Advent 2014 Devotional

dwell

Down is the the New Up

BEL AIR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 2014 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL

Bel Air Presbyterian Church 2014 Advent Devotional Copyright © 2014 Bel Air Presbyterian Church 16221 Mulholland Dr., Los Angeles, California 90049 t [818] 788 4200 • f [818] 788 2243 • belairpres.org All Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version copyright © 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. unless otherwise noted. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—without the prior permission of Bel Air Presbyterian Church.

Printed in the United States of America

Contents Introduction.........................................................4 Daily Devotional..................................................7 Week One......................................................... 7 Week Two.......................................................31 Week Three....................................................53 Week Four......................................................79 Celebrate the Season........................................ 94 Worship with Us............................................... 95

introduction Dear Friend, Every advent season brings opportunities for preparation and anticipation. For me, it also brings and excitement as I look for invitations from God to consider, again, the wonders of His Word and the gift born in the manger. This Advent devotional continues a tradition of many years here at Bel Air. It is a gift for the church family from the church family. Written by pastors, staff, and members of the church—young and old. I am grateful for the many creative and thoughtful reflections which are expressed on the following pages.

You will smile at the illustrations drawn by the children of the church that are scattered throughout the pages. This truly is a project for the whole church by representatives of the whole church family.

This year there is particular joy and anticipation as we head into Advent in a new season in the life of Bel Air Presbyterian Church with our new head of staff. Pastor Drew Sams has planned for a wonderful Advent sermon series entitled DWELL: Down is the New Up! This four-week series will focus on the Incarnation of Christ through the four Gospel writer’s perspectives. “Like a multi-faceted diamond,” the Christ Incarnate, born of the flesh and fully human and fully God, can and should be observed from a multiple of perspectives and angles. Each week, the Scriptures have been taken from the weekly focus and text from which Drew will preach.

In a season which is filled with much merry-making and partygoing, of gift-buying and gift-giving, of baking and decorating—our days get busy and full. And in the midst of it, we are reminded to dwell with God. To dwell is defined this way: 1. to live or stay as a permanent resident; reside; 2. to live or continue in a given condition or state: to dwell in happiness; 3. to linger over, emphasize, or ponder in thought, speech, or writing. Our hope and prayer is that as we dwell this season together, we will connect through these morning and evening devotional reflections.

One of my favorite poets once wrote, “dwell in possibility!” I think that is a very apt phrase as we move close to the manger and prepare to celebrate the gift of the Christ Child. God love us so much that He gave us this little baby born in a manger, and invites us to dwell in our life with Him—the now Risen Christ.

Enjoy the devotional and blessings this Advent season,

Rev. Care A. Crawford Pastor of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care Ministries

the

first

week of advent matthew 1

Exploring the lineage of Jesus and the importance of the Son also being the Son of God.

Hope

Today we light the first candle of the Advent wreath.

This is the candle of HOPE.

With Christians around the world, we use this light to help us prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of God’s Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

May we receive God’s light as we hear the words of the prophet Isaiah: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.

(Isaiah 9:2) Let us pray: Lord, as we look to the birth of Jesus, grant that the light of Your love for us will help us to become lights in the lives of those around us. Prepare our hearts for the joy and gladness of Your coming, for Jesus is our hope. Amen.

morning november 30, 2014

An account of the genealogy, of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Matthew 1:1 The church year begins on Advent, the fourth Sunday before Christmas.

Then follow the liturgical seasons of Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost and finally comes what we call “Ordinary Time.”

But today is the Sunday that begins the “church” year. This Sunday interrupts our season of “Ordinary Time” to prepare the Church for the coming of the Messiah.

In Matthew’s Gospel, it all starts with a genealogy. From where does this Messiah come? Well, Matthew is going to lay it all out. In some ways, similarly to this Sunday which breaks into “Ordinary Time” to prepare us for an extraordinary time—today is the reminder of the time when Jesus interrupted history to proclaim a reality that is far from ordinary.

But hold on. Is that all that Matthew 1 says—an account of genealogy?

Sometimes having a little access to the Greek text can be helpful, for the first two Greek words in this Gospel are “Biblos geneseus.” A potential translation could be “The Book of the new Genesis.” And then following those words are “of Jesus Christ.” Just as the Book of Genesis begins the entire Bible, this Gospel (the Good News about Jesus) is the TRUE beginning of LIFE. Life begins with Jesus.

Now that we have talked about the first four Greek words in Matthew’s Gospel, let’s turn our focus to the last four words of this verse. Why David and Abraham? The two great promises of the Hebrew Scriptures are wrapped up in these two giants of the faith. The promise to David is that there will be a forever King and the promise to Abraham is that there will be a seed who will be a blessing to everyone. As Dale Bruner puts it, “There is a temporal promise to David (“forever”) and a spatial promise to Abraham (“for everyone”).”

Maybe a different way to see this first verse is like this: “The book of the New Genesis, Jesus the Messiah, who is forever and for everyone!”

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I can’t think of a better way to enter into the Advent season than with that statement in our minds and on our hearts.

What has God done in you during this period of “Ordinary Time”?

What are you most looking forward to during this Advent season?

– Rev. Keenan Barber

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evening november 30, 2014

Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, 4 and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of King David.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, 8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.

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So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

Matthew 1:2–17

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Many times these are the passages of the Bible that we are tempted to skip. How do you even pronounce these names and why should we care?

Abraham; a bunch of names with a lot of letters; and Jesus. Got it.

But perhaps we are skipping some seriously important information.

Genealogies have actually made quite a comeback in recent years, thanks to websites that have billions of records on file. Family histories contain amazing tidbits of information that can illuminate patterns and bring an empathetic understanding to what previous generations endured. In my 12 | BEL AIR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

own family, my great grandfather was married ten times! This type of turnover in a mothering role for my grandmother certainly had an effect on the way she parented her children, and how my mom approached her role as a parent.

I wonder what stories lie in the genealogies mentioned in this first chapter of Matthew? Some of the names are familiar, but many are not. I encourage you to take a moment to Google a name you do not recognize from the list and learn why this person was significant enough to be mentioned in relation to Jesus. We might discover something that shouldn’t be missed. – Mindy Coates Smith

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morning december 1, 2014

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 1:18 Back in those days, the process of getting married was so different than it is today. Joseph’s parents had arranged the marriage between him and Mary, and then in front of witnesses they entered into an official agreement to marry one another. After this formal consent there was a sort of “in-between” time for about a year that was called betrothal, where the woman still lived with her parents before moving in with her husband.

During this time Mary had become pregnant with the Holy Spirit. The verse doesn’t mention the difficulty of the situation between Mary and Joseph and their families. In fact, all that is mentioned in the verse after is that Joseph was ready to divorce Mary quietly to save her and himself from the shame. Fortunately though, Joseph was visited by an angel, who assured him of the child’s origin and importance. Through his faith, Joseph accepted the role bestowed upon him and his family, and Christ the Messiah was born unto them.

I think it’s important as Christians to realize that although some of God’s plans don’t make natural sense, we must stay in faith and know that we serve a supernatural God. Joseph is a perfect example of this. Not only was he faithful during this trying time, he was obedient. The Lord turned Joseph’s grim situation into a joyful one. When times are difficult in our lives and we don’t fully understand what’s happening we must stay in faith, be patient, and obey God’s commands. He always has a perfect plan for our lives and will bless us in the midst of hardships.

Prayer: Father, we thank You for the gift of Your Son. Thank you for the miracle of His virgin birth, and the sacrifice He made on the cross. We know that he made that sacrifice that we might live and You have shown Your power through the grace that is Your Son. God, please give us the wisdom to seek You out, the discernment to know Your will, and the strength to obey that will. Just like Joseph was asked to step out in faith, please give us the courage to do so as well. We thank You for all the blessings You bestow upon us everyday. Your love is immeasurable and never ending. Thank You, God. In Christ’s name, Amen.

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– Amanda Baker Browning

evening december 1, 2014

Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the Child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 1:19–20 Such an unbelievable scenario would require an extraordinary experience to change the mind of a resolute heartbroken man. Thank God for the extraordinary.

In this case, the supernatural! If this were an “average situation” and Joseph an “average guy,” then it’s not difficult to imagine him acting out of his hurt, embarrassment and bitterness. Public humiliation may have been a greater temptation than we realize. But this situation is not “average,” nor is Joseph, and neither is his God. God, stepping into our time and space, could say anything to Joseph. And God chooses to say this...“Do not be afraid...”

This phrase appears many times in the nativity story. It’s as if God is saying, “Don’t be afraid. I am in this. I am with you.”

Now, at the end of your day, I invite you to join me in an exercise of prayer.

Reflect: What might be an area in your life where you need to hear the voice of God say, “Do not be afraid”?

Imagine: With clenched fists resting on your lap, imagine yourself holding tightly these worries, questions, and resolute decisions that have come to mind...

Release: If and when you decide to pray, then, the first question you must answer is: How do I open my closed hands?

I can’t force you to decide. But perhaps you can find your way to prayer by carefully listening to the words the angel spoke to Joseph: “Don’t be afraid.” Don’t be afraid of the One who wants to enter your most intimate space and invite you to let go of what you are clinging to so anxiously. Don’t be afraid to offer your hurt, longings, and disappointments to the One who is love and only love.

“Even if you know you have little to show, don’t be afraid to let it be seen.”

—Henry Nouwen

– Mike Morgan

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morning december 2, 2014

“She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:21 This is something so far out of my personal experience I can barely imagine what it was like for Joseph to be on the receiving end of this proclamation.

Now, the betrayal side is a bit easier for me to relate to. Joseph was engaged to a woman who blindsided him when she revealed she was pregnant.

By someone else.

That “someone else” being God. Yeah, a little hard to swallow.

Looking back now we say, “Relax, it’s a virgin birth!” But it took an angel appearing in the middle of the night to alter the path of divorce Joseph was currently on.

But then to be told that His promised Son would be the One God had ordained to save the entire world from their sins. Let’s be honest, Joseph’s life was never the same after that.

I’ve experienced God in many ways over my lifetime but never anything that even comes close to the magnitude of this bombshell. God parted the curtain between the spirit world and the land of flesh and blood and called Joseph to be a participant and watch as He changed the course of history.

Still, we must consider one very important factor here that’s often overlooked: Joseph still had a decision to make.

He could either choose to obey or disobey his heavenly marching orders.

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Make no mistake. A man from that time and culture certainly understood what he was facing: a lifetime of being ostracized from his community for marrying a woman of sullied reputation (that qualified her for immediate stoning), not to mention the sandal-quaking accountability of raising the Son of God! To my mind Joseph is the unsung hero of the Christmas pageant. He was the one who shouldered the responsibility of a situation not of his own making—for the rest of his life. That takes guts and faith and not a small amount of selflessness.

Bravo, Joseph! Mary undoubtedly deserves all the adulation tossed her way, but personally, I have an easier time relating to Joseph’s unsung strength.

– Bob Lee

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evening december 2, 2014

All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”

Matthew 1:22–23 These verses speak of a prophet, Isaiah. Verse 23 comes from Isaiah 7:14, which was written some 700 years prior to the birth of Christ. 700 years— the better part of a millennium!! This is an almost incomprehensible length of time for us, yet that is how long God chose to wait in between telling Israel of this virgin birth and then making it happen.

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign …” begins Isaiah 7:14. Think of it—the first generation to whom those words were spoken died out, and then several more generations were born and lived and died before seeing this prophecy come to fruition. Isn’t this is the same place we find ourselves in today? We are waiting for Christ to return. We are living in this in-between time when the promise of His return was made and when it will be fulfilled.

