Looking for Jesus 2019 Advent Devotional Peachtree Road UMC Hope

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Bill Britt Isaiah 40:31 Looking for Jesus But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Our Advent series this year is Looking for Jesus. In this devotional we have used images from different Today we begin the busy holiday season. You already know it will be filled with special worship services at the countries around the world to capture the need that church, parties with friends and folks with whom you work, and family celebrations here in Atlanta or far away. is common among us all—the hope that is offered to This also can be a time of great stress as folks tend to work extra hours, burn the candle at both ends, and drive each of us no matter where in the world we are. themselves harder than ever before to end the year well. Your church understands that and has prepared this devotional guide to help you celebrate the season and sense the presence of God in your midst. People everywhere around the world are searching. They are looking for that which will fill their innermost Most of you are familiar with the hopeful passage cited above from Isaiah 40. It is a favorite of mine with its need. Sometimes, mistakenly, they think what they imagery of soaring through life like an eagle. You also may know that some versions of the Bible translate the are looking for can be found in fame, wealth, or word “hope” in this passage as “wait.” It is interesting to think about hoping and waiting as two sides of the other things, so they will spend their lives going after same coin. these. Yet when they achieve them, they realize their innermost need is still not met. They are still empty. I know. On the one hand waiting sounds like sitting around and twiddling your thumbs as you wait for something They are still longing and yearning to be filled. What to happen. However, think of it this way—a waiter is someone who waits on you. That person serves you while every one of us is looking for, what can only fill our you are in the restaurant. They’re not over in the corner passing the time away until the restaurant closes and innermost need, is Jesus. Nothing else, no one else. they get paid. They are busy—waiting. In a similar way, the Advent season calls us to wait for Christ to return That is why, throughout the ages, different people and to do it hope-full-y. Start by emptying your life of some things. When your life is full, there is no room for across the world have been looking for Jesus. Christ. So, maybe you could empty your calendar and free up some time. Empty your closet and your pantry, and give some things to people who need them more. And while you’re letting go of some things, take on some My prayer for you is that wherever you are in the other things. Help somebody. world when you read this devotional, you will find what you have been truly looking for—Jesus. Recently I saw a news story about a lady who lives in New York. She has cancer and has been informed that the treatments will not prolong her life. She is receiving hospice care at home and will not make it to Christmas. According to the reporter, Christmas is her favorite time of the year, and her neighbors are trying to help her experience it. One came over and decorated her house. Another did her shopping for her. Still others went to the mountains and brought back truckloads of snow for the front yard. The television showed a smiling woman on the porch with her neighbors singing carols to her. It certainly looked like Christmas. It looked to me like Christ was present. It looked like those people were waiting! It looked like hope!

I love our Advent traditions. Tonight the children will sing their carols and lead us as we light the great tree in the sanctuary. Each Sunday we tell more of the story of the approach of Christ, and then, on Christmas Eve, we light candles in a dark sanctuary and proclaim: “Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome Eiffel Tower | Paris, France it.” Our traditions are not celebrations of the past—they are signs of hope. Don’t let anybody or anything take your hope away from you!

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Beth Chandler Lesley Cogburn Jeremiah 17:7-8 Romans 8:24-25 But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. While it is ideally a time to reflectively prepare, the Advent season is more realistically a time of overwhelming pressure and hectic days. There are end of the year deadlines, tested family My father, Aulbert Brannen, was a simple farmer who truly taught me to trust relationships, loneliness if a loved one is absent, and the financial burdens of holiday spending. in the Lord and the value of hope (and hard work). Our family prayed for rain We find ourselves thinking too often—“I hope I can get through this,” “I hope I can get this all most every day as the heat of the south Georgia summer came upon us, and done,” or “I hope everything turns out OK.” The feelings brought on by these hopes are stress, this scripture from Jeremiah has always reminded me of my Dad’s tremendous skepticism, fear, and most of all a lack of control. faith and the life brought to our humanity by water—especially when the heat appears. He truly celebrated the rain over the summer months—even Let’s face it, we start many phrases with “I hope” all throughout the year when it comes to our running out to dance in it—singing “Praise the Lord.” It brought him hope for children, our budgets, our significant relationships, and simply our peace of mind. All these the bounty of the land that he so dearly loved in Bulloch County. things we can see—they are present in our life—and their presence can make us feel hopeless. Paul reminds us that Christian Hope—the hope the Love of God gives us—is a hope of promise As our family suffered our own “heat” through my Mom’s cancer and and patience. It is not the beginning of a plan that WE will put into action to solve our present treatment and my Dad’s later cancer and death, he modeled hope and his concerns or ambitions. It is the FAITH that God will provide even when it is unseen. So the next strong faith for us. He did not fear. He comforted us by repeating one of his time you are “hoping” for something, try changing those words to “I will pray for” or “I will turn to favorite hymns— Great is Thy Faithfulness: God’s word” trusting that He already knows and has already provided. Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Scripture reveals to us principles that we can start with and come back to when our life feels off Morning by morning new mercies I see, track. Our hopes are many and our expectations are high. What is the most reliable GPS? The All I have needed thy hand hath provided, Bible. It has stood the test of time, does not change, and has never lost signal. Scripture keeps us Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! living purposefully and Scripture will always give us HOPE.

