Relationship

relationship - the relation connecting or building; kinship; a state of affairs existing between those having relations or dealings

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:5

It was 1994.  I was 14 years old and had fallen head over heels for Bradley Westbrook.  This guy and I were inseparable.  I knew I was going to marry him after one phone conversation.  Fast forward almost 20 years and you can see that what began as a relationship between two kids blossomed into a loving family.

That relationship was set in motion through God our Father.  I have no doubt about this divine union.

This brings to mind the relationship between Joseph and Mary.  The Bible tells us that Joseph was a just and upright man.  Joseph chose to believe when the angel of the Lord came to him and told him that Mary had conceived a child through the Holy Spirit.  He was committed to Mary and his relationship with her.  Instead of turning his cheek, Joseph trusted in God’s word. 

Our relationships are mottled with hardship.  In uncertain times, we are to remember our commitments to one another and uphold them.

Mary gave birth to Jesus, who over the course of his life, taught us how to love and have relationships with one another and with God.

I asked my 6 year old what it meant to have a relationship with Jesus.  He gave me a quizzical look and said, “Huh?  What does that mean?”  To me it means acting like a 14 year old who doesn’t want to get off the phone with Jesus.  To ask questions and gain wisdom.  To read the Word, to learn his ways.  To pray, seek, and desire Him with your heart.  1Corinthians 14:1 states, “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.”

This Advent season, remember your special relationships and honor those commitments.  Use the example of Jesus to direct your steps in interacting with others.  Be mindful of the trust that Joseph showed when faced with uncertain circumstances.  And hold steady of the charge to love God and love your neighbor.      

Destiny Westbrook

Love

Webster’s dictionary gives several definitions of love but one of my favorites was this one:  

unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: as the fatherly concern of God for humankind; brotherly concern for others; a person's adoration of God 

Read 1 Corinthians 13 The Gift of Love

 And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three, and the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13: 13

Love comes in many different forms.  The scripture above, 1 Corinthians 13, was read at mine and Glenn’s wedding 37 years ago.  I still remember the love I felt surrounding me during that special time as friends and family gathered to celebrate our commitment to each other in the sanctuary of the old church.  We were very young and there were probably many who did not think our marriage would last long.  But through hard times and wonderful times, God’s love has seen us through, along with our love for each other.

When our children were born and later our grandchildren along with many nieces and a few nephews, love came again in another form.  They bring joy to our life and are a constant reminder of how great our love is for one another in a relationship called family.  As our family grows, so does the love.

God’s gift in my life as a teacher and counselor has been to extend the love that I have known through my faith and my family to many others throughout the years.  I have been fortunate to be able to share my love with many children and their children and now even their grandchildren.  What a wonderful gift!

Yet in all of my life as I write this advent devotional, I can say that the greatest love of all is the gift of God’s son, Jesus Christ, and the love he brought to those on earth.  One of my favorite hymns, #242, says it best:

“Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine, Love was born at Christmas; star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead, Love incarnate, Love divine, worship we our Jesus, but where-with for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token; love be yours and love be mine; love to God and all men, love for plea and gift and sign.”

Love to all of you during this Advent season and throughout the rest of the year

Di

Gratitude

gratitude - the state of being grateful; thankfulness

Author John Kralick wrote a book, 365 Thank Yous.  He tells of having a miserable life – broken home, lost job, failed marriage, etc.  One day he had an epiphany in which he decided to write a letter each day to someone who had shown him kindness, given him a gift, or helped him in some way.  Every day for a year he wrote to a family member, client, fellow worker, teacher, someone who had influenced his life.  He was able to focus on the blessings in his life and the things that people had done for him.   AND HIS LIFE TURNED AROUND.  He reconnected with those with whom he was estranged and he found peace and a good life.

My friend Mona kept a gratitude journal.  Each day she listed things, big and small for which she was grateful.  It gave her great joy to remember so many good things to be thankful for.

