hebrew people knew from Scripture that a Messiah would come. They had a
very, very, long wait and yetthe eventdid come to pass justas the Word ofGod foretold.
Today we are also waiting – but this time for the return ofChrist. The Scriptures pro-
mise us that Jesus will come again. Just as in the days of the Old Testament the wait
seems very, very long. What should we do to prepare for the Messiah’s return as we wait?
If we want the unborn generations to know about God’s love, miracles and salvation we
must be sure that today’s children hear about them from us. We are responsible for our
children,grandchildren and the young people atSt. Luke knowing and hearing God’s Word.
We must be sure that we are a reflection ofGod’s love as we interactwith our friends, family
and even the strangers we meetatthe grocery store or in a restaurant. Future generations
are depending on our faithfulness today! Iam very thankful for those in the past who passed
on the love of Christ to our generation – aren’tyou????
Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told aboutthe Lord. They will pro-
claim his righteousness to a people yet unborn — for he has done it. Psalm 22:30-31
Sue Krall

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December 5, 2010
Micah 5:1-5: Marshal your troops, O city of troops, for a siege is laid against us.
They will strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans ofJudah, outofyou will come for me one who will be
ruler over Israel, whose origins are from ofold, from ancienttimes.” Therefore Israel will not
be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the restof His brothers
return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd in the strength ofthe Lord, His God.
And they will live securely, for then His greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And
He will be their peace.
The Little Drummer Boy
Verse 1
Come,they told me,Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum,
A newborn King to see; Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum,
Our finest gifts we bring Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
To lay before the King, Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum,rum-pum-pum-pum,rum-pum-pum-pum,
So to honorHim Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
When we come.
Verse 2
Baby Jesus, Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum,
I am a poorboy too; Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum,
I have no gift to bring Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
That’s fit to give ourKing, Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum,rum-pum-pum-pum,rum-pum-pum-pum,
Shall I play for You Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
On my drum?
Verse 3
Mary nodded;Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum,
The ox and lamb kept time; Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum,
I played my drum for Him; Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum;
I played my bestfor Him. Pa-rum--pum-pum-pum,rum-pum-pum-pum,rum-pum-pum-pum.
Then He smiled at me,Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Me and my drum.
I don’t know about you, but as I was looking over the scripture and song I remem-
bered something about drummer boys. They were usually sentwith an army to sound sig-
nals informing the troops of commands sent from commanding officers. In realizing this,
how befitting it is to connect it with the first part of Micah 5:1 which says: “Marshal your
troops, O city of troops, for a siege is laid against us.” Do feel like a siege has been laid
againstyou this Christmas? In some ways, I’ve felt like that this year.

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Read further because we are reminded, “Butyou, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you
are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over
Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times,” in Micah 5:2 and that, “He will be
their peace” in Micah 5:5. May those promises aboutChristbring you peace in the midstof
your storms this year as they have to so many, including The Little Drummer Boy whose on-
ly gift was his gift of music.
Kevin Kelly

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December 6, 2010
In those days CaesarAugustus issued a decree that a census should be taken ofthe
entire Roman world. (This is the firstcensus thattook place while Quirinius was governor of
Syria.) And everyone wentto his own town to register. Luke 2:1-3
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Verse 1
O little town of Bethlehem, howstill we see thee lie;
Above they deep and dreamless sleep,the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
Verse 2
ForChrist is born of Mary, and gather’d all above,
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars together proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King and peace to men on earth.
Verse 3
O holy Child of Bethlehem,descend to us,we pray;
Cast outour sin and enter in; be born in us today.
We hearthe Christmas angels,the greatglad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, ourLord Emmanuel.
Who would have thought that a trip back to their ancestral home for taxation purpos-
es would have been linked to the greatest cause for joy and rejoicing the world has ever
known? That is exactly what the coming of Jesus the Messiah has meantto the Christians
of the world ever since. People ofall ages praise and rejoice in this season so full of prom-
ise. We all expectnew and greatthings during this season, in our social and spiritual life.
This season is also a time to remember all ofthe good things thatwe have experien-
ced during previous Christmases. One of the most memorable parts of Advent for me are
the hymns we sing with friends and family. “O Little Town of Bethlehem” is one of my fav-
orites that brings a feeling of closeness with those that are listening as well as those sing-
ing. Anyone that has not experienced this or doubts the validity ofmy statementshould go
caroling with the Mariners this Christmas and you will understand. God bless you all.
Gerald and Judy Strasburg

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December 7, 2010
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Verse 1
O little town of Bethlehem, howstill we see thee lie;
Above they deep and dreamless sleep,the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
Verse 2
ForChrist is born of Mary, and gather’d all above,
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars together proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King and peace to men on earth.
Verse 3
How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is giv’n;
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings ofHis heav'n.
No earmay hearHis coming,butin this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dearChrist enters in.
Verse 4
Where children pure and happyprayto the blessed Child,
Where misery cries out to Thee,Son of the mother mild,
Where charity stands watching and faith holds wide the door
The dark nightwakes,the glory breaks and Christmas comes once more
Verse 5
O holy Child of Bethlehem,descend to us,we pray;
Cast outour sin and enter in; be born in us today.
We hearthe Christmas angels,the greatglad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, ourLord Emmanuel.
This year I chose O Little Town of Bethlehem to write my Advent devotional about
and I can tell you it is one of my top 5 favorite Christmas hymns. As I sing it, I can just pic-
ture in my mind the beautiful nightthatour Savior was born. Ihave never had the chance to
travel abroad but I often think it would be so cool to see the actual birth place of Jesus
someday. Interestingly the man who wrote the song, Phillip Brooks, wrote the song after
having a trip to Bethlehem. I can tell how much it inspired him to be in the very place that
Jesus was born. One other interesting fact I have learned about this hymn is that it has a
forgotten verse. It was actually taken out because it’s last line is “and Christmas comes
once more.” As Ifocused on the hymn as a whole the stanza thatmeans the mostfor me is
the third stanza:

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How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is giv’n;
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings ofHis heav’n.
No ear may hear His coming, butin this world ofsin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christenters in.
If there is one thing I could ask for this Christmas and in the coming year itwould be
to really digestthese words that are in the third stanza and to rememberjusthow much God
loves us if we just will receive His love and anticipate His glorious return. May God bless
you this Christmas season and throughoutthis coming New Year.
Sherri Leasure

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December 8, 2010
Matthew2:1-2
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi
from the east came to Jerusalem and asked,“Where is the one who has been born the King
of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
Lately I came across a joke about three wise women. It goes something like this:
Three wise women would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby,
brought practical gifts, cleaned the stable, made a casserole and there would be peace on
earth. Well, some of you may be laughing while others are notfinding itas humorous. Re-
gardless, it got me to thinking about what I could be doing differently in my own life. Advent
is a time to celebrate the peace and joy thatonly God can bring to our lives. So, we need to
be asking what we are doing to show this peace and joy to others. Are we even enjoying
God’s peace ourselves? We will never know whatmighthave happened ifthere had been
three wise women. It just wasn’t God’s plan. But by living our lives walking with God, we
will be given the peace thatwe can'thelp butshare.
As you think about this sharing during this beautiful season, imagine the light that
was produced by the star that night for the three Wise men. Itmusthave been huge, noth-
ing like the stars we see every night in the sky. How magnificent! Through the years, the
star has become a focal pointfor Christmas decorations such as tree toppings and candles.
When Iwas growing up, we were given homemade star candles atSunday school, and ev-
ery Christmas Eve my family would light one and read the Christmas story from the Bible. It
is a precious memory of mine when all the busyness and excitementwould come to a halt.
The quietbeauty and warm glow ofthe candle’s flames in the darkened room was beautiful.
Sometimes the Christmas story was read more than once by candlelight, so that we could
each take a turn.
Let us become a bright, shining star this season ourselves. We can’tbecome one of
the three Wise men, but we certainly can shine as Christ's disciples. Letus take time to re-
flect on the love we have for others and how we can better show it. Christ called us to be
the light of the world. Is that light always on within you? Let’s charge our batteries this sea-
son and truly make a difference!
DearGod,
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth the peace that was meantto be.
With God as ourcreator, brothers and sisters are we,
Let me walk with my neighbor in perfect harmony.
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.
Amen
Mary Dee Brown

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December 9, 2010
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he
had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them
where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is whatthe
prophet has written: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least am-
ong the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my
people Israel.’”
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found outfrom them the exacttime the star
had appeared. He sentthem to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the
child. As soon as you find him, reportto me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
Matthew2:3-8
The book of Matthew portrays Christ as the promised Messiah to show the Jews lin-
eage came from David and that Jesus’ life fulfilled the Old Testament prophesies. Of
course, this example ofroyalty disturbed King Herod who immediately setoutto find Him.
Only in our greatest moment of imagination can we speculate the feelings of those
men who saw Christ first. What would our reaction be if this were relived in 2010? Would
we be willing to defy the wishes ofthe King as the three wise men did?
Faith is such a growing object. Jesus was born but few followed Him at that time.
This following, or faith, came after just three shortyears ofteaching and seeing. Are we any
different today?
It seems as if we are born and grow into Faith by what is taught to us. But as the
years go on, events happen that solidify Faith in God. Each event that takes place grows
our Faith. For example, in my life, I was a follower until the time of our first born. Then I
had Faith because of the miracle that happened. Over the years, with the birth of our five
children,eighteen grandchildren, and eightgreatgrandchildren, faith becomes a daily event
of prayer and thanksgiving. I’m convinced that God grows within us because of the daily
happenings. Our job is to open our hearts and letithappen.
DwightSampson

21
December 10, 2010
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in
the east went ahead ofthem until itstopped over the place where the child was. When they
saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mo-
ther Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures
and presented him with gifts ofgold and ofincense and ofmyrrh. And having been warned
in a dream notto go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Matthew2:9-12
We Three Kings of Orient Are
Verse 1
We three kings of Orient are,
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain,
Moor and mountain,
Following yonderstar.
Chorus
Oh, star of wonder,star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading,
Still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect light.
Verse 2
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever,
Ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.
Verse 3
Frankincense to offer have I,
Incense owns a Deity nigh.
Prayer and praising,
All men raising,
Worship Him, God most high.
Verse 4
Myrrh is mine,its bitter perfume
Breathes of life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing,sighing,
Bleeding,dying,
Sealed in a stone cold tomb.