He told us through lots of pain at the end of his suffering that he wanted to This season of Advent, COMMIT to the study of Scripture. Below are some of the Scriptures I “get on his yellow airplane and fly up to see the Lord.” We puzzled over this have learned to turn to when I am feeling myself veer off track: yellow airplane reference, but he was too sick to explain it at that point in his For those “what if” moments: For those struggles in our relationships: final journey. That was a year of drought for us, yet he’d planted us by the 2 Timothy 1:7 Romans 5:5 waters to spread our roots with his tremendous faith. As we spread his ashes Luke 12:31 2 Samuel 22:29 on his beloved farmland on a beautiful spring day, we were all stunned when Proverbs 3:5-6 Isaiah 59:1 a yellow airplane literally flew fifty feet over our heads...confirming to us the Jeremiah 29:11 Romans 8:31 hope and trust from our faithful Dad and the gift of Jesus from our Father in Heaven. This local crop duster unknowingly provided the “water” we needed For those “if only” moments: For those worries for our children: that grieving morning. So many times since my Dad’s death, when “heat” Isaiah 43:19 2 Samuel 22:17 came upon our family—through cancer’s return for my Mom or other of life’s 2 Corinthians 5:17 Philippians 1:6 challenges, we’d look to the skies and see that symbol of hope for us—the little 1 John 1:9 Jeremiah 31:17 yellow airplane. God’s timing and mercy is perfect. We see one often during Psalm 103:12 Ephesians 3:20 fun family times at the beach or celebrating our UGA Bulldogs at the Rose For those discouraged moments: For those doubts in the Goodness of God: Bowl parade and have a special yellow airplane Christmas ornament! Our 2 Corinthians 12:10 Isaiah 55:8-9 family has been blessed with this visible symbol over and over to remind us of 1 Peter 5:10 Psalm 84:11 the hope brought to the world by Jesus Christ through our Dad’s inspiration. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Lamentations 3:22-23 2 Corinthians 4:17 Ecclesiastes 3:1 Trees planted near the waters with strong and deep roots and little yellow airplanes in the skies—all reminders of the trust we place in the Lord during For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the the times of heat. During our preparation of Advent is the perfect time to encouragement of the Scripture we might have HOPE. (Romans 15:4) reflect on the hope Jesus brings to our broken world, and the tangible signs God provides us to remind us of his grace, mercy and love. What sign has Rejoice in the Hope that is God’s promise. Wishing you and yours a blessed Advent season. God provided you?

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Chris Lee Brittney Haynes Psalm 43:5 Psalm 147:11 The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. As a man and a parent, I struggle constantly. I often feel like I am barely hanging on. I joke that my family and I are a flat tire or a twisted ankle from completely falling apart. But inside the jokes are grains—or more like full- Have you ever stopped to think about the role hope plays in our lives? Imagine if it was absent. How would you sized boulders—of truth. make it through the most trying times at work? Could you weather the trials that occur even in your most precious relationships? Would our future generations ever know the boundless potential they have within them? I worry that I am not enough. Not a good enough father, husband, friend or leader. I know my shortcomings well and spend way too much time hiding them rather than addressing them. As a parent, I am not home for family I’m convinced our lives would be pretty gloomy and aimless without hope driving everything we do. But as dinners, my kids, heaven forbid, drink water from the tap, and…I am embarrassed to say, have eaten out…a lot. Christians, we know there’s great news: We are irrevocably blessed with God’s gift of hope in this life and the next. To God be the glory! Add to this the barrage of “end of times” messaging: “Are we headed to war with China? Is the water safe to drink? Are our children getting too much screen time? Depression rates among teens are skyrocketing. Is it safe As much reason as we have to be hopeful, circumstances in our lives occasionally put this to the test, and too to go to concerts in an era of mass shootings?” I could go on with the litany of daily click-bait that beseeches often, the feelings of hope and God’s presence feel too far away. In those times, I encourage you to lean into me and all of us. His gift of hope and salvation through Jesus Christ; seek hope and His love in all things, and I think you’ll find I admit, it gets to me. yourself wrapped in its abundance.

When I am not hiding from reality, I get overwhelmed. I get depressed. We get one time here on Earth for our Where will you find it in your everyday life? Be prepared for the answer to both surprise and delight you. I lives and for our children. I fear standing before the Lord and accounting for my time here. Am I maximizing my encountered it recently on a not-so-great day, staring outside the window at my office. A homeless man caught time and gifts or am I screwing it up? my attention and caused me to worry as he made a few unsuccessful attempts to cross traffic on the street below, which was worsened by nearby construction. What gave him the eagerness and fortitude to cross So, God…what’s up? What’s the plan here? the street after some harrowing near misses? On the other side of it, one of the construction workers was awaiting his arrival with a bagged lunch and the warmest greeting. That certainly wasn’t their first meeting, For me, a simple Psalm captures and comforts me; Psalm 43 and specifically verse 5: but that moment of hope and expression of love was most unexpected for me—and it arrived at a time when Why are you cast down, O my soul, I think I needed it just as much as either of them. Not long after this, I found such hope again during a recent and why are you in turmoil within me? visit with our congregation to a metro prison facility, where with no thought of anyone’s transgressions, the Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, inmate population was showered with God’s unconditional love through their doting children, as well as the my salvation and my God. servant acts of our members—their brothers and sisters in Christ. Through these experiences, I was reminded of what a blessing it is to not only receive this gift, but to help others receive it just the same. God always meets me where I am. From Jacob, I have learned that it is alright to question God. God’s big enough to handle my simple disputes and questions. God is not threatened by my asking about anything. I take comfort During this Advent season, take care to not only embrace the gift of hope through salvation, but let God use that he just wants to talk with me. By “talking” I actually mean complaining or questioning…that is alright. And, you to allow others to do the same. If you’re looking for His presence and hope that His unfailing love endures from Paul I learn to take all things to God in prayer. The sage Garth Brooks taught me that God often answers to no end, seek it everywhere and in everything—and as we delight in these blessings our Father gives us, He with Unanswered Prayers. God is totally comfortable with my questioning his timing and his decisions. I often do will delight in us. not agree with God’s decisions or his time frame, but I have faith and trust.

