Advent Devotions: November 30, 2015

Today is the first Monday in Advent!
Our reading for today is Romans 13:11-14

11 You know what sort of times we live in, and so you should live properly. It is time to wake up. You know that the day when we will be saved is nearer now than when we first put our faith in the Lord. 12 Night is almost over, and day will soon appear. We must stop behaving as people do in the dark and be ready to live in the light. 13 So behave properly, as people do in the day. Don’t go to wild parties or get drunk or be vulgar or indecent. Don’t quarrel or be jealous. 14 Let the Lord Jesus Christ be as near to you as the clothes you wear. Then you won’t try to satisfy your selfish desires. (CEV)

Practice Martin Luther’s Prayer-form this Advent using these steps:
Pray first thing in the morning & the last thing at night. Begin by saying the 10 Commandments.
Recite the Apostles’ Creed.
Read the lesson provide in this folder.
When you read the scriptures really hear the words/reflect on their teachings/discover the brokenness presented in them/repent of the sins it reminds you of/give thanks to God for his loving forgiveness.
REST in the Lord. Be still and know that I am God. When you work - let your thoughts be of God. 

"Let the Lord Jesus Christ be as near to you as the clothes you wear." Even if you are prone to wearing baggy clothes, for Christ to be as near to you as your clothing is to be quite near. How often do we think about what we will wear more than we think about how near Christ is! Admit it, you rifled through your closet looking for the right outfit today didn't you? (If you did, you know what I mean!) But did you stop to ponder how near Christ is to you in this (and every) moment? That is cause for great joy indeed! 

Holy God, we give you thanks that even now Christ is so very close to us. Help us to discern his holy presence and rely solely on his ways and his will for our lives. In Jesus' holy name we pray. Amen.

Advent Devotions: November 29

Happy New Year! Well, the church new year that is. What a great place to begin again our practice of daily devotions. During this season of Advent, as we wait and watch for the return of Christ, as we journey with the Shepherds yet again to the manger in Bethlehem, let us stop and rest in the Lord along the way.

Martin Luther laid out a simple way to pray which I have paraphrased for your Advent journey.

Pray first thing in the morning & the last thing at night. Begin by saying the 10 Commandments.
Recite the Apostles’ Creed.
Read the lesson provide in this folder.
When you read the scriptures really hear the words/reflect on their teachings/discover the brokenness presented in them/repent of the sins it reminds you of/give thanks to God for his loving forgiveness.
REST in the Lord. Be still and know that I am God. When you work - let your thoughts be of God.

Today's reading is Psalm 122:

It made me glad
    to hear them say,
“Let’s go to the house
    of the Lord!”
2     Jerusalem, we are standing
    inside your gates.

3 Jerusalem, what a strong
    and beautiful city you are!
4 Every tribe of the Lord
obeys him and comes to you
    to praise his name.
5 David’s royal throne is here
    where justice rules.

6 Jerusalem, we pray
    that you will have peace,
    and that all will go well
    for those who love you.
7 May there be peace
inside your city walls
    and in your palaces.
8 Because of my friends
and my relatives,
    I will pray for peace.
9 And because of the house
of the Lord our God,
    I will work for your good. (ESV)

Praying for peace is a prominent theme in this passage. Peace isn't just the absence of conflict, though that is a wonderful thing. Peace (Shalom in Hebrew) is a holistic way of "being" in the world. It is a blessing we offer one another and God offers to us. "I hope ALL is well with you!" is a blessing of peace: your family, your work, your life with God. We are fortunate that there are some days when "all is well" with us. But then there are other days where that is not the case. However, even in the midst of tension or turmoil we know that our loving Father is with us, looking after us, abiding with us, guiding us, comforting us. Isn't that part of our "daily bread" that we pray for in the Lord's Prayer? God certainly is working behind the scenes of our lives each and every day --- especially the days when things are not well with us. 

Let us pray for peace for ourselves, our families, and the world:

Holy and Loving God, you are the source of all peace and comfort. Grant that we would know your love so deeply that even in the most trying of times we would peace a sense of shalom. In Jesus' holy name we pray. Amen.

What are you thinking about today as you read Psalm 122. Leave a comment so we can all benefit from your comments and start a faith conversation! Blessings on your day!

P. Amy