CHRISTMAS EVE

Friday, December 24

Isaiah 9: 2-7

Titus 2:11-14

Luke 2:1-14

Writing this on a calm afternoon in early November I was thinking how different it will be when most of you will be reading this passage. Many of you will be tired and overwhelmed by the frantic preparations you have been involved in for tomorrow, Christmas Day, to make it a very special time for your family and friends. You may not even have time to read it this anyway. Well, not today.

Advent - what does it mean to us? Advent comes from the Latin word Adventus – which means coming. In the past Advent was also a time of penitence like Lent, but that does not seem to be strictly observed these days.

Have you allowed time to think about His coming and what it means to us? What a wonderful gift his birth was for us. Receiving and giving gifts is part of the Christmas tradition which we still continue.

He was born in a manger to a young unmarried girl, a lowly birth for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. A tiny, precious baby whose death as a young man at the age of 30+ years promises us eternal life and forgiveness of our sins.

Let us give thanks and join with the great army of heaven’s angels who announced Christ’s birth to the shepherds and sang:

Glory to God in the highest heaven

and peace on earth to those

with whom he is pleased!

Joyce Merrett

Thursday, December 23

Isaiah 29:13-24

Psalms 80, 146, and 147

Revelation 21:22-22:5

Luke 1:39-56

Luke 1: 39-56

The Song of Mary

“...the child leaped in her womb… .” How hard it is for a mere male to imagine the feeling expressed by Elizabeth and how much more glorious it must have been for Mary to know she was carrying the Son of God who was about to come to earth. Here was Mary, a young, unmarried Jewish girl preparing to give birth to the Savior of the world and only her incredible faith made it possible for her to celebrate this moment with Elizabeth, in the unforgettable words of the Song of Mary, what many of us now call “The Magnificat.”

When I was a young boy I sang this every Sunday evening in our church choir at Evensong, and for me this was always an amazing song of beauty, praise and thanks. Nowadays we do not sing it so often but it has not lost its wonder among the traditional music and poetry of the Christian church.

Over the centuries Mary has sometime been a controversial figure, at times being venerated as the first of all the Saints, and at times being virtually ignored as the subject of idolatry. Even today her position as a leading Christian figure is subject to widely differing interpretations. She is not prominent in Scripture, mostly appearing at around the time of the birth and death of our Lord, but is still considered by many as the leading intercessor for us before the Lord. There are many beliefs around her person which are still subject to dispute and discussion among Christians, such as the Annunciation of our Lady (Lady Day), her Purification (Candlemas), the virgin birth (Immaculate Conception), her bodily Assumption into heaven, as well as the Visitation and the Nativity. But whatever beliefs are dear to you and whatever part of the Christian world is your home, there can be no doubt that the Song of Mary is one of the most beautiful and compelling parts of our Christian literature and holds a unique place in our heritage.

Almighty God

who looked upon the lowliness of the Blessed Virgin Mary

and chose her to be the mother of your only Son:

grant that we who are redeemed by his blood

may share with her in the glory of your eternal kingdom;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord

who is alive and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit

one God, now and for ever.

AMEN

Ron Merrett

Wednesday, December 22

Isaiah 28:9-22

Psalms 72, 111, and 113

Revelation 21:9-21

Luke 1:26-38

At the beginning of Advent, the season does seem daunting...a kind of fear creeps in. However, this Advent season, I hope to take time to focus on Christ's best gift of coming to our world and not be afraid of His strong presence but rather gain more wisdom and power by knowing Him better. Each year I do hope to continue to grow and eternally praise Him.

Psalm 111:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.

Eleanor Sheldon

Tuesday, December 21

Isaiah 11:10-16

Psalms 66, 67, 116, and 117

Revelation 20:11-21:8

Luke 1:5-25

Psalm 66

Family stories, memories of vacations, weddings, funerals, and past generations, told and retold at every gathering. Together we smile, laugh, cry and create new memories. Even the youngest members of the family are able to recite our stories word for word, gesture for gesture. Family stories are the history that binds us together. They remind us where we have been, shape where we will go and define us as a community. We cherish our stories.