Psalm 43:5 soothes and provides comfort to me that I am not alone in struggling. We were never promised a rose garden, but we were promised grace and love. Psalm 43 is the path from depression to praise—it’s a study in faith and trust. Through this simple Psalm, I take solace that struggle is part of the plan and that God’s love is unconditional. In tough times, take a knee and pour out your heart. God will provide comfort in the midst of the maelstrom.

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Daniel Ogle Ellen Daugherty John 1:4-5 Romans 15:13 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Our world today is filled with so much darkness, and in the midst of this, many people may ask, “Where can we find hope in such a time with horrible things encroaching on our lives?” I It only takes twelve words to tell the story. The light shines in personally believe that the answer is found in little moments that are inevitably a part of our the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it. everyday lives. Around the holidays in particular, people need to feel loved, and we have the opportunity to provide hope to others and bring some light into the darkness of this world. One of the dangers of Christmas is to only dwell on the light. While a simple act of kindness is not the fix to all of the violence, inequality, and corruption We are, of course, looking towards the light. We are waiting that are a large part of our world, it does have the power to make one person’s bad day just a for the light. And like the wise men who follow the star, we little bit better. Listening to someone talk about their day, smiling and saying hello to strangers, are at our best and our most faithful when we trust in the and checking in on a friend you haven’t heard from in a while, can truly make all the difference light and follow it. in their day—it can give them hope. You can give them hope for themselves, hope for the But the other half of these twelve words is about the darkness. future, and hope in God and Jesus. If you believe that a small action can provide some light in And the truth, if we can be honest with ourselves and honest this dark world, then you can help others believe this too. Romans 15:13 says, “May the God with each other—if only for a moment—is that most of us of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,” so if you do believe, you can use your own know more than we would care to admit about the darkness. faith and hope in the Lord to help others see this boundless hope too.

We read the headlines, watch the stories, and click on the news that announces the darkness in the world and in our communities. But the deeper darkness we face is the darkness we experience in our own lives, in our families and in our relationships with those we care about.

We experience the darkness when relationships fracture and we don’t know how to put them back together. We experience the darkness when bitterness becomes our constant companion and prevents us from seeing the goodness in each person God made. We experience the darkness of guilt when what we do doesn’t match up with who we want to be.

One particular translation of this passage renders the final phrase of these twelve words “The darkness cannot overwhelm the light.”

And that’s the Gospel we need. Regardless of how it shows up in our lives, many of us know all too well what it is like to be overwhelmed by darkness. And so the truth that we need to know, the hope we long for, the promise we need to cling to is that darkness is not total and there is a power stronger than the darkness which threatens to take hold of us.

And so as we wait for the light to come at Christmas, we wait knowing that the present troubles we face are not too much for the light of Christ. As we watch for the light, we watch in the hope that the darkness we face cannot eclipse God’s light. As we await the good news of Christmas morning, we can rejoice in the promise of Emmanuel—that God is with us, even in the moments of darkness we face. And as we prepare to receive the gift of Christ, we look forward in faith that the light shines in the darkness still, and it is that light that overwhelms all of the darkness.

Even today. Even for us. Thanks be to God.

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Julie Wright Philippians 4:4-9 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Two of my children were born during December. This was a time that should have been focused on newborns and recovering from C-sections, rather than self-imposed expectations to focus on seasonal things that needed to be done. Things like addressing and Peace sending out Christmas cards, baking, attending parties, buying and wrapping gifts, and decorating. While I did accomplish some things prior to their births, there is only so much you can do when you are nine months pregnant! And of course, newborns do not allow much time for sleep or rest.

How can we find peace during this busy season? There are so many activities associated with the Christmas season. So many expectations placed on our time and our wallets. So many check boxes on our to-do lists. But peace cannot be found in the midst of frenetic activity. It can be found through Jesus.

So perhaps we should use the criteria listed in verse 8 above—true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy —to be our guide in choosing what is important to accomplish. Doing so would reduce our list to something manageable. It would allow us to rejoice in the Lord’s birthday that we will soon celebrate, as well as look forward to His second coming. It would allow us to concentrate on modeling our lives after our Savior, increasing our sense of peace, and help us maintain our focus on Christ Jesus.

