Week Five ~ Seek ~ Day Four

Matthew 2:9-11a
After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.

So why talk about the wise men when Christmas has come and gone? We usually include the story of the wise men as part of the Christmas story, bringing them to the manger right along with the shepherds. Most scholars believe that they probably did not see Jesus until around two years after His birth.

Yesterday we considered the possible significance of the gifts the wise men brought to the little King. However, there are other interesting things that often are overlooked. Have you noticed in the story that the wise men came eagerly looking for God? How often do we "go looking" for God? Many of us sit around and wait for God to come looking for us.

And does it not seem strange that they are anonymous? Tradition names them Melchior, Balthazar and Gaspar, but the Bible nowhere tells us their names. They found the child, worshipped, gave him gifts, and then they quietly left to return home. What? Didn’t they understand what a news opportunity this was? They probably could have at least garnered some endorsements for camel feed companies or something!

Perhaps they, being wise, understood a principles that Jesus spoke of later. "Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men." (Matthew 6:2)

Prayer: Lord, help me to seek you with purpose and passion. When you allow me to do something significant, help me not to make sure everyone I know hears about it. Amen

Challenge: Spend some time seeking God. Read a short scripture passage, watching for what word or phrase stands out to you. Then meditate in silence for awhile. Then pray whatever is in your heart.

Week Five ~ Seek ~ Day Three

How strange it is that I am posting this right now. I just booked my flight to Texas for my mother's funeral, after many screw ups, delays, and frustrations. It has been a long and exhausting day, and I am beyond tired. I have also been questioning many things today, asking God to please speak to me some way --and then I read the prayer at the bottom of this devotion -- that I wrote weeks ago. I was praying for myself and did not even know it, of course. Blessings, friends.

Matthew 2:11
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Why does scripture record the specific gifts? We don’t know for sure, but it seems likely that each of the gifts that the wise men brought to Jesus signified something special about His birth. Gold was a fitting gift for royalty, and it may have symbolized the fact that He was (and still is) the King of Kings. The gift of frankincense, a type of incense often burned at altars, emphasized His divine nature. Myrrh, which was often used in embalming, perhaps pointed to His death on the Cross.

How strange to think that even as the distinguished visitors from the East rejoiced to find the king for which they had searched, a shadow fell across the happy scene. How tragic this seems, as we look back and ponder how the little boy, Jesus, must have looked and behaved. Perhaps he pulled on a beard or played with the bright coins as any curious little toddler might do.

God’s ways are mysterious. Sometimes life’s events are painful and inexplicable. Even though the Christ Child would grow up to be rejected, and ultimately tortured and killed, the shadow of the cross was the beginning of victory. When John the Baptist saw Jesus he cried out, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” John understood that Jesus came to be the One who would open the way to victory. Glory turned to tragedy--and then tragedy became glory!

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Prayer: God of Mystery and Wonder, grant that aching hearts will be comforted, heavy heads will be lifted, and that those who grow weary will be strengthened. Help us to lay aside our questions and rest in your peace. Give us eyes of faith to see what lies beyond. It will be worth it all when we see you. Amen

Week Five ~ Seek ~ Day Two

Matthew 2:3-4
King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”

The people of the East had a prophecy given by Balaam (Numbers 24:17), “I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him, but not nearby; there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel..” The wise men evidently knew of the prophecy, so they set off on a long, hard trip to Jerusalem, seeking this new King.

Arriving there, they found Herod the Great. King Herod was an evil and murderous egomaniac who had bought his position. He was not about to tolerate competition. He called the Jewish religious leaders together and asked what their scriptures had to say about where a Messiah would arise. They quoted Micah 5:2, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

They knew all about the coming of the Messiah. According to the scripture, the people of the city heard about the question as well. Wouldn’t you think the religious leaders would have whooped for joy, found the wise men and said, “We know where our Messiah was to be born! Could it really be that at long last he has come? Let us ride with you and we’ll show you the way!” Apparently their knowledge of prophecy did not affect their hearts’ expectations.

