A Different Kind of Christmas 2020 Advent Devotional
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http://clipart-library.com/newimages/advent-clip-art-9.jpg [retrieved November 24, 2020] A Different Kind of Christmas 2020 Advent Devotional A Different Kind of Christmas 2020 Advent Devotional Welcome to A Different Kind of Christmas daily devotional. Inside you’ll find meditations and reflections on the meaning of Christmas as it connects to the four themes we’ll be considering during the Advent season to help us truly live and give like Jesus in celebration of his birth and all year round. Each week begins with a Sabbath pause on Sunday. There is no reflection or scripture to read only a prayer focus for the week and an invitation to rest in preparation for the coming week’s exploration. Then each day offers a brief reading (sometimes including scripture and prayer) written by church members and staff to help focus us on the week’s theme and draw us closer to the power of God in the sending of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. Suggestions for use: • Use this booklet at the same time every day • Prepare a space that is free of distraction and spend at least 10 minutes reading, praying, and being present to God • Consider holding a sacred object in your hand such as a cross, a nativity figurine, a cherished ornament, or other object that will help you focus on the gift of Jesus Christ • Above all, expect God to show up and don’t give up if your time doesn’t feel immediately transformative. Trust that the Holy Spirit is at work in you through this journey. Sunday, November 29th Expect a Miracle Rest. Prepare. Expect. Your journey begins today. This week’s prayer focus: Trust that God is at work. Ask for the courage and hope to dream big Holy Spirit filled dreams. Pray for those who feel hopeless and alone and how you can help them expect more than another empty promise or broken holiday. Monday, November 30 John 14:27: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. After 10 years of living in her own home with Alzheimer’s and a part-time caretaker, Patsy, my mother was moving into a memory care facility. Although I had accepted losing bits of her little by little, this decision was almost unbearable for me. My brother bore most of the burden, and tension that had never existed between the two of us was now obvious. Mom loved Patsy so we asked her to help transition Mom into her new home. On that dreaded first day, Patsy called to tell me that Mom was unhappy, and she didn’t think this was the best plan. Patsy and I cried to each other over the phone, and then assured each other that God would work things out. As we were about to hang up, a question came out of my mouth from nowhere. “Patsy, would you be willing to quit your job and apply for a job at Mom’s facility?” She immediately said she didn’t want to leave Mom and agreed to see if there were openings. Goosebumps spread over me as I recognized God at work. In less than two weeks, the facility hired Patsy even while she completed necessary training. I have been so thankful that Christ filled us with His peace that day and in the days to come. Tensions eased into peace. During this time of COVID, Patsy has been our only link to Mom this entire year. What wonderful blessings come from Christ. We have not been able to be with Mom and she probably hasn’t understood, but God provided Patsy to love her in our place, and we are all at peace. May you, too, find peace this Christmas. Pat Davis Tuesday, December 1 Malachi 3:6: Yesterday, today, forever; Jesus is the same. What a huge blessing that we each can rely on this Biblical promise. This truth does not change no matter the circumstances in which we may find ourselves. We can rest in the knowledge that our God is THE God of miracles. God; three in one, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. What a profound miracle! God is the maker of the Universe, not just the planet we live on. We cannot begin to ponder the vastness of the Universe. We each are a dot the size of a particle of dust within it. Yet, it all is freely given. The miracles continue with Jesus being sent to us. He was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) and then died an agony of death to forgive us any sins and give us Eternal Life. (Luke 19:10). He loves us in spite of the occasions of our foolish decisions and ways Then another miracle, the Holy Spirit, comes to live within us, continuing Jesus’ work in us after Jesus returned to God. (John 16:5-8). The Holy Spirit is our helper, guide, comforter, and even our conscience. So yesterday, today, forever, all this is bountifully given because of God’s grace and love. It is up to us to accept these gifts in this season of giving that never stops. Thanks be to God. Prayer: Dear Lord, we praise you as the God of miracles for the miraculous gifts you gave graciously given us. Please show us ways to share with others as our way to thank you, and honor you. Linda Westmoreland Wednesday, December 2 Do You Not Know? An Advent Meditation Based on Isaiah 40* Gruesome wars, failed kings, unethical politics, pandemics & plagues Comfort, comfort my people1 Slavery, exile, oppression, abuse, racism I will break this yoke and tear off the bonds2 Idols, faithlessness, usurped power To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal? 3 Weariness, shame, hopelessness Everlasting God, creator of all, never tires but gives his strength and power4 Over and over and over and over we fall short, are prideful, greedy, unkind, hateful, unjust, merciless; yet there remains... Everlasting love, loving kindness, building up5 Do I know this miracle of comfort and everlasting love? Do I anticipate it every day and with every failure? Do any of us really comprehend or fully believe? These words lift me up, comfort me, ignite hope, not because I understand, but because they are truth. When I make space for the gift of the Holy Spirit I know the comfort, justice, mercy, strength & power that no other can offer, and I believe. The glory of the Lord will be revealed. All will see it6 Every knee will bow Every tongue confess7 For the mouth of the Lord has spoken it6 Rebekah Ellsworth *Is 40:21, 28 1Is 40:1 2Jeremiah 30:8 3Is 40:25 4Is 40:28-29 5Jeremiah 31:3-4 6Is 40:5 7Philippians 2:10-11 Thursday, December 3 Isaiah 9:6-7: A child is born to us, a son is given to us, and authority will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be vast authority and endless peace for David’s throne and for his kingdom, establishing and sustaining it with justice and righteousness now and forever. The zeal of the LORD of heavenly forces will do this. Just imagine how Mary must have felt, knowing she was to be the mother of such a miraculous child. How strange to know even before your child is born what would be in store for him. Most of us approach parenthood with hopes and dreams for our children, not having any idea of the type of person they will ultimately become. But Mary knew with all certainty from the very beginning – her son was the Messiah. She had the responsibility of nurturing the Savior of the world, God’s son. How wonderful – yet overwhelming – the thought must have been for her. God’s passion and love for us was the reason he provided us a way out of our sin and back to him – through his Son, sent to this world as a tiny baby. Jesus was the miracle the world was waiting for. He would be the Savior whose coming prophets had foretold; he would be God’s loving gift to the world. Diana Spitzer Friday, December 4 Nothing Is Impossible for God Some of the funniest movies begin with a case of mistaken identity. This trope also sets up suspense thrillers and action movies. In fact, it has been used in just about every genre out there. When John was preparing the world for the coming of Jesus, baptizing people in the Jordan River, calling the people who came to him to change their hearts and lives, he was fulfilling the words of the prophet Isaiah. But his work only prepared the way for someone else. Unsurprisingly, the chatter everywhere was that John might be the Christ. This man walking about in camel hair might be the Messiah prophesied long ago. If that isn’t the perfect set up for a case of mistaken identity, I don’t know what is. In the movies, sometimes the person whom the other characters have mistaken for someone else runs with it. Sometimes, they have no choice. But John knew his life’s work and was not going to allow any confusion about it. Luke 3:16 - John replied to them all, “I baptize you with water, but the one who is more powerful than me is coming.