All of those generations of people between the time of Isaiah’s prophesy and this point in time in Matthew 1 have waited. Now God enters the world in a way none of them (or us) could have dreamed up. They probably thought the promise made through Isaiah was an empty one.

It was taking far too long to be realized. Do we feel the same in this inbetween time now? Remember that the very Savior whose return we await is known by another name: “Emmanuel”—God is with us. We live as a people who have been waiting a very long time for this promise of God’s to be fulfilled, yet still He is with us. His Spirit dwells in our hearts.

His peace and love surround us. We don’t know how long we will wait, but we can rest in the assurance of His kept promises and ever-presence.

Prayer: Creator God, thank You for being a God who keeps promises. Help us in our own in-between time as we wait to see the completion of Your plan for this world. Help us to remember in the meantime that You are Emmanuel, You are with us, and You will never leave us or forsake us. As we celebrate the birth of Christ this season, help us to live out Your love in the world.

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– Mandy Fowler

morning december 3, 2014

When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25 but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Matthew 1:24–25 I think Joseph gets put in the wings on the stage of the Christmas pageant.

This humble and obedient man gets “upstaged” by heavenly hosts, shepherds on the run to Bethlehem and the quiet image of a beautiful virgin pondering…

Joseph is a man with whom I can relate. While sleeping, he dreamt. In his dreams an angel appeared—an angel with a particular message just for him. I am a person who dreams when I sleep…and sometimes I remember those dreams and sometimes they are filled with a nudge or a message from God. Sometime when I dream I awaken and wonder “what to do with/about” what I just dreamt. Usually that sends me to my prayer chaira comfortable chair where I sit to pray.

When Joseph awoke from sleep, the Scripture tells us he acted. He was obedient. He did what the Lord commanded. There is something inspiring and instructive in Joseph’s response. He did not question what the angel had said, he didn’t chalk it up to indigestion or some psychological reaction to his being overwhelmed by the news of Mary. He was a righteous man and had formulated a plan. But God had a different plan… and Joseph listened and yielded to it. So he married Mary! He waited to love her physically until Jesus was born! Wow! What does God tell you in your dreams? How do you respond? What messengers has the Lord brought your way and how did you respond? Is there an immediacy and obedience to your answer? Joseph didn’t secondguess, he didn’t take it under advisement. He didn’t “sit on it”—he did as the Lord commanded.

What is the Lord whispering into your dream life, sleeping or waking? (continued on next page) 2014 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL | 19

How do you act in obedience to the call of God? Joseph inspires us to listen to the messages sent from God and to use them as our “field guide” for how we live.

What is the Lord whispering into your dream life, sleeping or waking?

How do you act in obedience to the call of God? Joseph inspires us to listen to the messages sent from God and to use them as our “field guide” for how we live.

If tonight, an angel appears in your dreams—will you listen? Will you trust that God had sent this messenger to you? Will you respond?

It is not only in our sleeping and dreaming that God sends us messages.

His Spirit is always at work…whispering, shouting, calling, asking—what is your response and offering? The Spirit speaks in a still small voice, when we are silent and listen, and through the shout of a color-filled sunset, through the candles aglow on an advent wreath or the memories of Christmas’ past. And God speaks through His Word…the Holy Scripture and His Living Word…Jesus.

This first week of advent will you DWELL with Jesus and listen. Dwell— offer space for the Holy Spirit to speak. Look and listen for the messengers of God to you when you are awake and when you are dreaming…and when you see them, when you hear them, will you respond?

– Rev. Care Crawford

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evening december 3, 2014

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed His star at its rising, and have come to pay Him homage.”

Matthew 2:1–2 Who are these men? How is it that they heard? How did their divining reveal such truths?

We may never really know.

And it’s easy to get caught in the question of who they are. Or to be hung up on how these foreign Magi could know such a thing was taking place.

Does God speak through foreign divining? Can the future be interpreted through the stars? Our modern minds stop at skepticism. But Matthew’s point is not about how they heard, he spends little time on that.

Matthew’s point is about what they did once they heard.

This little Child, this newborn, was important. And these men left their homes to get closer. These men left their countries to draw near and submit themselves under the authority of a baby who would change the world. They heard and they got it. They understood the response it demanded. The word for “homage” here literally gives the image of bowing down, lowering oneself below a superior.

What will our response be? Every day we must decide under whose reign we will live. He beckons us to draw near. Will we go? The weight of who He is calls us to bend our knees. Will we bow?

Church, may we understand the right response that calls us to pay King Jesus homage. May God grant us the ability to bow our hearts and will before Him as we grant Him authority over our every day. And may we experience the joy of knowing the King is born, though slain He lives, and the King stands victorious on our behalf. That sounds to me like a King to whom it is worth paying homage.

– Clay Collier 2014 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL | 21

morning december 4, 2014

“When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet.”

Matthew 2:3–5 So King Herod is “disturbed” because he’s heard that the true King of the Jews has been born. Well, if I were Herod I’d be worried too; God’s just sent down His first choice for the job. Herod’s nerves were shaken, totally understandable.

But what strikes me here is that “all Jerusalem” was disturbed, too. Other translations describe their reaction as “troubled” or “terrified.” Yes, all Jerusalem—meaning the shopkeepers, the housewives, the peasants— were disturbed, terrified and troubled at the possibility of God sending them a King.

Why? Was Herod so awesome a leader that everyone was happy with the status quo? Not exactly. [*SPOILER ALERT: he kills babies*] So then why were the people of Jerusalem—and let’s just go ahead and substitute ourselves for the people here—so troubled that God had sent them a King?

Well, I can’t ask them, but I can ask myself. And the answer is, I’d be scared a perfect king would act with perfect justice. With an earthly king, no matter how fearful he may be, it’s possible to evade his wrath. Keep your head bowed low, go about your business and hope the bigger issues in the city distract him. But God’s King sees all. And in that moment of inevitable judgment, it wouldn’t matter that there were others who had sinned worse than I—all my sins would be made known and I would be held accountable.

Okay, so that’s how I would react to the news of the King’s arrival, a King whom I didn’t know. See, it took me a long time to begin a real relationship with Christ because I believed I was unworthy of a relationship with Him. Underneath my “good person” exterior, dark sins were hiding. How could a perfect King be okay with that?

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What would your reaction be? That is, if you didn’t know Christ’s grace and love, how would you receive the news of His coming?

Answering this question might help us understand why others who don’t know Him yet, might not want to.

– Charlie Shahanian

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evening december 4, 2014

“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.”

Matthew 2:6 A promise. That’s it. A promise.

The Lord speaks. And I believe. The Lord moves. And I follow. The Lord reveals. And I pray. My words are paced … though with each one, my heartbeat is quickened and I want more and more and more of this belief, this trust, this yearning, this Love, this certainty… this promise.

His Presence.

I read the verse once and, as if it has not yet come to be, the power and fulfillment of this promise is so exhilarating that I immediately imagine myself wide-eyed and shallow-breathed in the presence of the Magi, the chief priests, and the scribes as this prophecy is read. It takes one time.

One promise. And I believe.

Then—my mind wanders as I sit just thirty minutes before this devotional is due. Oops. And the promise is swept away by a crashing wave of doubt.

And desire. And a deadline. And now I’m lost. One moment, I am in precious awe of God’s promise to send His Son—a ruler, a shepherd, a Savior—and the next, I’m overwhelmed by horrible wonder: “Will I get this in by noon?” “Will it be any good?” “What is my promise?” “Is it what/ who I think it is?” “When will it happen?”

“For out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people...”

Boom. There it is. The promise. The fulfilled promise. And my heart is, once again, steadied. And I know I don’t need to doubt. He calls me to believe and trust. To walk upon the waters. The lyrics from the song Oceans say: “Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders. Let me walk upon the waters. Wherever you would call me.” And I am thankful.

I am thankful for a God who sent His Son. Like He said He would. I am thankful for a Savior who loves me unconditionally. I am thankful for 24 | BEL AIR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

a shepherd who never turns away. I am thankful for this verse and the riches of promise, prayer, protection, and provision. And I am thankful that I believe.

Reflect: For what/whom are you thankful? What promise has God revealed to you ‌ do you believe it, are you praying about it, are you honoring it? Are you walking upon the waters?

I pray that you read Matthew 2:6 again, with a slow voice, a voice that seeks, and allow the Spirit to fill the space with His Will, His Mercy, and His Promise. – Joanne Marcos

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morning december 5, 2014

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”

Matthew 2:7–8 In these verses we enter the story of Jesus two years after He has been born. The Magi are seeking this King of the Jews by following a wondrous star they have seen in the heavens. When evil Herod, an imposter king, hears of this, he is desperately concerned that this Child poses a threat, and is eager to have Him found and killed. Herod pretends to want to find this King so he can worship Him and yet the true intent of his heart is to eliminate this threat to his own ego.

At first read, I saw these verses as merely historical, yet on closer look I think they offer us a challenge to abandon pretense and a call to earnestly seek the true King.

These verses warn us to be aware of our inclination to deceive ourselves and remind us of how easily we fall into pretending. We so want to think of ourselves as desiring to worship God, and yet often ignore that within us lurks fear that this Christ threatens our ego and challenges our being in charge. This God-Child absolutely does challenge our ego and our way.

King Jesus, came as a baby, asks us to relinquish our illusion of control and submit our lives to His kingship. He exchanges our pretense for peace and ushers us into His kingdom wherein there is true life, boundless love, and union with God. If we forsake pretense, even a maniacally evil king’s words can move us toward the true King this Advent—“Go and search carefully for the child.”

Midst the piles of glossy ads, shopping lists, parties, outfits to be purchased, Christmas cards and cookie exchanges: Go and search carefully for the Child.

In the voices of friends and family gathered, travel, delicious food bountifully spread, and wrapping packages: Go and search carefully for the Child.

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As you experience Advent wreaths, Christmas lights and carols, candlelight, and a child’s delight: Go and search carefully for the Child.

He is not hiding. He longs to be found by those who truly want to worship Him. Go and search, and wonder at this amazing baby, Emmanuel, God with us. – Melissa Mellersteg

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evening december 5, 2014

“After hearing the King, they went on their way.

And there it was—the star they had seen in the east.

It led them until it came and stopped above where the Child was.

10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure.”

Matthew 2:9–10 (Holman Christian Standard Bible) As I think about the verse above, I pause and reflect on my life as a follower of Christ.

In the world we are told many things that tug and pull us first in one direction, and then the other. We hear many statements containing halftruths which often lure us away from the narrow path to follow Jesus, sweeping us into the “tempo” of the secular life. Unlike the Wise men of the Bible, we don’t have a guiding star!

However, thanks to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we are not left adrift, in a world of false prophets and misinformation, or sugar-coated with near truths. We were given the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, and is ever-ready to guide and direct our way, through the perilous jungle of the “American Dream,” filled with many idols called success. If only we could be as little children and ask for help, and the courage to say, “In my life and my house, I only honor God, Jesus, and the blessed Holy Spirit.”

Do you try and navigate the pitfalls of this world on your own, by your intellect, great resources and powerful people?

I don’t! I greet each day on my knees, giving praise and thanksgiving, to God, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the blessed Holy Spirit. Then when rising I reach for the hand of my Counselor, and pray He will walk me through another day.

– Charles Johnson

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morning december 6, 2014

On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Matthew 2:11–12 My friend got a job with a Jewish family babysitting their young daughter in Beverly Hills in the 1990’s. My friend was a Christian, so she would pray that God would open up opportunities to talk about Jesus with this girl. Well, good opportunities to talk about her faith weren’t very frequent and she was getting frustrated. Christmas season came along and one day while she driving through Beverly Hills with all the decorations beautifully filling the streets, the little girl asked out of the blue, “What’s Christmas all about?”

