Praying for Our nation leading up to November 5th / Day Seven

The Election

Acts 17:26

“From one man He made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Creator of the heavens and earth, we are confident that You sovereignly place every leader and that You have marked the days for which You use them for Your purposes. By Your mighty hand we pray that You would be merciful to our nation to work in the hearts of those to whom You give authority. We pray for peace. We pray for unity. But whether in conflict or unity we are confident that You are implementing Your plan and accomplishing Your will.

Romans 13:1-2

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”

Prayer

King of Kings, you appoint the nation’s leaders in Congress and at the state and local levels. We pray for our leaders to protect our freedom so that we might live out our faith freely without fear.

We pray for the salvation of all of our nation’s leaders that they may know You. Place people in power who revere You and will serve You for the good of their communities.

PRAYING FOR OUR NATION LEADING UP TO NOVEMBER 5th / Day Six

State and Local Leadership

1 Peter 2:13-14

“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.”

Prayer

Father God, we pray for our governors and our state and local officials. Grant them grace to face their unique challenges regarding secure voting measures, political unrest, COVID restrictions, financial crisis, law enforcement, racial division and so on. Please give them insight into the needs of their communities and discernment to make decisions to lead their states and communities well.

PRAYING FOR OUR NATION LEADING UP TO NOVEMBER 5th / Day Three

Our Judicial Branch

2 Chronicles 19:5-7

“He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. He told them, ‘Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for mere mortals but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. Now let the fear of the LORD be on you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.’”

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You are the Righteous Judge who will judge the nations. We lift up our Supreme Court. We pray that they would judge rightly before you and uphold what is true. We pray for balanced judgment that upholds our Constitution. Grant them divine wisdom to decipher what is right.

Deuteronomy 1:16

“I charged your judges at that time, ‘Hear the disputes between your people and judge fairly, whether the case is between two Israelites or between an Israelite and a foreigner residing among you.’”

Deuteronomy 25:1

“When people have a dispute, they are to take it to court and the judges will decide the case, acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty.”

Prayer

We pray for the judges across our land from the local level to the high courts. Help them to judge wisely and fairly. Please give them wisdom and discernment to balance justice and mercy. Raise up righteous judges who fear You and will judge in accordance with the laws of the land. Give them wisdom during these divisive times to do what is right.

PRAYING FOR OUR NATION LEADING UP TO NOVEMBER 5th / Day Two

Our Legislative Branch

1 Timothy 2:1-2

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

Prayer

Prince of Peace, we pray for the Senate and Houses of Representatives as they make laws to govern our land and delegate our nation’s resources. Grant them wisdom to allocate our resources wisely. Please raise up people who will make laws to protect our freedoms so that we can live peaceful, quiet lives in godliness and dignity.

Matthew 12:15

“Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.”

Prayer

As with the general political climate throughout the nation, members of Congress are fiercely divided into tribal political parties unwilling to work together and compromise for the good of the nation. We pray against this divisiveness that plagues our land. We humbly plead that, by your miraculous power, the members of Congress would put their agendas aside to work together in humility to serve for the good of our nation as our nation’s leaders.

PRAYING FOR OUR NATION LEADING UP TO NOVEMBER 5th / Day One

Our President, Vice President, and Executive Branch

Proverbs 21:1

“In the LORD’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that He channels toward all who please Him.”

Psalm 47:7-9

“For God is the King of all the earth; sing to Him a psalm of praise. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne. The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.”

Psalm 72:11

“May all kings bow down to Him and all nations serve Him.”

Prayer

“King of the Earth, we pray for our President. Please give him divine wisdom to lead this country. We pray that he would serve and revere You in his words and actions. We humbly ask that You grant him grace to know how to unify our country.

We are facing immense challenges regarding public health, a pandemic, financial hardship, economic shutdowns, racial tensions, devastation from violence and riots in the streets, and great political division among many other things. Our President faces fierce challenges and opportunities on the domestic and international fronts. Please grant our President divine wisdom to navigate our country through the uncertain path that lies ahead.”

ADVENT DAY 25: Dec. 25 – 12 Days of Christmas to Epiphany

Devotional

After Christmas, the church calendar enters twelve days of Epiphany – from Dec. 26 to Jan. 6.

The dictionary defines an epiphany as “a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something, an intuitive grasp of reality through something (such as an event) usually simple and striking or an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure.” To have an epiphany is to say, “Aha” or “I get it now.” That is what we should experience on the other side of Christmas. For 1500 years, church traditions continued the season for 12 days. Maybe this year you could leave up the decorations for a few days past New Year’s to help remind you of Christ’s birth.

When I was growing up, my mother every year would pull out the old song lyrics and force all of us to sing the “Twelve Days of Christmas” after family dinner, assigning each of us one verse to solo throughout the song. I grew up in a family of 9 people so some of us got assigned two verses and we all chimed in on the “5 golden rings”. Then, as we grew up and got married, the tradition continued and some inlaws decided to get our mom 12 Days of Christmas goblets to put on the table for Christmas Eve family dinner. You have no idea the finagling, fighting, and outright battling that went on to find the 12th day glass! It was painful. My husband figured out early on if he volunteered to wash the dishes he got a pass on singing the Christmas carol.

Then I ran across some teaching on the song that said it had much deeper meaning. A popular story behind the tune goes back to the 16th century when Queen Elizabeth of England really went after the Catholics, persecuting them to the point that admitting you were Catholic or even suspected of being a Catholic meant torture and death. England had shifted to Protestantism over Catholicism in favor of the Anglican church.

Despite the dire consequences they faced, many Catholics still held onto their beliefs, even passing them down to their children. But they couldn’t do it publicly. So, according to a popular story, English Catholics of the 16th century devised coded ways to pass on their teachings. One secret message was “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

Another theory is that it is simply a device utilized by Christian teachers to help children understand the key tenets of their faith. The story goes that the twelve days of gifts are symbols for catechetical learning, particularly aimed at children hoping to learn their catechism, but also to serve to remind adults of the realities of the Christian faith.

And still, a third theory is that it’s simply a Christmas game – the lyrics stem from a memory game in which the leader says a verse and each of the other players repeats it. Then, the leader adds another one, requiring the players to recite it with the first one – and so on and so forth.

Or the “Twelve Days of Christmas” might be the days after Christmas up until the Epiphany.