Let us challenge ourselves to keep these criteria—true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy—in front of us not only during this Advent, but also into and throughout the new year. And the God of peace will be with us.

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Laney Noble Pablo Mejias Psalm 29:11 Isaiah 54:10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for I am a 17-year-old junior in high school. Faith is a tricky topic for me right now. With you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has the stress of loads of homework, SAT prep, sports, and friends and family, my faith and compassion on you. relationship with God are not my first priority. But I have come to realize that in my crazy, hectic life, Jesus is still there, loving me. He is the friend that always has my back, my other This is not a coded message, but rather a plain, and wonderfully comforting half, the gum under my shoe. Although my faith is not on the sturdiest of foundations, assurance, isn’t it? A litany of hope told through beautiful imagery to the people Jesus is still there standing on top, holding out his loving hand, beckoning me towards him. of God is found in the first part of Isaiah 54. Promises for the future continue I have come to realize that no matter how stressed and overwhelmed I feel, Jesus will still on through the second part to the chapter’s end. I encourage you to read it in love me. Finding Jesus and having faith in Him brings a sense of calm, peace even. The full. The Good News Bible version ends the chapter in verse 17 with “The Lord Hebrew word for peace is shalom, meaning “completeness.” During this Advent season, has spoken.” The word of the Lord is a balm for the spirit if ever there was one peace is fulfilled through our faith in Christ. Although the Christmas season is hectic and because it endures, never fails, and accomplishes the Lord’s will. (Isaiah 55:11) crazy, full of stressful due dates and family coming in town, Jesus is the calm during the storm. Psalm 29:11 words it perfectly, “May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Music plays a central role in my life, and it always has; always will. I have Lord bless his people with peace!” found peace in hymns. I have experienced joy in songs. My hope has been renewed by spiritual songs. And my faith in God’s love has been enhanced by music in general.

I invite you to experience peace in the presence of God by listening to music in all the different seasons of your life too.

From the familiar: ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, and to take him at his word, Just to rest upon his promise, and to know, ”Thus saith the Lord.” When peace like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, “It is well, it is well, with my soul.”

To the not quite so: Upon this rock, I’ll build my kingdom, And on this rock, forever and ever it shall stand, Upon this rock of revelation, I’ll build a strong and mighty nation, And it shall stand the storms of time, upon this rock; I’ll build my church upon this rock! UPON THIS ROCK! - Gloria Gaither as sung by Sandi Patti

One more for the road: I’ve been smiling lately Dreaming about the world as one And I believe it could be Someday it’s going to come ‘Cause out on the edge of darkness There rides a peace train Peace train take this country Come take me home again. - Cat Stevens as sung by Dolly Parton

I hope you’ll be riding with Jesus on the Peace Train; let Jesus take the wheel.

Merry Christmas!

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Burton Brooks Amy Bentley Isaiah 26:3 John 16:33 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trust in you. trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

We are all looking for and seeking peace in our world today. This verse Finding things in the dark is pretty difficult, and it was dark that day—really dark. reminds us to put everything in God’s hands and he will provide. In our It wasn’t dark outside, mind you, but I felt nothing but darkness all around me. My personal lives, we need peace and quiet to rest, peace in our homes to heart was so heavy, because of a very difficult situation that I’d gotten myself into. get along with each other, peace in our neighborhood to be a community. There was no one else to blame. It was all on me. We also seek peace at work to be an effective team and accomplish goals both personally and for our organizations. Peace is also useful I don’t remember where I was going that day when I called Uber, but I remember at church so we reach our goal of effectively ministering to the larger being greeted by the driver, a cheerful woman named Deborah. I could tell that Atlanta community. We need peace in our souls to be renewed and able Deborah was going to be a talker, which normally, I would have loved, but not on to effectively serve God in all of these places—especially with Christmas this day. I was right, Deb chatted with me about the beautiful weather, then asked cheer here in December. This is a great prescription during this joyous how I was doing, to which I responded, “Eh. Pretty good. How are you?” She went time of year that should not be, but tends to be, somewhat stressful. on to tell me her daughter would be graduating soon and how proud she was of her. She told me the extra income from driving for Uber would help with her An old Hebrew word for peace that is still used in Jewish meetings and daughter’s college expenses. “Every little bit helps!” she said. As she shared about ceremonies is “Shalom,” which means complete peace. Complete peace her life, I was thankful that I didn’t have to do any of the talking. is gifted upon us and blesses us with health, clarity for our minds, a heart with strength, and a spirit that has holiness. God has always taught us As we reached my destination, Deborah looked at me and said, “Well, itwas to give and we will receive. At this time of year, the strength I get from great meeting you, Amy. Can I give you this?” She handed me a postcard with participating in our Christmas Kindness program (which helps those in handwriting on the back. I took it and she told me, “I like to give theseout need), enjoying Christmas carols during Sunday night services, and just sometimes or just leave them around town in random places. Maybe you could being a part of the celebration gives me an overflow of peace. leave this one somewhere for someone else later.” I said, “Ok” with confusion in my voice, thanked her for the ride and stepped out into the sunshine to read what As Christians, we look for that perfect peace in Jesus and can find it at she had written. Christmas time. He forgives us of our failures and helps us live our lives so that we can serve God faithfully, cheerfully, and wisely here in December This is what the postcard said… and throughout the year. It’s a wonderful gift and something that we Hello. I know we’ve never met before but I am writing this for you. Yes you. You are should always take advantage of. an incredible person. I hope your day has been okay and you are able to find a few silly things in this wacky world to make you smile. You do have a beautiful smile. You So, today, in the midst of yet another busy holiday season, let’s seek God’s are loved and cared for by many people, and you deserve love and care. You make perfect peace by embracing His presence and placing our faith in Him. the world a better place just being you. You don’t need to do anything extraordinary. Merry Christmas. Who you are is enough. You are unique. You are irreplaceable. You are needed. You have purpose. Thank you for all the wonderful things you do. I hope the rest of your day is amazing.

