nother season is upon us. Each year our church observes this time as a congregation. It’s not biblical, per se. There are no exhortations to celebrate Advent in the New Testament, but it seems a good op- Aportunity to join together and encourage one another during a very focused and yet frantic time in our culture. This year our theme is Advent Conspiracy. Conspiracy is, admit- tedly, a strange word to associate with the season. It suggests secret plotting or manipulating to bring about the desires of a potentially harmful group. Do we want to be associ- ated with anything so negative? The idea behind Advent Conspiracy is simply that we encourage one another to reflect on our approach to Christmas. By consid- ering pertinent scriptures each day perhaps we will hear the Lord asking us to make some sacrifice, forgo some pleasure, or include a forgotten person in our holiday activities in order to know Him more. The writers of these daily devotionals offer our reflections in all humility, as we have prayerfully and thoughtfully sought God’s leading on each scripture passage. We have struggled ourselves with what it means to Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More and Love All. There are reflections for every day of the week except Sunday. On that day, we’ll begin our contemplations on the week’s prin- ciple with our Pastor’s message. May God use this booklet in our individual lives and in the life of our church to lead us towards Christlikeness.

The Reflections Writing Team November 2016 Monday, November 28 Matthew 2:1-11

nly one way to approach the Child. O One path under the star— Only one path for kings to take To a stumbling block in swaddling clothes. A corner stone, under draped cloth, In a shed. Everyone stumbles over him— The hard thing and the impossible demand— Now and then, even we. Not over the real him, perhaps, But over the idea And the question, What must I do to imitate you?

Jesus, help us to come to you in simplicity.

George Anderson Tuesday, November 29 Hebrews 1:1-4

orship involves recognizing the object of worship for what it W really is. Here, who really is becomes clearer through comparison with angels.

During Advent the picture of angels at the announcement of Jesus’ birth inspires awe. Indeed, elsewhere in scripture, whenever angels appear to men as angels, their appearance strikes fear into men’s hearts. Luke records, “And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear (2:9).” I tend to think of the marvelous angel announcing the birth of a baby, but he announces the birth of a Savior. And then the angel says the shepherds will find a baby. Suddenly “a multitude” of angels join the messenger. I see the sky blazing bright with the glory of their presence, where moments before there had been the deep dark- ness of rural night. The angels broke into the lives of the shepherds, and into my life, in an incredible way. And then the narrative moves from the brilliance of the angelic chorus to the dimness of the stable. Mentally, I relax. All I have to do now with the Advent story, with the Advent season, is to deal with a baby—a special baby, but still, just a baby.

But we are told in Hebrews that Jesus “is the radiance of the glory of God” and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. Jesus was a baby in a manager, but he was not just that. He is one who is far superior to the angels. The contrast between his radiance and the stable dimness is unimaginably greater than the contrast between the brilliance of the angelic multitude and the darkness of night. Awe-inspiring as they are, angels are created be- ings. Jesus is the Son, the heir of all things. He is the one through whom all things were created. The angels announced. Jesus sustains by the power of his word. The angels stand in God’s presence. Jesus is seated.

In the angels’ announcement the spiritual broke through and showed itself to man. How much greater was the act of Jesus’ birth, the break- ing into the existence of man by the One through whom man was cre- ated! How much greater than angels is the One I am called to worship.

O, Lord, remind me of Jesus’ radiance.

Mark Foster Wednesday, November 30 Hebrews 1:5-13

esus is begotten of the Father, the world is begotten of Jesus. Jesus is J the ruler of a great kingdom, an eternal kingdom that will last long after this world will cease to exist.

As believers, we are confronted by eternity every time we open up the scriptures. Likewise, we are shown the intimate connection between Christ and his creation, and our relationship to it. The first chapter of Hebrews contains some interesting observations and even mysteries about the way God interacts with his creation and hints at the re- creation of all things as the new heavens and new earth.

10 “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; 11 they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, 12 like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”

For us mere mortals, this concept of eternity is difficult to fathom. The fact that one day the creation as we currently know it will cease to exist, replaced by something even more magnificent, is something we can only dream about. Thankfully we have a God who is both Creator and Redeemer, who knows what is best for the world he has made.

Christ became one of us, lived in the flesh, and yet he has been raised to eternal glory. This is our hope and promise.

Dear Lord, we praise you as Creator, Redeemer and King. Help us to live in your kingdom every day, never forgetting your promise of eternal life, even as we struggle with living in a fallen world.

Rick Hawksley Thursday, December 1 Colossians 1:15-20

rom the beginning of his life it is clear that Jesus was worshipped-- F by angels, and by men who saw his star in the east. As will become clear in the devotionals to follow this one, he is still being worshipped, by angels around the throne, and by men and women of faith.

I am writing this devotional on “worshipping fully” on October 18; and, if you recall or keep a journal, you will know that it was one of the most beautiful days possible in northeast Ohio. Sunshine, seventy degrees, with a clear blue sky as a backdrop for golden maple leaves. After sev- eral hours of not knowing what to write about worshipping fully, I de- cided to try to do it instead. How does it happen?