A little taken back, she thought for a second and said off the top of her head, “Well, it’s Jesus’ birthday. We’re celebrating God being born as a baby.”

The little girl seemed satisfied with that answer, was silent for a moment and then said, “I’m going to buy Jesus a birthday gift. What do you think He needs?”

My friend was at first shocked by the little girl’s response and then stumped to answer the child’s question. She thought to herself, “What would Jesus want for Christmas? I mean, He is the Lord of the universe.

He doesn’t exactly need socks or anything!”

Now my friend started to panic, she wanted to say the right thing but didn’t know what to say. She didn’t want to blow this opportunity to talk about Jesus so she did what any intelligent believer would do. She stalled.

Then she replied, “Why don’t you ask Him what He wants?” hoping that would buy her some more time! (continued on next page) 2014 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL | 29

The little girl said, “Okay.” And she shut her eyes real hard like she was doing some serious prayer! Now my friend really started to panic and she began to silently pray like she had never prayed before! “Please Lord, I know you don’t usually speak to people directly in an audible voice, but if You were ever planning to do something like that, right now would be great!” Time seemed like it was standing still. She was afraid that she had blown this opportunity with the little girl.

The little girl opened her eyes and said, “I talked to God.” “Well, what…did…He…say?” my friend asked with some fear in her heart.

Without skipping a beat, the little girl answered, “Jesus said all He wants for Christmas…is me.”

The Magi brought great gifts that not only honored but likely sustained Jesus in his early years. These were precious gifts for the Savior. But, today if you asked Jesus what He wants for Christmas, He would say that there is no other great treasure He would rather have than your total allegiance to Him. I believe Jesus still comes to those who seek Him today. Bring Him the gift that He wants and relish in the fact that this gift is you.

– Rev. Tim Yee

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evening december 6, 2014

Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the Child, to destroy Him.” 14 Then Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called My Son.” Matthew 2:13–15 This is a beautiful yet dramatic story of prophesy fulfilled. The wise men had just departed after paying homage in celebration of Jesus’ birth when an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. The angel told them to flee because Herod was on the hunt and young Jesus was his target!

Mary and Joseph were caring for the greatest gift on earth and responded in faith to the angel’s message. In order to protect Jesus, the true King, from Herod they stole away in the middle of the night. They left with a small Child, taking on a difficult journey, and fled to Egypt.

Can you imagine what this must have been like? Learning a loved one’s life was in danger and knowing the King, with his substantial resources and power, was behind the threat? And yet, they lived according to their faith. They recognized that God had a plan, was providing direction, and ultimately setting the wheels in motion for the one true King to be protected and eventually take His rightful place on the thrown.

When their faith was tested, it was found to be firm. Mary and Joseph trusted God. How grateful we are that they were brave enough to listen and obey, so that the true King would not be destroyed!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we praise You that Your prophesy was fulfilled. We pray that in tumultuous times in our own lives that we would cling to Your Word and what we know to be true. We pray our faith would remain firm in You. May we crown Jesus King in our own lives! We are grateful people.

Amen.

– Ashley Cain 2014 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL | 31

the

second

week of advent mark 1

Exploring the power of Jesus and the dynamic ministry that provides spiritual, emotional and physical healing.

Peace

Today we relight the candle of HOPE. Now we light the candle for the second Sunday in Advent.

This is the candle of PEACE. As we prepare for the coming of Jesus, we remember that Jesus is our hope and our peace.

From the prophet Isaiah: For a Child has been born for us, a Son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders; and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

(Isaiah 9:6–7) From the Gospel of John: Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.

I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

(John 14:27) Let us pray: Gracious God, Grant that we may find peace as we prepare for our Lord’s birth. May divisions in ourselves and in our families be peacefully resolved. May there be peace in our cities and in the countries of our world. Help us to see the paths of peace in our lives, and then give to us courage to follow them. Lord, let us remember that You only are the giver of lasting peace and that You are always with us. Amen.

morning december 7, 2014

“The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way.”

Mark 1:1–2 Mark chooses to begin at “The beginning...” The first words he shares about our Savior are that there was a point in time where it all began. Yet, even this beginning, as historical and real as it was, cannot be contained in the human restriction of time. This beginning points us backward to John the Baptist, the messenger, who will prepare our way. It reaches even further back, hundreds of years in Israel’s history, to Isaiah the prophet who saw the coming of God’s messenger and our Savior, both coming in the divine purpose of redemption.

In the mysterious folds of time, however, we ourselves can hear the voice of Isaiah speaking to us now. We know the work of John the Baptist in our lives, the one who prepares the way for us to believe, to receive, to worship. We understand that the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has a beginning in our lives: that time when the Savior of the world takes hold of each of us, when He speaks uniquely to you and to me, and we each see our name engraved on the palm of His hand. The awesome wonder of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that it begins again and again in each lost soul saved by grace.

The gospel begins in each of us.

So it is that in the beginning ALL THINGS began. Past. Present. History.

Future. You. Me. How is it that this Savior Baby can hold all these things in the beginning?

“He has set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Prayer: Timeless God, Alpha and Omega—thank you for this beginning. Thank you for unleashing the eternal power of God in Jesus Christ into our past, present and future. Teach our hearts to trust that you are always at work, always saving, always restoring, and always healing. Make us more aware of the eternity you’ve set in our hearts. For Jesus’ glory. Amen.

– Rev. Kim Dorr-Tilley 34 | BEL AIR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

evening december 7, 2014

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’”

Mark 1:3 While this Scripture talks about the voice of John the Baptist, I identify with the “wilderness.”

That voice for me was the Holy Spirit calling to me while I was in the wilderness. Growing up in a family that never went to church, I was far from Christ. I had no understanding who Jesus was, let alone any personal relationship with Him. Because I was born Catholic and baptized as an infant, I always identified myself as a Catholic as much as I was an Italian.

It was just something I was, not by my own choice or doing.

For much of my life I was lost in the wilderness of a secular world, pursuing everything society valued. While this led to apparent happiness and achievements by the world’s standards, I felt more and more unfulfilled. Highs from pleasures such as alcohol, gambling or fleeting relationships were never enough and they always led to greater loneliness and more troubles. It was the quietness and isolation of the wilderness that allowed the Holy Spirit to speak to my deaf soul.

Ultimately the Holy Spirit opened my heart to a new world and new people. It was on a pool deck in Culver City that I met someone who I knew was different—kind, gentle and good. I often wonder how many other people throughout my life bore similar fruit to which I was oblivious.

While on one hand it saddens me to think of the joy and peace I missed in the first 30+ years of my life, I now know that God was looking out for me.

The person who God used to first open my eyes to the fruit of the Spirit was special and I was blessed to marry her 18 months later. (continued on next page)

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As I continue my walk with Christ, I feel He is calling me to continue to straighten my path for His return, and to reflect Him to my friends, family and even passing strangers. Jesus will return one day, and I hope and pray by the mercy of Christ, that He uses me to make straight paths that lead others to Him. God is love! Praise Him that He pursues us to the ends of the “wilderness” for all eternity.

– Dave DeTorre

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morning december 8, 2014

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Mark 1:4 As I’ve meditated on Mark 1:4 in my two favorite versions, I enjoy several things. First, John appeared in the wilderness—in the desert. A place rugged and hard to live in, hard to thrive in.

But a place where one can reflect, take stock of things, and perhaps begin to see things differently, especially see inside ourselves more clearly.

Did John also have a 40 day fast in the wilderness before he started his ministry? We do not know, but I’d not be surprised. For he was filled with the Spirit.

Second, John preached repentance. He proclaimed not only God’s judgment of sin, but that confession of sin and desire to repent— symbolized by baptism with water—would publicly and spiritually signify God’s cleansing forgiveness of sin. Even before Jesus died for our sins, John proclaimed God’s forgiving love of humanity.

Third, he preached Good News. He laid the foundation for the advent of God’s Kingdom on earth, preparing us to receive Jesus’s message that the Kingdom had come. Jesus brought more Good News—God the King is our Father, and we will have abundant life if we obey His commands.

Fourth, John was human. He suffered doubt, pain and opposition. He came to a tragic end for his faithful service. It’s costly to follow the Holy Spirit. It’s humbling to obey Jesus Christ. It will lead to glory someday, but it’s not always so glorious this side of heaven.

John the Baptist laid the foundation for the magnificent, diverse and multi-dimensional Kingdom of God that Jesus ushered into the world, which has continued to be built by the Spirit in the Church worldwide over 200 centuries through to this very day. (continued on next page) 2014 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL | 37

God calls us, too. Sometimes it feels like He calls us into wilderness, a place hard to thrive. Other times His call is to an abundance of blessings we simply are pleased and grateful to enjoy.

When I obey God’s call, the vision He shows me, the new eyes He gives, even the very words He speaks through me, minister His grace to me as much as to whom I am called to share.

Do you have the same experience? How is God calling you today? – Susan Paul

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evening december 8, 2014

And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Mark 1:5 When I picture this passage, I am awed by how this scene must have looked. ALL Judea and ALL the people of Jerusalem were drawn to respond to a message of hope. Can you imagine everyone around you making their way to the same spot to be baptized, to be made clean, to confess their sins? Can you imagine what our city, our world would be like if we were surrounded by people who were that moved to confess their selfishness and unworthiness? What would it have been like to be surrounded by a community that has decided to live in faith, a faith that brings forgiveness and replaces guilt and shame? Instead of being held captive by negative thoughts, we would die to our old selves and be born anew.

God is calling us to be free of all these burdens that distract us from Him. Fear, anxiety and negativity have no place in God’s plan for us. Life will hand us struggles that will tempt us to let the negativity in, but we must resist it with our faith and our living, breathing relationship with God. To paraphrase Martin Luther King Jr.: When negativity tries to grip our minds, we must not let it nest. It may circle around our consciousness, but as long as we trust our Savior, these thoughts can’t take root. If we let Christ truly live in us, then when we find ourselves sinning again, we know where to find saving grace.

– Grace MacMillan

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morning december 9, 2014

“John wore clothes made from camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. 7 This is what John told the people: “There is someone coming later who is able to do more than I can. I am not good enough to be the slave who stoops down to untie his sandals.”

Mark 1:6–7 (ERV)

John was an extreme and devout man who possessed only meager, bare necessities. He did not fuss with earthly things, as he dressed himself in coarse material, like the prophets in Zechariah did, and survived on foods from the wilderness. He was mission-driven, passionate to his core and aware of Jesus’ omnipotence.

John embodies the characteristics of a penitent heart, spiritual humility and zeal. He lived and gave his life for the work of the Kingdom of God. He was an essential component in the ministry of Jesus, baptizing Him, which pleased the Father and showed future Jesus-followers to do the same.

John was lowly in physical matters but rich in the Spirit. When we humble ourselves, Jesus can use us to manifest the unfolding of His perfect plan and purpose. We must be like a gate or door, unlocked (surrendered) and usable (active) for God to open and close at His discretion; aware that He is always at work and that we are either a locked dead-end door or an entrance to His magnificent power. (verse 7) “There is someone coming later who is able to do more than I can.

I am not good enough…” Let’s claim “there is Someone here and His name is Jesus Christ who is able to do more than I can, I am not good enough but He is eternally perfect! And by His redeeming blood that has washed me, I am now acceptable to God and a usable gateway for His power!”