None of these theories can be proven and some have major complications that would date it much later than the 16th century. But that doesn’t really matter. Just thinking the song had deeper meaning made it a whole lot easier to belt out those lyrics each year and I treasure those family traditions. Here are the deeper meanings:

● 2 Turtle Doves = the Old and New Testaments

● 3 French Hens = faith, hope, and charity, as the principle theological virtues

● 4 Calling Birds = the four Gospels

● 5 Golden Rings = the first five books of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch,” which gives the history of man’s fall from grace (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy)

● 6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation (highlighting life)

● 7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments

● 8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes

● 9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit

● 10 Lords A-leaping = the Ten Commandments

● 11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles

● 12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed

And the “partridge in a pear tree”? Why, Jesus, of course. Jesus Christ is symbolically represented by a mother partridge protecting her helpless nestlings. Luke 13:34 recounts the words of Christ: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”

Look Up – Connect with God

Read: Luke 13:34

Key Verse: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” (Luke 13:34)

Pray: Lord, thank you for the creativity of people who come up with songs like “The Twelve Days of Christmas” to help us treasure the key tenets of our faith. May we remember what each gift signifies every time we hear that song – this year and in the years to come.

Look In – Family Memories

Discuss: What family traditions do you treasure – from your past as a child to those you celebrate with your nuclear family today? Let everyone tell their favorite, then talk about starting a new tradition. Consider listening (or singing along) to “The Twelve Days of Christmas” with a new understanding of what each gift means in your faith.

Look Out – Connect with Others

If your family is still off of work/school, reach out to community organizations to see if they have any wish lists or special needs after Christmas, then volunteer as a family to help out. You’d be amazed at the drop off of volunteers and attention nonprofits get after the holidays. Consider hosting a special New Year's event at a local ministry.

ADVENT DAY 24: Dec. 24 – Jesus, Our Savior God

Devotional

If you are a parent, you no doubt have had times when you wished you could read your child’s mind – to know what they were thinking, to get a glimpse into their heart. We used to play a game where we would ask, “If you could have one wish, what would it be?” I would wish for the ability to read my children’s minds – not only when they were misbehaving (what were you thinking?), but when they would do the most unexpected and sweetest thing (what were you thinking?) It would have been so much easier to parent them.

Now I find myself wondering what that little baby Jesus was thinking when He finally emerged as fully human. Still God, was He able to comprehend what was happening around Him even though he couldn’t yet speak? Did He wonder what was happening when He messed His diaper? Did He know what that pain in his stomach was when He needed food? Did He want to reach out and offer a hug of comfort to His earthly mother and father when things looked bleak, but unable to physically do so because His muscles had not yet fully developed?

When He was a toddler and the most common word he heard was “No,” did He think, “If only you knew who you were talking to, you’d never say no.”

We know in Scripture when Jesus was 12 and the family went to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, Jesus stayed behind and was separated from His mom and dad for 4 days. They were frantic when they finally found Him in the Temple listening to the teachers and asking them questions. Can you imagine losing your child for 4 days? I freaked out when my son would disappear in the clothing racks at a store for a few minutes.

“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49)

I can imagine Him thinking, “Good grief, don’t you know me by now? I’ve been with you for 12 years!” Sounds like the hallmark of a rebellious pre-teen, but that would not be Jesus. Luke tells us He went to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. Can we pause for just a minute? Obedient all throughout His teen years? Obedient all throughout His young adult years? Every parent’s dream.

Yet Jesus had just one mission during His time on earth – to save sinners and provide a way to reconcile God’s people with God. Was that always in the back of His mind as He made friends, delighted His parents, grew up in stature with God and man? Would the heaviness of that purpose weigh Him down or would He be able to fully enjoy His time as man?

Take time today to give thanks for Jesus’ sacrifice and wonder at the impact such a small baby boy had on the entire world – an impact still felt today some 2,000 years later. Christmas is so much more than a baby in a manger…it’s the greatest gift of all time.

If you haven’t yet accepted that gift of salvation, today’s the day! Admit you’ve sinned and need a savior, tell Jesus you believe He’s God’s son and He came to save you; surrender to Him. Your life will never be the same!

Look Up – Connect with God

Read: Go back and reread the entire Christmas narrative in Luke or Matthew.

Key Verse: “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49)

Pray: Father God, we cannot begin to fathom what it took for you to send your Son to save us, and what it took for your Son to come and fulfill His mission. But we are so eternally grateful that He did. From the innocent face of an infant wrapped in cloths and laid in a manger to the compassion of the man hanging on the cross, we have been forever changed. And we will never stop telling everyone we know about His amazing love. Thank you Lord.

Look In – Family Memories

Discuss: Which character we talked about during this devotional do you most resonate with and why? Be honest and vulnerable, you’ll be amazed at how close your family will be after such sharing.

Look Out – Connect with Others

It’s Christmas Eve! Bring a plate of seasonal treats and drop off at your local fire and police departments. They still have to fully staff on holidays. Let them know they are very much appreciated. Offer to pray with them when you drop them off. Then pray for them during your Christmas service.

ADVENT DAY 23: Dec. 23 – Lessons from Advent Devotionals

Devotional

So far we've spent the month of December trying to see Christmas through the eyes of the people who actually lived it, and we've learned a lot about God in the process. We see:

1. It is always better to obey God, even when it doesn’t make sense. We can trust God. Even when we’re skeptical, when we can’t see how God can do what He says He will do, we can and should trust in Him. Just ask Gabriel, Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, or Joseph!

2. He works through ordinary people, not rulers or kings or rich people. He even works through government officials who don’t believe in Him. Zechariah was an ordinary priest, one of many. Elizabeth was an old woman. Mary was just a young girl in a small backwater village. Joseph couldn’t afford the cost of circumcision in the temple. If you think you’re insignificant, remember God knows your name. No matter what you’ve done or who you are, you can be made new in him. Caesar Augustus had no idea he was helping pave the way for Jesus.

3. When circumstances seem dire, don’t blame God. He may have planned it exactly that way. Remember Mary and Joseph wound up in the stable because there were no rooms at the Inn. Then they had to go hide in Egypt for a few years for safekeeping.

4. God chooses the humble over the important, proud, and rich. Just ask the shepherds. God didn’t announce the birth of his son to rulers or the religious elite but to the lowly shepherds. The church mostly advances along through the winding paths of the ordinary and the outcasts, the misfits, and mundane. If you feel like a misfit, be encouraged. God can and will use you.

5. God visits those whose eyes are fixed on Him. Simeon and Anna waited patiently for several years to see God in human form. And because they never wavered in keeping their eyes fixed on God, they had the privilege of meeting Jesus while Temple priests, scribes, and religious officials missed it entirely.