Psalm 66 is a praise song, sung in remembrance of the great things God had done; the time when God parted the Red Sea, a time of hardship and testing when the people were being refined and finally led to a “place of abundance” (vs. 12NIV), and of the God who listened to the singer’s prayers and loved him. He sings, “Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me” (vs. 16NIV). He invites the listener to rejoice with him.

Family stories, memories of the past, history being retold; the Virgin visited by the Angel and given good news, the Baby born in a manger who grew up to be the Savior, remembering the good times (and bad) that our family has been through this year, and rejoicing, together, as we remember the blessings God has poured out on us. Together we retell our story, and invite the listener to rejoice, and participate, with us.

In Christ,

Juli Browning

Monday, December 20

Isaiah 11:1-9

Psalms 61, 62 112, and 115

Revelation 20:1-10

John 5:30-47

Bought with a Price

"For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me." (John 5:30-47)

Jesus didn't just spend His time spreading love, food, and healing across the land He was traveling; rather, He truly tried to help the Jews (God's Chosen) and in particular the Jewish leadership see that everything they had been hoping for was coming to pass, and that they needed to just open their eyes and their minds to see it. John's gospel doesn't spend as much time focused on the miracles of Jesus as he does the teachings of Jesus. In this passage Jesus, speaking to the Jews unhappy because He is healing on the Sabbath, tells them straight up that His own testimony about Himself would be invalid; however, He asks that they consider the testimony of John the Baptist (who apparently had managed to garner the respect of at least some of the Jewish), and even God the Father speaking through the OT prophets that spoke of His coming. Alas, they would not listen.

In a recent sermon, Father Bob talked about Jesus' call on all of us -- clergy and lay alike -- to be willing to offer our own testimony about Jesus. It can be, as he acknowledged, a scary thing. And yet, how many times could an innocent remark or question leave us just enough of an opening to offer words of encouragement, comfort, and strength that we can truly say we have received from our Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the God that loves us all.

This Advent, perhaps it would be a good idea to brush up on what our answer might be…after all, the miracle of the baby Jesus will be here in just five days!

Peace!

Vicki Cravens

Sunday, December 19

Isaiah 42:1-12

Psalms 8, 24, 29, and 84

Ephesians 6:10-20

John 3:16-21

Ephesians 6:10-20

To my mind, this passage from Ephesians is one of the most inspirational in all the Bible.

TWICE, St. Paul tells us to “put on the whole armor of God” in order to defend ourselves from the “devil’s schemes.” Some parts of the armor are described as the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the helmet of salvation, as well as the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.

What a mind and soul-boggling command this is for each of us! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to really and truly don this armor each and every day? A footnote in my Bible says: “When people look at Christians (i e; me), do they see the qualities of Christ on display?” I find this very hard to answer – do you?

Virginia McGarvey

Saturday, December 18

Isaiah 10:20-27

Psalms 55, 138, and 139

Jude 17-25

Luke 3:1-9

Jude 17-25

I just could not get the ending to Jude out of my mind and thinking what a wonderful blessing with which to end Worship;

Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, ²⁵to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and for ever. Amen.

It resonates with me more that the blessing on our Rite I - The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God - or Rite II (typically) - Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.

Jude gets right to the point with the message that only God in Christ can keep you straight and pure. I would add that the best part is that it is FREE. We cannot earn it, deserve it or buy it and it is never too late to cry to God for help.

All we have to do is live in belief.

John McGarvey

Friday, December 17

Isaiah 10:5-19

Psalms 40, 51, 54

2 Peter 2:17-22

Matthew 11:2-15

Matthew 11:2-15

“When John the Teacher came, the kingdom of heaven began to break in upon us.” – Matthew 11:13

By now you have probably heard about the Advent Conspiracy – a movement to worship fully, spend less, give more, and love all. What I love about the Advent Conspiracy is that if we truly enter into the spirit of the “movement,” we all will discover different challenges in our own faith walks. This Advent season, what speaks to me is the idea of worshipping fully. When we are in relationship with God, we worship Him. Yet what I experience is that many things get in the way of my worship of God. We all commit adultery, and we all have our idols – whether it’s that pair of shoes we’re lusting after, our attempt to be a perfect parent, husband, or wife, or our addiction to ____ (fill in the blank). In this season of my life, my adultery – may act of worshipping something other than God - takes the form of being “plugged in”: texting, Facebooking, watching TV.