– Daniella Romero

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evening december 9, 2014

“I baptize you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Mark 1:8 There was a sincere man seeking God. The man whispered, “God, speak to me,” and a meadowlark sang. But the man did not hear.

So the man yelled, “God, speak to me!” and thunder rolled across the sky.

But the man did not listen.

The man looked around and said, “God let me see You,” and a star shined brightly. But the man did not see.

The man shouted, “God show me a miracle.” And a life was born. But the man did not notice.

So, the man cried out in despair, “Touch me God, and let me know You are here.” Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man. But the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on. * * * Jesus, the Savior, comes to us today. He is there to wake us up in the morning. He is there to tuck us in at night. He is there beside you right now. And He brings us the Holy Spirit, to teach us and to guide us in our Savior’s footsteps.

But we are so rushed we cannot see or hear any of it.

Sometimes God speaks in a whisper. Thousands of years ago, Elijah stood on the mountain and waited for the Presence of God to pass by. First, a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. (continued on next page) 2014 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL | 41

After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.

And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face because he recognized the presence of God (1 Kings 19:11–13).

You see, God wasn’t in the wind, or the earthquake, or the fire. No. The Lord came as a gentle whisper. Like a newborn baby, asleep in a manger on a very silent night.

Can you hear God gently whisper to you?

Shhhh. Quiet now. And listen.

– John Fogarty

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morning december 10, 2014

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as He was coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on Him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Mark 1:9–11 There are so many places in Scripture where the Son is revealed. As a matter of fact, all Scripture points to Jesus, our Savior, our salvation. In this passage, God the Father Himself opens up the heavens and reveals to us the Son and the Father’s love upon Him. There is great hope in revelation; revelation is a blessing which removes the scales from our eyes, scales that prevent us from falling on our knees and shouting in glory to God. Scientists for so long have rejected God, yet are astounded to discover that more happened in the first moment of creation than has happened in some 13 billion years since that time. Now scientists break down that first moment into what they call plank time, which is an increment of one billion billion billion billion billionth of a second. No, that wasn’t a misprint, that is an incredibly small amount of time, a period in which everything we know exists in the universe today: matter, space, and time (100 billion galaxies with 100 million stars in each) was created. Words like awesome, amazing, and incredible don’t even begin to describe our God; and still He cares about us, each and every single one of us.

As God reveals Himself more and more to us each day in Scripture, in nature, in the next breath we take, my prayer is that He would open our eyes and our hearts that as a church, as a nation, as a world, we would recognize His one and only begotten Son Jesus and bend the knee as we shout: “Lord, thank you; thank you for coming to earth for us.” May God bless you and yours as we celebrate the season of His birth.

– Frank Couce

2014 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL | 43

evening december 10, 2014

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.”

Isaiah 7:14 A sign! A sign! Aren’t we always looking for “a sign?” Aren’t we always praying for ”a sign?” At every crossroads in our lives we are desperate for “a sign”. A sign to show us that we are on the right path. A sign to prove to ourselves that we are making the right decision. Whether it’s who to marry? What career to pursue? Should we have another child? Should I go on that mission trip? I have often felt like Gideon in the Book of Judges who lays his fleece out before the Lord and prays for “a sign.”

Sometimes “the sign” comes, and I move forward with the decision, only to regret it later. Then I’m left puzzled, wondering if it really was “a sign” from God. Or sometimes I don’t feel confident that God has given me a clear “sign” at all, yet a decision must be made. So I move forward into what seems right and I find an incredible blessing on the other side. My obsession with, and desperation for, “a sign” has left me all too often empty-handed and confused.

That’s why I LOVE this passage in Isaiah. “The Lord Himself will give you a sign” and that sign is (drum roll please…) IMMANUEL. The sign to end all signs… IMMANUEL. The only sign we will ever need… Immanuel.

God is with us!

So let us no longer look for “signs” in our lives to tell us what to do.

Because “The Sign” is now with us. Immanuel is guiding us. Immanuel is leading us. Immanuel is here, among us.

– Kendall Payne

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morning december 11, 2014

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…”

Zachariah 8:3 Good Morning! How are you today? How is it with your soul? Take some time to really think about that question. What were your first thoughts upon waking up?

Were they peaceful or a laundry list of “to do’s?” You may have been up for hours already or you may be reading this over your first cup of coffee still a bit groggy... in silence, sit with yourself for a minute and just ask, “How am I—REALLY?” Now, hopefully, you have a stronger sense of how it is with your soul this morning. Take another moment and close your eyes. After a few deep breathes, talk to God about how you are. Fill in the blank...

“God I am ____ this morning...”

Now, let’s shift our focus for a few moments. Mentally set aside all that you may be carrying this day and turn your attention to the passage above. Take the next few minutes to read out loud the Scripture, slowly, 5 times. (If you are reading this with another person, take turns reading it out loud.) Just BE... and allow the Scripture to speak to you.

Five times.

S l o w l y...

What particular word or phrase stood out to you?

Write down what caught your attention. Sit with it for a moment.

What drew you to this word or phrase? What might God be inviting you to think about?

Write down (or discuss) what came up for you.

After practicing Lectio Divina with this passage (an ancient way of praying through Scriptures, which you just experienced) the word dwell stood out to me. To dwell is described as: to remain, to abide, to stay, to inhabit. My hope and prayer for you this advent season is that you will know in your soul that God dwells within you and His love abides within you, regardless of what lay behind you or what lay before you, in every second of every day, God is with you. May you rest in knowing that our Almighty King is as close as your very breathe...

– Rebecca Morgan 2014 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL | 45

evening december 11, 2014

“Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” Isaiah 40:9 Have you ever been so excited about something that you just had to tell someone about it? Perhaps you were bursting at the seams with joy about becoming engaged to be married to the person of your dreams or discovering that you will be welcoming a beautiful child into your family.

Perhaps it was the overwhelming sense of relief of great medical results or being offered a wonderful new job. Now just imagine for a moment that you could not share your excitement with anyone. Not a soul. Would you even be able to contain yourself? Or would you eventually “explode” by confiding in someone the great news?

Isaiah captures this incredible feeling of being filled with joyous news.

Rather than holding it in and keeping it to himself, the instruction is to go up to the highest mountain and shout without restraint, “Here is your God!” In this context, the Holy One again reveals His redemptive love and compassion by leading His people back to Judah. Praise God! What is more, Isaiah foretells the greatest news of all: The New Testament revelation that Jesus is the Christ who brings salvation to all who receive Him by faith, that all who believe in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. What incredible Good News that is indeed!

If you happen to find yourself on a high place this Christmas season, go ahead. Remember this verse, and as Isaiah writes, “Lift up your voice with a shout” and “do not be afraid!” Shout it out to the world that, “Here is your God!” – Bryan Hance

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morning december 12, 2014

The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.

9 They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 11:8–9 I wish To fall down; As a singular grit of shivery ice, Born of the cold and the wind and the Fury of a brutal Nor’easter; Her thunderous scorn, Sky-piercing alpine knuckles, And endless crowds of clouds.

I wish To fall down; Bucked by the blast, charging the enemy, Thriving within a heart-thumping thrill.

Fleeing death, or chasing it.

Brothers-in-arms in a thrust of Gust after gust Of relentless wind shoving us West and then South.

West and then southwest.

And then South. ’Til I’m calmed down, Called down, Set in crystalline perfection, And gracefully aimed To rest, a silent, peaceful tickle on the brow of an infant prince. (continued on next page)

2014 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL | 47

I love poetry. It strives to go beyond the words and to capture raw emotion with rhythm, pitch and cadence. I know poetry’s not for everyone. If the previous poem didn’t do anything for you, don’t tune out yet. Give me one more second of your time and simply picture the last line in your mind: “a silent, peaceful tickle on the brow of an infant prince.” We are blown about in life, but we are meant for simple, elegant, beautiful purposes.

Isaiah the prophet knew words would fall short as well. How can you possibly capture prophecy with simple words? I think that’s why he sometimes packaged prophecy in poetry, crossing a sinister beast with an innocent one: snakes and babies in the crib together, neither one a single thought of malice toward the other. Perhaps the baby warming the cold-blooded reptile… Perhaps the reptile feeling a sense of duty, ready to defend the child against any threat.

I know! It makes me cringe too! It is not possible! Snakes in the crib? It is an impossible, shocking image. In the same way, the brokenness of the world cannot “lie in the crib” with the wholeness (or holiness) of God. These two concepts war bitterly with each other. And I would bet you, dear reader, are aware of that in some personal, tangible way. I know I am.

But regardless, we swell with hope. The impossible can be—will be— overcome by Christ. This promise is sealed in His birth​​. One day, “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD.” On that day, the snake and the baby will share a crib, the war with sin will be over, and the Prince of Peace will have completely fulfilled that title.

– Jett Whitworth

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evening december 12, 2014

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Isaiah 40:1 Oh, tidings of comfort and joy!

I find great comfort in the fact that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. I know that I can pray for healing for myself and others because Jesus, while on earth, was constantly healing. He is the same, He hasn’t changed a bit.

I can be assured that I should be glad and rejoice in times of trials for Jesus reminded me that I will have trials and tribulation, but that I should rejoice, because He has overcome the world.

Jesus said, “If two of you agree on anything that you ask, it will be done for you by my Father, who is in heaven.” I thank the Lord of heaven that He is the same now as 2,000 years ago and that the power of agreement is same as when Jesus himself lived and breathed in human form.

Jesus sits at the right had of the Father, the maker of heaven and earth, the Creator of the universe. That is so comforting.

The beloved 23rd Psalm is full of comfort: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” And then, our Lord goes on to remind me of my future saying that I can be assured that “… I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.”

Is there anything more comforting than that?

“I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, they are for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” This verse in Jeremiah has brought me through many hard and fearful times in my life. (continued on next page)

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In the middle of the night, when our defenses are lowered, these comforting Scriptures (especially when committed to memory) can help us defeat the evil one’s attacks. Satan may be persistent, but Christians can be more persistent: “I have not been given a spirit of fear, but rather, I have been given [the Holy Spirit] a spirit of power, love and a sound mind.”

Christmas is a special time of year, full of songs about Jesus and how Jesus is God Himself coming into human form to earth. How great it is to think that many of these wonderful songs are even playing in our shopping malls: “…for Jesus Christ our Savior has come on Christmas day to save us all from Santan’s power when we have gone astray, Oh, tidings of comfort and joy! Comfort and joy!”

Oh, tidings of comfort and joy!

Good things to think about and sing along with, while driving in holiday traffic and picking out presents for our loved ones.

– Katie Stobie

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morning december 13, 2014

“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”

Isaiah 40:2

Pastor Drew often uses the phrase, “posture of your heart.” The posture of your heart is an intimate relationship with Christ alone. No one of this world can see, literally, the position and posture your heart takes.

But hands...

Hands, you can see and examine now. Our hands can do so much!

Comfort, hold, love, embrace, protect, help, hold, grasp, cling, extend, invite… the list could go on. What an awesome God to give us such a powerful and visible tool to aid us in our everyday lives!

Isaiah 40:2 says, “…she [Israel] has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” God’s hands do all things for good—like delivering Israel from sin, proclaiming her hard work is over. But what do my hands do?

What is “the posture of MY hands”? Living in this fallen world, my hands have the power to hide—to hide from others and to hide from God. Think about a giggling baby playing “peek-a-boo.” Can you imagine that joyful laughter a baby experiences when you lower your hands and reveal yourself!?

I confess—I play this game with God. But, in my game, God is the adult hiding his face and revealing only when He chooses.

But my version is twisted, self-indulgent, and radically wrong. It’s the other way around.