6. Age is not a requirement for God. He works through the young and old alike and everyone in between. Elizabeth was beyond child-bearing years and Zechariah was almost 100. Anna and Simeon were in their 80s. Mary was barely a teenager.

7. God often tells us ahead of time what He plans to do. Just check out the prophecies about Jesus. He’s not shy about proving the truth of what He tells us in his Word. Stories are great, and we love the Christmas story, but don’t lose sight of the fact that it can all be proven scientifically and mathematically!

8. He plans things out far ahead of time – decades and even centuries. Micah prophesied 700 years before Christ that He would be born in Bethlehem. Isaiah prophesied almost 800 years before Christ about the traits He would have. And the Wise Men were being trained to look for the star for centuries before they actually saw it. God is always planning and preparing for what He says will come to pass.

9. God always wins. No matter how bad the bad guys are, they’re no match for God. Just ask Herod.

10. God can reach anyone whose minds are open and searching for the truth. The Wise Men will forever be known as wise because they were searching for the truth. When it turned out to be completely opposite of what they assumed they would find, it mattered not. They had seen the real God and they worshiped Him.

11. If we want our prayers to be answered, faith makes the difference. God does reward those who depend on him. The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth builds our trust in God. When God proclaims something over our lives or we read something in the Bible, we need to trust Him.

12. Appearances can be deceiving. Faith grasps the truth. So much of the Christmas story is opposite of what people would have expected – the rulers and authorities were powerless and clueless; the simple, poor and ordinary were the heroes. David, as the youngest in his family, knows better than anyone that God looks at the heart, not the outside trappings. Always look for the truth and trust your faith to help you find it.

Let’s not just be hearers of the Word, but doers (James 1:22), always looking for how we can apply its truths to our lives today. Don’t ever open God’s Word without asking yourself what you learned from it and how your life should change to reflect that knowledge.

Look Up – Connect with God

Read: 2 Timothy 3:14-17; James 1:22-25

Key Verse: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

Pray: Father God, thank you for your precious Word of Truth. May we always look for what we should do when we hear that word; help us to put it into practice every day.

Look In – Family Memories

Discuss: Which of these lessons learned resonates the most with you and why? Which gives you the most difficulty? Talk about what steps each of you can take to put this knowledge into practice.

Look Out – Connect with Others

Do you know anyone who may be alone this Christmas? Invite them over for dinner and share part of your family’s tradition with them.

ADVENT DAY 22: Dec. 22 – Isaiah, the Messianic Prophet

Devotional

The story of Jesus saturates the Bible narrative and prophecies of His first Advent are found throughout the Old Testament. One scholar, J. Barton Payne, found as many as 574 verses in the Old Testament that somehow point to or describe or reference the coming Messiah. Alfred Edersheim found 456 Old Testament verses referring to the Messiah. Conservatively, Jesus fulfilled at least 300 prophecies in His earthly ministry.

As one of the major prophets, the book of Isaiah has many of those prophecies, perhaps more than any other book of the Old Testament. In fact, Isaiah 53 is the most quoted Old Testament passage in the New Testament. Maybe that’s why Matthew quotes Isaiah in the story of Jesus’ birth (Matthew 1:23). Jesus himself quotes Isaiah when he announces who He is at the start of His ministry (Luke 4:21).

We just can’t look at the birth of Jesus without considering the many prophecies He fulfilled, and Isaiah is the best place to find those predictions. Known as the “Shakespeare of the prophets,” Isaiah has often been called the “evangelical prophet” because of his incredibly clear and detailed messianic prophecies – all written nearly 800 years before Christ.

Someone calculated that the 36 details about the Messiah in chapter 53 alone have a 1 out of 68,719,476,736 chance of fulfillment by one person. Jesus fulfilled all of them in His first coming. Yet, there are many more prophecies by Isaiah, and these are astoundingly accurate. Here are just a few found in Isaiah:

● God promised to send a Son who would be "God with us" ("Emmanuel"). (Isa. 7:14, 8:8, 10)

● God promised that a virgin would conceive. Mary was a virgin when Jesus was conceived. (Isa. 7:14)

● God promised a "stone" that people would trip over. Jesus is our cornerstone.( Isa. 8:14-15)

● God promised David His Spirit would rest on his offspring. Jesus is that offspring. (Isa. 11:1-2)

● God promised a time when the blind would see. Jesus healed the blind. (Isa. 29:18, 35:5)

● God promised a time when the deaf would hear. Jesus healed the deaf. (Isa. 35:5)

● God promised a time when the lame would be healed. Jesus healed the lame. (Isa. 35:6)

● God promised a time when the mute would speak. Jesus healed the mute. (Isa. 35:6)

● God is the shepherd who tends His sheep. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. (Isa. 40:10-11)

● God will send His servant as a light to the Gentiles. Jesus is a light to the Gentiles. (Isa. 42:6)

● He will not be rebellious or turn away. Jesus obeyed God all the way to the cross. (Isa. 50:5)

● Isaiah speaks of one who will be beaten and spit upon. Jesus was beaten and spit upon. (Isa. 50:6)

● The Suffering Servant will be so abused He will not look human. Jesus was beaten, whipped, crucified, and pierced by a spear. (Isa. 52:14)

● He will be despised and rejected by His own people. He will bear the abuse we deserve for our physical and spiritual healing. Jesus’ tormentors rejected Him and spit in His face. (Isa. 53:4-5)

● The Suffering Servant will bear our sins. Jesus bore our sins. (Isa. 53:6)

● The Suffering Servant is like a lamb that does not defend itself. Although Jesus spoke during His trials, He never offered a defense. (Isa. 53:7)

● The Suffering Servant’s people did not protest His death. Only Pilate protested Jesus’ death. (Isa. 53:8)

● The Suffering Servant will die with the wicked. Jesus died with the two thieves. (Isa. 53:9)

● The Suffering Servant will be buried in the grave of a rich man. Jesus was buried in the grave of Joseph of Arimathea. (Isa. 53:9)

● God ordained that the Suffering Servant would suffer and die. God sent Jesus to die. (Isa. 53:10)

● The Suffering Servant’s sacrifice offers forgiveness of sins. Jesus’ sacrifice offers forgiveness of our sins. (Isa. 53:11)

● The Suffering Servant will intercede for His abusers. Jesus asked God to forgive those who crucified Him. (Isa. 53:12)

● God promises someone to declare good news for the brokenhearted, captives, and prisoners. Jesus is that someone. (Isa. 61:1 – verse Jesus quotes in announcing who he was)

In addition to his prophecies of Christ, Isaiah is where that famous verse we so often quote comes from: “Here am I; send me.” (Isa. 6:8). Are we ready to be sent?

