The Ultimate Example

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus...

Philippians 2:5

Jesus -- the babe in the manger -- exemplifies a life of worship...
Sacrificing all out of love for the Father and for creation...

The One who knew no bounds...
the Word who spoke creation into existence...
chose to empty Himself of all...
to be contained in a fragile vessel... an infant...
placing His life in the hands of those He created...
just as we are to place our lives in His...

From conception to death, His life reveals a true life of worship...
doing nothing of His own will...
but only what He saw His Father doing...

The Gospels, the authorized biographies of Jesus, can teach us to live as worship to Him. When we study... meditate... and consume.... His life story, we come closer to Him...

Who being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself and became obedient to death --- 

even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:6-11

As we move past Advent and into a new year...
consider all that Jesus sacrificed to enter the womb of Mary...
consider all He has blessed you with...

What are you willing to sacrifice...? ...to live a life of worship...?

Father God, open my eyes and heart to the truth of what it means to be a living sacrifice. Fill me with a desire to know Jesus intimately and 
for His attitude to flow through me.

Worship is Gratitude

It's the week before December  and time to take down the fall decorations. I put away the pumpkins and candles. Store the leaves and garland for next year. All but the thanksgiving tree because the month is not over and there is still thanks to give.

The smell of a fresh Christmas tree hangs in the air. Ornaments are hung, the tree skirt situated. The village is lit. Our youngest sets out the nativity scene less one camel this year because the years of storing have caused him to crack.

December creeps in on a Saturday and I quietly hang crystal ornaments from the window, put the greenery over the table and get the Jesse Tree ready.



The thanksgiving tree still sits on the kitchen bar. I am reluctant to take it down. The final touches are made and I need to do something with this tree.


Pouring beans in the soup pot I think of what I should do with it...take it a part, put it on the burn pile because it is just twigs and paper. Nothing feels right. Water washes over beans for the soaking and still I delay. As I turn and begin to take apart twigs and glass, something in me shifts...and so I put the twigs back in the glass and look around.

The thanksgiving tree sits by our Jesse Tree now because who can recount God's plan...from the birth of a world to the birth of a Savior without giving thanks.



Not Mary...she couldn't contain the thanks when she visited Elizabeth.
Not angels on high as they informed the shepherds of Christ's birth.



Like them I giving thanks is an act of worship. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."--Isaiah 9:6

stacy
(taken from her blog fumckidsministry.blogspot.com)

Family Devotional: Peace

Family Devotional:  Peace

Fourth Sunday in Advent

Have those around you offer a definition of peace.  It can be a place they like to go where they feel peaceful...a time of the day when things get quiet.

Light all the three candles previously lit.  As you light the forth candle say, "we light this candle for peace."

Read Luke 14: 27

We often think about peace according to what is going on around us.  If our day is a good one we had peace.  If not we wonder where the peace went.  Jesus did not have a lot of peaceful circumstances surrounding him even at the time of his birth.  King Herod wanted him found and dead.  Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt to protect him.  Most of what you read in the scriptures about Jesus doesn't seem very peaceful.

Today's scripture reminds us that the peace of Christ is not about what is going on around us.  We will not find it in quiet places or a day off.  We only find peace as a gift given by Jesus.

The words of today's verse end, "So don't be troubled or afraid." 

Give each person at your table a small piece of paper.  Ask then to write or draw something that troubles them or causes fear in their lives.  Now ask them to draw on top of that thing a gift with a bow on top.

Prayer:  Have the oldest at the table pray for those things written or drawn and then give thanks for Jesus' gift of peace.



364 Days of Different

Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.

Psalm 145:2

Christmas day for us is like no other day of the year. Christmas is different.  Everyone wakes up without moans and groans (sometimes before the sun comes up at our house). Our minds aren't thinking of work, school or to do lists.  No one is worried about what they will look like or wear that day. Every family member is present. We all sit around anticipating the gifts we will give, and get. Here is the really weird one...EVERYONE IS NICE to each other. There is sharing too!  The whole day is like this. We eat without worry about how many calories each bite contains. I don't even mind if there are messes that don't get cleaned up.  We always sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and get this...EVERYONE SINGS! Even Justin.  We spend the whole day with the people who mean the most and there is no worry, no harsh words, no planning for the future.

Some of you may remember a musical play that I participated in many years ago under the direction of Jerry Compton, or Mr. C as I have always called him, titled 365 Days of Christmas.  It is about having Christmas every single day of the year. Celebrating Christmas on New Year's, Christmas on Valentine's, Christmas on spring break, a summer's worth of Christmases.  Every Monday...Christmas. Every Friday...Christmas.