God sits patiently, yearning for me to lower MY hands, to choose and reveal myself to Him. He doesn’t grow weary; rather He is waiting for my reveal with expectant joy! (continued on next page)

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When shame or disappointments arise, my tendency is to put my hands up, turning towards good works and hard service, and to cover myself from embracing God’s grace. But in God’s goodness, He never shields His face. In the midst of hurt or sin, He never turns away.

Instead, I imagine His gaze and desire even more set on me, eagerly, lovingly, and patiently waiting for me to meet Him face-to-face.

The grown-up version of “peek-a-boo” is surrender.

And the act of surrender is only possible with the posture of open hands.

This Christmas season, may we hear God’s tender whisper to lower our hands and meet with God face-to-face. He’s waiting for you, His Beloved, with expectant joy.

– Ali Newell

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evening december 13, 2014

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.”

Isaiah 9:2 Do we live in a land of darkness? We grow so accustomed to the world all around us, do we recognize the darkness in it? The emptiness?

The brokenness? The vanity? The shallowness? The cruelty? The dismissiveness? The cynicism? The self-centeredness? The sin? Do we recognize the coldness and hardness that set in when God is not welcome? Do we see such “deep darkness” with spiritual eyes? Or have we grown too accustomed to the world?

If the world is not buried in darkness, then we have no need for a light.

If the world and all its greed, pleasure, distraction, and selfish ambition are what we are looking for, we need nothing more than what abundantly surrounds us.

If the world is buried in darkness, however, then how desperate we should be for a light—a great LIGHT—to shine. That light saves us from the corruption of this age. That light teaches us to truly love the Lord God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Not in feigned piety, but sincerely, from a pained and honest heart, struggling in a dark world.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) Praise God that a great light has shined upon us, in our Savior, Jesus Christ. For those who recognize darkness all around them—and even in them—what comforting news to find that a Light has appeared!

The light does not pluck us from the darkness, but rather shines upon us as we journey and struggle through it. May God be with you, may God shine upon you, in all the darkness that you may face. And may such a Light be salvation and healing for your soul. Amen.

– Tom Harrits 2014 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL | 53

the

third

week of advent luke 1

Exploring the angel’s announcement to Mary that her Son will “reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” and her Magnificat that came as a response.

Joy

Today we relight the first two candles of the Advent wreath.

The candle of HOPE and the candle of PEACE. Now we light the third candle of Advent.

This is the candle of JOY. As the coming of Jesus, our Savior, draws nearer, our joy builds with our anticipation of His birth.

From the Book of Isaiah we read the words of our Lord: But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight.

(Isaiah 65:18) From the New Testament, the words of Paul to the people of the church at Galatia: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

(Galatians 5:22–25) Let us pray: We joyfully praise You, O Lord, for the fulfillment of Your promise of a Savior and what that means in our lives. Thank You for the gift of salvation through the birth of Your Son, Jesus. Create us anew as we wait, and help us to see Your glory as You fill our lives with Your living Spirit. Amen.

morning december 14, 2014

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the Word.

3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Luke 1:1–4 (NIV) We all know the saying, “Nothing is certain but death and taxes.” Try telling that to Luke! He would add Jesus to the list.

In Luke’s estimation, there was certainty in the eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ birth, earthly ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension. They were incontrovertible facts—truths so certain, he did not hesitate to lay them before this important person, this most excellent Theophilus, with his stamp of approval. Even though he himself was not an eyewitness to the Gospel events, he fully believed.

I love how the Book of Luke opens. As a journalist, I’m most comfortable in the world of facts, in the black and white of things. Luke must have had the same bent, a real eyewitness news reporter. I suspect in checking out this Jesus phenomenon, Luke did a much better fact-checking job than most of the folks reporting the news today. For Luke, it was all about corroboration; careful investigation of everything, from multiple sources.

It seems that Luke read many written accounts, and talked with people who had first-hand knowledge of Jesus. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul tells us that after Jesus’ resurrection, “He was seen by over five hundred people at once...” I wonder how many of these Luke interviewed, and how their perceptions of what they saw colored his telling of “The Greatest Story Ever Told.” Luke had the Apostle Paul as a partner in ministry. Imagine hearing about the Damascus encounter directly from the guy who experienced it!

All of this must have rocked Luke’s world. A man of science. A physician, who acknowledges the virgin birth (1:26-38), and mentions twenty of Jesus’ supernatural works. It had to be compelling for him to buy in, and his testimony surely impacted Theophilus.

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My wife Karen and I were on vacation recently, and a local directed us to a large pond where we would see the resident beaver. Impatient after five minutes, I lofted a stone into the center, and watched one ripple follow another, spreading to the outer banks. It reminded me that since Jesus plopped into history, one testimony of faith has followed another down through the ages, right up to us. And ours too is a unique eyewitness account of the transformative power of Jesus Christ.

Who is the Theophilus in our lives that needs to hear the story? – Mike Mizrahi

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evening december 14, 2014

In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.

Luke 1:5–7 A devout priest and a faithful woman, righteous and blameless in God’s eyes. Yet despite the obedience of Zechariah and Elizabeth, their constant observance of His commands and decrees, their fervent prayer went unanswered. They lived in a community that saw barrenness as a disgrace, or even a curse from God. And like Abram and Sarah, they had both far exceeded the normal child-bearing years.

What barrenness do you have in your own life? Maybe you have long prayed for a child, or a husband, or healing from an illness. Or even for the return of a prodigal son or daughter. And, as was the case with Zechariah and Elizabeth, you have long waited for God’s answer.

I don’t know what Elizabeth might have prayed, but as I walk through my own valley seeking the faithfulness of Elizabeth, I’m learning to submit my will to God. And this is what He is teaching me.

Learn to be patient and wait for God. “For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from Him. He alone is my rock and salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.” —Psalm 62:5-6

Remain courageous and steadfast. “Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” —Joshua 1:9

Trust in God always even when hopes are thwarted. “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

—Job 1:21

Draw near to God as you recognize your own weakness. Peace comes from relying and trusting completely in Him. “Be still and know that I am God.” —Psalm 46:10

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Submit to God in prayer. Allow God to give you what you need.

He will walk with you through your trials. “Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” —Philippians 4:6

Serve God and others faithfully despite your trials. “Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interest of others.”

—Philippians 2:4

Seek to find joy regardless of the circumstances. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” —Romans 12:12

Elizabeth and Zechariah had to wait many years for an answer to their prayers, maintaining their hope and faith through their afflictions, yet remaining faithful in their petitions to God. Reflection: “I choose joy…I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.” —Max Lucado – Karen Mizrahi

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morning december 15, 2014

Once when Zachariah was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. 10 Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside.

11 Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zachariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him.

Luke 1:8–12 As Zachariah was going about his normal duties as priest, burning the incense for the multitude of people who were praying, he was surprised as an angel of the Lord appeared to him. “Confused and afraid”(CEV), “paralyzed with fear”(the Message), “startled and terrified”(TLB), “startled and gripped with fear”(NIV).

Clearly he was a righteous man who was diligently performing his duties, and yet he had a dramatically fearful reaction to the angel sent by God. What did he fear? The extraordinary appearance of an angel in his ordinary life?

He did not yet know God’s message to him. Perhaps he wondered…Was it good news or bad? Was it to be an answer to a prayer, or a new challenge?

Perhaps he was thinking, why me?

Scripture says God does not want us to fear. God wants us to relinquish our fears to Him and live our life fully in His name for His purpose.

Meeting God in our life puts at risk our ordinary way of doing things.

We are challenged to become more intimate in our love for Him, and to accept and trust His will for our lives. When we step forward, and let go of those fears, He becomes a part of our ordinary lives, and there is no hiding. There is no compromise.

As we prepare our hearts, minds and souls for this most Holy time, the birth of our Savior, the Son of God, King and Creator…

I challenge you to reflect…

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Is God at the forefront of your ordinary life?

What is He calling you to do?

Is fear inhibiting you from hearing God’s voice?

What is your plan to overcome this fear?

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

—Philippians 2:12b–13 Now is the time to prepare to become a part of His larger story.

God is with us…Immanuel…

– Barbara Pratt

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evening december 15, 2014

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.”

Luke 1:13 It’s interesting how even big blessings can take us way out of our comfort zone. Zechariah and Elizabeth are about to have a humongous one.

I love thinking about what Zechariah and Elizabeth would say if I could ask them, “Who is the God that you know?”

I think they might say “The God we know…”

1) … is a God of Fulfillment. We desperately wanted a baby. And even though we were old, we kept hoping and praying, asking God to help us. And He did. He gave us the desire of our hearts, and told us to name him John (which means “gift of God”).

2) … is a God of Miracles. It wasn’t what we expected. He promised us something that seemed impossible, yet in amazement we experienced His promise unfold into a reality in our lives.

3) … is a God of Abundance. We asked for our baby, yet He gave us so much more! He let us love and nurture the child who would become the morning star before the new day. The voice in the wilderness who would prepare the way for our Messiah! We couldn’t grasp the fullness of God’s plan at the time. It was way more than anything we could have asked for or imagined!

And what if I could ask God, “Who were the man and woman you knew in Zechariah and Elizabeth?”

I think He might say…

1) … They knew My ways. They sought Me out and shared their heart with Me. They saw the wisdom in following My ways and tried their best to walk in them.

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2) ‌ They were humble stewards. They were easily guided and I could trust them, just as they trusted Me. I could rely on them to give John the love, stewardship and parental protection he would need. I could share with them My special plan for their son without it going to their heads. I could let My power flow to them and through them, knowing that they would use it to bless John and others.

Lord, help me set my mind and heart on Christ, that I might gain a deeper understanding of Your ways. – Tom Turpin

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morning december 16, 2014

You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. 16 He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Luke 1:14–17 How lucky is it to be Zechariah and Elizabeth? I mean think about it: they have angel of the Lord appear to them, tell them they are going to be parents to a son named John, and then they are given a glimpse as to how their child will grow up…“he will be great in the sight of the Lord”…“before he is even born he will be filled with the Holy Spirit”…“he will turn many people to God”…“he will make ready a people prepared for the Lord”.

(Luke 1:14-17) This is just to name a few.

My wife and I have been trying to start a family for the past few years, and decided a year ago to start the process of adoption. After a year into the process, we have been paired with a birth mother, and are going to be the parents of a baby boy in late January. We couldn’t be happier!

Like most parents (and parents-to-be) we have hopes and dreams for our child. We have fears for our newborn. We will worry about and be responsible for his health while he grows up. We will watch our child thrive and succeed at times, and utterly fail at others. All the while, we will anxiously and actively wait to see how his life turns out. Our hands that will soon hold a newborn baby, will have to hold him openly to whatever the Lord wants for him.

Imagine how much easier it would be for parents to deal with the everyday situations and issues they have with their child if they knew how the child would turn out…

“John is staying out late with his friends in the village. I feel like he could choose better friends, but hey, the good news is, we know that he will turn many people to God. So maybe God is using these guys as practice?”

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“I just can’t get John to clean his room, but at least he will make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

“John is really struggling to find friends at the village school, but I’m not too worried because he will be great in the sight of the Lord.”

“Sometimes it feels as if John is just trying to be a ‘rebellious teenager.’

Whether this is just a phase or not, at least I am confident that he is filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Whether or not we know ahead of time how our kids are going to turn out, or even how we are going to turn out, there is a common characteristic needed in all situations: TRUST. Zechariah and Elizabeth had to trust God at His Word. They had to trust the word of the angel was true, even when it didn’t seem like it could be possible. Even though they had assurance, they had to move forward in trust.