Look Up – Connect with God

Read: Take any one (or 2 or 3) of these prophetic verses and talk about how they were fulfilled in Jesus. Discuss the probabilities any one man could fulfill even a small percentage of those prophecies. Marvel at God’s handiwork and wonder why it’s so difficult for people to accept the truth of who Jesus is.

Key Verse: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Pray: Lord, open our eyes to see, hear, and understand your truth. Thank you for providing such compelling evidence that Jesus is your son. Deepen our faith to believe what you say, always. We are ready to serve you.

Look In – Family Memories

Discuss: Which of the prophecies is most compelling to you? What does that do for your faith?

Look Out – Connect with Others

Bring a plate of Christmas goodies to a neighbor or two, along with an invitation for them to join you at Christmas services at your church.

ADVENT DAY 21: Dec. 21 – John, a Voice Crying in the Wilderness

Devotional

Why include John the Baptist in the characters of Christmas? Think back to the beginning of the Christmas story in Luke – it starts with the birth of John the Baptist. The two were cousins. No doubt they spent a lot of time together growing up; their mothers were close after all. And the two are intricately tied to Jesus’ ministry on earth. John would, ultimately, prepare the way for Christ, calling people to repentance and baptism. You can’t have one without the other.

Apart from Jesus Christ, John the Baptist is probably the most theologically significant figure in the Gospels. Their lives were divinely similar:

● John’s birth was miraculous. He was born of elderly parents who had never been able to have children (Luke 1:7). Jesus’ birth was miraculous, he was born of a virgin who had never been with a man.

● The angel Gabriel announced to Zechariah, a Levitical priest, that he would have a son. Gabriel announced to Mary that she would have a son.

● When Gabriel told Mary that she would give birth to Jesus, he also told her about John.

● When Mary was carrying Jesus in her womb, she visited Elizabeth, and John leapt in his mother’s womb for joy at the sound of Mary’s voice (Luke 1:39-45). This incident shows that even though they are not yet born, John acknowledges the superiority of Jesus and recognizes that Jesus is God's son.

● John’s coming was foretold over 700 years previously by another prophet: "A voice of one calling: 'In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.” (Isaiah 40:3-5). Jesus’ birth was also foretold by Isaiah, among other prophets (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6).

John’s adult life was characterized by devotion and surrender to Jesus Christ and His kingdom. John’s voice was a "lone voice in the wilderness" (John 1:23) as he proclaimed the coming of the Messiah to a people who desperately needed a Savior. He was the precursor for the modern-day evangelist as he unashamedly shared the good news of Jesus Christ. He was a man filled with faith and a role model to those of us who wish to share our faith with others.

His message and ministry marked the culmination of the law and the prophets, but heralded the breaking in of the kingdom of God (Matt 11:12 ; Luke 16:16). So John was truly a transitional figure, forming the link between the Old and New Testaments. He spans the ages with one foot firmly planted in the Old Testament and the other squarely placed in the New.

Makes you wonder if these two, as they were growing up, ever had discussions about what they would be when they grew up – and what they would mean to each other and ultimately, the world. “John, what do you want to do today?” I imagine Jesus asking. “Anything you want, cousin, you’re more important than me. But what do you say we go catch some fish or chase down some bugs?”

Next time your kids are interacting with cousins or other close relatives, think about Jesus and John and how you might be raising the next generation of evangelists who will change the world.

Look Up – Connect with God

Read: Luke 1:57-80

Key Verse: “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him," (Luke 1:76)

“And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.” (Luke 1:80)

Pray: Lord, help us to follow John’s example of faithful and obedient trust in God as we live and proclaim His truth in whatever life circumstances you give us.

Look In – Family Memories

Discuss: Do your children have close relationships with cousins or other family members? Talk about their friendships and what it means to nourish those relationships and carry them through to adulthood.

Look Out – Connect with Others

Reach out to a ministry in your community that serves children like Big Brother/Big Sister. Ask if there is anything you can do as a family that would bless their ministry.

ADVENT DAY 20: Dec. 20 – Who Trained the Wise Men?

Devotional

Before we leave this story of the Wise Men, the horror in Bethlehem and the escape to Egypt, I have one question for you – how did the Wise Men know to look for the star and follow it to the Messiah? They were from the East; Scripture tells us, they were not fully trained in the complete Old Testament. Recall they had to ask Herod where the long awaited king would be born.

So, how did they know? How did they know about Christ’s birth from over 500 miles away from the event (as the crow flies) and around 700 miles away traveling route?

Scripture doesn’t tell us specifically, at least not here in the book of Matthew. But the Bible does give us a clue in the writings in the Old Testament. Not prophetically, like so much of what we learn and can decipher, but from the historical records of Daniel in the king’s service in what was then Babylon.

Recall that Daniel was one of several Israelis taken to Babylon and put into service in the king’s court. The book of Daniel records the use of “wise men” to help the kings understand their dreams and visions. It’s not hard to imagine that Daniel, who rose to prominent positions in Babylon – in fact, he was put in charge of teaching the wise men (Daniel 2:48) – had an influence on several generations of eastern intellectuals. Daniel was very outspoken about his faith in the coming Messiah. This meant that Daniel, the Jewish prophet, had leadership over those who would later be termed the magi. It is possible that Daniel taught Hebrew scriptures and messianic prophecies to the other sages, especially to those who were Jewish. A Jewish tradition even claims that Daniel founded an order of magi and instructed them to watch for the Messiah through the generations. This is very likely because of what we see in the knowledge and response of the Magi that appear at the time of Christ – they were wiser and more in tune with what was happening than the religious leaders of the day, something Christ would berate them for later on (Matthew 16:1-4). Jesus even mentions Daniel in Matthew 24:15.

Further back in history, another 1,000 years or so, Balaam prophesied that, “A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel,” (Numbers 24:17(b). Daniel would have shared that prophecy with his students. But that, by itself, even with the appearance of the star and its placement in the constellations, was hardly enough to cause them to set out on such a long and dangerous expedition. That would take the prophecy of Daniel given to him by the angel Gabriel in Daniel 9 which included the exact timing of when these things would occur.

And then there were the gifts they brought …

● Gold: Declaring their understanding of His royal lineage, both earthly and heavenly.

● Incense: Declaring their understanding that He was Immanuel, which means, “God with us.”

● Myrrh: The bitter herb of death and burial; they knew He was the Sacrifice for the sins of mankind — King, God, and Sacrifice all in one!