22
Verse 5
Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice.
Alleluia,
Alleluia,
Earth to heaven replies.
This well known scripture is repeated every Christmas in most churches and family
worship. It truly is a story of great faith and trust. The wise men were told to follow a star
and find the baby Jesus whom they felt compelled to worship. I think it is hard to imagine
that anyone would be willing to strike outon a journey ofthis kind, especially in the surroun-
dings in which they lived. They had no help other than a star in the sky. Today we would
require a map, a cell phone, and maybe even a GPS unit. These men were willing to listen
to the directions of someone they really did not know and still decided to go knowing there
were many dangers they mightencounter.
A quote from a devotional I have been reading said, “Obstacles are what we see
when we take our eyes off the goal.” They also said, “God’s favor will connect you to the
right people and getyou to the rightplace if you have the necessary faith and trust.”
The wise men found the new born baby and honored Him with gifts ofgold, frankin-
cense, and myrhh. They also were wise enough not to go back to Herod the king and tell
him what they had seen.
The hymn that goes with this scripture is “We Three Kings ofOrientAre.”In this sea-
son of the year when we may be weary, sad, or depressed, let us study more closely the
words of this song, and sing praises to the baby that was born so long ago, and yet
changed the world forever.
Bob Hayward

23
December 11, 2010
When Herod realized thathe had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious and he
gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and un-
der, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then whatwas said through
the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and greatmourn-
ing, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no
more.”Matthew 2:16-18
This is what the Lord says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weep-
ing, Rachelweeping for he children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are
no more.” Jeremiah 31:15
The Coventry Carol
Verse 1
Lullay, Thou little tiny Child, Bye-bye, lulloo, lullay.
Lullay, Thou little tiny Child, Bye-bye, lulloo, lullay.
Verse 2
O sisters, too, howmay we do for to preserve this day?
This poorYoungling for whom we sing Bye-bye, lulloo, lullay.
Verse 3
Herod the king in his raging charged he hath this day
His men of might, in his own sight, all children young to slay.
Verse 4
Then woe is me, poorChild for thee, and ever morn and day
ForThy parting norsay norsing, Bye-bye, lulloo, lullay.
Ted gave the history of the song and some wonderful insightinto both the song and
scripture. Let me try to recap for those ofyou who may need your memory refreshed. “The
Coventry Carol tells the heart-rending story of the “Massacre of the Innocents” as told in
Matthew 2:16-18. In this story, King Herod was angry that the Wise Men did not tell him
where to find (and kill) the Christ child. To protect his throne, the King ordered his soldiers
to kill all male children up to two years old in Bethlehem and its surrounding region. In this
song, the mothers sing a lullaby to comforttheir babies as the soldiers take them away, one
by one.
“We look with horror on the cruelty of Herod. But our country has slaughtered forty-
three million unborn children since abortion became legal. We abortthem to avoid embar-
rassment or financial stress or responsibility. Our excuses don’tmatter. They are as selfish
as Herod’s. The One who fiercely loves all children has alreadybegun to pay us back. The
grace ofour fathers has run out and our nation is spiraling into decline.”

24
In my opinion, this is the saddest part of the whole Christmas story: Herod sending
out his soldiers to kill every boy two and under all to keep his title ofking. However, as Ted
pointed out last year, look at what our nation has done in the years since abortion became
legal. Of course, children are also savagely murdered (i.e. JonBenét Ramsey)
Why are we as people so selfish? Children are to be a blessing to all. Are any of
you suffering the loss of a child? Please allow someone to atleastpray with and over you.
Allow Christmas to be a time of healing and greatjoy.
Written by Melissa Ball
On behalfof Judy Coles

25
December 12, 2010
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who be-
longed to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant ofAaron.
Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and
regulations blamelessly. Butthey had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they
were both well along in years.
Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before
God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom ofthe priesthood, to go into the temple
of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the
assembled worshipers were praying outside.
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of
incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. Butthe an-
gel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Eliza-
beth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and de-
light to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be greatin the sightofthe
Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy
Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God.
And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts ofthe
fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous — to make rea-
dy a people prepared for the Lord.”
Zechariah askedthe angel, “How can Ibe sure ofthis? I am an old man and my wife
is well along in years.”
The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. Istand in the presence ofGod, and Ihave been
sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and notable
to speak until the day this happens, because you did notbelieve my words, which will come
true at their proper time.” Luke 1:5-20
BARREN
Being barren was considered a curse or punishmentfrom God.
How can this be? The Bible passage tells us that Zechariah and Elizabeth were des-
cendants of Aaron – the priestly division. The text further tells us that this couple “were up-
right in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blame-
lessly”. Weren’t they supposed to have a blessed life that included children? Zechariah
was a priest and surely his life should be blessed. Butstill, Elizabeth has reached old age
and is barren. Certainly, they have prayed and inquired of God why their prayers were not
answered. “We have honored you with our lives – why no children?” Like them, we often
pray and then become impatientwaiting for what we think should be the answer – now.
Then suddenly an angel, Gabriel, appears to Zechariah. The news is miraculous!
Yet in spite of his fears and unbelief, Zechariah questions the angel, “How can Ibe sure of
this?” Because of that doubt, God stopped his mouth from speaking until after John’s birth.

26
We, like Zechariah, can often speak words ofunbeliefwhen we should be offering words of
thanksgiving, joy and praise for whathe is doing in our lives.
Yet Zechariah and Elizabeth were sinners justlike us. Being from the priestly line did
not guarantee children. They probably prayed often abouttheir lack ofchildren. Their neigh-
bors probably wondered “What have they done wrong that they have no children – why is
God punishing them?” YetZechariah and Elizabeth were “considered uprightin the sightof
God”. However, the prayers they offered up were heard and filed away in heaven and not
forgotten. Many years later, Zechariah and Elizabeth will see the answer and have a son,
even in their old age, when itshould nothave happened. God had heard and answered in
God’s time. God’s time is the only time even when we are so impatient.
Their child would notonly be a son, butthe one to announce the coming ofthe Mes-
siah.
Do you feel empty and barren this Advent season? Have you offered many prayers
over the concerns you have? Zechariah and Elizabeth are evidence to us ofGod’s hearing
and answering our prayers – in God’s time they will be answered in ways thatwill glorify our
Heavenly Father.
Beulah Rule
We are especiallythankful because todayis the birthday of ouryoungestson, Brett
William Rule.