This Advent, where do you need to trust God? What promises has He given you in the past that now seem like distant and unattainable memories? What are some things you hoped for but He never promised you, and now you are not sure what to do or what the next step will be? Who or what is God asking you to trust him with? That relationship. That break up. That work situation. That career. That house.

That car. That gadget. That salary (or lack thereof ). That (fill in the blank).

May this season in which we celebrate the greatest birth story ever told in the person of Jesus Christ, birth something “new” in your life. May you trust in God in both the promises He has given you, and the ones He hasn’t. And may you hold your life openly to whatever the Lord wants to do with it.

– R.O. Smith

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evening december 16, 2014

He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Luke 1:16–17 Most parents-to-be spend time thinking about what their child might be like, and how they will all relate together as a family. Many may dream of certain attributes, or hope for specific talents, and for those of faith, there is likely a wish for their child to share in their values and ministry. Zechariah has just been given the news that he is to become a father, amazing news indeed; but the angel goes on to tell him exactly what God’s plan is for his son. He is to prepare the people for the Messiah! No wonder Zechariah is stunned!

Even from the womb, where his conception to an elderly father and a “barren” mother had people amazed, John was already preparing the way to another amazing conception just six months later. Filled with the Spirit, he showed the people the Lord’s emphasis on the family and restoring order as preparation for the Messiah’s coming. Turning the hearts of parents to their children (and some versions add and the children to their parents) was spoken at a time when there was much turmoil in the Jewish community, and family relationships were tested. John knew it was necessary for those who were disobeying God’s laws to return to the faith and listen to those of wise counsel. God created families, and showing the people the need for restoring that order was a necessary part of John’s mission.

What do we need to do to be ready for the Messiah today? I’m not talking about shopping or cooking or gift wrapping or mailing cards. What do we need to do to prepare the way for the Messiah in our hearts? Are there relationships that need to be mended, apologies that need to be extended, words of forgiveness spoken? Are there people who would be delighted to receive a phone call with your words of caring and encouragement or a visit where you give your time and mainly just listen? Are there people who need to know they matter to you?

Is there someone’s wise counsel that you have been reluctant to hear or follow?

During this Advent season, we have likely spent a lot of time being very busy. I hope as we approach this final week we each make time to sit and listen to the Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace.

– Ellen Baker 66 | BEL AIR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

morning december 17, 2014

“Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.” 19 The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.”

Luke 1:18–20

How many times have we viewed a situation as absolutely impossible?

Zacharias, a priest who married Elizabeth, knew impossibilities!

Zacharias and Elizabeth led lives that were pleasing to God. They submitted to the will of God and obeyed. They did not care about the status that went with the priesthood. They did not have something they very much wanted…a child. This was a deep sadness to both of them.

Something that they believed was a hopeless situation was not impossible with God. After Zacharias had committed his problem to God, he continued to trust God with it. He did not stop praying and bail out because his situation looked hopeless. It is so much easier to quit and run away from difficult circumstances, but that usually compounds the problem. God wants us to take our difficulties to Him in prayer together, search the Word together for encouragement and direction, and then wait patiently for Him to work.

Gabriel, an angel of the Lord, appeared to Zacharias in the temple. The personal visit of an angel from God was a distinction that had been afforded only a few people in the history of the human race. It was a frightening experience. But immediately the angel spoke: “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.

And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.”

(continued on next page)

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All this was too much for Zacharias. He had been praying for a son, but admittedly, his faith had been weakening. Before he had a chance to get his thoughts together, he blurted out, “How shall I know this for certain? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” (Luke 1:18) Zacharias was a man of God, but he had human weaknesses. God understands a weakness like this.

Zacharias knew the Old Testament. He knew how God had given a son to Sarah in her old age. But he did not think about that Old Testament precedent at this moment of need. God did something for Zacharias to help him believe. He gave him a sign. “And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which shall be fulfilled in their proper time.”

(Luke 1:20) Maybe you think the Lord has forgotten you in your situation. He does impossible things for people every day, and you may be next. Believe Him. Keep on faithfully living for Him and patiently waiting for Him to work, just as Zacharias and Elizabeth did. While their names are not mentioned again after the birth of their son, John, they have left us a lovely legacy of faith in the promises of God, the God of the impossible.

What promises in God’s Word do you find difficult to believe? Is there a situation in your life that seems impossible? Commit it to God in prayer, and ask Him for the patience to live with it graciously until He changes it.

– Lisa Glenn

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evening december 17, 2014

Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. 22 When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. 23 When his time of service was ended, he went to his home. 24 After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, 25“This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.”

Luke 1:21–25

Two years ago, on a blistering hot day in August, I did the unthinkable.

I left home early in the morning to drop my son off at school and then to go to work. With us in the back of my car was my red retriever Russel who came to work with me every day since I had adopted him several years before. He was well liked by everyone in the office. And for some reason that I still can’t fathom, when I arrived at the office on that morning I left my dear, dear dog in the car where he died of heat exhaustion later in the day.

I’ve played the morning’s events over in my head hundreds of times.

The memory of it still crushes me and if I think on it long enough it makes me cry every time. Every. Time.

I still sleep next to Russel’s ashes in a redwood box on my nightstand somehow hoping that in God’s scheme of things, I’ll be able to see him again and tell him that he was a great dog and how sorry I am for what I did. So when I read anything about disgrace and shame like I do here in Luke, it immediately takes me back to that hot August morning that I just wish never happened.

But it did. And I must live with it. And hope.

We are told in this evening’s passage that Elizabeth was unable to have children and even though it very well might have been her husband Zechariah’s biological fault, nonetheless the shame was all hers. (continued on next page) 2014 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL | 69

Being barren pretty much disqualified her from participating in God’s redemptive plan for the world. She was simply “left out” and after all those years of hoping, her body was now old and any hope of having a child was long gone.

And then, the miracle happens: she gets morning sickness and her hope returns.

I don’t know of what you are most ashamed. I’ve been alive long enough to know we all have something—we all have something. Why not take a moment now to remember it, ask to be forgiven—yet again—and tell the Father that, despite your doubts, you still hope for the day when “everything that is wrong will be undone.”

– Scott Prewett

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morning december 18, 2014

“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” Luke 1:26–30 (New Living Translation) Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.

“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!” FAVORED woman? The LORD is with you? You have found FAVOR with GOD? The message was shocking enough, but add the specter of an angelic messenger! This was either the granddaddy of all nightmares or worse…the real thing!

Yes, this young girl from a humble village had no doubt worked hard to be good and stay in favor with her parents, her neighbors and her faith community. But she hadn’t been perfect. Even when she was successfully pleasing everyone around her, she harbored thoughts and desires and resentments that were…unfavorable. Yet, here she was: in the shocking presence of an angel who assured her of God’s favor. Of course she was confused and disturbed!

Being engaged to a man who was “a descendant of King David” was the farthest thing from her mind. So was the “favor” that had been shown to Abraham when he had been chosen to be the father of God’s Chosen People…and the treacherous journey that followed. So was the blessing (favor) that was promised to flow through this Chosen People to all the nations of the earth…and the horrendous persecution that was to be endured in the process. (continued on next page)

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Mary had no way of knowing that, thirty years later, her Son would announce that, in Him, the “time of the Lord’s favor” had come. (Luke 4:19) Nor could she know the terrible price Jesus would pay to bring that favor to fruition.

God’s favor came to Mary not because of her goodness, her knowledge of the Scriptures, nor her grasp of His ultimate plan. It came as the unfolding of another chapter in God’s story of love, redemption, reconciliation and restoration. This truth makes it no less personal. If Mary were here to testify, she would tell us…it was personal! But it was part of a vast and glorious plan.

Questions to Ponder: Who or what are the messenger(s) that have brought the Lord’s favor to you?

To whom will the Lord’s favor be granted through you?

Are you “confused and disturbed” at the Lord’s favor?

Or are you reveling in it, living into it, passing it on?

– Dan Kornychuck

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evening december 18, 2014

“And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.” Luke 1:31–35 Shocking. Just the first few words are shocking. Imagine that you were just doing whatever you do and then—Boom—an angel appears out of nowhere and tells you you’re going to have a baby when you’re not married and then, He will be the Son of God?! You still haven’t gotten over the fact that there’s an angel talking to you in the first place!!! This shows that God always has a plan for us and things happen for a reason whether you’re going to have a baby that will be the Son of God or just that you’re going to be happy. One day I woke up and realized that my dad had left L.A. early in the morning for an important business trip and I had forgotten. Consequently, I went through a very hard morning because of my sadness. But when I got to school, my friends came over and got me laughing so hard, my insides hurt. That’s how God showed me He had a plan for me and when one door closes another opens. How has God shown you that He has a plan for you? How can you help yourself trust Him and His plan? : ) – Grace Higginbothom, age 10

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morning december 19, 2014

“And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Luke 1: 36–38 Reading these verses I am reminded of the difficult time I am having in my own life right now and wondering how God will answer my prayers.

He has proven that He can perform miracles by making Elizabeth pregnant even though she was told that she will never be able to have children. With my own health issues, I often wonder how and when He will perform a “miracle.”

I am often reminded that God doesn’t give you struggles beyond that you can’t handle, that your strength comes from Him. There are times where I need to be reminded of that more often, because, during some of those times, I ask myself, “Why would He let all that’s happening to me happen?” and “I’ve been strong for so long; I don’t have the strength anymore.”

God has a plan for me - A plan right now that I don’t particularly like, but as Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” I need to work on surrendering to Him so that He can perform miracles in my life.

Reflect: Today think about where in your life you feel that God isn’t performing “miracles,” or answering your prayer as you want. In the end, somehow, He does perform miracles and answers prayers, even if it takes a long time.

– Amanda Nelson

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evening december 19, 2014

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb.

And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

Luke 1:39–45 What expectant mother has not exulted (and maybe winced) at the kicks in her womb signifying a healthy new life? But the kicks—the “leaps”—in Elizabeth’s womb signaled not only new life but an eternal life change.

Elizabeth’s newborn would grow into the man known as John the Baptist, the herald of our Lord and Savior—the fruit of Mary’s womb.

Mary and Elizabeth were the unlikeliest of mothers-to-be—a teenage virgin and a “barren” woman, “well along in years”—chosen for God’s most important missions. Little wonder the rejoicing in Zechariah’s house. A “leap” for the ages.

The Bible recounts many examples of God’s unlikely chosen servants: a stuttering Moses; the boy David; and Saul, the Jewish zealot who would become Paul, the indefatigable Christian missionary. And so it is in our times, too: Agnes Mojaxhiu, the tiny Albanian revered today as Mother Teresa of Calcutta; Chuck Colson, the convicted political operative who would found an international prison ministry; and Malala Yousafzai, the brave, wounded Pakastani teenager who has focused worldwide attention on education (and won a Nobel Prize).

In fact, you might say God is the ultimate equal-opportunity employer.

He can use all of us, if we are open to Him. (Even if we’re not, He can be very convincing. E.g., the reluctant Moses.) One of the most active members of our church outreach ministry is Coleen Zeiser, a young, vivacious 92-year-old. (continued on next page) 2014 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL | 75

Maddie Reasner, when just a seventh grader, raised $12,000 for laptop computers she delivered to needy students in the Congo.

In fact, you might say God is the ultimate equal-opportunity employer. He can use all of us, if we are open to Him. (Even if we’re not, He can be very convincing. E.g., the reluctant Moses.) One of the most active members of our church outreach ministry is Coleen Zeiser, a young, vivacious 92-year-old. Maddie Reasner, when just a seventh grader, raised $12,000 for laptop computers she delivered to needy students in the Congo.