My first thought is, "wow". Not sure I could handle that much excitement every day. My second, and less rash thought is, "wow. that's it."  This is how He lived. He was different.  He woke every morning with a heart ready to love, share, and be nice. Why don't we?  This is how it's meant to be. So many of our days should be like this.  Then, the days when the to do lists are overwhelming, the house is a wreck and NO ONE wants to share, those are the days that should be integrated with Christmas too. 

Every Advent season we hear the words Hope, Joy, Love and Peace. This is what I see on the day of Christmas each year without even leaving my house. I want to challenge 364 of your days next year to look like Christmas. Extra thankful for God's son, giving to others, without worry, close to the ones you love. Make 364 of them different, too.

Lacy Matejka

Celebrating: An Act of Worship

An Advent Devotional from 1992...

"And Mary said, 'My soul glorifies the Lord 
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.'"

Luke 1: 46-47

I never spoke directly with him and yet he made an impact on my life in a way that I have remembered for years now.  It happened while we were at one of those fast food restaurants where young children love to have their birthday parties.  The party was well under way when out of the corner of my eye I could see that we had a new guest.  Sitting nearby, the man had obviously come to dine alone that night but somehow, in the midst of our celebrations he found himself drawn into what was happening there.  And soon, though he remained at his table physically, he was participating as enthusiastically as any of the kids there that day.  His laughter was so contagious,in fact,  we were quickly caught up with more than just parental supervision.

  

And then, as the party began to wind down and the man started to leave, two of the children took him a balloon.  He responded graciously and walked out the door.  And as we were clearing the last table, I glanced up and saw an old pick-up truck turn the corner from the parking lot with a bright balloon attached to its antenna.  Later on, my husband told me that he had asked the stranger a little bit about himself and had found that the man had recently been widowed and that meal times were especially tough for him.  Yet in spite of that great loss and his advanced years, our guest had a magnetic joy and vibrant participation in life.

And I wonder:  could it have been that same way with Mary?  For surely Mary was often alone and misunderstood at best, if not actually slandered by some.  She experienced physical, mental, and emotional distress in her life.  And yet, her attitude was one of great joy because she had been told the good news of a savior.  There is great reason to be joyful.  For we have a Savior who not only forgives us but stays with us through every turn of life.  No matter what life may bring us, we too can go through it with a "balloon tied on our antenna."  Our joy can help point others toward the greatest gift of all--Jesus.

Julie Temple

Celebrating life's special occasions can become acts of worship when we open our hearts and lives to those on the fringes of the celebration.  The season of Advent is the perfect time to do just that.

Consider who you might add to your invitation list... could you bring them into your celebration... welcome them with open hearts...as worship to Him...?

Worship Goes Out of Its Way

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod,
Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 
"Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? 
We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

Matthew 2:1-2

NIV

Read Matthew 2:1-12

The Magi... aka Wise Men... went out of their way to worship...

They intentionally chose to pack up and embark on a journey to follow the star that announced the arrival of the newborn King of the Jews... and they weren't even Jewish... they recognized God's sign and pursued with a passion...

They arrived fully prepared to worship... bearing extravagant gifts of gold... frankincense... myrrh... to lay before the King...

They were more than willing to go out of their way on the return trip... after a warning... they chose to honor the One they worshiped... taking the long way home...

Leaving home... preparation of offerings... obeying... these wise men went out of their way to worship...

A heart of worship gladly goes... offers... and obeys... even when it is not convenient...

Are you willing to go out of your way to follow...? to help others when God asks...? to prepare your offering...?
For whom... or what... do you go out of your way...?

"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life for me will find it." --Jesus

Matthew 16:25

NIV

Lord Jesus... I choose to go out of my way for You... to lose myself... for You...

Forget the Sheep

Reprinted from Advent 1990:

Several years ago I read a devotional by Jo Carr that has stayed with me, and I would like to share it with you.

In this meditation, as she was retelling the story of the shepherds and the angels, she suggested that the shepherds with their frightened sheep almost missed the Messiah. The short range view of these simple men was on the sheep; so the message of angels was almost overlooked. As the shepherds rounded up their woolly charges, they began to discuss among themselves if they dared leave the sheep and go into Bethlehem to see this miracle that had come to pass. A bunch of sheep almost caused them to miss the happening of the age!