27
December 13, 2010
Luke 1:30-33: 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found
favor with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the
name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son ofthe MostHigh. The Lord God
will give Him the throne of His father David, 33and He will reign over the house of Jacob
forever; His kingdom will never end.”
I often wonder what Mary mighthave been thinking when the angel told her this: “He
will be great.” Could she have imagined thather baby would: restore sightto a man that was
blind, bring back to life a dead man, walk on water and many more astonishing miracles.
Mary is one of my heroes of the Bible. Isimply cannotimagine becoming pregnant,
by the Holy Spirit and having to explain the situation to my fiancé and family. She knew she
could have been stoned. Yet, she and Joseph were faithful to whatthe angels told each of
them.
“Mary, Did You Know?” is one of my favorite songs; it asks questions that I never
thought of before. What did Mary and Joseph know about the baby they were going to
have? I wonder if it registered in their minds that this was God incarnate, “And when you
kiss your little baby you’ve kissed the face of God”. We could contemplate whatMary and
Joseph were thinking at that time; however I am fairly certain thatneither realized whattheir
Son would accomplish in His shortlife here on earth.
Mary, Did You Know?
Verse 1
Mary, did you knowthat your baby boywould one day walk on water?
Mary, did you knowthat your baby boywould save our sons and daughters?
Did you knowthat your baby boyhas come to make you new;
This Child that you’ve delivered will soon deliveryou?
Verse 2
Mary, did you knowthat your baby boywill give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you knowthat your baby boywould calm a storm with His hand?
Did you knowthat your baby boyhas walked where angels trod,
And when you kiss your little babyyou’ve kissed the face of God?
Bridge
The blind will see,the deafwill hear,the dead will live again,the lame will leap, the dumb
will speak the praises of the Lamb.
Verse 3
Mary, did you knowthat your baby boyis Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you knowthat your baby boywill one day rule the nations?
Did you knowthat your baby boywas Heaven’s perfect Lamb,
And the sleeping Child you’re holding is the greatI AM?
Beth Schupp

28
December 14, 2010
This is howthe 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 notwantto ex-
pose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered 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 home as your wife, because
what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 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.”
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.”
When Joseph woke up, he did whatthe angel ofthe Lord had commanded him and
took Mary home as his wife. Buthe had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And
he gave him the name Jesus. Matthew 1:18-25
Joseph’s Song
Verse 1
How could it be?
This baby in my arms,sleeping nowso peacefully?
The Son of God, the angelsaid.
How could it be?
Verse 2
Lord I knowHe's notmy own.
Not of my flesh, notof my bones.
Still, Father, let this babybe the Son of my love.
Bridge
Father, showme where I fit into this plan of Yours.
How can a man be a father to the Son of God?
Lord,for all my life I've been a simple carpenter.
How can I raise a King?
How can I raise a King?
Verse 3
He looks so small, His face and hands so fair.
And when He cries the sun just seems to disappear.
But when He laughs,it shines again.
How could it be?

29
Some of you may or may not know that I was adopted. I love my adoptive parents
dearly but I know it wasn’t easy for them to take a child that wasn’t their own and support
me as if I were their own.
When I was telling Melissa this and that I wanted to work it into whatever Adventde-
votional I wrote, she reminded me that Joseph wasn’t Jesus’ biological father but he loved
and supported Jesus as besthe could and helped Mary raise Him.
The scripture above tells of Joseph’s contemplation of the events surrounding Mary’s
pregnancy. How long did he debate what to do before coming to his original decision? It
must have been mind-boggling to then have an angel appear in a dream telling him to take
Mary as his wife and supporther and the child she was carrying.
Joseph’s song is a wonderful way to consider how Joseph may have felt after the
birth of Jesus. I can’t even begin to imagine all the thoughts and feelings running through
him as he held the Son ofGod and thathe was to raise this child as ifHe were his own.
I sometimes have difficulty doing things but I know that God will provide for me even
as He provided me with loving and supportive adoptive parents. If you trust Him, He’ll pro-
vide you with whatyou need as He did for me.
Kathy McLaughlin

30
December 15, 2010
When they had gone,an angelof the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Getup,”
he said, “take the child and His mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for
Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and His mo-
ther during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so
was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “OutofEgyptI called my son.”
Matthew2:13-15
A Strange Way To Save the World
Verse 1
I’m sure he must have been surprised at where this road had taken him, ‘cause never in a
million lives would he have dreamed ofBethlehem.
And standing at the manger, he saw with his own eyes, the message from the angel come
to life.
And Joseph said,
Chorus
“Why me? I’m just a simple man of trade.
Why Him, with all the rulers in the world?
Why here,inside this stable filled with hay?
Why her? She’s just an ordinary girl.”
Now I’m notone to second guess whatangels have to say, but this is such a strange way to
save the world.
Verse 2
To think of howit could have been,if Jesus had come as He deserved.
There would have been no Bethlehem,no lowly shepherds atHis birth.
But Joseph knewthe reason love had to reach so far, and as he held the Savior in his arms,
he musthave thought,
Ending
Now I’m notone to second guess whatangels have to say, butthis is such a strange way to
save the world.
This is such a strange way, such a strange way, a strange way to save the world.
Such a strange way to save the world.
I’m sure to Joseph (and perhaps others as well) thatthis was a strange way to save
the world. Of course, Joseph probably never expected to be encountering angels in his
dreams while he slept. Can you imagine whatthat would have been like? One minute you’re
dreaming aboutsomething and the nextan angel appears to you in thatdream and tells you
what God wants you to do. This doesn’thappen justonce, though, buttwice. The first time
to tell you to take the woman you love and marry her even though she’s expecting (and with