Illness snatched Melody Rossi’s first calling, to opera, but not her sense of a new calling to her Cloud and Fire ministry to kids in some of the toughest L. A. neighborhoods. “Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant,” Jesus told his disciples, “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve . . .” Service—the “leap” that God loves.

– David Dow

76 | BEL AIR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

morning december 20, 2014

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, 48 for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.’”

Luke 1:46–55 We see in Scripture Mary’s gratitude for God and His awesome power and provision. Mary is so moved by this vision of God that she breaks out in song—a song that has come to be known as the “Magnificent.”

One of the blessings in my life is to teach kindergarten at an independent school. Soon after Thanksgiving, I read the Christmas story from the Bible and various picture books. I love sharing the true meaning of Christmas with my students because many are not familiar with it. After reading the stories, we act it out using simple costumes and props. My lessons are short and focused (remember, 5-6 years old have a short attention span.)

I build on the story over three sessions so by the end, we have the complete Nativity story. This is an in-class unit with our Elementary Chaplain joining us for the finale.

Two years ago, the Chaplain asked my students to perform for the Junior High Christmas Chapel. I immediately panicked because it is one thing to do in the comfort of my classroom, but how would this unfold in front of hundreds of junior high students in a large gym, yikes! It is impossible to predict what kindergartners might say or do at any given minute. I prayed about it and felt God gently calling me to accept the invitation and lean on Him. The day arrives and I bring my students in costumes carrying simple props up to the gym. (continued on next page) 2014 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL | 77

The plan is to act out the story and then finish by singing “Away in the Manger.” My heart pounds and it is all I can do to appear calm and relaxed! We begin and go through the beautiful Christmas story and sing our song. I expected the middle school students to clap politely at the end, but something much more happened…the second that we finished, the entire junior high body gave a standing ovation, clapping and cheering wildly. The joy and blessing of seeing sweet Kindergarten students share the Christmas story with others made my heart sing as well as so many others!

How is your heart singing during this Advent season?

What do you hope for, expect or anticipate?

How can you prepare your heart to experience the Christmas story in a fresh new way?

– Jenny Goodenough

78 | BEL AIR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

evening december 20, 2014

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. 57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy Luke 1:56–58 (NIV) When I was growing up, my heroes were Batman and Superman. My little brother and I made action-hero capes by pinning towels behind our necks and then ran around and around the house. Of course, I was Batman, and he was Robin. Being tall, strong, and charismatic were the ideals of heroism. Everyone wants to be a hero defending the weak, and deep down welcomes the praise, honor, and recognition a hero receives. As an adult I still have yearnings as a young boy of six.

In contrast, God chose unknown, powerless women like Elizabeth and Mary to carry John the Baptist and Jesus in their wombs. Both of these women faced daunting pain and responsibility. Mary bore suspicion of adultery and misunderstandings from her fiancé. She journeyed to a foreign country to endure labor pains without a decent room or health care. Finally, she felt the most violent pain any Mother can endure as she watched her Son be tortured and crucified. Mary and Elizabeth quietly served God’s purpose; their names are recorded forever.

Prayer: God, open our hearts so that we can seek for things unseen; things for your glory and not for our childish recognition. Empty our worldly desires and lead us to seek your kingdom first. Expose our arrogance of power, wealth, or health. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus alone who plans and fulfills the most wonderful and amazing stories in our lives. In this Christmas season, teach us to be quiet heroes like Mary and Elizabeth. In Jesus’ mighty name, we pray. Amen.

– Hal Apple

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the

fourth

week of advent john 1

Exploring the Word of God and that “all things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything that was made.”

Love

Today we relight the first three candles of the Advent Wreath— the candles of HOPE, PEACE and JOY. Now we light the fourth candle of Advent. This is the candle of LOVE. Jesus demonstrated self-giving love in His ministry as the Good Shepherd. Advent is a time for kindness, thinking of others, and sharing with others. It is a time to love as God loved us by giving us His most precious gift.

As God is love, let us be love also.

In the Book of Deuteronomy we find these words: For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of Lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

(Deuteronomy 10:17–19a) From the Gospel of John we hear: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

(John 13:34–35) Let us pray: Teach us to love, O Lord. May we always remember to put You first as we follow Christ's footsteps, that we may know Your love and show it in our lives. As we prepare for our celebration of Jesus' birth, also fill our hearts with love for the world, that all may know Your love and the one whom You have sent, Your Son, our Savior. Amen.

morning december 21, 2014

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

John 1:1–2 The Apostle John opens his Gospel by proclaiming the deity of Jesus Christ. John states He was with God from the beginning, meaning that He was distinct from the Father, and the Word was God, meaning that Jesus was God in the fullest sense. This statement is important as it lays the foundation for John’s entire Gospel account and the purpose of his writing as stated in John 20:31, “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” In our depravity, there was only one way for us to be reconciled to God. We needed an intermediary, somebody who could take on our debt and pay the price for our sin. This someone needed to be with God from the beginning and, in fact, to be God in the fullest sense. In addition to being fully God, He needed to become fully human to be able to assume our responsibility and pay the punishment of death on our behalf.

In a few days we will be celebrating Christmas, when “the Word became flesh.” Jesus became human for only one purpose, to be crucified for the sake of His people. He was killed, buried, and then rose from the dead, conquering death so that He would have the power to forgive us from our sins and give eternal life to those who call on His name. Christmas is a time to celebrate the amazing and abundant love that Jesus displayed to us by being born in the manger. He humbled Himself so that we may have life in Him. As we finish our last minute shopping buying just the right gifts for our loved ones, don’t overlook the only gift that matters, the gift of eternal life. This morning, take a few moments to thank Jesus for the sacrifice He made 2000 years ago, stepping down from Heaven to become fully human, so that we can be reconciled to God and have life everlasting in His presence by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The most amazing gift of all!

Blessings to you this Christmas Season!

– Mark Phillips

82 | BEL AIR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

evening december 21, 2014

All things came into being through Him, and without Him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in Him was life, and the life was the light of all people.

John 1:3–4 Jesus made all things. This verse means that nothing would be made without His power and love. He gives all things life. His life is the light of all people. This applies in my life in many ways but it comforts me the most knowing that He loves me so much that He plans my life for me day by day.

Dear God, Thank you for making all things. If you didn’t make the earth we wouldn’t have this beautiful world to live in. Amen.

– Montana DeTorre, age 8

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morning december 22, 2014

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

John 1:5 What is it about the darkness that is so scary? When we are little and lying in bed, it is as if we can feel the monster about to jump out of the closet or reach a hand up from under the bed. A night light helps us feel secure.

When there is a power outage we light candles and use flashlights so we don’t trip over things as we maneuver through our home. We take every precaution to be safe in the dark. Why is it that we don’t do the same when walking out into this world? It isn’t hard to see how dark our world is. Just turn on the news and you will hear stories of violence, pain and distress. At times I find myself stuck in darkness. How can that be when as a believer I have the light of Jesus pouring over me? My life gets so busy that I forget to pray or can’t make it to church or small group regularly. Or I disregard Biblical teaching and try to handle a situation my own way. It is no wonder I can’t cope! I am trying to maneuver through chaos without seeing the light!

I am so grateful that Jesus is my Savior. He realigns me. Just as we would do for a little kid afraid of the dark He says, “Come back, let Me put the night light back on for you.” Or, “I know it feels dark right now but follow Me, I’ll guide you through.” He has overcome the darkness. His light can’t be put out. And Jesus wants to shine upon us!

In this season of Advent I ask you to think about what area of your life might be hidden in darkness. How are you keeping them hidden and what can you do to bring them into the Light?

Father, thank You for guiding us when we are willing to follow and guiding us back when we go astray. Thank You for giving us the Word to light our path. I pray that You will help us see our own darkness so that we can heal and be able to better shine Your light through to others. Amen.

– Teri Proulx

84 | BEL AIR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

evening december 22, 2014

If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; 7 but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:6–7 I walk alone No light before me, Satisfied with ambient rays to accompany my days.

These streams of light are not true Light, they tease in my darkness.

I stumble and stare- into a shadowed place, No hope to share a life with One who promises and redeems.

The lies I tell myself are hidden deep in a false self I know well.

I construct a self apart from you. I am not worthy, I cannot dwell.

You call me in my confusion “Crawl to Me child, I am here, I am He.” “I will not let you walk alone.”

I am invited- Light to shine, Light to offer. Light to reveal.

“My birth brings freedom and fellowship,” His infant face radiates a message too good not to be true.

Just sit by my cradle, and look. Be still my child, see the light reflect on your face.”

All is well. All is lifted. All is Light.

“Just sit and rest.”

“Dwell with Me.” Reflect: Where is you shadow place? When do you feel in the dark?

When do you experience the Light of Christ within? How do you recognize it?

What does Jesus ask of you?

How will you respond to Him this advent?

– Rev. Care Crawford 2014 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL | 85

morning december 23, 2014

He [John the Baptist] himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him; yet the world did not know Him. 11 He came to what was His own, and His own people did not accept Him. John 1:8–11 The very first words spoken in the Bible, and in creation itself, occur in Genesis 1:3: “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”

According to this morning’s text in verse 9, the world came into being through the True Light. That Light is the Word made flesh—Jesus. The difference between the beginning verses of Genesis and the beginning verses of John’s Gospel is that John doesn’t juxtapose light in the usual way with darkness. Instead, he focuses on the fact that creation is blind to the Light’s existence, rejecting the very Light that created it. We easily identify the Israel of Jesus’ time as “His own people [who] did not accept Him.” John’s Gospel is often referred to as the universal Gospel. If it is to be understood as universal, then his words must apply to us as well.

From the earliest days of human history, people recognized the importance of light for life. December 21st marks the winter solstice—the shortest day of the year. As the days grew shorter, many in the ancient world feared that the sun would cease to provide the light needed to sustain life. They feared darkness. By the 23rd of December, however, they were able to observe that the sun’s rays were once again growing stronger, and notice the days lengthening. But these people who were obsessed with light, and who understood its necessity for life, did not recognize the Light of the World.

In 21st century Los Angeles, we suffer from light pollution. We live in a city with so much ambient light that, even on the clearest of nights, most of the stars are obscured by light of our own making. This is a metaphor for our self-sufficiency. Even worse than being blind to the Light’s existence, we are blinded from recognizing the brilliance of the True Light. At church, we boast about the “million dollar view” we have from the patio and parking lot, marveling at the twinkling lights of the valley below. Yet we easily forget that the true Light of the World was born so that we might have a relationship with Him. 86 | BEL AIR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

In reflecting on these verses, I was reminded of one of the most disturbing and distressing images I ever saw in L.A. On the morning of January 17,, 1994, I experienced my first earthquake. After contacting family to let them know that we were okay, Care and I got in the car to check on some of the older members of the congregation. As we reached the crest of the Sepulveda Pass on the 405, we were both struck by the lack of light emanating from the valley. The only visible light came from fires that had started as a result of broken gas pipes.

I was too shaken at the time to process the sight. Looking back, I now recognize God’s lesson for me. On a daily basis, in ways big and small, I refuse to listen to and receive Christ. The Voice, a contemporary paraphrase of the Bible, comments on these verses this way: “Jesus, as the Light, does not call out from a distant place, but draws near by coming into the world.” The only begotten Son of God, “God of God, Light of Light, True God of True God” in the words of the Nicene Creed, came so that we could draw near to Him and experience the light of His love. This is the universal lesson of these verses. This is the gift of God to each of us.

Today, I challenge all of us to be like John the Baptist and “testify to the light,” not with our words, but with our lives.