1. Find a closet. Your closet can be a forest, a room, a spot in the sun— whatever. The only requirement is that you are alone or with fellow believers.

2. Clear your mind of everything but the remembrance of God’s love for you in that he sent his image, Jesus Christ, the Creator of all things in heaven and earth, so that through him you could be reconciled to himself.

3. Focus on the utter wonder of God-made-man to redeem us. There is no need to sing (though Saran might) or pray or praise (though that is encouraged). Lay this devotional down and try it now.

4. Back already? That clearing the mind thing is difficult but “be still and know that I am God” is good advice.

5. Now that you have worshipped, do not forget that, although we have been granted grace through our Lord Jesus, we ought to go out in full obedience to his commandments. Those are still in place: love the Lord with all you heart and your neighbor as yourself, no lying, stealing, or bearing false witness. Worshipping fully is not a short term stint once a day or on Sunday. It requires a complete commitment of emotions, intellect, and actions. So go forth today, worshipping to your capacity every minute. He doesn't really need it, but we do.

Praise be to God, who was pleased to have his fullness dwell in a Savior for me.

Joann Lambert Friday, December 2 Revelation 1:9-18

ometimes in our efficiency-loving, work-filled, menu-selecting, S selfie-taking, “I-this-and-that” modern lives, I find it difficult to expe- rience true worship. Alone, I am easily distracted by my to-do list for the day, checking the newsfeed on my Kindle, or the start time of my favorite television shows. With others, I can be critical of worship songs I hear, the way someone reads a passage, or the length of someone else’s prayer. Instead of engaging my mind and heart in worship, I en- gage them in our culture’s “my way or the highway” attitude. I forget the focus of my worship and find I am focused, instead, on myself.

In his book The Insanity of God , Nik Ripkin explores the perseverance of those persecuted for the sake of Christ. One story stands out as I con- sider my own worship habits. After being arrested, Dmitri was moved to a prison 1000 kilometers away from his family. The only believer among 1500 hardened criminals, isolated in a tiny cell, and physically tortured on a regular basis, Dmitri credits his unbreakable faith to two spiritual disciplines he learned from childhood: 1) “For seventeen years in prison, every morning at daybreak, Dmitri would stand at attention by his bed. As was his custom, he would face the east, raise his arms in praise to God, and … sing a HeartSong to Jesus…The other prisoners banged metal cups against the iron bars…threw food and sometimes human waste to try to shut him up and extinguish the only true light shining in that dark place…” 2) “Whenever he found a scrap of paper in the prison, he would sneak it back to his cell. There he would pull out a stub of a pencil…and he would write on that scrap of paper, as tiny as he could, all the Bible verses and scriptural stories or songs that he could remember. When the scrap was completely filled, he would walk to the corner of his little jail cell where there was a concrete pillar…take the paper fragment, reach as high as he possibly could, and stick it on that damp pillar as a praise offering to God.” Despite horrific distrac- tions, Dmitri’s heart and mind were focused on Jesus. And he worshiped.

The Magi, despite the distraction of a long journey and implied threats from a tyrannical king, “when they saw the Child…fell down and wor- shiped Him (Matthew 2:11).” And John, when he saw Jesus, the voice speaking with him, was overcome by his person, his glory, his hair like snow, and his eyes like a flame of fire. Let us not be distracted this Christmas by self, material things, hardships, politics, or cultural atti- tudes. Let us focus our hearts and minds on the reason for our worship.

Jesus, as we come to your manger this Christmas, let us raise our arms with HeartSongs and spiritual praises, and let us be overcome and distracted by nothing but you.

Chris Spencer Saturday, December 3 Revelation 5

s a Bible school student, I looked forward to the Oratorio Chorus’s A performance of Handel’s Messiah every Christmas. The unfolding of the life of Christ based on Old Testament prophecy, as well as the New Testament narrative and eschatology is moving. Revelation 5 tells of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, who was the only One found worthy to open the scroll that contained lamentations and woes (Ezekiel 2:9-10). All of Heaven sang. First the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders sang songs of worship and praise to Jesus Christ for the work he accom- plished in salvation. The angels, thousands and thousands of them, joined the loud chorus in honoring the Lamb of God. The third tier of singers were all the creatures on the earth, under the earth, in the seas, and in the heavens; they sang praise to God the Father, who sat on the throne, and to the Lamb. The response to this worship was “Amen!” from the four living creatures, and the elders fell down on their faces. The indescribable glory and infinite majesty of the Godhead over- whelmed them.

What does this mean to me now as an earthly worshipper? The basis of offering acceptable worship is having a correct view of who God is. Worship is seeing the worth of God (his character and actions) in his Word and responding to that worth in every area of my life. Worship is not simply something I do while singing in church; everything I do can be an act of worship—an ongoing response to what I see to be true of God. He is not primarily interested in my gifts, songs or prayers; he is concerned about me—what I really am.

As we enter this Advent season, let us come with hearts full of praise for the gift of salvation given through Jesus Christ. Because of our salvation, we have the privilege of serving the living God—not as a means to gain his favor, but as an act of thanksgiving and worship for his love for us. “Oh come let us adore him, Christ, the Lord.”