Are we really looking for the Messiah? We read about the prophecies, the angels, the stable and the manger scene. We go to church and we sing carols about it all, but would we really like to see Him right now? What would you have to change if Jesus showed up at your front door?

Are we, like the wise men, willing to do whatever it takes to find Him? Or are we like those who were content just to know the story? That’s a question that each of us must answer for ourselves. His star still shines for seeking hearts.

Challenge: Spend some time thinking about what would you’d change if Jesus showed up. Then change something.

In Memory

Leta Viola Burson Norman
Born: January 25, 1917
Died: December 28, 2008

On the back deck with the flowers, a place she dearly loved. This was about three years ago.

At her "Texas Birthday Party" -- 90 years!

At Trinity's dedication, with the family.

In September. She couldn't talk and rarely smiled, but a visit from Trinity always made her smile.

Week Five~ Seek God's Purpose ~ Day One

Here we are the week after Christmas Day, which brings us to the S in O.A.S.I.S. --Seek. This week we will read about the mysterious visitors from the east who came seeking a king.

Matthew 2:1-2
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."

Today’s scripture passage records that wise men from the east arrived in the city of Jerusalem with an important question. Much could be written and debated about these wise men. First of all, how many were there? Christmas cards never depict a number other than three. They’re consistently drawn as kings. Then there’s that carol we sing: “We Three Kings.”

Some translations call them “magi,” which could mean that they were Zoroastrian priests of ancient Persia, reputed to possess supernatural powers. Perhaps they were Jews, descendents from a time when Jews were forcibly removed from Judah to Babylon. Who knows? The Bible doesn’t give a number or specify whether they were kings, astronomers, or just learned men; it simply states, “…wise men from the East came to Jerusalem.” However many there were and whatever they did, they were wealthy enough to finance an incredible journey and there were enough of them for their arrival to be noticed.

They had been on the road for a long time, probably a year or two. These wise men were experts at studying the stars, and when the new star – whether actually a star or an alignment of several planets – appeared at Jesus’ birth, they were certain that this star proclaimed the birth of royalty.

The question they asked when they arrived in Jerusalem rings with certainty. “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star…”

How did they know about this new king, and what did a star have to do with him? We will discover that tomorrow.

Prayer: God Who Gives Wisdom, I ask that I will be like the wise men of old—determined to seek and to find you. Amen

My Mother--UPDATED

My mother (92nd birthday is in January) has pnuemonia. I've spent most of today at the nursing home with her. She is occasionally awake, but not much. She cannot talk and cannot swallow, so I believe her time is very short. She saw my daughter, Kris, today, and sweet little Trinity who climbed up on the bed and gave "Grandma-Mommy" a kiss. Three others who love her dearly were able to come in today and be with her. I'm very tired, and feeling sick with a cold, so am off to bed. I am supposed to preach tomorrow, and I have a wedding coming up...ah, God knows all these things. Please pray with me for a peaceful homegoing for my precious little mother. Thank you.

Update: After a long night and day, she went home to the Lord this afternoon. The funeral will be in Texas.

Joy ~ Day Seven

Luke 1: 39-45
A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”

Not long after Gabriel announced that a miraculous pregnancy was happening to Elizabeth, he visited Mary (Luke 1: 26-38) and told her that she was the one chosen to conceive and bear a child that is from the Holy Spirit. Mary submitted to God’s plan, but she would certainly have known her task would be far from easy. She was young, unmarried, and pregnant. Her emotions must have been tumultuous, at best! She took a journey to share her heart with someone more mature, her relative, Elizabeth.

Our passage for today tells of their meeting. The joy seems almost to leap from the scripture! Elizabeth gives a glad cry, and even the baby within her is joyful. Mary rejoices too, and she praises God for her unique place in His plan.