31
God’s Son at that). The second time it was to tell you to take mother and baby and to flee
for the baby’s life is in danger.
Needless to say, that Joseph acted in favor of the advice. Maybe he had heard a
phrase we’re familiar with that says, “Truth is stranger than fiction.” Would you have reac-
ted the same way because truth can be stranger than fiction? Is there a situation in your life
now thatrequires such faith? Do you need assistance taking thatstep? Ifyou are, seek the
advice of someone you trustin taking that step and then acton it.
In Christ,
Melissa Ball

32
December 16, 2010
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around
them, and they were terrified. Luke 2:9
And The Glory of the Lord
Chorus
the mouth ofthe Lord hath spoken it.
Webster defines glory as “1. Great honor and admiration by doing something impor-
tant or valuable; fame; renown. 2. Anything bringing this. 3. Worship, adoration, praise. 4.
Condition of highestachievement.5. Heaven or the bliss ofHeaven,” and several other wor-
thy definitions.
All of these definitions above certainly establish God’s greatness. The shepherds
were in awe and terrified by this event. There are many mentions in the Bible about the
glory of the Lord. In Exodus 33:18 Moses even asked the Lord to “show me Thy glory.”
Possibly the shepherds could have been aware of a spectacular event but even when the
angel appeared to them they were still terrified. However, the angel said to them, “Do not
be afraid. I am bringing you good news that will be a great joy to all of the people.” There
were no questions about them answering the call to come, because they had complete as-
surance thatthe Lord had revealed Jesus’ magnificentbirth to them.
The glory of the Lord is all around us in every part of our lives. Ittruly gives us great
joy. It is more magnificent than we can even imagine. We are instructed to worship, adore
and praise Him. Often we think we are too harried to read the Bible and worship God as we
should. Jesus wants us to glorify Him without hesitation or question and to notbe afraid.
In approximately December1862,GeorgeFrederick Handel was asked abouthis in-
spiration to write the Hallelujah Chorus. He replied, “Whether Iwas in my body or outofmy
body I know not. God knows it. I did think I did see all heaven before me, and the Great
God Himself.”
As we celebrate Jesus’ birth, Ipray the St. Luke “Joy”congregation will adore, praise
and worship God in ways thatwill truly be worthy of His love for us.
Jean McHenry

33
December 17, 2010
Luke 2:10-12: But the angel said to them, “Do notbe afraid. Ibring 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 Christthe Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in
cloths and lying in a manger.”
The First Noel
Verse 1
The first Noelthe angeldid say
Was to certain poorshepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter’s nightthat was so deep.
Chorus
Noel, noel,noel, noel!
Born is the King of Israel!
Every year we hear or read the Christmas story about the birth of Jesus. We have
read or told the story to our children and some of us to our grandchildren. But have we
really thought about what it would be like to have an angel appear before you. Luke 2:9
says, “An angel ofthe Lord appeared to them, and the glory ofthe Lord shone around them
and they were terrified.” I am sure Iwould have been terrified as well.
When I read Luke 2:10-12 Ican’thelp butthink of John 3:16: For God so loved the
world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have
eternal life.
Don Smith

34
December 18, 2010
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising
God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Luke 2:13-14
God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen
Verse 1
God rest ye, merry gentlemen,let nothing you dismay.
Remember,Christour Savior was born on Christmas Day.
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r when we were gone astray.
Chorus
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
Verse 2
In Bethlehem, in Jewry, this blessed Babe was born
And laid within a mangerupon thatblessed morn,
The which His mother Mary did nothing take in scorn.
Verse 3
From God,our heavenlyFather, a blessed angelcame
And unto certain shepherds broughttidings of the same,
How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name.
Verse 4
“Fear not,” then said the angel, “let nothing you affright.
This day is born a Savior of a pure virgin bright
To free all those who trust in Him from Satan’s pow’r and might.”
Verse 5
The shepherds,atthose tidings, rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks afeeding in tempest storms and wind
And wentto Bethlehem straightway the blessed Babe to find.
Verse 6
And when they came to Bethlehem, where ourdearSavior lay,
They found Him in a mangerwhere oxen feed on hay.
His mother, Mary, kneeling down,unto the Lord did pray.
Verse 7
Now to the Lord, sing praises all you within this place.
And with true love and brotherhood each othernowembrace.
This holy tide of Christmas all others doth deface.