We do the same thing. Unable to look at the larger scope of our lives, we try every year to "make" Christmas perfect. We want our house, tree, food, and entertainment to be something out of a magazine or a picturebook. If the relatives are hard to bear, the children too demanding, the money too tight, the turkey too dry, we think that Christmas has been spoiled. We fail to recognize that a miracle has taken place and is still taking place. The "sheep" of the NOW blind and deafen us to the Miracle of the Ages: God has come in the form of the Babe of Bethlehem so that we may understand Him and He us. The shepherds were among the privileged to get the news first hand, and they might have missed it by staying and rounding up the cranky sheep.

Don't allow the "sheep" of this year to keep you from celebrating the real meaning of this blessed event. Even if the relatives are a bit much, the tree isn't perfect or one of the kids gets the chicken-pox, take time out every day during this Advent season to tune out the "sheep" and thank God for his wonderful gift.

And the Angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:9-11

June Landrum

Kitchen Worship

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

For me… some days… a life of worship plays out in my kitchen…

After dinner, when I’ve waited until late to go back and clean up, after sleeping on the sofa in the den, I still need to wash dishes, put away leftovers, set up coffee for the morning…

In these moments… I pray… I can do all things through You who give me strength. Jesus, give me strength to do what I’m supposed to do…

And He does. Even though my flesh longs for the bed, and prods me to leave behind a mess, I choose in the Spirit, by faith, to ask for the strength He promises… and yes… even in the kitchen, in the mundane tasks of daily living, I find Him, live through Him, and thank Him.

Lord Jesus, may my life be as worship to You, even in the small and daily.

Only in Him,

Carol Weaver

To Live a Life of Worship

I will praise you forever for what you have done;

in your name I will hope, for your name is good.

I will praise you in the presence of your saints.

Psalm 52:9

My friend Rebecca lost her battle to cancer in August. Rebecca loved Jesus, family and her church. She taught so many how to worship our Lord Jesus with great passion. Rebecca wrote many songs and when you heard them you knew she desired to be in the presence of Jesus. She wanted to sit at His feet and saturate herself in His presence, to be lost in the moment with Him, to breathe in His fragrance, to taste His goodness. She longed for His glory. I spent so much time with Rebecca. I knew she had a special heart for Jesus and souls to be saved. She planted seeds everywhere she went. I remember Rebecca playing her guitar at church. The neuropathy was so bad, she had lost her fingernails but that did not hold her back. She lifted her hands and worshiped our Savior.

 
Worshiping to Rebecca was not just in songs, it goes beyond singing. She taught us to understand that worship is about our life. It is how we all should live.  Worship itself is a heart issue, we are worshiping things around us and we are worshiping ourselves,we need to only worship Him.

A.    Worship – to show extreme devotion and intense love, to make something your main focus and attention in your thought life.

B.     Worship – surrender, submission, obedience and faith.

This is not just about getting born again. When you are born again, you enter into a spiritual relationship with God and you begin to understand this relationship with God Almighty is more than a relationship, it is a covenant. Covenant requires everything you have is HIS and everything He has is yours.

Praise and worship is for our benefit. This is why over and over the psalmist continues to praise Him, praise you all my saints. I will praise Him and I will bless Him even when I don’t feel like it. When we do that, something happens inside of us. 

In memory of my Dear Friend Rebecca Jane Thompson Corley

Tammy Philbrick

Family Devotional: Joy

Joy

Third Sunday of Advent

  

"Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!"
Psalm 100:1

The angel made several visitations right before the birth of John and Jesus.  The angel's first words..."Don't be afraid...".

Ask those around you:  How do you think you would respond if you were like Zechariah, Mary, or Joseph and an angel showed up to give you a message?

Read Luke 1: 13-15 and Luke 1: 46-49

Ask:  How did Zechariah and Mary respond after they received the angel's message?

Light the third candle of the Advent wreath and say:   We light this candle for joy.

The three that were visited responded to the angel's messages with thanksgiving and joy.  Thanksgiving and joy go together because without giving thanks there is no joy.  The story of Christmas is full of those who were filled with joy and gave thanks like the shepherds and kings.  It is a season with many reasons to give thanks.

Make a list of things you are can thank God for this season.  Place the list under your Christmas tree.

Prayer:  Have each person say a thanksgiving prayer.

Other-Centered: A Key to Worship

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field,

keeping watch over their flocks by night.

Luke 2:8

Read Luke 2:8-20

Shepherds... they lived out in the field keeping watch... their hearts other-centered... not self-centered...