Lord, you alone are worthy of my worship and praise.

Jayne Caldwell Monday, December 5 Deuteronomy 8:11-20

hristmas was a much different event in Dicken‘s time. If it was pos- C sible at all to get something for the kiddies for Christmas, it may very well have been a big orange and some nuts. I for one would have been overjoyed by the orange, for which I have to thank God every time I bite into one, “Jesus, you really outdid yourself when you made oranges.”

When we follow our social history we see we moved through the Great Depression, where my mother learned to save every little thing. And this she masterfully gifted to me. So I am now, also, a servant of things which cannot be discarded. After WWII our fathers returned from vari- ous parts of the globe and began to experience a life of increased finan- cial blessings.

It was during the 50’s that the term rat-race became popular. That is what we were doing, running on a rat’s wheel to nowhere, working to create economic increase for our families. It was the hope of changing the legacy of poverty into an upward change that had not been possi- ble. WWII changed all this. Our dads went to war and demonstrated that abilities and valor were not limited to class lines. They became the “can-do” generation.

Today Christmas has morphed into way over-buying for the children. On Christmas morning I imagined my children creeping down the stairs to the lighted , where they would be overpowered and fall back from the radiance of the light from all the brightly wrapped gifts waiting for them. What mayhem would ensue as paper, ribbons, bows, cards, ripped boxes flew about above their heads. It is over too soon. But our best lesson is yet to come. Looking at all the mar- velous gifts I spy little Geoffrey sitting in a big box, along with the cat in the box next to him. And I think, “I could have simply brought a big brown box and crayons… and an orange.”

God honors every sacrifice we make for him. I am wondering how I should fast to look past my grasping and ward off the brightly wrapped mountain of things. The simple gift of the Christ Child has done so much more for me.

Lord, take my heart to yourself. Let me feast upon your gift to me—your unconditional love. Let this be the gift I give to others, your love flowing through me. Let this be the radiance of my soul.

Cynthia Ebert Tuesday, December 6 Luke 12:13-21

very day we see ads on TV, on billboards, on vehicles, online and E seemingly wherever else they can fit. Our society is focused very much on getting more things to entertain us or to make our lives “better.” We see an image of smiling people eating some new food and we get hungry. We see an image of a new car with a happy family in- side and we feel that we need it ourselves to make our family travels easier. We see a commercial for a new phone and suddenly our current phone is inferior because we need a better camera. Each of these ex- amples not only makes us want more, but makes evident something already in our lives that we feel is not good enough.

The parable of the rich fool portrays a man longing for more, with the justification of making his future life secure and easy. His current barns are not good enough, he needs bigger ones to keep all his crops! With such a store of crops, of course his life seems safe enough that he can “relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But Jesus points out that the rich man is using this as if that is all his soul needs, and that just is not true. His physical life in the world may be easy now, but his soul has really gained nothing. His focus on outward things has left him unprepared to actually be with God.

With all of the pressure we get in our consumer-focused society, it can be easy to get pulled in to always getting the next best thing. Likewise, it can be difficult to set aside the time and attention we should really put towards growing in our spiritual lives and giving glory to God. Let us try to meet every urge for some new thing with a prayer of thanks to God for what we have and for guidance how we can grow our spiritual lives.

Lord, help me to want even more of You when the world tempts me with something new.

Mark Litzinger Wednesday December 7 Luke 12:22-31

top worrying about Christmas! Don’t get caught up pursuing what S to eat, what to wear or what to give at Christmas to those who have everything, or what you would like yourself, or what to serve at dinner, or how many people will fit around the table. How we fret over Christ- mas! Jesus in this passage tells us to stop. Look around at the birds and the lilies. Has not God provided for all of these? What good does worry- ing do? Why the extravagant and frivolous spending at Christmas? How small is my faith! Our Father knows our needs. Trust that he will handle them in his own way. Of greater significance is my pursuit of his Kingdom.

A recent book puts all these concerns in a helpful perspective. Recall the great film, Chariots of Fire , a story about an Olympian, known as the Flying Scotsman, who takes a stand. The book tells the rest of the story—For the Glory: Eric Liddell’s Journey from Olympic Champion to Modern Martyr by Duncan Hamilton. The story tells of Liddell’s refusal to run a race on Sunday during the Olympics because of his desire to honor the Sabbath. He was criticized by the press, businesses, and poli- ticians who had hoped to benefit from his victory. Liddell was resolute, and though he had not trained for it, chose to race in another event on another day. To everyone’s amazement he won the gold, winning world wide acclaim! Following the Olympics, Liddell passed up many lucrative offers. This brought further criticism. Those who wanted to exploit him could not understand his greater commitment. He did not bend. Indeed, he chose to earn less and spend less. He had a greater calling in seeking the Kingdom of our Lord.