35
Matthew Henry states, “Other works of God are for His glory, but the redemption of
the world is for His glory in the highest.” Peace on earth is a fleeting thing; most people
take it to mean an absence of fighting. However, true and lasting peace can only be found
in Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. His birth fulfilled the prophesy of Isaiah (and many
other prophets.) The angels heralded his birth with trumpets and tidings ofcomfort and joy.
They knew what the birth meant to mankind, and wanted mankind to be as happy as they
were.
I think about how the angels felt that day and Ihope to have thatkind ofjoy everyday
in my heart. I often struggle with depression, and it helps to remember that Jesus came to
save me, and that I must keep my attention upon God and doing His will. Christmastime is
a time of great joy for most people. People are usually (but not always) in a more giving
mood, and generally nicer to each other. Jesus gave us the perfectexample thatwe must
love one another, and the song “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is an example ofhow we
are to do that. The last verse states: “Now to the Lord, sing praises all you within this place.
And with true love and brotherhood each othernow embrace. This holy tide ofChristmas all
others doth deface.”
Kevin Kelly

36
December 19, 2010
The LORD is my shepherd,Ishall notbe in want. Psalm 23:1
Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow
Verse 1
There’s a star in the East on Christmas morn;
Rise up,shepherd, and follow.
It will lead to the place where the Savior’s born;
Chorus
Follow, follow, rise up, shepherd, and follow;
Follow the star of Bethlehem;
Verse 2
If you take good heed to the angel’s words,
You’ll forget your flocks; you’ll forget your herds;
This slave song was collected in the islands off of South Carolina and Georgia and
first published in 1867. The words and the music express the excitementofthe shepherds
who went to see the Savior born in a stable. This excitementwas shared bythe people who
invented and sang this song in spite oftheir bitter life of toil.
Shepherds were to ancientIsrael whatcowboys were to America. They were brave,
rough men who fought off lions, bears, wolves and rustlers. They spent much of their time
outdoors. Their job was dangerous, tough and smelly. Heroes like David and Moses had
been shepherds.
Forshepherds in Jesus’ day, business was booming. Although mostJewish people
could only afford to eat lamb occasionally, both the Temple and the Roman army needed
plenty of lambs each day. The shepherds we find in the Christmas story evidently kept such
large flocks that they couldn’t fit into the traditional sheep pens. They were in the fields at
night.
These men were the first people to be told ofthe birth oftheir Savior, Christthe Lord.
They were not the elite, the educated, the priests or the ruling class. Yet, God honored
them. He sentone angel, and then a whole multitude ofangels, to invite them to behold His
Son.
Why were shepherds the first to be told? Perhaps because God was notashamed
to call Himself the Shepherd of Israel. David wrote, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not
be in want.” Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep.”

37
The shepherds obeyed. Leaving their flocks behind, they ran to Bethlehem and
found the baby in His unlikely crib. They went back to their flocks with praise and rejoicing.
Years later, several fishermen left their nets and followed Him. They gave their lives for
their Shepherd and turned the world upside down.
Lord Jesus,I am willing to give up what I am doing and run to meetyou.
Amen.
Ted Horowitz

38
December 20, 2010
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their
flocks at night. Luke 2:8
Given the benefit of hindsight, it seems altogether reasonable for us to expect that
the shepherds,having received the angels’message,would ultimately respond appropriate-
ly... further, that they would act on the message they heard. But think aboutitfor a moment.
These shepherds weren’tanticipating some grand celestial message thatnight. They could-
n’t have known that we'd be looking back on their story some 2000 years later. They were
just men at work, going about their daily grind. And they heard the Word...and then sought
Him out.
Now imagine your own daily routine. Consider your mindset at work or at home.
Where is your heart focused? Are you open to hear our Father's message wherever...
whenever? And when you hear it, will you respond and even share it with others, as the
shepherds did so long ago?
Miriam Bailey

39
December 21, 2010
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one an-
other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing thathas happened, which the Lord has told
us about.” Luke 2:15
I’ve always had many questions about the shepherds who heard the angels. Did
they really leave their sheep, their livelihood, to go see if a baby was born? Did they all go
or just a few go while others stayed to watch the sheep? Was there not one in the bunch
that said, “Why do Ineed to see a baby and rightnow?” Did they take their sheep with them
to see the baby the angels told them about? Did everyone in those days do as they were
told?
Then I question what I would do. Would I go and see the baby or stay to watch the
sheep or maybe run the other way? What type offollower am I? Would Ibe excited by the
sight and message from angels and run to see the Savior? Would Idecide to waituntil my
shift was over before going to see, making sure my duty was finished before Iwent. Maybe
I would think I had a weird dream and dismiss italtogether and never go see ifthere was a
baby as the angels told them. Am Ia follower who believes and rejoices when Ireceive the
word? Am I a follower who hears the word butthen needs to think aboutitfirst, finish my du-
ties, and act later? Or would I just miss it altogether for I believed it was impossible for a
message to be sentto me?
I pray I am the first one but often think I have been trained to be the second one.
Think first and act later was drilled into my head by teachers, supervisors, parents, and so-
ciety. Quit being impulsive, think of the consequences before you act, control yourself. If
everyone else jumped off the bridge would you do ittoo? Do you believe everything every-
one says?
But there are times I think we need to let our impulsiveness free. How often do we
see a miracle and keep itto ourselves or only share itwith our Christian friends? How often
do we hear God but then wait to tell it on Sunday morning instead of sharing it then and
there? I’m guilty of it. I’ve seen wonderful things and thank God silently instead of taking
time to give a prayer ofthanks outloud with my kids then and there.
I hope this Christmas to learn to follow the lead ofthe shepherds and go and see the
baby right now, not later, but right when I’m told to. May Ifind joy in the season ofgiving and
share it with all I see. May Ifind the wonder ofChristmas in a child and notonly hold on tight
but share this wonder with all I see. I hope everyone finds the ability to follow immediately
and share the word on impulse. We maybe surprised ofthe results.
From Wikipedia:
The song “Go Tell It on the Mountains”is an African-American spiritual compiled by
John W Work dating back to around 1865.