They did not live in town seeking social status or climbing ladders of corporate success... they looked out for sheep... without much thought to themselves... how they looked... or smelled...

Because they looked outside themselves they were available to receive the angelic message... the birth announcement of the Messiah...

They had the inclination... to go... seek out this wonder... because they were other-minded... and had a heart for worship...

Their outward seeking... and wonder-full worship... brought encouragement to a young mother who risked everything for this child... and spread the news to a people whom God had readied for this day...

An other-centered attitude opens a heart to God's message... prepares the heart for worship... glorifies Him... and builds His kingdom...

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,

but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Each of you should look not only to your own interests,

but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:3-4

NIV

Where do you find your focus...? on yourself...? others...?
Are you missing God's message... by being centered on self...?

Father God, turn my eyes from me... help me remember to look outside myself... to You... and others... I do not want to miss another opportunity to live a life of worship...

Worship through Watching

"The eye is the lamp of the body. 

If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. ..."

Matthew 6:22

Romans 12 is one of my favorite chapters of the Bible because it is a summation of chapters 1-11, and is a practical guide on how to make Jesus Christ the Lord of every area of life.  A worthy goal here is to aspire to be a Christian who lives like a Christian every day of his life!

Romans 12:1 tells me that to live a life of worship is to not just engage in ritual activity--perhaps in a Sunday worship service--but to involve your heart, mind, and will in living in obedience to God. 

About 5 years ago, my wife began a family tradition of watching the 2006 movie, The Nativity Story, each year around Christmas time.  With each viewing, I grow in appreciation for the Bible’s story of the birth of Jesus.  This well-done film really "humanizes" the characters of Mary, Joseph, and Elizabeth, as well as the wise men and shepherds.  Watching the beautifully powerful birth scene becomes an act of worship for me!

Merry Christmas!

Russell Edwards

Worship in the Waiting

It seems we are always waiting for something.   When we are young we can’t wait until we get bigger to do bigger things.  Christmas seems to come ever so slowly.  We are waiting in line or in traffic. We can’t wait to get out of high school, college, or to get a job.  We are anxious to be successful, and then we are waiting to retire.  There is always something to wait for.  We really need to stop, relax and smell the roses and count our blessings along the way.

The only thing we really need to be waiting for is our Lord’s return.  I hope all of us are working so that all of our family and friends will be ready for His return.

May He truly bless you this Christmas season.

But those that wait for the Lord-

who expect  look for and hope in Him –

shall change and renew their strength and power;

they shall lift their wings and mount up

[close to God] as eagles

[mount up to the sun];

they shall run and not be weary;

they shall walk and not faint or become tired.

Isaiah 40:31

Billie Nielsen

Worship Through Charity

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these 
brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Matthew 25:40

What do you think of when you hear the word “worship”? Do you think of going to church? Of participating in — or, at the very least, observing — such a liturgical event? Or something else entirely?

When I saw the theme of this year’s Advent devotional — “as worship to you” — I got to thinking about different things worship can mean. Merriam-Webster.com offers 2 options: “reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power; also : an act of expressing such reverence,” and “a form of religious practice with its creed and ritual.” But these definitions — this idea of worship being merely an act of revering some divine being or attending a church service or Mass — seems to me to fall short, or at least be too limiting.

These definitions also seem to emphasize verbal worship. I believe there is yet another option: silent, charitable action.

I have a friend who is going through a very rough time. I didn’t even know how rough until recently when she confided in me and 2 other friends about her predicament and the drastic action she felt she had to take to try and rectify the situation. While I did try to offer words of support and comfort, they seemed to fall short. Finally, when we had to leave each other, I asked her if I could give her a hug. I felt, at that point, that it was the very least I could do. She said yes, and we spent the next few minutes in a strong embrace. It was my last gesture of love in that encounter.

A few days later, I read an e-mail from her. She did not comment on any of the words I said, but on that hug. She indicated that this “simple,” wordless act of charity — a hug — had been the most important thing I had done.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”

In Matthew 25:31-46, the King (Christ) invites those into the Kingdom who attended to his needs. Those turned away ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” To which the King replies, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

            

While I am not saying everyone should shun religious practice, I do say that silent, and vocal, works of charity towards all people — friend and foe alike — can in and of themselves be important as acts of worship.

Andrea D. La Vigne

"Our Father Who Art"... About Worship

Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name. ..."