In today’s Gospel, when John sends a messenger to Jesus to ask if he is the Messiah, the one the Jewish people have been waiting to rescue them from oppression, Jesus tells him, “Go back and tell John the things you have heard and the things you have seen.” Then he describes all the signs of his new kingdom: “the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers cured, the deaf hear, the dead raised, and the good news preached to the poor.”

I can’t help but think: in all my time spent being “plugged in,” what signs of God’s kingdom am I missing?

God’s kingdom breaks in upon us in surprising ways. John must have been surprised to learn that Jesus was a carpenter from a no-name town, not a military hero or a political ruler. This Advent, I’m trying to open up space for God so that I’m able to better see His Kingdom and help Him bring it more fully into being.

Sarah Taylor

Thursday, December 16

Isaiah 9:18-10:4

Psalms 33, 50, 59, and 60

2 Peter 2:10b-16

Matthew 3:1-12

They gorged on the right, but still were hungry, and they devoured on the left, but were not satisfied; they devoured the flesh of their own kindred. Isaiah 9:20

Advent is upon us. All signs are pointing to the great feast of Christmas. We anticipate the Lord’s coming into the world to renew us and make us His people.

Yet, we are a people who are anything but simple. We spend this Advent time lead not by the anticipation of the Lord’s coming but by our calendars. At work, there are deadlines to meet. At church, there are liturgies to plan and festivities to organize. At home, we are attempting to balance demands – demands on our time, demands on our pocketbooks and demands on our patience as we fight the mall crowds. We are reminded daily not of the number of days until Jesus comes again but the number of shopping days remaining in this season.

On Christmas morning, are we satisfied? Do we sit back and reflect on an Advent spent gorging or being gorged? Do we watch the fire remembering the joy on a child’s face or the stack of to-do lists that have items yet to be crossed off? Do we marvel at the Christmas lights glowing from the tree or do we shake our heads at the hangover the last weeks have caused? Do we watch the door waiting for family or friends to fill the house with laughter or sit wishing that you could just be left alone?

Christmas morning will come. The Christ-child will be born again into the world to bring peace – that peace which passes all understanding. Will that peace find you or will you be found not satisfied?

Jesus comes to us at Christmas. How we receive his coming will depend on this time we call Advent.

Prepare the way of the Lord. Matthew 3:3

John Pitts

Wednesday, December 15

Isaiah 9:8-17

Psalms 49, 53, and 119:49-72

2 Peter 2:1-10a

Mark 1:1-8

Mark 1:2-8

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
"See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.'"

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

And now for something completely different...

This catchphrase, so aptly used to introduce the next bizarre and hilarious segment on Monty Python's Flying Circus, might also be used to introduce John the Baptizer.

John was, well, rather different. He was wild in appearance and habit. He was preaching and baptizing -- not in the Temple, not even in Jerusalem -- but in the wilderness. He was proclaiming an old message with new urgency and drawing people by the thousands. The people had been waiting and watching for something different. John was quick to make this clear. "No! You must prepare for something completely different!"

Mark lets us know that John is indeed part of God's plan and the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy -- the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord, the Messiah, the Savior. Prepare the way for something completely different.

So as we continue through Advent, preparing to celebrate the joyous birth and welcome Emmanuel, let's remember that God has a plan for us -- and it is likely something completely different.

Elizabeth Puckett

Tuesday, December 14

Isaiah 9:1-7

Psalms 45, 47, and 48

2 Peter 1:12-21

Luke 22:54-69

Luke 22:54-57

Then they seized Him and led Him away, bringing

Him into the high priest's house. But Peter was

following at a distance. When they had kindled a

fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together,

Peter sat among them. Then a servant girl seeing him

in the firelight, stared at him and said, "This man also

was with Him." But he denied it, saying, "Woman,

I do not know Him."