At this busy time of the year, many people are under a great deal of stress.  Before you make yourself sick, there are three things (which I read in a recent article) that might be helpful:

            Slow Down         Breathe deeply          Practice GRATITUDE.

It will improve your mood and give you better physical health.

We are the fortunate people in our church and community, in our country and in our world.  We have a wonderful opportunity to express gratitude, show gratitude, to live a life of service and gratitude.  It can make a difference in our lives, especially during this holy season, to express gratitude for our many blessings.

Barbara Hugghins

Be thankful in all circumstances,

for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT

Obedience

obedience – 1 a: an act or instance of obeying
b: the quality or state of being obedient

I was one who received a word for the year. Not really desiring one, but willing to receive if He had one for me.

When it came, it felt hard: Obedience.

A quality I strive for in my relationship with Him.

A quality I fail to reflect in so many ways.

I assumed a reprimand loomed on the horizon, when the word came. A call to be more.  More of what I really want to be... try to be.

Surrendered, I looked for the verse — the Word — that would complement my word for the year. I found it via a concordance. 

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands.

2 John 6

Walking in obedience translates to love for Him.

And… O… how I long to love Him more.

As soon as I read the verse, the thought of a necklace in my closet came to mind. A necklace with a charm I had bought as a Christmas gift two or three years earlier and never gave. A forgotten necklace I had found just days before as I cleaned out my closet, and didn’t know what I was going to do with.

When the necklace came to mind, He spoke to my spirit: Go put it on. I’m giving it to you.

Tears welled… because the word I thought hard… came as an affirmation.

You see, the round charm, a flattened pewter circle, is engraved with Proverbs 17:17…

 …a friend loves at all times…

The message my spirit received from His Spirit: You are my friend.

This word has humbled me this year. Only in Jesus can we obey in such a way that we become God’s friend.

The Nativity is filled with those whose obedience helped make the way for Jesus to become the Word made flesh. But for me, Mary wins the place of honor as poster-child for obedience, one who loves God and is His friend.

Read Luke 1:26-38

Highly favored by God, Mary must have had a history of obedience, and so received an opportunity singular in nature and eternal in its impact:

You will be with child and give birth to a son,

and you are to give him the name Jesus.

This privilege could result in the loss of family, friends, and future. Everything she’d possibly dreamed of hung in the balance with her Yes. And it is her words that I long to embrace for myself, in my relationship with Him. Words of obedience. Words of love. Words of God’s friend.

“I am the Lord’s servant… May it be to me as you have said.”

Luke 1:38 NIV84

Humbled by His Word,
Carol Weaver 

Trust

trust - belief that someone or something is reliable, good, honest, and effective

“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in

whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”

Psalm 18:2

Joseph had to trust Mary and the angel that Jesus is the child of the Lord.

The angel’s message to Joseph was difficult.  After all he was planning to divorce Mary quietly.  How could what she believed about this baby be true?  Joseph must have been hurt… feeling betrayed… wondering if he could trust anyone in his world.

But now the angel had appeared and given the message.  What Mary said about her baby was true.  Joseph’s trust in her renewed.  Still, this was a hard thing.  No one would believe this story… angel’s appearing giving messages… a virgin pregnant with the Messiah.  It must have been wonderful and terrifying all at the same time.  Mary and Joseph would have to muster up all their courage to trust God in this.

Joseph and Mary were a lot like us.  And I wonder as the years passed did the message of the angels become cloudy at times.  Did they have to remind themselves exactly what happened at Jesus’ birth when he was four or fourteen, even twenty?  I am sure there were times when trusting seemed more difficult.

The message of Advent is clear.  It is the season we prepare for the coming of Christ.  And yet we can get so caught up in the hustle and bustle… the parties and presents that the message of Jesus gets crowded out.

May we use this time to remember the child born in a manger.   A baby who would save the world.  Someone we can put our trust in and never be disappointed.

Merry Christmas,

Terunda Montgomery
with Stacy Boyer