Liddell spent over two decades ministering in China. As Japan en- croached Liddell was placed in a prison camp. While imprisoned, Lid- dell rose early each morning for prayer. He spent many days doing his assigned work plus the work of others too weak to do it. He gave his meager portions of food to those more hungry, his clothing and shoes to those without. He volunteered for extra work, including tutoring and coaching kids, working in the kitchen, and whatever else was needed. Bible studies and preaching remained on his schedule. He showed love and compassion for all, including his fellow Chinese prisoners and Jap- anese guards. Liddell exemplifies spending less and giving more.

I love Thy kingdom, Lord, the house of Thine abode, The Church our blest Redeemer saved with His own precious blood.

David Spencer Thursday, December 8 Luke 12:33-34

hopping for children’s Christmas presents can be delightful and/or S exhausting. Parents ask their little ones what they would like to find under the tree on Christmas morning. Lists are made. Purchases are made. A mess of crumpled wrap paper is made. Then breakfast is served. And yes, there is gratitude. There is joy. But most of those pre- sents become vague memories only to be recalled from glances at old photographs.

There is nothing innately wrong with this holiday tradition. We do not have to feel guilty about gift giving, especially if resources are available. Gift giving is a warm opportunity to share our love. But material things fade over time. A child grows out of the doll phase and ages out of the train stage. Toy collections gather dust and the child grows into a young adult with new and often more expensive tastes.

What our children will not outgrow is the priceless gift of contentment. Wouldn’t we all appreciate a little more contentment in our lives? Im- agine a family where parents are content with the size of their home. Where a mother sighs with contentment over the fit of her jeans. Where an older sibling is content to start some basketball games. Or where a test grade of a B is good enough. Content to be single. Content to be married.

Contentment isn’t a lowering of expectations. It is trusting that all is well the way it is. It is allowing God to be God in our lives.

Life on earth doesn’t have to be lived anticipating the next good thing to happen. This moment now is a gift from God. How we choose to live each moment is our thanks to Him.

Dear God, you taught us that godliness with contentment is great joy. Help me to be content whatever the circumstances so that I can be a daily reminder of your treasure.

Janice Hutchison Friday, December 9 1 Timothy 6:6-8

admit it! As a young child I loved getting Christmas presents. But as I I grew older I saw why my Mom enjoyed Christmas. It was an oppor- tunity to go the extra mile to help someone else, and she often included us kids in the fun. We might take cookies to firefighters and police of- ficers and nursing homes. Give a ride to a single mom. During Christ- mas break there were extra kids to play with, from the treatment center where she worked. These holiday activities were an extension of what she did all year. For me, they helped transform the excitement of the season from one of getting, to one of giving.

Even though we didn’t talk about Jesus in my home, God was laying the groundwork for the right approach to Christmas. I still feel a sense of holiness for the early morning hours of Christmas day. As we left for , the crisp and quiet stillness made the experience spe- cial even before we set foot inside the church. Helping my Mom and pausing to stare up into the star-filled midnight sky are two of my favorite Christmas memories, and they have nothing to do with lavish material things.

In my own family I tried to raise my children with the joy of Jesus in Christmas. I included in this the sense of adventure you can find in lov- ing your neighbor as yourself. I didn’t always set the best example. But as I think about those years I know something for sure. Our Christmas faith must extend beyond December if it’s to have any credibility with our children, our friends, or even within ourselves. If we reach out to others only during the holidays when our hearts are especially moved, the skeptical and jaded world sees evidence that our faith is nothing but empty talk. We must believe that faith without works is dead (James 2:17). We must also trust that if we seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness above all, we are then free to release the anxiety we feel over material needs (Matthew 6:33). This I find much harder to do. Christmas is a great time to practice releasing. But I’ve got to do it the other eleven months of the year, or I’ll be no good at it come Christmas time!

Lord, help me put your kingdom first.

Denise Merriman Saturday, December 10 1 Timothy 6:6-11; 17-21

o, if God “richly provides us with everything to enjoy (v. 17),” why S should I have to consider spending less this holiday season? The average American spent $830 on Christmas in 2015. I’m sure my spending was way below that. Mind you, I don’t know what it actually was (who keeps records like that?), but…

Verse 17 also warns us against setting our hopes on the uncertainty of riches. I like this part, because, you see, I know where my Hope lies— my hope for eternity. It lies in Christ alone. So, I’m good on this one too! But what about those smaller hopes, those desires I have for my life and the lives of those I love? Do I believe earthly spending can lead to their fulfillment? Why, of course I do. Much of what I do for others dur- ing the season is directly related to my “lesser” hopes. I hope my hus- band and children will know how much I love them by way of the gifts I’ve specially chosen for them. I hope they will have a thrilling experi- ence as we enjoy our favorite holiday concert together. I hope extended family will delight in memories of past, because I’ve pre- pared some traditional goodies. I hope we will share warm feelings to- wards one another in my cozily decorated home. All of these things have a price tag—some more than others.

God says I should not put my hope in the uncertainty of riches. He’s right. There is no guarantee that the gifts I purchase will display the love I intend. The ticket for the music does not come with a promise of unparalleled joy for each attendee. Neither can I be sure that all my preparation will end in warm and cozy family gatherings. Even for these lesser hopes, I need a greater object.