Who was the girl who accused Peter? What set her off and caused her to put his life in jeopardy? Indeed what energizes the accusers of the world? The mob was ready for the vicarious excitement of watching someone else take punishment. Little did they know that He did it for them. Jesus is innocent and even hears His own disciple turn coward. Did the girl set in motion the events that ultimately brought Peter to a deeper, more courageous faith? Perhaps this is so but that was not her motivation. She was enjoying watching Peter squirm; she enjoyed his discomfort. She licked up his fear like a dog at a water bowl. How thoughtful we must be when we are tempted to point the finger, for by doing so we commit the greater sin.

Fr. David Puckett

Monday, December 13

Isaiah 8:16-9:1

Psalms 41, 44, and 52

2 Peter 1:1-11

Luke 22:39-53

Isaiah 8:16 – 9:1

Wait and Hope for the Lord

The Lord had hidden his face from the descendants of Jacob. Isaiah was His messenger and prophetic voice. The Lord said through Isaiah that his two children would be signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty. The children had prophetic names. One would be named Shear-Jashub, a remnant shall return. The other child was named Maher-Shala-Hash-Baz, quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil.

The Lord was angry with the Israelites because they trusted in men and not in Him. Does this sound familiar? Sometimes it seems easier to trust in what we see with our physical eyes than to see in the spirit. The Israelites were warned not to consult mediums and spiritists – not to consult the dead on behalf of the living. When they were looking around them they were not looking up to the most High God and they were drawn deeper into the whirlpool of darkness.

There was a third child promised. His name would be Emmanuel – God with us. The darkness they were living in would be turned to light. The light would come from the most unexpected place; the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali. Originally the Lord had allowed utter desolation to come upon those lands as they were the first invaded by the Assyrians.

The light of Jesus Christ came to Gallilee by the Sea, and He did shine brightly from those once darkened lands, as His ministry took place there. When we are totally devastated we need to wait and hope for the Lord. He is able to renew and restore us. He will come and shine His light and love from our hearts. We can help those that live in darkness through His Holy Spirit living in us.

We wait and hope and believe for the triumphant return of Jesus lighting up the skies with His magnificent glory.

Joyce Westlake

Sunday, December 12

Isaiah 13:6-13

Psalms 63, 98, and 103

Hebrews 12:18-29

John 3:22-30

“God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29).

Traditionally, Advent mirrored Lent. It was a 40-day period of prayer and penitence. Priests wore violet robes, liturgies were simpler, and the faithful fasted. Changes came, including shortening the season, but we still have the violet vestments and advent candles (although some churches prefer blue) and the solemn liturgies. People even continue to fast, believe it or not. Ages ago, someone decided that folks needed a little break from all that solemnity, and they got it on the Third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete (Latin for “rejoice”) Sunday. We get a similar “break” during Lent (Laetare Sunday). Priests wear rose vestments, and we light that lone pink candle in the Advent wreath to mark the occasion.

Even though traditions change, let’s not forget the original purpose of Advent. Advent is the calm before the storm, so to speak, a time of quiet reflection and spiritual preparation. However, in our culture, Advent has become the storm. The idea of taking a little break during Advent to allow ourselves to be joyous seems downright silly considering the fact that many of us are exhausted from an overdose of Christmas “joy” by the time the Third Sunday of Advent rolls around.

All things are possible with God, and, thankfully, He is ever patient with us. In Chapter 12 of Hebrews (NIV), we’re told of God “…removing of what can be shaken – that is, created things – so that what cannot be shaken may remain.” Further, “…since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’” That’s what we’re preparing for during Advent, the coming of a kingdom that is not of this world. I like the image of God as a consuming fire, burning in our hearts while at the same time burning up what is not important in our lives, leaving behind that which cannot be shaken - His kingdom.

Evelyn Snow

Saturday, December 11

Isaiah 8:1-15

Psalms 30, 32, 42, and 43

2 Thessalonians 3:6-18

Luke 22:31-38

2 Thessalonians 3:16

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

Somewhere today … someone is being a friend instead of fighting.

Somewhere today … someone is caring for a child so she won’t get sick.

Somewhere today … someone is joining a friend’s celebration.

Somewhere today … someone is teaching his little sister to ride a bike.

Somewhere today … someone is getting a letter from far away.