These men were obviously followers of the greatest and most powerful Magi of both Babylon and Persia — Daniel, the servant of the Most High God. And what they learned from the sky was only interpretable in an accurate way by their knowledge of Holy Scripture — the book of Daniel. Daniel had left them instructions telling them exactly when they should begin looking for the Messiah!

It blows my mind to think that some 600 years before Jesus’ birth, God planted servants in the East to begin teachings that would ultimately lead them to the newborn King, His son, Jesus Christ. A journey that would take them a year to accomplish. Makes you wonder what he’s planting in your life today that will be “birthed” in coming generations, doesn’t it?

Look Up – Connect with God

Read: Matthew 2:1-12

Key Verse: “When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.” (Matthew 2:10)

Pray: Father God, I thank you for planning so far ahead and always thinking of us as you put the pieces of your divine puzzle in place. We can only glimpse at the master puzzle you’re constantly maneuvering to ensure we find our way back to you. May we never take for granted that precious gift and may we be more attentive to seeing the way you direct our paths to where we are today. We love you Lord.

Look In – Family Memories

Discuss: Looking back over your life, can you identify things God put in place years ago that ultimately led to your salvation? Did you have someone praying over you? Hindsight is always 20/20 and helps us appreciate and see that God is always at work in our lives even when we didn’t know who he was. Discuss this as a family and perhaps start a thank-you journal when you identify those preparations.

Look Out – Connect with Others

Check out organizations that have community gardens in your area and volunteer to help plant/tend those gardens. Often food banks will have greenhouses to supplement fresh produce in their ministries. Be a part of making that happen.

ADVENT DAY 19: Dec. 19 – Angel Gabriel, God’s Protection

Devotional

Gabriel, the angel sent by God to be His messenger and coordinator of all His plans, had one more task to complete the Christmas season.

An angel appears to Joseph, again in a dream, letting him know his family was in danger and he needed to get out of town. Gabriel isn’t specifically mentioned, but since this whole story started with Gabriel being the angel in charge, it’s reasonable to assume that God had him complete the task. And given Joseph’s response, it’s equally possible Gabriel was the angel because the history of trust between them would help Joseph to respond quickly.

Joseph’s response was what we’ve come to expect from this humble man of God – he obeyed, immediately. Scripture tells us he took Mary and Jesus in the middle of the night to Egypt and stayed there until Herod died. Don’t read over that passage too quickly – he didn’t wait until the next day; he woke his family up in the middle of the night and left right away.

The Magi story in Matthew 2 is part of a larger sequence that involves danger for the newborn child and his parents. When King Herod hears about the child, “King of the Jews”, as a potential rival for his power, he seeks to have Jesus killed. As a result the family flees to Egypt, while Herod orders the execution of all boys under two years old in the area of Bethlehem. Only after Herod’s death does the family return to the Land of Israel, though to Nazareth rather than Bethlehem. At each point in their itinerary, the family is guided by dreams and texts from the Jewish Scriptures.

Why was all that necessary? Scripture tells us in the rest of the story – don’t skip over these familiar passages, they are rife with meaning and significance. Three times Matthew refers back to prophecies about the Messiah that were fulfilled in these parts of Jesus’ life:

1. He would come from Egypt – “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Hosea 11:1)

2. There would be weeping over the loss of life – “Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” (Jeremiah 31:15)

3. He would be called a Nazarene – a branch from the root of Jesse.

Three times an angel came to warn, protect, and guide Joseph and his family – to get them out of Bethlehem to avoid the mass murder implemented by Herod, to tell them it was safe to return to Israel, and to direct them to Galilee rather than Judea just to guarantee a safe childhood for Jesus.

Isn’t it comforting to know there are angels all around us maneuvering the circumstances and guiding us to the paths God has called us to? May we hear them when they appear to us in whatever form.

Look Up – Connect with God

Read: Matthew 2:13-23

Key Verse: “When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ 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.”’ (Matthew 2:13)

Pray: Father God, thank you for sending your angels to guide us, teach us, and protect us. Help us to hear them and see them…and most importantly, obey them, when you send them to us. Give us Joseph’s heart to obey immediately.

Look In – Family Memories

Discuss: Looking back over your life either pre or post conversion, can you see any times when there were angels working around you? If not, how do you think God would present an angel if he sends one to you in the future – in a dream, in the words of another person, through scripture? Do you believe angels still come to God’s people here on earth? This should be a lively discussion and give you insights into the hearts of your loved ones.

Look Out – Connect with Others

Offer to shovel the driveways and sidewalks/porches of elderly neighbors, or perform some other task that helps someone out.

ADVENT DAY 15: Dec. 15 – Simeon, the Elder

Devotional

Unlike most popular versions of the Nativity story, Luke’s doesn’t end at the manger, and the three Magi do not appear. Instead, like any Jewish newborn of the day, Jesus is circumcised eight days later and is presented at the Temple in Jerusalem (Luke 2:21–22). At this occasion, a devout man named Simeon rejoices to see the Messiah and gives a prophecy concerning him (Luke 2:29–32).

Who is this Simeon character that just appears from the shadows into the Gospel story? Luke only included one thing about Simeon – he was “righteous and devout,” waiting for the consolation of Israel (the Messiah). Simeon was a faithful follower of God.

God revealed to Simeon that he would not see death until he beheld the Lord’s Christ (Luke 2:26), the comforter of Israel who would fulfill all the promises of the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants, the One who would bring both personal and national salvation. Simeon counted the days until God revealed what he had promised to him personally.

We don’t know how long Simeon waited, but we do know that he was led by the Spirit to go to the temple that day, and he recognized Jesus the moment he saw Him.

Imagine the scene in the temple that day. An old man, stooped and praying, coming often to the temple expecting to see the Messiah. He was probably seen as an eccentric, the one we make jokes about – you know the ones we roll our eyes at?

Simeon, and generations before him, waited for the coming of the One who would console God’s people. But unlike those around him, Simeon still believed God would save His people. He believed the promise of a coming Servant-King, the son of David threaded throughout the law and the prophets. He may not have understood everything he read, but he knew enough to believe. Simeon knew enough to listen to the Holy Spirit’s whisper and was more in tune with God than the scholars who were paid to study and the scribes who were paid to teach.

And then the day came…the day he would finally meet his Savior. In this child Simeon saw the fulfillment of all the hopes and dreams of the Jewish people down through the centuries, and he was overjoyed.

