Advent has wrapped up and the New Year is about to begin. We've had a break from reading Beyond the Gospels, but beginning January 4 we will continue into Corinthians with a plan to read the rest of the New Testament in 2016.
If you've found encouragement in reading Scripture or through the devotionals shared here, Grow Team challenges you to invite someone you know to begin reading along too. We would also love to have your feedback on what's presented here. Leave a comment in the Comment Box at the end of the article [click the post title and then scroll to the bottom of the article to find the box].
If you have a heart for writing devotionals. We are looking to grow the writing ministry here at Growing in Faith at FUMC.
Contact Stacy Boyer stacy@jacksonvillemethodist.org
or Carol Weaver cbweaver@suddenlink.net
if you are interested in sharing your gift here.
Blessings for the New Year!
Grow Team
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Friday, December 25, 2015
The Manger Awaits
"When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us". And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger."
---Luke 2:15-16
Why were the shepherds the first to hear the announcement of the birth of the Savior? Perhaps it was because they were humble enough to believe and to act upon the good news. They went with haste down the rocky hillside, guided by a wondrous star. They did not tarry until they found the precious babe. What joy must have filled their hearts as they knelt at the manger!
Just as the baby Jesus was waiting for the shepherds on the first Christmas Eve, he is waiting on this night for all who will hasten to Him in love and humility.
Let us go to the manger once more and kneel before the Christ Child with joy and thanksgiving.
Loving God, we thank you that you were willing to come to earth, live as we live, and die to save us. We do not understand the wonderful mystery; but we accept it with grateful hearts. We confess that we have not always loved one another as you love us. On this glorious night, we pray that you will forgive us and strengthen our desire to be more like Jesus. May the song of the angels and the light of the star remain with us and bless us forever. Amen.
Marcy Lang---1990
Have you opened your heart to Jesus? have you received Him with love and humility?
If you have consider sharing your story of Jesus's birth in your heart with someone this week. If you haven't consider why you haven't. He's waiting for you...
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Extraordinary in the Ordinary
I eagerly anticipate Christmas because of those special once a year activities that mark the holiday: putting up lights, decorating the tree, baking cookies, singing carols, receiving gifts, gathering with family, and on and on. My ordinary daily routine gets put aside as we celebrate the extraordinary event.
But when the holiday ends and the decorations are put away. I breathe a sigh of relief and look forward to the return of an ordinary daily routine.
We celebrate the coming of Emmanuel, (the word means God with us), that life changing and world changing event that began in an ordinary way with the birth of a baby. A birth is an extraordinary event for a family but an ordinary, routine process that has happened billions of times since the world began. God chose to live with us in an ordinary time and an ordinary place and in an ordinary way to show us that that is where the extraordinary happens.
I wait for miracles expecting them to be announced by angels singing and a star lighting up the sky and wise men bringing gifts. I wait for God's call and look for a burning bush and listen for a rushing wind or a thundering voice.
But while I am waiting for the extraordinary to happen, it is in the small, seemingly insignificant, routine events that I am suddenly aware of God. When lighting a candle during the Christmas Eve service, I know God is with me and calling me by name. That small flames passed from person to person lights up the sky and announces the presence of God. Standing with my children and hearing them sing a familiar Christmas carol is when I hear the angel's announcement ringing through the heavens.
The extraordinary love and grace of God is always there, whether I have decorated and baked and shopped and prepared or if it has just been an ordinary day. It all depends on if I let the stresses of the ordinary block my ability to see the possibility of the extraordinary in my daily routine.
Ann Culotta--2003
But when the holiday ends and the decorations are put away. I breathe a sigh of relief and look forward to the return of an ordinary daily routine.
We celebrate the coming of Emmanuel, (the word means God with us), that life changing and world changing event that began in an ordinary way with the birth of a baby. A birth is an extraordinary event for a family but an ordinary, routine process that has happened billions of times since the world began. God chose to live with us in an ordinary time and an ordinary place and in an ordinary way to show us that that is where the extraordinary happens.
I wait for miracles expecting them to be announced by angels singing and a star lighting up the sky and wise men bringing gifts. I wait for God's call and look for a burning bush and listen for a rushing wind or a thundering voice.
But while I am waiting for the extraordinary to happen, it is in the small, seemingly insignificant, routine events that I am suddenly aware of God. When lighting a candle during the Christmas Eve service, I know God is with me and calling me by name. That small flames passed from person to person lights up the sky and announces the presence of God. Standing with my children and hearing them sing a familiar Christmas carol is when I hear the angel's announcement ringing through the heavens.
The extraordinary love and grace of God is always there, whether I have decorated and baked and shopped and prepared or if it has just been an ordinary day. It all depends on if I let the stresses of the ordinary block my ability to see the possibility of the extraordinary in my daily routine.
Ann Culotta--2003
Lord Jesus, give me eyes to see You in every ordinary happening this season,
make every moment extraordinary by Your presence.