God had prepared Elizabeth to bear a special child, but God had also prepared her to minister to the young woman who would bear the Messiah, Elizabeth’s young relative, Mary. Who could understand or believe Mary’s fantastic story? Mary must have rehearsed her story many times as she journeyed to visit Elizabeth--and then she did not have to say a word! When Mary came to call, Elizabeth knew what had happened to her without a word of explanation. Because she had seen God’s work in her own life, Elizabeth was able to give affirmation of God’s work in Mary.

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home, probably after Baby John was born. How I would love to know what the two women spoke of during those weeks!

Elizabeth's miracle boy, John the Baptist, would prepare the way for Jesus. Elizabeth had to raise a son who could stand firm in his faith despite criticism, rejection--even prison and death. God had prepared her to be the mother who welcomed such a special son into the world.
In addition to preparing Elizabeth to be John’s mother, God had prepared her to be a blessing to Mary, the promised virgin who was to conceive and bear a son--Emmanuel--God with us! John prepared the way for Jesus, but in a very real way, Elizabeth prepared the way for his mother, Mary. She believed Mary's crazy story because she had a story of her own.

Our OASIS theme for this week is “Invest in People.” One of the simplest, and perhaps best, ways to invest in other’s lives is to share your own journey of faith.

What has God done for you? Who is waiting for you to share your own joyful story? Who is waiting for you to invest in their life?

Prayer: Dear God, help me to recall your miracles, your presence, your joy in my own life. And then, Lord, help me to overflow with the story, not to hoard it to myself, but to share it and to spend my life investing in what is eternal—people!

Challenge: Write out a testimony of what God has done for you. Condense it to one page. Be ready to talk about it as God’s Spirit gives you opportunity!

Another Prison Christmas

Almost every Christmas for the last 17 years, I go to the prison where Ken is the chaplain. Pictured here is a photo I found on the web. It is one of the housing units there. You can see the lovely setting for this prison, rolling hills. You can also see the razor wire. The prison chapel is just a short way down the road in front of you.

Every year has been different--different faces, insights, observations, emotions, and joys. But some things are the same, year after year. Every year, without fail, going to prison on Christmas Day puts a crimp in my schedule. This year our son Josh left before eating our wonderful Christmas dinner because he knew dinner would be after we returned from prison. He did not want to encounter the forcasted ice storms, so he left about noon.

Sigh. Why do I have to go every single year? One would think I'd learn, but I never do.

What do I never learn? Well, every Christmas I travel to the prison chapel and every year I wish I didn't have to go. And every year the prison visit becomes one of the highlights of my Christmas.

I didn't want to leave our daughter's home, but the drive had been pleasant--a trip through fields, woods, and farmland. The trees were frosted and the snow was deep everywhere but the sun had come out after many days of dreary clouds. It was cold, but that wasn't so bad because the snow-covered countryside was beautiful in the sunshine. I prayed and then I sang loudly all the way to the prison, practicing a song I would share during the chapel service.

Last year I posted about the people I met who were waiting, in an overcrowded, overheated room, to be called for a visit with their loved one. I was sitting there with them because of the decision of a cranky prison guard who probably did not want to be working on Christmas Day. Getting through the gate and into the prison is sometimes the most stressful part of a prison visit. This year I was greatly relieved that I passed through without incident.

A van carried me from the gatehouse to the prison chapel. The guard/driver was young and fairly cheerful, talking about the holidays, the weather, driving too fast for the road conditions, and blaring rock and roll on the radio. We careened up the hill to the chapel. Whew...glad to arrive and hop out. As I stepped into the back of the chapel, where Ken smiled a welcome, I heard Father Joe concluding the Catholic Mass. Later he greeted me warmly. We see each other once a year--on Christmas at the prison chapel. His voice is about gone, and he tells me that he conducted four masses yesterday and three so far today with more to come. He looks exhausted, but he smiles, his deeply lined face creasing, and he pats my shoulder, wishing me a "Blessed Christmas, dear girl."