Somewhere today … someone is visiting a friend who is old.

Somewhere today … someone is planting a tree where one was cut down.

Somewhere today … someone is fixing old toys to give to new friends.

Somewhere today … someone is learning to do things a different way.

Somewhere today … someone is reading a book about peace and thinking

about making the world a better place.

Maybe it is you.

Somewhere Today – A Book of Peace by Shelley Moore Thomas with photographs by Eric Futran

Shari and Ian Watson

Friday, December 10

Isaiah 7:10-25

Psalms 31 and 35

2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5

Luke 22:14-30

Luke 22:14-30

The children of Israel were slaves. They wept and they worked and they were tortured and they died. They cried out to God, who had made a promise to their ancestor Abraham years before. They cried out to be liberated, and God answered. They cried out, God answered. They were in bondage and God set them free. They were slaves and God made them human again. For Jesus and his fellow sons of Abraham, the festival of Passover was a national remembrance of this event, a national day when everyone reminded themselves that all those years before, in Egypt, they cried out and God listened, and then God liberated. The festival of Passover is a celebration of the Exodus, of the triumphant leaving of Egypt, of the marriage of Israel with her promised land, the cloud and the pillar of fire and the manna and the Egyptian chariot wheels floating in the red sea – the festival of Passover was about all of that defining, hopeful stuff, and the point was that the God of Israel is the kind of God who listens, and who acts, and who liberates when his people cry out to him.

“Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ ²⁰And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.’” The Church has been so distracted about these words, because we forget that Jesus is talking about Passover, and Exodus – a new Passover and a new Exodus, bought with the blood of Jesus himself. The point isn’t what the wine and bread become, but what Jesus does on the cross, when he takes our slavery upon himself, and puts it to death in his own body and blood, so that we can be liberated. Drink his blood. Eat his body. Eat and drink Jesus until you are full. Eat and drink Jesus, and be free.^2”

Fr. Patrick Hall

Thursday, December 9

Isaiah 7:1-9

Psalm 37

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Luke 22:1-13

Isaiah 7:1-9

In a recent Bible study, Mom and I learned how God judged then divided Israel. Then, He protected them against their enemies who had gone too far. This is an important lesson for us today. We as believers also have enemies in our daily lives. This does not necessarily mean being surrounded by people with weapons. We may not be soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan right now, or first responders, but we face many challenges as we strive to serve God. That is why we must take the Lord’s message through Isaiah to heart “Be careful, keep calm, and don’t be afraid…” (v.4, NIV). We must also take heart that God will deliver on what he promises his people. The evidence, in terms of what we see in the world around us, may seem to disagree. It certainly looked like Jerusalem was about to be destroyed. Yet, the city continues today, and the promised Messiah Jesus reigns. We must continue in faith, learning to know God well enough to trust Him.

Metaphorically speaking, we are confronted with numerous enemies as Israel was. We are surrounded by fears and doubts about the economy, the war, politics, as well as the health and safety of friends and loved ones. This is along with the future of homes, jobs, our country, the world and, yes, the cosmos in general. While these concerns are real and frightening, isn’t it good to know we serve a God who is prepared to deal with them?

Susannah Westlake

Wednesday, December 8

Isaiah 6:1-13

Psalms 38 and 119:25-48

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

John 7:53-8:11

John 7

"Faith can move mountains." " Oh ye of little faith." Have you heard these statements? So what is faith? Is it from God only, or can it be created and cultivated by man?

In John 7, he questions the validity of Jesus' messiahship. " Even his brothers didn't believe him."

It wasn't easy for Jesus. Here he was in a world that didn't accept him or his teachings. He must have felt very frustrated and alone. Unfortunately, he never got the respect he deserved.

The disciples said to him, "You ought to go to Judea, so all can see the miracles that you do." They needed the tangible evidence of a miracle, so that they would believe.

We, like the disciples, can waver in our own faith. Without a good dose of prayer, we too, can be weak.

I pray that in this crazy world, our own belief in God, will sustain us in the good times and the bad. And even if we give up on Jesus, from time to time, he will never give up on us. How do I know?

It's my faith.