And just like that, a little light crept in bringing with it the warmth of love and peace that I desperately needed. I saw Jesus in Deborah that day, and I didn’t even know it until after I’d gotten out of her car.

Take heart, my friends! Look around today, and I mean really look at the people that cross your path. One of them might be Jesus, and he or she may have the kind of peace that only Jesus knows that you need.

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Blair Brady Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

In today’s world, peace can seem further away than Mars. Yet, we seek peace anywhere we can find it. Searching can often leave us feeling helpless, anxious, and full of doubt. This is not how God wants us to live. How can we be vessels of light and love feeling that way? Thankfully, this verse presents three truths that can make us peaceful.

1. Finding peace is hard. The crowdedness and tight bandwidths of our lives make finding peace almost impossible. Personally my crowded world consists of: • 2 small children (3 by the time you are reading this) • 1 husband (a bigger model of a child) • My business and employees who depend on me for their livelihoods • Several board positions and leadership roles But what I don’t have are: • Health issues • Financial blight • Family crisis like divorce or death • Substance abuse issues • Mental health issues The truth is, many people who I encounter are carrying burden with things on that second list. My crowded list consists of gifts from God that ignite joy, not hardship. So, yes—finding peace is hard, but practicing gratitude for the positive things that crowd my life adds perspective and helps me to re-center around what matters.

2. Peace comes from God. That is good news. It’s not on us. Here we’re told that God will give us peace and guard our hearts and minds. Empty our hearts before God and God will fill them with peace—no matter what is happening.

3. Our job is to share peace, light, and love. Once we empty our hearts and minds for God to fill with peace, suddenly, our bandwidths feel lighter—even with jam packed schedules. Personally, I’ve found that if my heart and mind are grounded and focused on God, I can share God’s light and love with those around me. When we allow God to give us peace, it empowers us to radiate it to people we interact with in our daily lives. Please don’t get me wrong, there will be moments that are trying. But, the more we give such moments to God, the less there will be. Then we’ll have opportunities to spread peace and love to our families, communities, and those who need it most.

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Elizabeth Byrd John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

A few years ago, I sat in a Bible study where we were encouraged to adopt a word. It was early January and amongst the push for resolutions, we were asked to think of a word that would drive our spiritual life throughout the year. I was stunned. I could not come up with one single word. We went around the room and everyone shared amazing words like hope, love, trust, grace, and I just sat there. Truthfully, it was one of those days where all I could think about was how busy life was at the time. The whole holiday season was a blur. We traveled to three different states trying to see family, baked until I would have been okay with never seeing another cookie, and spent hours upon hours finding the perfect gifts for everyone on our list. I was just exhausted. What I had anticipated for months, what I had hoped and longed for was a time of rest and joy, and of course there were moments, but by the first week of January all I could see was that we were sliding into another year of non-stop busyness. When the time came for me to share what word I would adopt, I nearly yelled it. PEACE. I just want peace. We all have seasons in our lives when our plates seem to be over-flowing, and there doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day to do all that we need to accomplish. But we also have the words we hear Jesus say in the Gospel of John, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” Jesus Christ comes in the midst of the chaos, in the midst of our struggles, in the midst of our busyness, and brings peace.

One of my favorite hymns this time of year is Let There Be Peace On Earth. I hope this will be your prayer now and in the days to come: Let peace begin with me Let this be the moment now With every step I take Let this be my solemn vow To take each moment And live each moment In peace eternally Let there be peace on earth And let it begin with me

May you know the peace of Christ this season and always.

17 18 Love DECEMBER 15 Leslie Watkins 1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Love. You can’t force it. You can’t earn it. It is something that can only be extended toward us. It is given.

God loved us before we were even born, simply because God created us. In Genesis 1, God proclaims “It is good!” after every act of creation. When God makes humans, God exclaims, “It is VERY good!” We are made in the image of God and God loves us. There is nothing we can do to change that.

One of the ways we can understand this love is in the way that a parent loves a child, even before the child is born. The child has done nothing for the parent. The child hasn’t given the parent a thing. And yet, the parent would willingly hand over his/ her life for the good of the child.

How incredible to think that we can claim to be the children of God!

Anne Voskamp puts it this way, in her book, Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: “The freedom you could never earn…that’s what I came to give you. I came to win you back to Me, to give you Myself, to make you free. I did it for love, because I could never, no matter what, ever stop loving you.”

Prayer: God of love, it is overwhelming to consider that You, the creator of the universe, knows and loves me completely, just as I am. You love me so much that you call me your child. Help me to receive this love the way you intended, with joy and thanksgiving. Help me to grow in this love and to share this love with others. Amen.