The cheery greetings from inmates never fail to make me smile. "Merry Christmas, Pastor" or "Hello, Mrs. Chaplain" or "Hi, Pastor Chaplain, ma'am" and so on. They are never sure what to call me.

The Protestant choir practiced a version of "Silent Night" that sounded like a military march (I kid you not). The drummer did his best to play with enthusiasm if not skill, the choir members swayed in rythm, the guitarist played with concentration and the director did his best to keep it all together. Prison church is a lot like a junior high classroom on the verge of explosion.

The worship service was not as crowded as usual, perhaps because this year there are two chaplains so there was a Christmas Eve service as well as the usual one held on Christmas Day. As always, I am struck with the faces that pass: the happy smile from a very old man with no teeth, a middle-aged black man with a grizled beard and a warm handshake, a somber redhead, bushy hair pulled back in a ponytail, the downcast eyes, limp handshake and stooping posture of a large man with sweaty hands, the ones who avoid eye contact, the ones who make a point to smile and nod, the one who told me Christmas is the best time of the year, even in prison, because that is when Jesus came.

Some men sit silently with eyes downcast. However, many inmates respond vocally to my song and to the message. I love preaching at the prison. Who couldn't preach with passion and joy when being urged on by comments, amens, applause and words of affirmation? The singing, as always, made me smile. The presence of God was with us, as always. Why is it that I so often sense God at the prison chapel in a way I do not find elsewhere? I don't know.

This year I noticed the young mad sitting beside me during the singing. He looked remarkably like a young, dark version of my husband's brother. His face was smooth and his beautiful eyes sparkled as he sang. He looked like a wholesome, teenager, handsome and sporting an Afro. (Afros, it seems, are coming back in style.) During a particularly loud, "Ooohhhhh" from the choir, he turned to me and grinned. I wondered what this young man, full of life, had seen and done to be in this place. I thought, "He should be enjoying Christmas dinner with a family, opening presents, perhaps planning a Christmas visit to his girlfriend. He should be singing in a church choir, or playing the part of one of the Wise Men in a Christmas pageant." Instead, he wore drab green prison garb and sat in a prison chapel with broken, lonely, often wicked men.

When the service ended, I stood at the back to send the men back to their units with a smile and a "Merry Christmas." The young guy with the Afro shook my hand and told me to enjoy the rest of my day with the family.

I drove back to my daughter's warm home in the country, acutely aware that Ken was not far behind and that we would arrive to find Kris, her husband Daryl, beautiful little Trinity, a decorated tree, good food, and fun. My thoughts returned to the young Black man who had sat beside me in the pew. I wondered about his life. He couldn't have been more than 19 or 20.

I thought about the children I had seen in my days of working in Milwaukee's inner-city neighborhoods and elsewhere. Beautiful children who were old beyond their years, who roamed the streets and spoke of things they should not have known about, who came to the park unsupervised, who stole and swore and swaggerd, and begged for attention in ways both positive and negative. These were precious children who were not really children, people who went, seemingly, from being toddlers to fending for themselves.

I wondered if that young man had been one of those? Had he ever just been a child? Did he have a mother who went to church and prayed for him? A father who wondered what happened? Did a grandmother send him money and Bible verses when she wrote? Or did he have no family that counted? Had he ever known the love and care of his daddy? Had he graduated from high school, or did he (like over 65% of prisoners) read somewhere below a 6th grade level?

What had he done, this fresh faced "youngster" to land himself in prison? What would happen to him? Would my friend Much2Ponder, have him in one of her classes? I know how much she wants to encourage her students at the prison school to hope and to work for a better life. Would he hear and absorb the message of Jesus' love that my chaplain husband tries, day after day, to share?

I can't stop wondering about him. He is the other end, the result of the too-soon-old children of the city.