Matthew 6:9

I recall on one occasion early morning when I awakened, I sat on the side of the bed and had just set my feet on the floor and began to pray, "Our Father who art..." Suddenly my dog jumped up to my knee interrupting my praying. Needless to say, it also broke into my prayer time and I never finished praying the Lord's Prayer that morning.

But I soon thought about just the short phrase, "Our Father who art..."  over, and over, throughout the day, that thought broke into my consciousness. Just that short phrase seemed so profound as it drew my thoughts toward our all-knowing, awesome God.

I continued every morning, as it was my practice, praying "Our Father who art..." sometimes even before crawling out of bed. The prayer held such a powerful awareness of the Lord's being --- calling forth a sense of closeness.

Worship is a personal response to God. A way of communing while holding God in awe. It has been said by psychologists the first five minutes upon awakening can influence your whole day.

Thus, praying the Lord's prayer upon awakening is my way of beginning the morning by giving reverent honor to the Lord; and keeping God in Christ as an anchor in my life. It also helps keep other distractions from ruling my day.

I find this prayer is a means of comfort and encouragement. As the day begins, God restores my hope through Christ and reinforces my faith. I experience God's peace and mercy through this intimate relationship with God.

This is one of my precious experiences of worship which became one of God's teaching moments for me.

Rev. Enid Doris Shepherd

Worship is Willing to Toss Out Tradition

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him 

and took Mary home as his wife.

Matthew 1:24

NIV

Read Matthew 1:18-25

Joseph, a righteous man, saw no choice but to break the engagement with his betrothed -- Mary -- who was pregnant.

He knew the law... his culture's tradition. He lived it as best he could.
He knew the child was not his, and the hard stand Jewish law took with unwed mothers... cut them off from the people...
But Joseph, being compassionate and merciful, decided to take care of everything according to the law... quietly.

Before Joseph could act on his decision, God interfered. The call came to Joseph in a dream... a request so outrageous he would never have entertained the idea in a conscious state... God asked this righteous man to toss out the law and tradition he knew...

Do not be afraid... take Mary home as your wife...

In a step of trust... and obedience... he did.

Joseph took Mary home as his wife... under questionable circumstances... ones that marred his reputation and that of his new family... he willingly set aside his understanding of the law... and obeyed...

Trusting God... when He asks you to break with all you've known to be right... what you've counted on to guide and direct... to follow His definition of right... even when it means alienating yourself from a certain church tradition or denomination... sacrificing your understanding... becomes an act of worship...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding...

Proverbs 3:5

NIV

Lord, may I always listen to You above my own understanding. May I never be too afraid to break with culture or tradition in order to obey You.

Are you willing to set aside your tradition... church culture... your understanding... to follow Him... and do whatever He asks...?

Family Devotional: Love

Love

Second Sunday of Advent

"Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer 
and intelligence.  This is the most important, the first on any list.  
But there is a second to set alongside it:  Love others as well as you love yourself. These two commandments are pegs; 
everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them.""

Matthew 22: 37-40 
The Message

Have you ever wondered why the English language only has one word for love.  I mean we can love pizza, our best friend, and our husband or wife.  All types use the same word...but it is not really the same kind of love.  The language of Christ's day had several words for love.

--Agape which means God's love

--Eros was the kind of love that describes physical attraction

--Philia is the kind of love that is reserved for friendships

Now would be a good time to relight the first candle and then the second candle of your Advent wreath. If you are not using an Advent wreath consider lighting any candle.

Tell those with you that we are lighting this candle for love. 
Ask the question..."What do you love?"  Make a list if you want.

Read Matthew 22: 37-40 in a different version of the Bible than the one above.

The writer of The Message compares... heart to passion, soul to prayer, and mind to intelligence. Use some of the following questions to get the discussion going.

Do you think you love God with a passion?  What does that look like?  

How often do you find yourself praying? 
Do you need special words, a special place? 
What do you think God says about prayer? 
How is it that we can love God with our mind or intelligence?

Closing:  Jesus told us to love God... that was the most important commandment... and the second to love others.  Loving others is a way to show our love for God.  How can we show others God's love?

Prayer:  Have the oldest in the group give a prayer of thanksgiving for the list of things loved from the beginning of the devotional. 

Worship through Love

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 

No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.

You are my friends if you do what I command you. 

I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another."

John 15:12-17

Love IS the message of Christmas. We have heard that Love came down at Christmas... came in the form of Baby Jesus to fulfill the prophecies and to show us the way and to save the world. Love is one concept that everyone understands and that nearly everyone has experienced --- hopefully experiences on a regular basis. It lives in our hearts, as we sing "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, joy of heaven to earth come down; fix in us thy humble dwelling" --- asking that love dwell in our hearts.