It turns out that for every hope—the big Hope and the little hopes alike—I need to trust in God. What, then, does this mean for my holiday plans, especially since Christmas is a mere two weeks away!? Maybe it means I stop right now. Maybe I buy a few less gifts and spend what would have been shopping time (both online and brick & mortar) in prayer for the people on my list. Maybe I purchase and put up a few less decorations, intentionally diverting that chunk of time and effort to focus on the beauty of the Lord as I worship him. And then I will “take hold of that which is truly life (v. 19).”

Lord, May all my hopes be in you.

Sue Anderson Monday December 12 Matthew 19:16-26

hen the stumbling block grew up, W the media took interest. The block began taking questions. “How can we get around you? Have we done enough? Are we good enough?” The stumbling block had a devastating way of getting straight to the point. “You have to run into me so hard you shatter,” it said. The people with the questions went away after that. The stumbling block said they missed the point.

Jesus, help us to surrender, stumble over you if necessary, and feel you catch us.

George Anderson Tuesday, December 13 Matthew 25:31-46

his passage has been rich for reflection by many writers and musi- T cians, e.g. Leo Tolstoy, Keith Green, and Chris Rice, and variously interpreted. Today it challenges me about how I care for others. Inas- much as there are things I have not done to the least of Jesus’ brothers, I have not done them to Christ. It’s an obvious challenge. How should I meet it? I am overwhelmed as I imagine all the needs I encounter just in my circle of acquaintances. What is required? But perhaps that’s not the right question. Is it more a matter of general calling? If I’m just wor- ried about what’s required, will I miss opportunities to obey Christ? Perhaps it’s a matter of disposition. Certainly it is not that I must do this or that to get into heaven. Rather, if I am a follower of Jesus I will be marked by the behavior described. It is characteristic of those who wel- come Jesus that they invite the stranger in and feed the hungry. They don’t do this to get into heaven. They do this because they are obedi- ently following Jesus’ lead, living in God’s kingdom.

But I still have to make decisions about specific requests. Now, I am interrupted by a call on the home phone. There’s a human voice, but the caller is a robot programmed with a recorded voice. Should I agree to give? Is Christ in that? I grab my Bible to read the passage again. The Church Around the World leaflet falls out. A Christian organization is calling on the US to take 100,000 Syrian refugees. Is Christ in that throng? For the sheep in the passage, the response of caring for others is reflexive. They don’t have a single monumental incident of giving to others that they recollect and for which they pat themselves on the back. They have helped many. So it should be with me. The instance of inviting in, of helping, of feeding, should not seem exceptional. That can be the case only when caring and giving have become habitual for me. So my guide to whether I’m meeting the challenge is not my list of whom I helped, but how I was thinking when I did it. Was I patting my- self on the back because I was doing the exceptional? Or was I comfort- ably oblivious because I was doing what seems normal?

Dear Lord, open my eyes to small needs close by, that my reflexes for kingdom living may be strengthened.

Mark Foster Wednesday December 14 Mark 12:41-44

e owe God everything. We have nothing to give him that he W hasn’t already given to us. Yet we are prone to think that we are the center of the world, that it is here for the taking, and take we do.

In churches all across the world people offer up gifts as a part of wor- ship. We cannot pretend to know each person's motivation for giving, only ours. Am I giving out of a sense of gratitude for what Christ has done and is doing in the world? Or am I giving out of obligation, in re- sponse to the expectations of others? Am I giving out of habit, as a mat- ter of accounting for doing my share? Or do I believe that in giving I am participating in true and holy worship of the Maker of the world?

I know that as hard as I try, I always seem to put the material well-being of my family ahead of the call of the gospel to give sacrificially. As I think back on my adult life, rarely have I given God everything in the circumstances that the Spirit is nudging me to do so. In some respects I give generously of my time, to the church, the community and my neighbors. But when I think about it, I can do this because I can afford to. Part of that is because of the priorities we have made to live fairly frugally. I do not have the stress that comes from living beyond our means. On the other hand, my small measure of freedom allows this giving to be out of my abundance rather than at the expense of my own comfort or pleasure. I guess that is why we need to be continually in the Word, reflecting and being disciplined to the gospel call to live as a new creation, to “live like fools, by another set of rules,” as Ken Medema once wrote.

The poor widow’s story is a familiar one. The rich (and we) give out of their riches and remain comfortable. They barely notice that what they gave is missing from their treasury. They need not change anything in their lifestyle or their attitude towards God. Not so the poor widow. She gave up her entire life savings, a sacrifice that reflects the very sacrifice of God. The scripture says she had nothing left to live on, but she still had enough. She had God as her Creator and her King.

Dear Lord, Help me to have the heart and faith of the poor widow, to trust you completely in everything I have and in everything I do .