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Workman Meeks Betsy Clay 1 John 4:19 Psalm 86:15 We love because he first loved us. But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

In today’s hectic world, we are always looking for something. As a frequent traveler, I’m constantly looking for my phone, wallet or In Psalm 86, we find David’s prayer to the Lord. David was TIRED, he wanted JOY, he wanted COMPASSION, he wanted to be keys when I’m on the road or in the airport. There’s always that palpable moment of panic when I’ve misplaced them or am scouring HEARD, he wanted MERCY. Plain and simple, David was crying out for God’s LOVE. As my Southern grandmother would say… my backpack for their location. What is a constant in this hectic world, however, is God’s love, and even better, we never have to look David was at his wits’ end! Bless his heart. for it. It presents itself vividly and lucidly in our everyday routines. I never cease to be amazed at the abundant amount of love that we receive unconditionally and daily from God because he loved us first. Now I’m going to share a secret…

Growing up, my mindset was always to look for big moments to see God’s love on display. Perhaps it was a milestone event like a I feel a lot like David. As a Mother to two boys (a toddler and preschooler), I can hear myself humming Carrie Underwood’s Jesus birth in the family, a wedding, or even in a funeral when families rally together to overcome the loss of a loved one. As I’ve gotten Take the Wheel every. single. day. around 5 pm. older, I’ve learned that God’s love can certainly be seen in big moments; however, it’s frequently the small, mundane daily activities that truly cause me to pause and reflect on God’s love. I often get 5 hours of sleep (I AM TIRED!), I witness multiple toddler tantrums a day (GIVE ME JOY!), I have changed diapers for over 4 years now (I WANT COMPASSION!), I tell someone to brush their teeth at least 8 times each morning (I WANT TO BE For the past 3 years, I have traveled to Kenya with the global mission teams and Start With One Kenya organization to provide water HEARD!), and I often sing Wheels on the Bus 10 times to go 2 miles down the road (HELLO MERCY!). filters to families there and help with various building projects taking place at the Gituamba School. I go and have gone because I have felt such a strong calling to be a global disciple of God’s love and to put some good back into the world for all the blessings that I’ve But in all of these little moments, these little sacrifices, these little fleeting times…I do all of these acts out of LOVE. Children long received. I’ve found that in acts of love, be them small or large, love is returned two-fold in the embrace from a mother as she receives for love. We long for love. God longs for us to love. kitchen staples to prepare meals, or through the smile of a child as he or she receives a school uniform and shoes. It is awe-inspiring to receive God’s love when language is a barrier and cultures are vastly different. It is living proof that God’s love surpasses the words So when my daily prayer begins like David’s prayer does, “Hear me, Lord, and answer me,” it closes with the promise that God is in which we communicate, the countries in which we live, and the miles between us. Love is all around us developing in the ether, loving, gracious, extremely patient, full of mercy, and trustworthy. He never changes and is always the same. growing in the grass beneath our feet, and waiting to be shared with others in the world. It is paramount to be God’s hands and feet in this world because love always wins and brings infinite dimension to our lives. It is abundantly provided to us to give and receive. We simply need to be ready to accept it.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your unconditional love that you bestow on us each day. Let us be grateful for the love you instill in us to give to the world, and help us to be open to receive your love in our hearts. In God’s name we pray and we ask it. Amen. 21 22 DECEMBER 18 Mexico City, Mexico DECEMBER 19

Gina Coker Benjamin Harding Ephesians 2:4-5 John 3:16 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but you have been saved. have eternal life.

Several years ago, in a disciple class, our teacher, Ed Hamlin, gave our Love. Love is the most powerful force on Earth. Love group a very difficult and soul-provoking challenge. “Within the next can change the hearts and minds of people, and week,” Ed said, “you will encounter Jesus. You won’t know it is Him; He the world is changed when the hearts and minds of will be in disguise. He could be the cashier at Publix, your supervisor people are changed. When God sacrificed his son in at work, or the homeless woman on the street.” It was easy at first, but love for us, he changed the world—by forgiving us for as my week went on, I was forced to confront how I treat people at our sins and leading us to live a more perfect life by every turn. While I think I am a pretty friendly and outgoing person to following the life and teachings of Jesus. God’s love most, there are some folks that I deem irritating at worst and invisible is offered freely at all times, even when wemake at best. Thinking that one of these non-people could potentially be mistakes or do things that we are not proud of. We my Lord and Savior put a whole new light on the mandate to, “Love always know that God loves us. your neighbor.” But that is EXACTLY what He wants us to do and that, in a nutshell, was my challenge. I was in pharmaceutical sales at the The search for Jesus leads us from small corners of time, and while waiting in a doctor’s office, instead of working on my our local community to countries all over the world. computer, I grudgingly moved seats and struck up a conversation with We find Jesus in the lives of people that we visit and a man sitting alone in the waiting room. We didn’t talk about much— help. In Kenya, we provide clean water to thousands the weather, the traffic and the pros and cons of living in town. After of homes; and in Belize, we build churches and several minutes of chatting, his name was called, and he got up to see spread the word to families that don’t have many the doctor. But as he walked away, he turned back to look at me and of the resources that we use daily (and often take said, “Thank you for talking with me. I have AIDS, and my whole family for granted). Of course, Jesus is always with us; has disowned me. It was nice to feel normal just for a little while.” however, it is easiest to find Jesus when there are This hit me right between the eyes; there was no doubt God was no distractions—when we practice the muscle of at work here to teach me something. Such a small gesture that was empathy so that we understand what it is like to have inconsequential to me, meant the world to someone else. faith even when your material resources are few.