Simeon’s own name comes from a word that means “to hear intelligently.” And he is portrayed as deliberately listening to God’s Spirit. We are told that the Holy Spirit rested on him (v. 25), the Holy Spirit showed things to him (v. 26), and the Holy Spirit moved him (v. 27).

The outcome of Simeon’s listening is one of the most tender scenes in Scripture: Simeon enters the temple to discover Mary and Joseph with their newborn. Then he picks up baby Jesus (v. 28). He has the distinction of being the only person in the Bible who we are explicitly told held the Christ child in his arms.

In that act, he provided a striking visual of not just meeting Jesus but receiving Him unto himself. As Simeon gazed into the brand-new eyes of the Ancient of Days, Christ for him went from being “God with us” to “God with me.” Nothing outwardly about Simeon’s life had changed, yet he told God he could die in peace (Luke 2:29). His inner disquiet had been calmed by Christ, and his soul was at rest.

There is so much to learn from Simeon’s life. HIs perseverance, his attentive listening to God in a cynical age, his worship of the baby Jesus. But what is most important about Simeon was his relationship with Jesus. Simeon could die not because he’d checked off all the right religious boxes or performed all the outward rituals of the Jewish faith, but because he put his faith in the God-man.

We all should do the same.

Look Up – Connect with God

Read: Luke 2:22-35

Key Verse: “And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” (Luke 2:26)

Pray: Father God, what a tremendous and encouraging story of faith. Give us Simeon’s perseverance, teach us to listen to you as attentively as Simeon did. We love you Lord and we worship you.

Look In – Family Memories

Discuss: Talk about how in times of waiting it helps to remember the promises God made and the times He fulfilled those promises. Come up with one or two ideas for practicing attentive listening in your family and share those experiences with God as you invite Him to hone this skill in all your lives.

Look Out – Connect with Others

Reach out to senior citizens in your church, neighborhood or family and ask them to share stories of times they waited expectantly for something they treasured. Listen to how they did it and what the outcome was. Learn from their experiences. If the opportunity arises, share your faith with them and talk about Simeon and the reason you’re asking for their wisdom.

ADVENT DAY 14: Dec. 14 – Luke, the Doctor of Details

Devotional

Every year on Christmas Eve my father would grab the family Bible, open it to the Gospel of Luke, and read the Christmas story to seven young children, wide-eyed and rapt with attention. Yes, it was a requirement before we were allowed to open our presents, but we couldn’t wait to hear the story and we hung on his every word.

Without the Gospel of Luke we wouldn’t know the details of the birth of Christ. We wouldn’t know about the characters involved in that birth and we certainly couldn’t look as deeply into the spiritual meaning of Jesus’ birth like we have throughout these Advent devotionals. And Luke himself tells us why he wrote what he did, “so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.”

Why all these intimate details, and why do these facts come to us only via the pen of Luke? Luke, a physician, consistently provides more detailed physical descriptions than the other Gospel writers do. His training in observation and accurate diagnosis evidently led to greater interest in and closer attention to physical details.

So, as you revisit the Christmas story this year through a sermon, Sunday School lesson, play, or Christmas carol, think about the fact that without Luke, these presentations would be considerably shorter – and a whole lot more boring! Only Luke draws back the curtain and allows us a look into the delivery room to watch as “the Word became flesh and dwelled among us” (John 1:14). What a difference just one person can make!

This Christmas season, give thanks yet again for the Creator God who took on the form of a baby in a manger. This year, however, perhaps stop to also give thanks for the contribution of the Gospel of Luke and its author. Without Luke, we would not have the story of the actual birth of Jesus that means so much to all of us. Remember: it is only Luke that Linus quotes when he stands under the spotlight, blanket in hand, to tell us about the real meaning of the season in A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Maybe we could take time to consider the similarities between Luke and ourselves: like Luke, most of us are not Jewish, not born in Israel, not among Jesus’ first disciples, and not trained as theologians. Yet also like Luke, because of our own unique background and relationship with Him, God is able to use us to convey the good news of Jesus’ rescue mission in a way that no one else can.

This Christmas, let’s agree to appreciate the unique “presence” God has given to us, and to be willing to share some of His “presence” with those who have none.

Like so many who have read Luke’s version of the Christmas story, there are people just waiting to hear your version of His story.

Look Up – Connect with God

Read: Luke 1:1; Luke 2:40

Key Verse: “Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.” (Luke 1:3-4)

Pray: Thank you Lord God for choosing a medical doctor to be an author of one of the Gospels. We are so thankful for Luke – his years of professional training, his attention to detail, his willingness to use his skills to bless others, his obedience to be used by you in such a unique way to provide us such a unique look into the life of the Master. And thank you Lord for coming to earth as a baby to experience life as we do. We love you.

Look In – Family Memories

Discuss: What part of the Christmas story as told in Luke (or Matthew for that matter) is the most special to you and why? How do you think being a doctor changed the way Luke tells the story of Jesus?

Look Out – Connect with Others

Gather a variety of books telling the Christmas story to children and drop them off at your local children’s hospital, orphanage, or other organization focused on helping children in need.

ADVENT DAY 13: Dec. 13 – Christmas Prophecies Come True

Devotional

Prophecy is an indispensable part of the Nativity story – with good reason. God has always spoken and acted in real history, through actual events and real human lives. He has made promises and kept them, and called people to record and remember them. He’s not an obscure deity of myth and legend, but the true God who has done wondrous things – none more so than the birth, life, death and resurrection of His Son.

The facts of Jesus’ life matter. The Christmas story isn’t just about having all the holiday feelings. It’s about a God who promised men and women long ago that he would send His Messiah for them, to save them and give them hope. And it’s about God delivering on those promises centuries later, at the place and moment of His choosing, through the birth of His son Jesus.

There are over 300 prophecies that point directly to the Messiah. Let’s start with eight that deal with the birth and early early years of Jesus’ life:

1. He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).

2. He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14).

3. The Savior would come from the seed of a woman (Genesis 3:15).

4. He would be adored by Magi (Psalm 72:10,15; Isaiah 60: 3,6).

5. He would be called out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:14-15).

6. The Savior would come from the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:3; 17:19; Numbers 24:17), and the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10).

7. The Messiah would be an heir to King David’s throne and would reign for eternity (2 Samuel 7:12-13;16).

8. A messenger in the wilderness would prepare the way for the Messiah so that the glory of God would be revealed (Isaiah 40:3-5).