Be near them, God of Love, Lord Jesus our Hope, Sweet Holy Spirit of Comfort. I weep and I pray for the young man with the Afro, for the toothless elder spending his life in prison, for the sad redhead, the ex-carny guitar player, the choir director, the one who asked me to autograph his devotion book, for Father Joe, the guard, my chaplain husband, my teacher friend. Oh God, have mercy on us, your fragile creation. Save us. Give us wisdom as we work to make this world a better place. Sustain those who seek to be your hands, your feet, your words, your face. Amen

Joy ~ Day Six

Ooops! I posted today's post yesterday, and this is the post that should have been posted for Christmas Day. We will return to the story of Zecharias and Elizabeth tomorrow.

John 15:9-11
I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

The pastor of my childhood church had a banner behind his desk. It pictured a figure jumping for joy. Across the bottom of the banner were the words, A Christian Should be a Hallelujah from Head to Foot!

What makes people happy? Where does joy come from? Is there a difference between happiness and joy? Everyone asks these sort of questions at times, even people of faith. Christians are people who have discovered that true happiness comes from knowing and serving Jesus Christ.

Jesus came to live life among us and to bring us joy that overflows. Today's scripture contains a powerful principle: Joy come from obedience to God and to a life lived in love. I'll be honest in saying that the most miserable times of my life have been those times when I knew I was not living in obedience to God's love.

The joy we speak of during this season is not the kind of happiness that might come from presents, family gatherings, shopping and lights. Those things can be a wonderful part of our celebration, but they are not the true joy of Christmas. The joy of Christmas is knowing that our Savior came to free us from sin and death. He came to give us life, a life that comes from God both now and forevermore! When we understand this, our obedience to God can flow out of a willing and obedient heart.

Prayer: Joy to the world! You, Lord have come! Let my heart prepare a place for you to live. I love you, Lord, and I want to walk in obedience to you. As I do, may my joy overflow to all those around me! Amen

It is Christmas!

Joy to the world! The Lord has come!

Thank you for visiting the Owl's Song this year.

I wish each of you a wonderful Christmastide, and God's richest blessings as we come into the year 2009!

Christmas Day ~ Joy ~ Day Five

Luke 1:13-17
But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

Today we step back a bit to the days before Jesus’ birth. Luke vividly describes the uncommon circumstances of how an angelic visitation happened not just once but twice in a short space of time. Here is how the first one came about.

Zacharias, a priest, has an angel encounter while performing his duties in the temple. The Angel Gabriel tells him that his wife, Elizabeth, will have a son. Angel or not, the good priest is skeptical. After all, he and Elizabeth aren’t young anymore, and they have been childless for many years.

Because of his lack of faith, Gabriel tells Zacharias he will not be able to speak until his son is born. And, sure enough, Zacharias is struck dumb. While suddenly becoming mute is not a joyful development, it certainly must have gladdened the hearts of the elderly couple to have confirmation that the angels spoke the truth about their unusual child!

How joyful Elizabeth would have been! At last, when hope seemed gone, she would be given her heart’s desire. A baby boy was on the way, and not just any baby, but one with a special task and a special anointing from God’s Holy Spirit. Nine months after the angelic visititation, Zacharias vocally praised God that their son would herald the coming of the longed-for Messiah!

Prayer: Thank you, Heavenly Father, for using us who are ordinary humans. Even flawed and sometimes faithless, you choose us to do your work in the world. Help us to accept your words, your call, your provision, with joy and belief in the impossible. Amen

Advent Week Four ~ Joy ~ Day Four

Today's devotion is from guest blogger, Kris. SingingOwl is back tomorrow.

1 Chronicles 29:9
The people rejoiced over the offerings, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord, and King David was filled with joy.

We as the church are called to invest in people. Why keep the good news to ourselves when those around us can share in the joy of salvation? One of the ways to help share the joy is to give offerings to the Lord.

In the passage above King David asked his people to help pay for the temple. They gave with generosity and all hearts were glad. We often think of money when we hear “offering.” Sometimes that is an easy offering to give. For others it can require faith in God's faithfulness, even when money is "tight."