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Responding in Faith
Scripture: Luke 2:1-14
In Luke, chapter 2, beginning with verse 8, we read the story of an angel of the Lord, then a multitude of heavenly hosts appearing before the shepherds who were watching their flocks at night. It is hard for one to imagine how frightening and overwhelming that must have been for these men. But as amazing as this sight must have been, an equally marvelous happening of this treasured Christmas story is the faith shown by those shepherds that night.
Imagine these men, going about their daily routine, tending the sheep just as they had done so many nights before, and suddenly an angel appears to them telling of a Savior who has been born in the town of David.
The Bible tells us how terrified these shepherds were, but the angel said to them, "Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." As soon as the angel had left them, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us." The story then tells us the shepherds hurried away and found the newborn Savior, and they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.
What a great showing of FAITH by these shepherds. They did not let their initial fears overwhelm them, they did not try to ignore or dismiss what they had just experienced, or try to formulate some explanation of what happened to them that night. They simply, and immediately, responded in faith, and found the Lord Jesus, and ultimately spread the word of the Savior to those who had not heard the great news. How wonderful it would be if all of us would have such faith to follow God's plan for our lives immediately, enthusiastically, without fear, without doubt, just trusting in the Lord.
Barry and Leigh Ann Murray---1997
In Luke, chapter 2, beginning with verse 8, we read the story of an angel of the Lord, then a multitude of heavenly hosts appearing before the shepherds who were watching their flocks at night. It is hard for one to imagine how frightening and overwhelming that must have been for these men. But as amazing as this sight must have been, an equally marvelous happening of this treasured Christmas story is the faith shown by those shepherds that night.
Imagine these men, going about their daily routine, tending the sheep just as they had done so many nights before, and suddenly an angel appears to them telling of a Savior who has been born in the town of David.
The Bible tells us how terrified these shepherds were, but the angel said to them, "Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." As soon as the angel had left them, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us." The story then tells us the shepherds hurried away and found the newborn Savior, and they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.
What a great showing of FAITH by these shepherds. They did not let their initial fears overwhelm them, they did not try to ignore or dismiss what they had just experienced, or try to formulate some explanation of what happened to them that night. They simply, and immediately, responded in faith, and found the Lord Jesus, and ultimately spread the word of the Savior to those who had not heard the great news. How wonderful it would be if all of us would have such faith to follow God's plan for our lives immediately, enthusiastically, without fear, without doubt, just trusting in the Lord.
Barry and Leigh Ann Murray---1997
Father God, use the events of this season to increase my faith and trust in You.
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
The Promise of Coming
Years ago when I was very young, I learned an important lesson from my mother's friend, Mrs. T. They had been friends for a long time. I liked Mrs. T. very much. I recall that she and my mother spent many times "delivering" things. I was curious. When I'm curious I ask questions. But I never got the answers, at least not then.
Several years later Mrs. T. became very ill with cancer and died. Even at my young age, that someone very special had died. Then my mother told me about the deliveries of food, new clothing and bedding, medicine, and toys for the children to people everyone else had by-passed or simply never looked for. Mrs. T. was tireless in her search for those who needed help and hope. She provided her deliveries from her own resources. She was, in fact, a practicing Christian. It isn't an unusual story. Christians throughout the world give themselves every day.
Gradually, I realized that Christian love and caring bring "Christmas" every day. In the years before Jesus' birth, the world prayed for his coming, for the prophecy to be fulfilled. The promise of his coming sustained them. He came and he is here now. If we truly wish to abolish the anger, violence, and fear from the world we live in, we must search for the peace. It will come true when we actively share the peace. It will come true when we actively share the reality of Christ. We can turn the world around beginning in our own time and place. It is the only solution.
Mrs. T. knew that.
Ruth Alexander--1992
Several years later Mrs. T. became very ill with cancer and died. Even at my young age, that someone very special had died. Then my mother told me about the deliveries of food, new clothing and bedding, medicine, and toys for the children to people everyone else had by-passed or simply never looked for. Mrs. T. was tireless in her search for those who needed help and hope. She provided her deliveries from her own resources. She was, in fact, a practicing Christian. It isn't an unusual story. Christians throughout the world give themselves every day.
Gradually, I realized that Christian love and caring bring "Christmas" every day. In the years before Jesus' birth, the world prayed for his coming, for the prophecy to be fulfilled. The promise of his coming sustained them. He came and he is here now. If we truly wish to abolish the anger, violence, and fear from the world we live in, we must search for the peace. It will come true when we actively share the peace. It will come true when we actively share the reality of Christ. We can turn the world around beginning in our own time and place. It is the only solution.
Mrs. T. knew that.
Ruth Alexander--1992
Father God, show me the ones who've been by-passed by others,
those who need help and need to know Your love and care.
Use me to show Your love to others.
Help me to bring Christmas every day.
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