Prayerfully,

Pat McDowell

Tuesday, December 7

Isaiah 5:13-17, 24-25

Psalms 26, 28, 36, and 39

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Luke 21:29-38

Luke 21:29-38

It’s funny how life goes. We spend 8 months of the year “getting by,” the last 2 months of the year stressing about buying gifts and how to get to every party while not getting run down in the process and “resolve” NOT to do what we have done for the last 8 months. Then the first 2 months of the year we work hard to establish good habits to meet all the resolutions we did not complete the year before and by March 1^st we are so exhausted, we are back to “getting by.” It is a cyclical pattern that quite honestly makes it hard to break free. We get so consumed in foolish behavior that the one thing that is consistent in our lives, GOD, gets lost. Diets will come and go, resolutions will start and end, but God never waivers, he is always by our side. He supports us on our darkest day and rejoices with us in our greatest triumph. He loves us for who we are -- despite our weight, what we wear, what we know -- yet we let our relationship with him suffer. We lose sight of God in our daily life, just like we slip on the diet, go over budget and never register for that Spanish class that we resolved to take in 2010. Imagine our year if we put God first in ALL that we did. If we walked his path everyday and relied on him to carry us instead of worrying about all the stresses of the world we live in today. Imagine if we worked on being spiritually “in shape” and that motivated us to be more self confident and happy in our day-to-day work. Imagine if we were obedient to God’s word versus socially suffering on a daily basis. We need to be able to act on God’s command and be ready for his coming again and what eternal life has in store for us. Revelation 21:1-4 reminds us that God has given us eternal life – will we be spiritually fit? This year I challenge each of us to resolve to become spiritually healthy ~ to be ready for God’s coming and to walk each day with God by your side.

Courtneay and Kevin Odden

Monday, December 6

Isaiah 5:8-12, 18-23

Psalms 9, 15, and 25

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Luke 21:20-28

Follow the star to a place unexpected

Would you believe, after all we’ve projected,

A child in a manger?

Lowly and small, the weakest of all

Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother’s shawl

Just a child

Is this who we’ve waited for?

How many kings stepped down from their thrones?

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that is torn all apart?

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Only one did that for me….

After meditating on today’s scripture readings, the words of “How Many Kings” by Downhere kept coming back to me. Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of all, came to this earth, walked these paths, felt temptations and suffered unbearable pains…for me. Really? The refrain in the song says, “Only one did that for me…”. It could have read…”Only one did that for us all,” or “for the world,” or “for everyone that walks a perfect walk,” but no, God sent Jesus, his only son, to live and die on earth, for me. Amazing…. My heart and soul understand the sacrifice, but my mind continues to contemplate the “buts”… But, I’m not worthy; but I’m not obedient; but I’m not patient and kind; but I’m not selfless and humble; but, but, but…. These “buts,” no doubt, come from Satan’s pull on me. I am so thankful that God intervenes and says to me, “Come sweet baby girl, I did this all for you. Everything… so that you may come to know me, to feel my presence in your life and to abide with me in an everlasting life.” In this case, God wraps his arms around me and holds me tight. Just as tight, I am sure, as Mary clung to that precious, newborn baby that we know as Jesus.

Melissa Peter

Sunday, December 5

Isaiah 5:1-7

Psalms 114, 115, 148, 149, and 150

2 Peter 3:11-18

Luke 7:28-35

2 Peter 3

From "The Message:"

Don't overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn't want anyone lost…. Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life?

Boy does this speak to me today…. Yesterday I was released from the hospital after undergoing heart stint surgery. The doctor said I was 45 min away from a heart attack…. And here I am back at work today…. Unbelievable, but not really so. I KNOW that God hears prayers and he answers them, sometimes in silence, and sometime with a load AAAA-ha! This was my aha because I was praying to him you can believe…. And many people were also praying for me…. I can't tell you how many…. It makes you realize you are never alone and that family and friends and the church are there with you…. Thank you Fr. Patrick (had to add the Fr. so they would know who I was speaking about, sorry) for your wonderful prayer just before my surgery. It was wonderful! Sometimes it takes something like this to realize how true the above passages are…. I love "The Message." It speaks my language. If you haven't experienced this I invite to you do so!

Peace,
Lynn Mather