Especially during the Advent/Christmas season, our hearts are filled with love for our friends and family, but also for our fellow human beings, especially those in need, those less fortunate, those without opportunity, those who barely exist, those who are marginalized in any way. There are ways for us to show love and understanding, compassion and generosity if love truly dwells in our hearts. Let this time of year be our opportunity to show our love as God would have us do.

Barbara Hugghins

As Worship to me….

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Ephesians 5:18

Worship is to pray daily. I do this in many ways, at home, in my car, at work. Some days all day. I thank him for all things in my life. I repent of my sins. And I ask for help with things. By doing this my mind is at peace, my body full of energy and all things become manageable. The busy days; you know the ones; the days you just don’t want to take the time to pray. Stress level fully engaged. Nothing seems to go right and bad decisions are made. 

Worship is to seek knowledge. For me I do this through small group studies, Sunday school, worship on Sunday morning, reading my bible and reading books. How can I worship someone without knowing as much as I can about them? I thirst for knowledge, to understand things to learn more. This brings me closer to God.

Every night during prayer time with my daughter, I thank God for the gift from heaven, Haylin (my daughter) who truly is a gift as are all children. 

As I volunteer on Wednesday afternoons at Mini Methodist seeing all the children I see God at work. He has truly blessed this ministry. He has blessed ME through this ministry. The children love to come. It’s not a babysitting club, by any means. The afternoon of the Halloween carnival several children attended from the program, but one family in particular came. I saw the 4 siblings coming up from the parking lot full of excitement then they noticed me, off they started running to me and all gave me a hug. A gift of love, from God at work.

Don’t let your praying knees get weak.

Renita Pontenberg

Worship through Thanks

From the fullness of his grace we have all received

one blessing after another.

John 1:16

As we approach the Christmas season, I am again reminded of how thankful I am for the good health of my husband, Don. He seldom complains about anything, much less the six times he has had Cancer beginning the Christmas season of 1996. 

To start at the beginning, that fall Jennifer was a senior in High School, and we had let a young man from Donnie’s class stay with us rent-free as long as he did some chores around the house like mowing the lawn. When Don came home the last Friday before Christmas week, he was upset to find that the young man had done NOTHING asked of him that week, and he had regularly been doing less and less for several weeks. First, Don told the young man how disappointed he was, then told him to leave. Saturday morning Don got up early and worked in the yard until late in the afternoon. At bedtime, he confided in me that there was blood in his urine after all the exercise. We decided to call our doctor first thing Monday.

We saw Dr. Weaver early Monday. He referred Don to Dr. Perry, a urologist. Because it was the last few days before Christmas, Don could not get in to see Dr. Perry until after Christmas. Believe me, that was one very quiet, prayerful Christmas!

Dr. Perry scheduled Don for bladder surgery January 5, 1997. We were blessed to learn that all the cancer was removed during that operation. Don continued to have regular checks with Dr. Perry, and then Dr. Roberts, all through these years since.

I got in contact with the young man and thanked him for his negligence in the case of our yard because it saved Don’s life. He had found another place to live, and has since married and has a successful life.

But my thankfulness doesn’t stop there!

In 2005 Don and I took a much-needed vacation in August. We went to New Orleans the last full week before Hurricane Katrina struck there.  We had such a nice time sightseeing and eating a lot of delicious food!  During the drive home Don showed me a large lump on his neck. I told him it was on a lymph node, and we would need to see a doctor. Dr. Weaver saw Don the following Monday, and set up an appointment with Dr. Arielle Lee, an oncologist in Tyler.

Dr. Lee has been such an angel to Don and me! God has blessed us with a tough, understanding doctor in Dr. Lee! You might have seen her if you have needed to see an oncologist. She has taken care of several people in our Sunday School class, alone! She always calls Don “quite a character” and tells people how strong he is. One visit Dr. Lee told us we have one very unique class!!

Long story short, Don had stage 4 Non-Hodgkins Follicular Lymphoma. Dr. Lee said it was over all of his organs, his lymph nodes, and even up and down his spine!  He had several months of chemotherapy at Dr. Lee’s clinic followed by one injection of a VERY EXPENSIVE ($50,000) radiation drug to finish off all the cancer. By the following spring Don was once-again declared Cancer-free.