Mathematician Peter Stoner figured out the probability of one man fulfilling just eight of these prophecies and concluded that the chance of the prophesied Messiah fulfilling all eight is one in 100,000,000,000,000,000 (that’s 17 0s!). He illustrated that by saying if you took that many silver dollars and laid them on the face of Texas it would cover the state two feet deep. Then, blindfold a man and tell him he must pick up one specific silver dollar previously marked. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Stoner concludes, “Any man who rejects Christ as the Son of God is rejecting a fact proved perhaps more absolutely than any other fact in the world.”

Look Up – Connect with God

Read: It looks like a lot, but each of these verses is tied to one of the prophecies about Jesus’ birth: Micah 5:2; Isaiah 7:14; Genesis 3:15; Psalm 72:10, 15; Isaiah 60: 3, 6; Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:14-16; Genesis 12:3; 17:19; Numbers 24:17; Genesis 49:10 ; 2 Samuel 7:12-13; Isaiah 40:3-5.

Key Verse: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

Pray: Father God, it is so humbling and amazing at the same time to see how science and fact prove the truth of your Word. May our faith be deepened and emboldened to know that there is scientific proof that Jesus is who He said He was – the Son of God and Savior of the world. You have given us more than enough for even the most skeptical among us to understand and accept. Thank you for sending Jesus to us. May we be forever grateful for Him.

Look In – Family Memories

Discuss: Talk about the probability of Jesus being the Messiah. Try to come up with other “proven” facts you just accept as true and compare their “proof” with that offered in this devotional. For example, when you walk into a room, you see a chair and you sit down. You assume it will be strong enough to hold your weight, but you have no proof that it will. Why is that easier to accept than Jesus being the Messiah talked about in Scripture for 1500 years before He was born?

Look Out – Connect with Others

Gather some kitchen staples needed for holiday dinners and donate them to a local food pantry.

ADVENT DAY 12: Dec. 12 – Shepherds, Humble Evangelists

Devotional

Stop for a minute and think – you have great news, the best news ever. Who do you want to tell? Who do you go to first? I don’t know about you, but I’d tell my spouse, my closest friend, someone I trust, someone who would be there to celebrate with me.

Who did God choose to be the first to hear about Jesus’ birth? The chief priests or religious leaders of the day? The kings or rulers of the land? No, God chose a bunch of shepherds out in the fields around Bethlehem.

Why shepherds? The Old Testament highlights several shepherds among Christianity’s fabled past, including Abel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Rachel, Moses, David, Job, and Amos – just to name a few. So I guess it’s not too strange. But again, why these shepherds? We don’t know who they were by name, or even how many there were. And while shepherds weren’t highly regarded in Jesus’ day, it's clear that God saw them as important. Here’s what we do know:

● They were the first to be told; they were busy doing what they always do.

● They saw and heard the angel of the Lord; they were afraid at first.

● They saw and heard the host of angels praising God.

● They believed the angel of the Lord and went to see Jesus – with haste.

● They were the first evangelists; they saw Jesus long before the Wise Men. He was less than a week old in the manger.

Although we know very little about these shepherds, it’s possible those near Bethlehem may have been taking care of the temple flocks, the sheep meant for sacrifice. There could be a symbolic reason as Jesus, the ultimate Lamb, would be sacrificed for the sins of the world.

But Scripture paints a more practical picture as well. Shepherds had the capacity to be humbled and amazed that God chose them to hear the news. Imagine how unworthy they must have felt, but how honored. They were far more likely to react the way God wanted than the religious leaders of the day. Because they were connected to Bethlehem they probably knew everyone and were familiar with the community. And because of that humility, because of their amazement, they couldn’t keep it to themselves. After they had seen the baby Savior, they “spread the word” concerning what they knew. They weren’t worried about what others thought of them. They didn’t overthink the situation and talk themselves out of telling the news. They were exuberant, overflowing with joy, and probably still reflecting a bit of the glory of being with Jesus. “Can you believe this Joshua? Com’on we’ve got to go tell someone this wonderful news! They’re gonna be amazed.”

You know what happened when those uneducated, simple shepherds spread the word that a Savior had been born? People were amazed!

God in His infinite wisdom chose just the right group of people to entrust the greatest news of eternity. Those humble men took the good news of Jesus and did just what God wanted them to do – told others, and the world was never the same.

Look Up – Connect with God

Read: Luke 2:8-20

Key Verse: “When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’” (Luke 2:15)

Pray: Father God, today we rejoice with the shepherds in the good news of Jesus’ birth. Help us to set aside any traditions that have become commonplace and help us again explore the amazement of Jesus’ birth. Thank you for sending a Savior for us. Give us the shepherds’ passion to spend our lives sharing this news.

Look In – Family Memories

Discuss: Hand out candy canes to everyone in the family. Talk about the spiritual meaning that can be found in this holiday sweet treat. You can find those meanings in a story called, The Candymaker’s Gift:

● Stick of pure white, hard candy – white symbolizes the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus; and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church, and firmness of the promises of God.

● Form of a "J" – represents the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. It could also represent the staff of the Good Shepherd with which He reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray.

● Stained with red stripes – three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed; a large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life.

So much more than just a fun minty flavored candy! Every time you see a candy cane, remember the wonder of Jesus and His great love that came down at Christmas, and that His Love remains the ultimate and dominant force in the universe today.

Look Out – Connect with Others

Have a small Christmas gathering for your neighbors or co-workers. Share what Christ has done for you and your family and invite them to share in celebrating his birth with you at church on Christmas. Alternatively, if your church is hosting a Christmas play or pageant, invite friends and coworkers to attend.

ADVENT DAY 11: Dec. 11 – Angels, God’s Announcers

Devotional

Angels serve a variety of roles in Scripture: they advocate, they protect, they make war, they announce, they teach, they comfort, and they guide. All of those roles can be seen in the Christmas story.

They announce to Zechariah, Mary, and Joseph. They flood the earth with a celebration to the shepherds. They warn the Magi. They protect Jesus, and they guide his parents to do what is needed. And they witness God’s greatest achievements, including the birth of His son.

Max Lucado brings this scene to life in his book, An Angel’s Story:

Once again I heard the words I had heard first in the throne room. Only this time I understood. So, this is He. Immanuel. So this is God’s gift. A Savior. He shall save His people from their sins.

“Worthy is the Lamb.” I whispered as I knelt before my God. My heart was full. I turned to Mary as she cradled her child and I spoke. It didn’t matter that she couldn’t hear me. The stars could. All of nature could. And most of all, my King could.