Rick Hawksley Thursday, December 15 Acts 20:17-35

hristmas is a season of giving. God gave his Son, the Magi gave the C Son gifts, and we give gifts to others in the spirit of the season. The reason we conspire this advent season to Spend Less and, conversely, Give More is that perhaps we have focused too intently on gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (i.e., money and all it can buy) to the neglect of gifts of ourselves—gifts such as service, compassion, humility, and love. I do not advocate a return to the “good old days,” but there was a time in my life when one tangible gift per child was the norm, and that one gift was sometimes attained by the self-sacrifice of another. The first I remember was a doll my mother made on a Singer sewing machine purchased in November, 1940 for five dollars down and $3.50 a month. No doubt she worked at night, by a gas light, when four young children were asleep. Today, the doll of the moment, along with a host of other gifts, results in a plastic bag of wrappings and rib- bon for the garbage man.

Giving more without spending cash can take many forms besides handcrafting our gifts, of course. Our passage today recounts how Paul gave of his time and energy to supply not only his own needs, but the needs of his companions. By hard work we must help the weak, he said, always remembering the words of Jesus that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Our ultimate example, Jesus, gave of himself in spreading his gospel to the point of exhaustion and eventually, death. We are not all called to make that sacrifice, but we are called to serve the needs of others with a heart of love, as well as to give of our wealth in proportion as we have been given, again with a cheerful heart.

Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

Lord, help me to know how and when to give of myself and my resources and the courage and faith to follow through.

Joann Lambert Friday December 16 Romans 12

ometimes when I feel strapped financially, I feel I have nothing to S give. It often seems that just when I feel I am getting ahead finan- cially, something else breaks down—on the car, on the house, on me— and I am right back to being broke. Then, too, I compare myself and my economic status to others my age or those in my circle of influence. Seeing and hearing numerous advertisements during the holiday sea- son, it is especially easy to feel financially drained at Christmas and struggling with the question, “How can I possibly give more ?”

Looking at Romans 12, however, I find that we all have much to offer as members of the body of Christ. All of us can afford to give more when it comes to service to one another. We can show more mercy, be more devoted to one another in brotherly love, give more preference to one another in showing honor, and practice more hospitality. All of us can rejoice more in hope, persevere more in tribulation, and be more devoted to prayer. And we can afford to practice more blessing of those who persecute, more rejoicing with some, more weeping with others, more humility, more respect of what is right. It’s interesting that Paul ends this passage about being dedicated to service and exercising spir- itual gifts with the appeal, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (v. 21).” Giving more to the body of Christ, to those in need, and yes, to our enemies, sets us apart as lights in the darkness.

During Advent, we consider yet another Gift, another Light. God offers us his Son and tells us, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it (John 1: 4-5).” Born into simplicity and living his life with few possessions, Jesus offered us of all—his life as the only light and saving grace that can pay the full price for our lost souls.

When we consider what a great gift God has given us, how can we not give more ? When we know and trust Jesus Christ as our Savior, the most we can give is to live like him and to offer his love and truth to those around us. Let us present every part of ourselves as living and holy sac- rifices, let us overcome evil with good, and let us shine as lights in the darkness, that others may see the Light of him in us.

“What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb. If I were a wise man, I would do my part. Yet what can I give Him? Give Him my heart.” (From “What Can I Give Him” by Christina G. Rossetti)

Chris Spencer Saturday, December 17 Acts 3:1-10

s in many large cities, beggars sit in front of religious edifices, ask- A ing for alms. It may be they think if people entering or exiting houses of worship are truly religious, it will spill over into their giving to those in need. The lame beggar in Acts 3 who lay at the temple gate in Jerusalem was doing what he did every day; he was asking for a handout to take care of his daily needs. He certainly wasn't expecting to be miraculously raised to walk on “strong legs and feet.” Peter, ac- knowledging that he had no money to give, said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” At God’s bidding Peter not only performed this miracle, he reached out his hand and raised him up. It’s one thing to tell a cripple to get up; it’s even better to help him to his feet. The man leaped up, walked and entered the temple praising God. Everyone who witnessed the miracle was filled with wonder and amazement.

Carolyn Custis James, in her book, The Gospel of Ruth , points out the meaning of hesed. It is a difficult word to describe; it is a “strong He- brew word that sums up the ideal lifestyle of God’s people. It's the way God intended for human beings to live together from the beginning— the ‘love-your-neighbor-as-yourself’ brand of living, an active, selfless, sacrificial caring for one another that goes against the grain of our fall- en natures.” It involves two parties: one in desperate need and the oth- er who has the power and resources to make a difference. Peter and John saw a man in a desperate circumstance and reached out spiritual- ly and physically to help him. That is what we are called to do; if we have funds to donate, all well and good. But what Jesus wants is hesed — a commitment that motivates people to do voluntarily what no one has a right to expect or ask of them. It is not motivated by duty or obliga- tion, but by love for God and respect for fellowman. As Jesus said, “…as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me (Matthew 25:40).”

Lord, may you see hesed in me.

Jayne Caldwell Monday, December 19 1 Corinthians 13

can add nothing to improve upon these beautiful words Paul wrote I in 1 Corinthians 13. They are burning words seared across my soul and branded upon my heart. It inspires me just reading them. They are beautiful as a song when they are spoken and harmony of spirit when received from Christ.