During a scheduled PET Scan to make certain Don’s Lymphoma had not returned in 2008, a spot of Cancer showed up in Don’s Pancreas the first time after my surgery. We took it as another blessing because Dr. Lee told us we caught it very early. Only three weeks later Dr. Blake Harrison operated on Don to remove the diseased part of his pancreas.  By that short time, nearly all of Don’s pancreas and his spleen had to be removed.  Two long weeks in the hospital later, Don came home to recover. He didn’t even need chemotherapy or radiation!!

My story goes on………

In early fall 2010 Don went in for his scheduled PET Scan, and Dr. Lee called to tell him his Lymphoma had returned.  MORE MONTHS OF CHEMO!!! He only needed the chemo that time.

As if that wasn’t enough, in August 2011 Don went for his annual check-up on his bladder. He and I were joking as we waited for Dr. Roberts to return to the room after Don dressed. Dr. Roberts told us as soon as he came back in that he had found Cancer in his bladder again!!  It felt like all the air in that room was GONE!!!!  I couldn’t even breathe for a few moments!!! After saying a silent prayer, I looked at Don and let him know I would stay with him at each chemo session again.  I went to each one!

As you can see, Don is an exceptionally strong man. With God’s help he has continued to travel and work each day, no matter if it was just making phone calls, these past 15 years.  He has counseled more people who had Cancer than I can count. And he has remained strong. The members of our Sunday School class call him our unofficial poster child!  He has helped my faith to remain strong, and my prayer life to blossom through his love of God.

Oh! You say that is only FIVE times Don has had Cancer.  Well, this spring Don and I were getting ready to go to Tyler one Saturday, and I noticed something bleeding on his left temple. When I asked him about it, he said it was a mole that kept bleeding every once in a while. The next week I got him an appointment through Dr. Weaver with Dr. Lambert in Tyler. You’re right. It was Cancer………again!  He had it biopsied and removed shortly after that at Dr. Lambert’s facility in Tyler.  Luckily, it was just a Basal-Cell Carcinoma.  There are no more spots at this time.  We jokingly call this last episode with Cancer a “speed bump”!

When you feel like life just isn’t fair, and you are on the bottom looking up, STOP!!  Give God thanks for all the blessings you have. You really do have MANY BLESSINGS! He sent his Son to save us. We are blessed beyond belief! Enjoy all that Christmas has to offer us. I do. I know that our Savior is taking care of us with the Father. Christmas proves that.

Jackie Gruber

Living Worship

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, 

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior..."

Luke 1:46

NIV

Read Luke 1:26-38

Mary...
Talk about a life lived as worship!
Through obedience and trust, she gave birth to God's glory...

She risked everything to say Yes to God...
marriage...
family...
friends...
reputation...
life...

To say Yes to God meant she became an unwed mother... in a culture and tradition that called for the stoning of such women...

To say Yes to God meant complete trust for provision... and protection...

To say Yes to God meant personal heartache... watching her sinless Son... die a shame-full death... crucified... helpless to save... or comfort...

To say Yes to God meant grace and glory... wonder and salvation...

A soul that lives a life of worship magnifies God in all they do. Bearing and revealing His glory, through trusting obedience... and living sacrifice...

And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord;

let it be to me according to your word."

Luke 1:36

ESV

Can you take Mary's words as your own...can you say Yes to God?

Father God, let it be to me according to Your Word...

Practice is Worship

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

It is mid-July, hot like most Texas summers, he hands us the music.  We take a look...laughing because who wants to sing Winter Wonderland and Sleigh Ride in the middle of summer.  He tells us his vision for the concert complete with trumpets... drums and guitars.  We listen to the music and set it aside.  A few weeks later practice begins and the music for Christmas is playing and I am thinking... this is waaaay to early to sing Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.  We have lots of time to practice...many months to go.  It is only August.

As we delve further into the music, it hits us.  This music is HARD.  The harmonies are tight, hard to hear, and we struggle.  By the third practice, we can do the first part of Jingle Bells... the easiest part of the entire song.  We complain and he smiles... encourages... tells us we will get it.

This goes on and on, practice, laugh at ourselves, complain.  My friend Jerri she looks at me at one point and says... "I don't think we can do this."  I shrug and wonder the same thing.  As we leave we get practice CD's and I drive home with new resolve to practice at home.  This is stretching most of us and still we press on.  For the first time in a while, preparing for this program is much more difficult than a couple of rehearsals.

Everyone joins together for the first time... shiny horns, bass guitar, those running lights and sounds and video.  The first run through seems really scary... by the second time harmonies fall together... soloists know where to begin... an unplugged microphone gets discovered.