Money given to the church supports the leadership and goes to missionaries who spread the word to those who might otherwise have no one to tell them about Christ. Money is used to help others in need and to reach out in compassion to our communities. Everyone in the church should give freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord.

Time is another great offering! Anything in which you invest your time is a priority in your life. What is given the most time? What is second, and so on? If you are honest about this it will reveal your priorities. Work is usually a big priority, because we need to pay for our homes, food, and clothes. In addition, work is for providing money to support the thing that gets most of your time.

If you spend every extra dime and every extra free moment with your car, then your car is a priority in your life. A priority might be shopping, sports, friends, church or family— anything that you decide is important enough to expend your time. Time is precious because there is a limited amount to use each day. Therefore, when you give your family time, you are saying that they are important to you.

The church also needs your time. When your church holds a function to benefit the community and you give of your time to help, you are telling the Lord your church and your community that they are important. Everyone knows that time is precious. Where are you spending yours?

Sometimes God will ask us to give an offering that is hard to give up. Evangelist Paul Olson tells of a time when his ministry was very short on funds. Paul owned a very nice little sports car that he loved and had possesed for many years. Paul sensed that the Lord was telling him to sell that car for the money his ministry needed. It was a hard thing to do, but after praying he told the Lord he would be obedient. He sold the car, and the very next day the money pledges he was missing started to come in. He was able to make all his commitments.

When asked if he missed the car, he said, “Not really. I was more happy that I was able to do the work God called me to do then to have a car that I could only use once in awhile. I haven’t regretted once in the years since I sold it.”

Prayer: Lord help me to give freely, wisely, and wholeheartedly everything you ask of me. Amen

Advent Week Four ~ Joy ~ Day Three

Today's post is from guest blogger, Kris.

Habakkuk 3 17-19
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty,yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength!He makes me as surefooted as a deer,able to tread upon the heights.

This can be a difficult time of year for many of us. Did you know joy is a choice? Do you choose to look for joy regardless of your surroundings? In our scripture for today we see similarities to our current economic situation. Perhaps if Habakkuk wrote this today, it would go something like this:

Even though the price of oil is going up,

and the cost of food is higher than it has ever been before;

even though the future is unsure and I have no job security;

even though my house won’t sell and I can’t get a good loan:

Yes, even in all of this I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God that has saved me.
The King of Heaven is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer able to escape the deer hunter’s sight...

...Or something like that.

We can choose to find things to be happy about, or we can choose to focus on the negative. The joy of the Lord is our strength, but if we choose to ignore the good and focus on the bad we will never have the strength to laugh in spite of hard times.

Prayer: Lord help me to find joy in all the things you do for me as your son or daughter. Whether the blessing is large or small, may nothing rob me of the joy you intend to give me. Grant me mercy in the sad times, and fill my life with laughter, peace and joy. Amen

Advent Week Four ~ Joy ~ Day Two

Today's post is from guest blogger, Kris.

Psalm 100

Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth!
Worship the LORD with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the LORD is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

Have you ever been to a “good old fashioned” Pentecostal meeting? The Pentecostals used to be (and sometimes still are)looked at strangely by other more mainstream denominations. Some called us “holy rollers” and said we “jumped the pews” and “swung from the chandeliers.” Why did they call us names and think we were strange? Excesses occurred sometimes, it is true, However, at least in part, it was because the church was filled with joy and folks were NOT going to be quiet about it.

Those early Pentecostal wanted everyone to know that Christ had died for our sins, risen from the dead and was living in our hearts. If you have ever watched a child that has happy news, he is tripping over his words to tell you about it. That is the kind of joy we should have.

Psalm 100 is a chapter I highly recommend memorizing and repeating to yourself when you are feeling blue. It is good to give the Lord thanks, to praise his name and to sing for joy. Even on those days when you aren’t feeling joyful, these three things help to bring a smile to your face:

1. praise him
2. thank him and
3. sing out loud with joy!