“Do you know who you hold, Mary? You secure the Author of grace. He who is ageless is now moments old. He who is limitless is now suckling your milk. He who strides upon the stars, now has legs too weak to walk; the hands which held the oceans are now an infant’s fist. To Him who has never asked a question; you will teach the name of the wind. The Source of language will learn words from you. He who has never stumbled, you will carry. He who has never hungered, you will feed. The King of creation is in your arms.”

“What manner of love is this?” Michael whispered, and again we were covered with silence. A blanket of awe. Finally Michael again opened his mouth, this time to sing. He began quietly, pausing between the words.

GLORY, GLORY, GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST

One by one we all joined in. Gradually the chorus grew louder and faster. Our praise rose into the realms of the universe. In the most distant galaxy the dust on the oldest star danced with our praise. In the depths of the ocean, the water rippled with adoration. The tiniest microbe turned, the mightiest constellation spun, all of nature joined with us as we worshiped.

IMMANUEL, THE GOD WHO HAD BECOME FLESH.

Look Up – Connect with God

Read: Luke 2:8-15

Key Verse: “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’” (Luke 2:13-14)

Pray: Lord, give us eyes to see as the angels do – your glory and honor and beauty in all your creation. Deepen our faith to trust you in all circumstances.

Look In – Family Memories

Discuss: Play “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” and in the lyrics hear the whole Christmas story retold from their vantage point. Talk about what it would have been like to be there at that moment, hearing the angels sing. Because they know God’s plans, they must have been just a little sad about what was to come, a time when they would not be allowed to protect Jesus or rescue Him from harm. Yes, they trusted God and knew His plan for redemption was good; it was just going to be so difficult to witness. Were those thoughts in their minds that first Christmas day?

Look Out – Connect with Others

Join with some friends and go caroling around your neighborhoods to bring the good news to friends and neighbors.

ADVENT DAY 10: Dec. 10 – Manger Animals, the First Witnesses

Devotional

In his book, An Angel’s Story, Max Lucado sets the scene for the animals.

“I’ve heated the water!”

”No need to yell, Joseph. I hear you fine.”

Mary would have heard had Joseph whispered. The stable was even smaller than Joseph had imagined, but the innkeeper was right – it was clean. I started to clear out the sheep and cow, but Michael stopped me.

“The Father wants all of creation to witness the moment.”

Mary cried out and gripped Joseph’s arm with one hand and a feed trough with the other. The thrust in her abdomen lifted her back, and she leaned forward.

“Is it time?” Joseph asked.

She shot back a glance and he had his answer. Within minutes the Anointed One was born. I was privileged to have a position close to the couple, only a step behind Michael. We both gazed into the wrinkled face of the infant. Joseph had placed hay in a feed trough, giving Jesus His first bed.

All of God was in the infant. Light encircled His face and radiated from His tiny hands. The very glory I had witnessed in His throne room now burst through His skin.

Think about it for a minute…God wanted all creation to witness the birth – the cows and sheep, donkeys and goats. If you have a pet, you know how they become a part of the family. And this family, with no judgment or doubt or fear, happily gave up space in their small stable to make room for the King of Kings.

Look Up – Connect with God

Read: Luke 2:6-12

Key Verse: “This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’” (Luke 2:12)

Pray: Father God, thank you for dogs and cats and goats and chickens that bring such joy and love to our lives; they help us learn what unconditional love truly is. May we show that same love and joy to each other as we prepare for Jesus’s birth this Christmas season.

Look In – Family Memories

Discuss: If you have a family pet, talk about how you think he or she would have reacted had they been in the stable that first Christmas night. Remind yourselves that God created animals and gave them personalities too.

Look Out – Connect with Others

Contact your local animal shelter and offer to volunteer as a family to help animals in need. Alternatively, if you have access to a farm, you could offer to help the farmer prepare for the holidays.

ADVENT DAY 9: Dec. 9 – Innkeeper, the Unlikely Host

Devotional

In his book, An Angel’s Story, Max Lucado imagines the scene at the Inn in Bethany when Mary and Joseph arrive.

“But don’t you have just one room?” Joseph pleaded

“To be honest, I did. But only moments ago a large delegation arrived and took every last bed. I don’t have a place for you and your wife.”

Joseph tried to be patient, but his jaw was tightening. He leaned forward so his face was inches from the innkeepers. “See that lady in the cart?” he asked through his teeth. “She is my wife. She could deliver any minute. She nearly had the baby this afternoon in a wagon. She is in pain right now. Do you want the baby to be born here in your doorway?”

“No, of course not, but I can’t help you. Please understand, I have no more rooms.”

“I heard you, but it is midnight and cold. Don’t you have any place for us to keep warm?”

The man sighed, looked at Mary and then at Joseph. He walked into his house and returned with a lamp. “Behind the Inn is a trail which will lead you down a hill. Follow it until you come to a stable. It’s clean, at least as clean as stables usually are.” With a shrug he added, “You'll be warm there.”

Have you ever wondered why God didn’t make a room for Mary and Joseph? Did He forget? Was He unable to change the circumstances? For crying out loud, He can do anything; why can’t He make provisions for His child to be born in warmth and cleanliness? Lucado posits that God engineered the overbooking at the Inn to ensure they were out of sight and protected from enemy attacks. We don’t know because Scripture doesn’t tell us.

Lucado imagined the angels surrounding the stable, protecting Mary, Joseph, and Jesus.

We were a wreath of Light around the stable, a necklace of diamonds around the structure. Every angel had been called from his post for the coming, even Michael. None doubted God would, but none knew how He could fulfill his promise.

Just stop and think about it for a minute. If you were the innkeeper, would you try to find some small space within the building? What about later that night after Jesus was born? I’m sure the shepherds didn’t waste any time spreading the good news. Would you feel like a heel knowing you refused to find a place for the Son of God? Or would you be proud of yourself for having the foresight to offer the stable as an alternative?

It was certainly a night to remember!

Look Up – Connect with God

Read: Luke 2:1-7

Key Verse: “And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.” (Luke 2:6-7)

Pray: Lord, thank you for stories like this of the innkeeper that show us how the way we behave in all circumstances can have eternal consequences. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear you at work in and around us each and every day. May we not push you away because we have “too much to do;” may we always find room for you.

Look In – Family Memories

Discuss: Ever go on vacation and forget to make reservations? Then fail at finding a place to stay? I have, it’s miserable! Relive those memories or talk about why you try and plan out vacations with accommodations ahead of time. Ask each other what you think the innkeeper was thinking that fateful night.

Look Out – Connect with Others

Does your church have any missionaries who are coming into town that may need a place to stay? Consider opening your home so they won’t be left out in the cold.