40
Go Tell It On The Mountains
Chorus
Go, tell it on the mountains,over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountains,that Jesus Christis born!
Verse 1
While shepherds kepttheir watching o’er silent flocks by night,
Behold throughoutthe heavens there shone a holy light.
Verse 2
The shepherdsfeared and trembled when lo! above the earth
Rang outthe angelchorus that hailed ourSavior's birth.
Verse 3
Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born,
And broughtus God's salvation that blessed Christmas morn.
Aimee Birlingmair

41
December 22, 2010
Away In A Manger
Verse 1
Away in a manger,no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
Verse 2
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus,no crying He makes.
I love Thee,Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
Verse 3
Be nearme, Lord Jesus! I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dearchildren in Thy tendercare,
And fit us for heaven,to live with Thee there.
Not celebrate? Your burden is too greatto bear? Your loneliness is intensified during
this Christmas season? Your tears have no end? Notcelebrate?
You should lead the celebration! You should run through the streets to ring the bells
and sing the loudest! You should fling the tinsel on the tree and open your house to your
neighbors and call them in to dance! For itis you above all others who know the “Joy of Ad-
vent,” it is unto you a Savior is born this day, One who comes to lift your burden from your
shoulders, One who comes to wipe the tears from your eyes. You are not alone, for He is
born this day to “you.”
A sister in Christ,
Eleanor Proctor

42
December 23, 2010
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning whatthey had been told
them aboutthis child, and all who heard it were amazed. Luke 2:17
What Child Is This?
Verse 1
WhatChild is this, who,laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greetwith anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
Chorus
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe the Son of Mary.
Verse 2
Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian fear for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Verse 3
So bring Him incense,gold, and myrrh,
Come peasantking to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Growing up, we were both marveled with the mystery and magic of the Christmas
season; it was dancing around us everywhere. The twinkling of the lights, the ringing of
bells, fragrant smells of cookies in the oven, and most importantly was the change in the
spirit of our friends and family. Whatcaused this change in people? There had to be more
to the mystery of this joyous season.
Our parents would load us up and take us to the Christmas pageantatchurch, (sure
to be a hit this year), we would play our various roles, an angel (that would have been me
not Peter) orone of the animals, and as we aged,Mary or Joseph. The songs we sang told
greatstories of a child, This Child. We all worshiped This Child. This had to be partofthe
mystery.
Ah the innocence of childhood, looking back, and seeing again for the firsttime thru
the eyes of a child is just one of many gifts God has blessed us with. Their unquestionable
acceptance ofJesus the son ofGod, “The Babe the Son ofMary”is restoring to adults.

43
The Christmas Season is such a wonderful time and celebrating the birth of This
Child, whatwondermentit still brings to us.
To think that God loved This Child so much He sacrificed His life. And thatwe can
in turn have that same love for This Child just as we did with pure hearts when we were
children is truly something to celebrate. The eyes of children are the windows into their
souls, giving the rest of us pause to remember when our hearts were as pure as theirs.
Our greatest pleasure in life has been watching the life of Jesus unfold before the
eyes of our children and now through the eyes of children we encounter. To be called to
share the good news ofThis Child is indeed a blessing bestowed upon us by God.
So bring him incense, gold and myrrh, come peasant king to own Him: the King of
kings salvation brings letloving hearts enthrone Him.
God bless our children each one with This Child, our Savior.
Christmas Blessings!!!
Peter and Vickie Perme

44
December 24, 2010
The shepherdsreturned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard
and seen, which were justas they had been told. Luke 2:20
And The Glory Of The Lord
Chorus
the mouth ofthe Lord hath spoken it.
The image above is from a larger painting thathangs in the Sistine Chapel in the Va-
tican City called “The Creation of Adam.” It was painted around the year 1511 by the artist
Michelangelo. When a person looks at the complete painting itlooks as ifGod is reaching
down to Adam and Adam is reaching up to God – and itappears at firstglance thattheir fin-
gers are touching. Upon closer investigation, as seen in the image above, we can see that
their fingers are nottouching – that there is a gulf of separation between them.
That separation is sin; that is, the separation between humanity and God is our sin-
ful, broken nature. As a resultofthe actions ofAdam and Eve in the Garden ofEden, a gulf
was created between Creator and created—between God and humanity. As a resultofthat
sin, we cannotofour own will and strength reach out and touch the hand ofthe Lord God.
Tonight at worship we will light the Christ Candle and the Advent wreath will be
complete and full of light. Throughout this season we have been remembering Jesus’ first
coming into the world at Bethlehem, and we have been anticipating and preparing for His
second coming sometime in the future. Jesus is the wedge, the bridge, that fills the gap
between Adam’s and God’s outstretched fingers. The Apostle Paul writes that Jesus is the

45
new Adam. He is notlike the firstAdam who broughtsin and brokenness into the world, but
instead, the new Adam who brought and brings hope and lightinto a broken world.
On this very special day, letus remember thatGod, the Creator ofall things, stepped
down into darkness and was born to a young virgin girl named Mary and her faithful hus-
band Joseph. He wasn’tborn in a palace, buta stable. He didn’treceive the education ofa
scholar, but that of a skilled tradesman who worked with his hands. Itwas those hands that
built the bridge that connected God’s outstretched hand to ours, and thatbridge was builtin
the shape ofa cross.
I encourage you to thank God for this special gift, and to remember why God be-
came a human that first Christmas so very long ago. Jesus came for one reason, and one
reason only – He came to die…for you, and for me.
Merry Christmas!
Pastor Mark