God is very subtle. God acting upon us and through us is subtle. God speaking to us is subtle. And God’s love can move into us so perfectly and seamlessly that if it were a pebble it would not make a ripple dropped into the pond. But there is really nothing in our hands. You cannot measure it, weigh it, plot it, or see it—not even if they catapulted me around the insides of the CERN Accelerator just waiting for God’s little love wave or love particle to show itself. Aside from permanently, wildly frizzed hair, there would be nothing else to see. Still, his love is here because he is here.

If I were to write a love letter to Christ it might be something like this: “You know that moment when you stepped out of eternity and blessed me with your unconditional love? That, Lord, is the finest moment of my life. I had never felt love like that before—real, pure, holy love; unselfish, unconditional. In that moment out of time I was filled to overflowing. It was the only mo- ment in my life Lord when I did not want for any- thing more. I had despaired of this wicked world. But you, Holy Loving Jesus, You I can live for. I have never been the same since.”

With the rest of us broken ones following Jesus, I am learning how to love as Jesus would. I see my children, and then I look past them and see Jesus and his love for me. I experience slights, social wrongs, lost opportunities, stolen memories, and it is painful. Then I surrender to the Father’s will in all of it. All the pain is gone. What is left is actually joy to be in his will. Beyond that, his love remains.

Where would I be, Lord, if not for you? What you have shown me in your love is the greatest gift I can give to others. This sad world is so bereft of love, and you have all we need. Let my brothers and sisters, as well as myself, allow you to live your life within us, and share your love with this broken world.

Cynthia Ebert Tuesday, December 20 Matthew 5:43-48

s we approach Christmas, much of our time has probably been A taken up with consideration for our loved ones. Finding the right gifts for family, mailing out cards to friends, and visiting or being visited by family and friends takes up most of the season for us. We focus on what we are thankful for and show appreciation where we can. It is a season of joy and happiness, as we celebrate the birth of Christ and the love of God.

So it may pass our notice that we should also be showing love to our enemies. Those who have wronged us in some way are probably not on our shopping list for gifts or mailing list for cards. If they do not like us, why would they care about anything from us? Most likely any attention given to them would just be rejected, right?

But we have to remember what God really did when he sent us his Son, Jesus, whom we celebrate at this time. We even were enemies of God when we were burdened with sin. But Jesus came for all of us, so that we all may be saved. Like in this passage, “He makes his sun rise on the evil and the good.” Therefore, we all equally receive his love, and we should also share it with everyone in our lives.

God is calling us to forgive as he forgives, no matter how difficult it may be. As we go about the next few days, can we speak with open hearts to wish a Merry Christmas to those with whom we normally struggle? Can we share God’s love really with everyone? And, actually, can we keep this same forgiveness and openness year-round to live up to God’s wishes?

Lord, help me to show the same love to my enemies as I do to my friends each day, and to truly testify about the hope I have in you.

Mark Litzinger Wednesday, December 21 Luke 10:25-37

t was Christmas Day. The Pastor and his family had joined ours to I celebrate the birth of our Savior. Many hands helped with the prepa- rations. Dinner was announced, and all gathered around the table to enjoy this precious time. We had barely said “amen” when the phone rang. Elderly neighbors, both in poor health, were cleaning some dish- es. A glass fell into the disposal and broke, jamming the machine. Anxiously, they asked, “Can someone please come over and fix it?”

So, after all the preparations, the cooking, the baking, and the decorat- ing, our plans were being interrupted. Should we make an excuse? Can we pass this time and suggest someone else? No, the Lord touched our hearts, and we responded. Pastor Bruce and I donned our coats and hiked to the neighbors. While one of us carefully retrieved pieces of glass from the disposal, the other manually turned it from inside the cabinet below. After a few minutes the glass was removed. The disposal purred like a kitten as our neighbors smiled in relief and we returned to share our story.

In our passage today the lawyer seemed challenged by the command to love his neighbor. So he asked, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied with a story known as The Parable of the Good Samaritan. A man beaten and left for dead was ignored by the religious establish- ment. Passing by, a priest and a Levite, in all their religiosity, chose to step around him. The hero is from among the Samaritans, a people despised by the Jews. The Samaritan stopped and tended to the needs of the victim. The lawyer was compelled to acknowledge the Samari- tan was the one “who showed him mercy.” We don’t know how the lawyer responded to this parable. What matters, though, is how we respond. Like the lawyer, we realize our inadequacy and are forced to inquire about the real meaning of the command only to discover, yes, we must love our neighbors, even if it’s inconvenient.

Hear the Apostle Paul: “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died (2 Corinthians 5:14 NKJV).” What a motivation for serving others, yearning to give some- thing because Jesus gave everything.

Precious Lord, may your love overflow from my heart into the lives of others.

David Spencer Thursday, December 22 Luke 14:12-24

ove the least of those among us is an exhortation that rings in and L through our holiday sounds. The carols, the stories, the oft-told family tales remind us that love clears the way for Christ to enter our hearts. Love wipes the London grime off Tiny Tim’s face. And love gives grumpy Aunt Florence the best seat at the table.