For the most part, we’re all pretty good at loving those we find When I have been on mission trips to Belize and lovable—those that look like us, act like us, and generally live like us. Costa Rica, I have found love in the hearts of almost But more and more I find that the love Jesus is talking about is harder everyone I met: the various ministers and members than that. It involves expanding our tables, serving those brothers of the communities there who took time to provide and sisters living in the margins—the incarcerated, the homeless, the food for us and talk to us, and the little children who neglected and the broken. He even gave us a road map through His ran around with us on the first day we were there words and deeds—consider the widow, the leper and the woman at and waited early for us the next day. I found love in the well. Jesus showed us that it costs something to be a true disciple. the youth leaders who made sure that we were safe. It’s not easy. It involves giving up free time, resources, and potentially There is love everywhere when looking for Jesus. even long held beliefs and prejudices. But in doing so, I believe that we will feel His love in return and maybe the space between heaven and As I mentioned previously, we do not only look for Earth will be a little bit thinner. Jesus in other countries, we look for Jesus in our local communities at church and school. When we are kind And in this Holy time of Advent, I ask you to consider the word love. The and generous, we give love, and eventually, that love first two definitions describe it as a noun. The third, and I think Jesus’ comes around as we make the world a better place meaning, describes love as a verb. An action word. It is not enough to and bring a little bit of heaven to earth. say you love someone. True love is always in action. So perhaps as we move through this wondrous season, anticipating the birth of the One The love that we have for others is just as important who taught us the true meaning of love, we will challenge ourselves to as the love that God has for us. Although we can see Jesus in everyone we meet. never equal the love that God has for us, we can always find love by following the footsteps of Jesus. And when we find love, Jesus is always right there.

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Sonya Matchan Emma McEvoy 1 Corinthians 13:13 1 John 4:7-8 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. John 3:16 is echoed by Paul in Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Oftentimes love is defined as a feeling or emotion within our culture. But frankly, love is not merely so simple to define. Love is a lifestyle and mantra you choose when interacting with members of It has been said that this is the Gospel in a nutshell—a summary of the central doctrines of Christianity. the community. As Christians, we are called to live in this realm. We are called to take on the ideals of love and incorporate them into our culture. The Greek word for love in this context is Agape. This word appears in the New Testament over 100 times. This form of love is translated to mean divine love. C.S. Lewis has written that Agape describes what he believes is the highest level of love known to After God spent time in creating and selecting us to be placed within his creation, the only thing humanity—a selfless love that is passionately committed to the well-being of others. He asks us in return is to spread love. Regardless of our beliefs or history, we, creatures of God’s Jesus speaks to this over and over—Matthew 22:37-40 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, swift construction, are called to love one another, including ourselves. and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Spending time out of your day to take a pause, have a meaningful conversation, or even enjoy God’s creation can help you to connect with yourself. Checking in with yourself on a Jesus used verbs only to describe Love which indicates that Love is not just an emotion but an action. It represents the call of regular basis will help you to discover flaws or concerns you can offer up to God. In doing lifestyle God asks of us. Love results in a life transformed by God’s grace and changes our hearts. so, you free your heart from worry to provide more room to spread love and joy to those you care about. Tertullian, a second century Christian theologian from Carthage, observed that Christian love attracted pagan notice. “What marks us in the eyes of our enemies is our loving kindness—‘only look’, they say, ‘how they love another.’” As the Bible passage refers to the audience as friends, we must insert this tone into our lifestyle by welcoming the stranger to become a friend. Friends are people we have deep Love in action is the theme of all of Jesus’s teaching. From the Sermon on the Mount—“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall connections to, typically formed in love. God has gifted us with the presence of each love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who other, as shown in the creation story. We are created out of companionship, not money, hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He not fame, not for destruction, but for love. Learning to love may take time. It is a gentle makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who skill that one must decide to practice each and every day. Stopping, taking a step back, love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?” (Matthew 5:43-46) and observing the situation can alleviate stress and allow you to think about the values you would like to carry alongside you and how those values can be executed in your It is interesting to me how this theme of Agape love is found everywhere in our society. Paul, to the current situation. Corinthians, who were wondering what spiritual gifts are the greatest, said that they are all of equal importance—but without love, they serve as nothing. “Though I speak with the So dear friends, I invite you to pause and evaluate your impact on those around you. tongues of men and of angels, but have not love—I have become sounding brass or What if we leaned into God’s love a little bit more? How would that change our clanging symbol.” Bob Dylan sings, “I heard the tongues of angels and the tongues world and affect the people around us? God loves you and no matter what choices of men—wasn’t any difference to me.” you have made or values you choose, God will continue to love you. No matter the outcome, you will still have God’s love to fall back on. Faith – Hope – Love. “Love is the fire which kindles faith and it is the light which turns hope into certainty.” (Commentary on 1 Corinthians 13:13)

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Sara Worden Psalm 16:11 You show me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures evermore.