When you focus on the Lord and all he is and all he has done, it is hard to stay down in the dumps.

Challenge: Today tell someone, anyone, something that God has done for you. Share it and watch the joy grow.

Advent Week Four ~ Joy ~ Invest in People

Today's blog post is from guest blogger, Kris.

A detail from the creche at Jubilee Church

Luke 15:9-11
And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.

One of the greatest joys in life is helping someone find Christ. When someone asks Christ into his or her life, all of heaven rejoices and you can be a part of heaven in that moment.

A pastor of a small church in an inner-city area that is highly religious, but also highly anti-church, says that the only way they are going to see a change in that area and in the lives of the people around them, is to ‘do life’ with them--and not preach at them.

By investing in people’s lives, talking with them, sharing with them, learning about what is happening in their lives, we are investing in people for the future. You don’t have to approach everyone you meet and ask if they have said the sinner’s prayer (though some people are very good at that), but instead you can show your interest by being with someone through good times and hard times.

When you invite people into your life you allow them to see how you handle times of crisis and times of joy. Don’t be afraid to tell your friends how God has influenced and blessed you. A story is powerful, and people can’t argue with your story, especially if you live it for all to see.

We MUST “do life” with those around us in order to have any influence their lives.

When you get the opportunity to lead someone to the cross, remember that all of heaven rejoices with you, and your heart will be filled with joy.

Prayer: Lord help me to be aware of those around me and to listen for the prompting of your Holy Spirit. May I be transparent with nothing to hide, but have a life open for inspection. Amen

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

This is week four in the OASIS theme. This week we'll consider how God's gift of joy inpacts how we affect the lives of others.

Here is Phil Driscoll with a trumpet rendition of "Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee" to start our week.



And the great acapella group, Take Six, singing a "Joy to the World" medly.

Advent Week Three: Love ~ Day Seven

Today's devotion is by guest blogger, Kris.

2 Timothy 4: 1 & 2
I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

I recently met a young man who didn’t know how to do laundry, pay his bills, clean his house or cook his meals. He was 24 years old and didn’t have any skills needed to live on his own. His mother “loved” him too much. In her desire to show love to her son, she robbed him of the skills he would need to live well on his own in the world.

Now you may wonder what this has to do with you and with today’s verses. This past week we have been reading about love. We read about perfect love, and we thought about God’s love, and now we learn about another expression of love, “tough love.” We must take what we have learned in previous devotions about love and apply that to helping the church body grow in spiritual maturity. And it is tough both to give and to receive that kind of love.

Often times in a church setting we know each other’s faults, especially in a close-knit church. Sometimes jokes are made about those faults, or gossip or back biting, but how often do we correct those faults? How many times have you taken someone aside and lovingly and patiently told them the truth? Once? Twice? Never? Tough, isn’t it?

On the other side of that coin is how we receive correction. Proverbs says, “He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray” (10:17); “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.” (12:1); “He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored” (13:18); “Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die” (15:10) Get the idea?

Don’t shy away from either giving or receiving needed correction. To deny either one is foolish.
While it isn't your job to "straighten everyone out" it is important that you care enough to be honest. Pray before confronting someone, examine your own heart and attitude and always proceed humbly, gently and with love. If someone corrects you, listen, pray about it, evaluate it honestly, and work on it as appropriate. Do not respond in anger, but instead use the correction as a chance to grow and mature.

Prayer: Help me to be brave and to love enough to gently correct others when I see a continued wrong—and to be brave and humble and take the correction that is given to me. Amen

Advent Week Three: Love ~ Day Six

I John 4:19-21
We love because he first loved us. If we say we love God yet hate a brother or sister, we are liars. For if we do not love a fellow believer, whom we have seen, we cannot love God, whom we have not seen. And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love one another.

I like the gentle humor of the late Charles Schultz’s comic strip, “Peanuts.” Linus is my favorite of the strip’s characters, perhaps because he seems the most like me. I once had a poster that showed Linus with his characteristic blanket held to his face. He looked unhappy. Under the drawing were these words:

“I LOVE mankind. It’s PEOPLE I can’t stand!”