We begin to put the sanctuary back together and I am excited... the practice paying off.  I hear others wondering how we sound... voicing concerns... and I think this will never be perfect and yet it is.  The practice has become an act of worship.

Six months devoted to music that stretches me... worship.
Hours listening, trying, wanting to give up... worship.
A leader with a vision... worship.

It didn't feel like worship but others will be blessed, and the coming together is a perfect picture of the body of Christ.

Stacy

A Song of Worship

Psalm 147:1

Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God;
for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.

This Advent season, we were asked to write about what worship means to us as individuals. When proposed with this question I thought, “What on earth can I write about?” As quickly as that thought came to mind, God told me, “music and singing of course.” So I have thought about my personal soloistic and choral experiences and realized that this is when I am most with God.  No wonder I am so passionate about music. It is simply because this is how I worship God. 

After a recent rehearsal, that was becoming a little frustrating……the altos couldn’t get their part while I played it on the piano and at the same time I’m singing the soprano part…….I stopped.  I told the kids that I considered this---even practicing---to be what we are capable as giving to God as our sacrifice, our worship. See, I feel to just meander through the music, wait for someone else to sing it for you first or someone else to be the “leader”, to me is a very lazy way to serve God. I feel when we open our mouth to sing it should be the most beautiful thing we can summon out of our very soul to offer God.  

Granted, I do understand that some are more gifted than others but God says in Psalm 33:3,” Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.”  Again, it doesn't say play mindlessly but rather, skillfully. It doesn’t say only sing if you have a “good” voice.  I feel we should all take steps towards skillfully praising God. Give 100% in all you do. God has blessed me with a beautiful instrument and many others which I have the privilege to work with on Wednesdays and Sundays. So, what is stopping us from using these instruments to skillfully praise God?  FEAR! 

You see, the devil would love for us to sit idle in the pew, not open our mouths, play the role of aimlessly doing……..you guessed it…….nothing! HE WINS----simple as that. Each Sunday morning I look out over the congregation and see those singing, raising their hands in praises to God, children opening hymnals to the wrong page but still trying to follow along and sing. Then, there are those who stand there with their mouth shut through the entire hymn. It could be the most upbeat-happy song and nothing, no emotion of happiness or a tapping of the foot. I ask myself, “How can this be?” My heart sinks in sadness. I am so saddened that these people are so fearful….and of what, someone might hear them? Psalm 66:8 says, “Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard.” It doesn’t say; let the sound of his praise be heard by only those with “pretty” voices.

So as we go into this Advent season, I challenge each of you to sing like you have never sung before, skillfully use your voice, however God has given it to you whether it be scratchy, breathy, loud and off key--open your mouth and more importantly your heart, as a sacrifice to God. Pour out your very soul! You might be surprised at what comes out!

As I close I leave you with this, “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the Earth!  Serve the Lord with gladness!  Come into his presence with singing!” I hope we can all do this, give it a go and don’t be scared.

For in his name and glory we sing!!

Monica Hamilton

Family Devotional: Hope

Each Sunday you will find a devotional designed for families to use with an Advent Wreath.  If your family is like mine we often sit down together for supper, and this is usually the time I plan to begin discussions about God in our lives.  Isn't that all a devotional really is?  An opportunity to talk openly about how God is working in our daily living.  I want to encourage you to take the time, sit with those you love and talk about Jesus.  Merry Christmas!

                                                                                                                     Stacy

HOPE

First Sunday of Advent

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign:  The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."--Isaiah 7: 14

The prophets spoke of a coming Savior.  Challenging the Israelites to turn from their sinful ways.  They did not and the prophets all died, and God was silent for 400 years.  What did the people do during the silence?  They waited and hoped.  Hope is a hard word to define.  Webster's dictionary defines hope as "cherishing a desire with anticipation, to expect."  The people were hoping for a Savior.

(Light the first candle of your Advent wreath or any candle will do.)

As you light the candle ask those around you...what are you hoping for in your life?

Read Matthew 1: 18-25

Immanuel means "God with us".  And isn't that the hope of all persons...that God would be with us.

Discussion Starters:  Do you think God is with us?  How do you know?  What happened today that proved that God was with you?

Closing:  We celebrate this season because Jesus is God with us.  God himself, wrapped in skin, born as a baby.  The hope of all the world.

Prayer:  Ask the youngest in your family to give a thanksgiving prayer for the baby Jesus.