Christmas is supposed to be a wonderful, joyous time of celebration. However, it can be hectic, depressing and anything other than what it should be. People may be dealing with difficult health issues, losses or struggles that may seem insurmountable. How can that be joyful?

In my 81 years, I have experienced many of these challenges and can truthfully, whole heartedly tell you—God has it! He has been with me all the way.

My experiences have taught me to focus on the blessings in my life. First of all, I know God loves me just like I am. He sent His son as a precious baby to be a savior to each and every one of us. He has given me a wonderful family, great friends, and a loving church. All of this has sustained my faith. So, I am grateful I can hear and enjoy the magnificent Christmas music. I am grateful I can see the excitement of the little children as they experience the Christmas season (I even enjoy going to the mall to watch them as they see Santa Claus). I really enjoy being with family and friends as we enjoy all of the special foods together.

I am well aware there is so much pain in the world (we all must be a working part of the solution to alleviate that pain), but there is so much more joy. Remember the promise: “the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” That is a compelling reason to be joyful in this blessed season!

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Martha Tate Luke 1:13-14 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and many will rejoice at his birth.

A telling of Joy through the eyes of Zechariah according to the Gospel of Luke:

I was rendered mute by the God of the universe. The God I had served, worshiped and honored with my priestly life and duties. The God I dishonored by my unbelief when the great desire of my heart was finally promised and prophesied. I was old. Elizabeth was old. We had grown that way together. We were not always so. Once, we were young and full of dreams. Dreams of children to love. To raise in the ways of the Lord God of Israel, just as our ancestors before us had done. Our dreams were pregnant with joy. But, we weren’t. Pregnant that is. Month after month, year after year, we remained childless. Over time our innocent dreams faded into barrenness and the background of our lives. Elizabeth and I felt bitter and betrayed at first. I won’t deny that. Yet, we were devoted people. Day in and day out we sought God’s presence in our childless home. And, we found it. Guided by our ancestor Isaiah’s words: “I will give you the treasures of darkness and the riches hidden in secret places that you may know that I am the Lord who calls you by name.” We found it. We drew closer to the Lord and to each other. The loving kindness we experienced became a new fragrance of joy. A deep, though different, satisfaction. We built a full life around our empty womb. Perhaps we learned things we otherwise wouldn’t have. And then, that day came. I was fulfilling my priestly duty. It was my high honor to be offering the incense to the Lord in his Temple. Completely surrendered to the sacred task, I was suddenly terrified when the angel Gabriel announced to me the fulfillment of my long-buried dream. A child. Elizabeth and I were to have the child we had longed for. I could only expect what I could explain. So, I questioned Gabriel about this impossible thing. We were old, Elizabeth and I. Far beyond the fertile years. For my doubt, I was rendered mute. The Lord of the universe drove me inward. In my quiet, secret sanctuary, I listened to the word sequestered in my heart. The word deepened over time. As the quiet got louder, the sound became sweeter. Until finally, in the heart of the quiet, patiently waiting, I discovered the treasure of a holy joy. As my soul expanded, so did Elizabeth’s body, bearing our child. In Elizabeth’s sixth month, we took Mary into our home. Mary, filled with Jesus, our long- awaited Savior; Elizabeth with his messenger; and, I with the presence of God. Indeed, the three of us were pregnant with joy.

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Susan Franco Luke 2:9-10 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

When I was asked to write a devotional on joy I had to stop and think, exactly what does joy mean? Is it a feeling, an emotion, a state of being? If you ask a child, they will most likely equate joy to a toy or a fun experience. Something that they think will make them happy or will bring the feeling of “joy” for a period of time. However, I think if you ask an adult that question, it may take some time for them to articulate an answer.

For me, over the years the meaning of joy has evolved. I used to experience the quick burst of joy over a material object, but that is fleeting. But, as I have experienced more of life’s journeys and lessons, and have had my own children, the joy I feel now is more of an emotion. It is a feeling of gratitude and thankfulness for being able to experience a joyful experience. That moment when joy washes over you and fills your heart. You have a sense of well-being and peace. I believe that if you think about your past moments of joy, the ones you experienced knowing that God was the creator of that moment, they are the most fulfilling. Joy comes in different forms. A beautiful sunset, the laughter of your children, a small act of kindness from a friend or stranger.

I realize that for me, true joy is so fulfilling because it comes from knowing that my faith in Jesus allows me to feel his Holy Spirit and see and appreciate the joy that I am experiencing through his lens of love.

One of my most favorite, joyful times is participating in the Christmas Eve services at Peachtree Road. As we light our candles and sing Oh Holy Night, I am always overcome with a feeling of overwhelming joy. We are all gathered in God’s house worshiping with our friends and fellow parishioners, giving thanks for Jesus’ birth. How awe inspiring that God loved each one of us enough to send his only child to forgive our sins. What joy it is to know that we are so loved.

During this Advent season, take time to look for Jesus in everyday moments and especially in moments of joy, he is always there. And remember, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.” Our heavenly father wants us to be filled, not with fear but with joy.

Peachtree Road UMC | Atlanta, Georgia

33 34 www.prumc.org