Ouch! Does that hit a nerve with you as it does with me? How much easier it is for me love a crowd and to weep for multitudes than it is to love one person who annoys, frustrates, misunderstands, disrespects, or hurts me. And to make it tougher yet, this passage is speaking of some of those closest to us, our “brothers or sister” in Christ, our fellow-believers.
Hurt that comes from another Christian often cuts deeper than wounds from someone “outside.” We expect more from each other, after all! We are supposed to be following Christ’s example, right?

For good or ill, none of us are yet made perfect. Even those who care most for us will sometimes disappoint us—it is part of the human condition. Then it is time to remind ourselves that love is not a warm feeling. It’s nice when that feeling is present, but God’s love showed itself in action. This passage is quite blunt, isn’t it? You say you love God? Well, that’s easy enough. How are you doing with the person next to you in the pew?

Prayer: My own love is not always enough, God. Grant me the grace to choose loving actions even when I don’t particularly feel like it. If I get proud about this, remind me of those times when I acted in a less than loving way towards my brother or sister. Amen

Advent Week Three: Love ~ Day Five

I John 4:9-12
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Perhaps you have heard the story of the little boy who was terrified of thunderstorms. One stormy night as he cowered under his covers, his mother said, “Dear, God is with you, and if you pray to Him you will not be so afraid.” From under the blankets the boy replied tearfully, “I know that, Mommy, but sometimes I need someone with skin on!”

God showed his great love for humankind by sending Jesus to give us eternal life. Jesus of Nazareth was “God with skin on.”

Love came down at Christmas,

Love all lovely, love divine;

Love was born at Christmas,

Star and angels gave the sign.

Christina Rosetti

Our Lord was sent from God, lived as God-made-flesh, atoned for our sins, was raised from the dead and then left the earth to return to his heavenly home, sending the Holy Spirit to us. Wonderful as that is, it seems that sometimes, once again, we need a representation of God that is touchable. No one can see God, but if we love others, we can show God to our world. “His love is made complete in us.”

Prayer: Thank you, God, for sending love in the form of Jesus. I am so forgetful, God of Love and so prone to act in ways that are not loving. Help me to remember that people, including me, make your love “complete.” Help me see with your eyes and love with your heart today.

Challenge: Think of a specific person in your life. Now think of a specific way you can show love to that person. Make a plan, and do it.

Advent Week Three: Love ~ Day Four

Today's devotion is by guest blogger, Kris.

I Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Have you ever wondered at this verse? Have you ever thought, “Why is ‘love’ more important than faith or hope?” I think one reason love is “the greatest of these” is because love is forever.

When the time comes that we are called away to live eternally with Christ, love will be the only thing that remains. We will not need faith in heaven; what was once hidden from us will now be revealed. Hope will be a thing of earth and the past. We need not hope for Christ any longer as we will be fellowshipping with him continually. Love is eternal, and when we are in Heaven we will be surrounded by the perfect love described in verses 4-7 (what we talked about in yesterday’s devotion). The love of God will be like a blanket all around us in heaven. Heaven will be the proof of his love.

Not only that, but the people we have loved here on Earth, and those who have loved us in return, can still love us! Can you imagine being surrounded by people who love you always with no limitations? Imagine a moment when you felt great love. Now imagine that feeling a thousand times greater — and to feel that at all times. That is Heaven to me!

Jesus loves us with perfect love right now. Sometimes it is hard to believe or see or feel this love, but that is only because we are in a sinful world which causes a barrier between us and God. In eternity that barrier will be gone. We will feel his arms wrap around us and hear him say “Well done, good and faithful servant”.

Prayer: Lord, please help me to be aware of your love and to know that even here, when I am less than perfect, you love me. Keep the prize of heaven before my eyes, and bring the desire to share that love with others into my heart. Amen