46
December 25, 2010
Christmas Day
In those days CaesarAugustus issued a decree that a census should be taken ofthe
entire Roman world. (This is the firstcensus thattook place while Quirinius was governor of
Syria.) And everyone wentto his own town to register.
So Joseph also wentup from the town ofNazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem
the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line ofDavid. He wentthere to re-
gister with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While
they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a
son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room
for them in the inn. Luke 2:1-7
Silent Night
Verse 1
Silent night, holy night;
All is calm,all is bright.
Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant so tender and mild;
Sleep in heavenlypeace,
Sleep in heavenlypeace.
Verse 2
Shepherds quakeatthe sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heav’nly hosts sing alleluia;
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!
Verse 3
Son of God,love’s pure light.
Radiantbeams from the holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace;
Jesus,Lord,at Thy birth,
Jesus,Lord,at Thy birth.
Silent Night is a Christmas favorite. The history of this song centers on the little
Church of St. Nicholas in Obendorf, a village near Salzburg, Austria, on Christmas Eve
1818 and a church organ thatwouldn’tplay. One story tells how when Fr. Mohr discovered
that the organ was broken, he was distraught over the possibility that the Christmas Eve

47
service might be ruined and that he sat down and quickly wrote these verses –– and then
took them to Franz Gruber, who composed the music. It was first sung on Christmas Eve
1818 in the Church ofSt. Nicholas in Obendorf, and the original accompanimentwas a gui-
tar. Maybe it’s because ofthe story, but the song usually results in a time of reflection.
Then, in looking at the Scripture, one might wonder, “How silent was it, actually, on
the nightJesus was born?” Mary and Joseph had been forced to stay in a stable where you
might have a cow, a donkey, some sheep, and maybe (ifthe innkeeper was lucky) a horse.
Can you imagine the sounds? And the smell!! Yetthe Scripture doesn’tmention either Mary
or Joseph complaining. In Matthew Henry’s commentary, he states, “But when we by faith
view the Son ofGod being made man and lying in a manger, our vanity, ambition, and envy
are checked. We cannot, with this object rightly before us, seek great things for ourselves
or our children.” Maybe that’s what this part of Scripture is all about – time with family and
being thankful for whatwe have.
Written by Melissa Ball
On behalfof Tina Barsness

48
December 26
(Bonus devotion)
What is a gift? Growing up I was taught you could not earn a gift, if you earned
something it was a reward not a gift. When you gave a giftyou gave itfreely without expec-
ting something in return. If you expected something back then it was a barter not a gift. I
learned that gifts were given notonly to family and friends butalso for those we do notknow
for a gift is given out of love. Growing up my family, my church, and my friends gave gifts of
hope when we donated food and time atfood pantries, gifts ofkindness when we putplastic
up on windows for the elderly who could not do it themselves, and gifts ofjoy when we do-
nated to the giving tree so all members ofa family could have something to open and eaton
Christmas day.
When I was young Iasked my dad why we did this. He told me we were celebrating
the Christmas Spirit of giving. Dad explained that God’s gift to us is an amazing giftthatwe
celebrate at Christmas. God’s gift to us is grace. Grace is something we cannotearn, we
can not barter for, we can only receive. God’s gift of grace is given with love to give us sal-
vation, something we cannot earn, do not deserve, and may not understand. God’s gift of
grace is given to us through the birth of Jesus.
One of our most popular Christmas songs was written by John Newton in 1779.
John was a man who grew up notknowing God. As a young man he served in the English
Navy and then as a sailor participating in the slave trade. One nightduring a terrible storm
he was so frightened he called out to God for mercy and said this began his spiritual conver-
sion. After he was ordained into the Church of England, he wrote a sermon abouthis per-
sonal experiences and the day he began to receive God’s grace and his conversion to
Christianity. The sermon gave a message of forgiveness and redemption regardless ofour
actions for we are saved by God’s grace. This sermon was later rewritten into the song
“Amazing Grace.” Newton’s sermon explains the scripture used to write this song. A few
Bible references used to write Amazing Grace are 1 Chronicles 17:16-17, King David, a sin-
ner who was still chosen, the Prodigal Son in the Gospel of Luke, and the story of Jesus
healing a blind man in the Gospel ofJohn.*
Sometimes I forget to thank God for his gift to us for he felt much pain in this gift.
God sent us Jesus as a gift, as our salvation. Jesus is also a giftfor we can learn and un-
derstand God thru Jesus’ teachings and actions. God give up his Son on the cross to bring
us salvation. What an amazing giftfor a loving God to give us, grace and salvation through
Jesus.
So this Advent may we celebrate, be merry, and find joy in a gift given so freely in
love. May we celebration through prayer, music, giving ofour time to help others, and love.
Mostof all, may we open our hearts and acceptGod’s giftto us, a giftof amazing grace.
*New International Version

49
Amazing Grace
Verse 1
Amazing grace!howsweetthe sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, butnow am found,
Was blind, butnow I see.
Verse 2
‘Twas grace that taughtmy heartto fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hourI first believed!
Verse 3
Through manydangers,toils, and snares,
I have alreadycome;
‘Tis grace hath broughtme safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
Verse 4
The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
Verse 5
Yes, when this flesh and heartshall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shallpossess,within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
Verse 6
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbearto shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.*
*Information from Wikipedia
Aimee Birlingmair

Advent Devotional 2010

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