Can we just hit the pause button here for a second? We know this truth. We have known for years that we are called to love all. It isn’t just the Velveteen Rabbit that is made whole by holy love. We have seen relationships reborn when we allow God’s love to work through our human hearts. Yes, we know this truth, but doesn’t it seem that, too often, a piece is missing? Without this piece we go days, weeks, even years withholding compassion from another individual in our lives, that annoying neighbor, relative, person at church. Could it be that the miss- ing piece isn’t another story or song? Maybe it is something as evasive as identity.

We cannot give what we do not have, and if all I have for an identity is some earthly role, then eventually I’ll run out of love. Wouldn’t this hol- iday be made warmer, and, well, more loving, if we could occasionally sit and allow ourselves to be alone with God and His love? And in these moments we make room for God’s love by releasing our death grip on our self-imposed identities. Because when my identity is grounded in an earthly role like employee, spouse or parent, I leave room for little else.

After all, these earthy roles will disintegrate over time. We retire. Our spouses leave us in one way or another. And while I will always be my children’s mother, that role has been transformed over time. If I cling too tightly to the same responsibilities I had to them when they were young, our relationship would be strained and eventually fray.

My Father, just for today ease my tense grip on an inflated role and let me just be loved by you.

Janice Hutchison Friday, December 23 Deuteronomy 31:12-13

oday's passage mentions the “sojourner,” which some Bibles trans- T late as “foreigner.” All people in the land were called to hear the word of the Lord, including the outsiders. As I contemplated this pas- sage, I thought of all the ways in which we can cast people as outsiders, foreigners in a sense, and the implications of this. People who are out- side of the realm of our experience tend to make most of us at least a little bit uncomfortable. Despite the old adage “opposites attract,” stud- ies show another expression is more true: “birds of a feather flock to- gether.” We are usually more comfortable with people similar to our- selves. It’s true for me. The result of this may then be that we find our- selves ministering mainly to people who are a reflection of our own lifestyles, who look and talk like us, and who don't challenge our think- ing on anything too much either. I get that. But I wonder if that's how we’re supposed to live. Because, remember, as believers we are all out- siders, citizens of another kingdom (Philippians 3:20).

Early in my Christian life I began to see things in me that were obsta- cles to serving the Lord and loving people. Fear of losing privacy, a re- served personality, looking to material things for my security, simply not wanting to look foolish! These things could cause me to avoid even minimal risks. The insecurity I felt showing hospitality to new people was magnified when befriending an “outsider,” because I didn't know what to expect. But I knew that whatever I needed for the challenge ahead came not from me, but from the Lord. So we began to open up our lives. Over the years, the Lord has led us to housing a refugee cou- ple from EL Salvador and young women through a crisis pregnancy center. We have been a host family to people from probably a dozen countries around the world. A diversity of neighbor children and our kids’ friends have been welcomed in, and we hosted a Good News Club. As so often happens, showing the love of Jesus to others has ministered to us in ways that can't be measured. I wish everyone who’s come through our door came to know Jesus. My hope is that I say enough so they leave knowing we're not just “nice” people, but “Jesus people.”

Lord, help us welcome you by welcoming the stranger.

Denise Merriman Saturday, December 24 Isaiah 54:1-3

oday is . How have I done with the Advent Conspira- T cy? After four weeks of reflecting on my approach to Christmas, have I made progress in terms of Worshipping Fully, Spending Less, Giving More and Loving All ? Will my heart be full tomorrow because I have grasped and shared the depth of God’s love?

In Isaiah 54:2 we read, “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the cur- tains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.” The beautiful promise that fol- lows is made to a woman who has been unable to bear children. She’s encouraged to add on to her tent, because the Lord is going to bless her with offspring, who will “fill the desolate cities.” He promises the same to us if we are intent on producing offspring.

There is no magic to the Christmas season. It is unique for many rea- sons, but there’s no guarantee of blessing that is different from any oth- er time of year. Even so, hopefully each of us who have entered into this Advent journey with thoughtful intent have known the joy of focus- ing on Christ, the freedom of cutting back on our material spending, the spiritual return of investing our selves in the lives of those around us, and the expansion of our own hearts as we have reached beyond the confines of our comfortable circle of family and long standing friends.

Let’s pray that as we have challenged ourselves this season God will continue the work into the New Year and beyond, so that we can share with him in the excitement of seeing people come to Christ (our spiritu- al offspring). “Do not hold back!” he says to the barren woman. Can I adopt this same attitude tonight, tomorrow, in 2017? No holding back! Do the work that’s required to make room for the offspring!

Sometimes, in the midst of the holiday hubbub, I have felt the longing for more meaning in my life. This is no doubt, the Holy Spirit, calling me to just that—the abundant, fruitful life Jesus so wants to give me.

Lord, renew my energy for the work ahead. I won’t hold back.

Sue Anderson 5915 Rhodes Road, Kent, OH, 44240 330-678-9019 www.graceinkent.org [email protected]