– Steve Madaris

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evening december 23, 2014

But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12–13 When you think of “birthright” you often think of the English monarchy and the birthright of a royal family. Because of their blood line, they have access to the king or queen and many privileges.

Throughout the Bible we read of the lineage of Jesus, the blood line of David; an individual was introduced as the brother of … the son of … their birthright and their lineage established their identity. Your mother, your father, brothers and sisters, your family defined who you were.

In John 1:12-13, John made it clear that when he spoke of becoming a child of God that he wasn’t speaking of a natural birth so there would be no confusion about a blood line or ancestry, but that being a child of God and belonging to the family of God is a matter of faith, and your identity is in Jesus Christ. When you, in faith believing, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you become a child of God. You have access to the King! As a child of God you will hunger to know Him better and will desire to be with your brothers and sisters in the Lord. It is in that time when we share with one another as we worship, study and pray, united in heart, that we learn to become more like Him. We grow in faith and demonstrate love for one another because of His love for us. Our love for one another identifies that we are a child of God. Our birthright may not be through the British royal monarchy, but it is through a King. As we celebrate this holiday season, let us remember that our identity and “birthright” is in Christ; for those who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become a child of God. – Marianne Silva

88 | BEL AIR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

morning december 24, 2014

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory as of a Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.

15 (John testified to Him and cried out, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because He was before me.’”)

John 1:14–15 As we prepare to celebrate Christmas amid the rampant commercialism, hectic shopping, decorating, wrapping, cooking, and frayed nerves, may we pause to reflect on the significance of John 1:14–15 to our celebration.

Here in this text, the Apostle John distills the entire message of the Bible and declares that the Word—the eternal God who existed before time and history, who spoke into existence the universe and all living things—became flesh and appeared among us as a human baby! The invisible, infinite, supernatural Creator became the visible, finite, flesh-and-blood Jesus of Nazareth! In one sentence, John covers the 33-year life span of Jesus and reminds us that we actually saw the glory of God in Jesus.

Just as the Shechinah—the glory and presence of God—appeared among the Israelites in the wilderness (Ex. 16:10; 24:16; 40:34), so was God’s glory revealed in Jesus at his birth (Lk. 2:14, 30-32), transfiguration (Mt. 17:2; Mk. 9:3), death, resurrection, and ascension (Jn. 7:39; 12:16, 23, 28; 13:31, 32).

The glory seen in Jesus came from the unique Father-Son relationship that he had with God before the universe was created (Jn. 17:5), and permeated His earthly life and ministry. We not only saw the glory of God in Jesus, but also the fullness of God’s grace—the limitless mercy, kindness, and love of God for sinners—and the embodiment of the truth of God’s nature and characteristics.

And as Jesus prepared to return to His Father, He promised that He would not leave us alone, but that His Holy Spirit of truth would be with us to teach, guide, comfort, and help us.

So as we gather with our families and friends this Christmas, may we find time to give thanks to God that He did not stay remote and aloof from us in His heavenly realm. Through Jesus, God identified with our humanity, loved us, suffered for us, and ultimately died for our sins in order to redeem us and give us fullness of life—now and for all eternity.

– Derrick Coy 2014 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL | 89

evening december 24, 2014

From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made Him known John 1:16–18 (The Message) We all live off His generous bounty, gift after gift after gift.

We got the basics from Moses, and then this exuberant giving and receiving, This endless knowing and understanding— all this came through Jesus, the Messiah.

No one has ever seen God, not so much as a glimpse.

This one-of-a-kind God-Expression, who exists at the very heart of the Father, has made Him plain as day.

16-18

I have always been struck with this phrase, “grace upon grace.” How can you get more grace “heaped upon” than grace already is? John says we ALL receive this gift…everyone…not the good or righteous, not those born into privilege or born in this country—rather, all people receive from GOD. Advent gives us time to focus our gaze toward Bethlehem, to a manger where grace and truth are born. In that birth, that unlikely birth, in an unlikely town, through an unlikely virgin, God makes Himself known—how very unlikely! This vulnerable, dependent new born, the God of the universe, points us to, what Eugen Peterson describes, “This one-of-a-kind God-expression.” Jesus is a one-of-a-kind picture of God… in flesh, in diapers—human and God together. Through this infant, grace and truth are born.

What do grace and truth look like for you this Advent season? How do you define grace? In seminary I remember someone describing it as our only true “free lunch.”

Tonight is Christmas Eve. The carols we sing, the presents we offer are all part of keeping the Christmas tradition as we know it. Tomorrow we celebrate Jesus birth. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in that one tiny event, in a tiny village, when a tiny Baby was born—Immanuel, 90 | BEL AIR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

God with us, Grace and Truth…these are just some of His names.

How do your plans for Christmas Eve and Christmas day enable you to receive grace upon grace? It isn’t wrapped in a package under the tree. It has to do with what your soul can receive. It is about the interior life… where grace does its work and where truth has its roots. Our creative God…whom we have not seen, decided to create again when Jesus was conceived. What does the environment of your heart need to look like for you to receive this gift? Tonight you can prepare your heart to receive— “Prepare Him room!”

Born for you…grace upon grace. Born for you, grace and truth! May you have a truth filled and a grace filled Christmas.

– Rev. Care Crawford

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christmas day december 25, 2014

For a Child has been born for us, a Son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders; and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and His kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Isaiah 9:6–7

He is born!

Yet, He has always existed.

What a thought. The eternal Son of God sent from heaven to us here on earth to be born and live among us. As the prophet Isaiah reminded God’s people hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, “for a child has been born for us, a son given to us.” The birth of Jesus was unlike any other in so many ways, including the fact that He was born not for His earthly parents or His heavenly father, but for us.

Throughout the world on this Christmas day, gifts will be given. Some wrapped, some purchased, some handmade, some re-gifted.

As a child, I always loved unwrapping gifts. In the moment of tearing apart the patterned wrapping, fumbling with the tied ribbon, and pulling “the gift” out of its box, my heart would be racing. What could it be?

The possibilities were endless. Was it something on my list, or a surprise?

I would observe the shape, feel the weight, and shake it as I wondered what it was.

In fact, not knowing the full extent of the gift kept me unwrapping.

However, something changed once I saw what the gift was. Once I had opened it, I never would open it again. With nothing else to discover, my excitement would move to the next unopened gift.

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Even though I was thankful for all the gifts I received, there was always a twinge of disappointment when it was all done.

I think we do the same with Jesus.

After receiving Jesus and “unwrapping” Him, we mistakenly think we know the full extent of the gift that He is and our excitement wanes.

We eventually stop unwrapping. Our excitement moves on to something else to discover.

What if receiving the gift of Jesus meant that you had the opportunity to spend the rest of your life in a continual unwrapping of the depth, height, and width of his presence in your life? What if every morning was Christmas morning in your relationship with Him? What if every day you chose to continually unwrap the truth that Jesus is the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace”? The Jesus that this Advent devotional points to is as accessible in July as it is in December. Let’s keep unwrapping the gift that Jesus is!

– Rev. Dr. Drew Sams

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merry christmas

december 25, 2014

I hope that this Advent Devotional has blessed you with the presence of Jesus each and every day and that the reflections shared on these pages have been used of God to make your heart ready for your Christmas celebration. What a gift to have these four weeks to focus and prepare to look again in the manger and see the incarnation made known to us in the form of the Christ Child! This one birth, this One baby has changed everything!

I want to thank each person, again who participated in this devotional.

And I especially want to thank the staff with whom I work in the Spiritual Formation and Soul Care Department, specifically Ashley Wood and Rebecca Burchett Morgan. Our Communications Department, Heidi Launer, Donna McNamara and Julie Sather, have provided the layout, editing, printing, and production of this booklet. It is a blessing to work with all of these women.

A very Merry Christmas to you and joy in the New Year ahead, too!

Warmly, Rev. Care Crawford

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celebrate the season

11.30–12.22 Gifts from the Heart This annual holiday catalog is a great opportunity to serve Christ in the way we give this Christmas. What better way to show someone you love them than to give the gift of helping others in the city and around the world! Drop by the Connection Booth on Dec. 7, 15, or 22 for a catalog and place an order, or go online at belairpres.org/catalog.

12.5 Help Decorate the Sanctuary 9 a.m.–2 p.m. >> Come listen to Christmas music, make new friends, and have fun decorating the Sanctuary for Christmas! Lunch provided. RSVP to mary.grace@belairpres.org.

12.6 Women’s Christmas Tea Women of all ages are invited to come out to celebrate what has become an annual holiday tradition at Bel Air! There is no cost to attend the Tea, but we ask that each guest bring a disposable plate of dessert items to share. Registration is required. Doors open at 1:30 p.m., program begins in the Sanctuary at 2 p.m.­—tea to follow. >> belairpres.org/registration 12.7 Advent Wreath Making 10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. > DC101 >> Join us after the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services to create your Advent Wreath.

It’s fun for the whole family. Register online for an Advent Wreath ($15) at belairpres.org/registration.

12.10–11 Advent Silent Retreat St. Andrew’s Abbey > Valyermo >> Theme: Invitations of the Incarnation.

Come journey and be in silence with brief meditations inspired by carols of the season (second night is optional). >> belairpres.org/registration 96 | BEL AIR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

12.14 Christmas @ Bel Air: Celebrate the King! > 4 and 7 p.m. > Sanctuary >> The Bel Air family, friends, and the whole community come together to celebrate the season with the Worship Choir, Band, Orchestra, Drama Department, and the Children’s Christmas Choir. Invite your friends to join you in the singing of your favorite carols! Gather together for hot cocoa and Christmas treats after the concert in DC101. A children’s program will be provided during the 4 p.m. celebration for ages 3 months–3 years.

12.17 Advent and Art: Nativities 10–11:30 a.m. >> Faces at the Manger > Reflections on pieces of art and nativities scenes. O Come Let us Adore Him! Bring a Bible and something to write on. Led by the Rev. Care Crawford. >> belairpres.org/ registration 12.23 Water’s Edge Christmas Eve Eve Candlelight Service December 23 > 7 p.m. > Vistamar School Auditorium > El Segundo >> An intimate Christmas service with music and Christmas themed Scripture readings. >> watersedgewired.org 12.24 Christmas Eve Services 5, 9, & 11 p.m. >> Bring your family and friends to one of our Christmas Eve services. Family service at 5 p.m., Candlelight services at 9 & 11 p.m.

There will be children’s programming for ages 3 mos.–3 years at the 5 p.m. service. >> belairpres.org/christmaseve

Merry Christmas!

worship with us

Sunday, November 30 9 & 11 a.m., 6 p.m.

First Sunday of Advent The Son Has Come Down Scripture: Matthew 1 Speaker: Rev. Dr. Drew Sams, Senior Pastor Sunday, December 7 9 & 11 a.m., 6 p.m.

The Savior Has Come Down Scripture: Mark 1 Speaker: Rev. Dr. Drew Sams, Senior Pastor Sunday, December 14 9 & 11 a.m. (No 6 p.m. service) The King Has Come Down Scripture: Luke 1 Speaker: Rev. Dr. Drew Sams, Senior Pastor 4 & 7 p.m.: Christmas @ Bel Air: Celebrate the King!

Sunday, December 21 9 & 11 a.m., 6 p.m.

The Creator Has Come Down Scripture: John 1 Speaker: Rev. Dr. Drew Sams, Senior Pastor Christmas Eve Worship Wednesday, December 24 5 (family), 9 & 11 p.m. (candlelight) Speaker: Rev. Dr. Drew Sams, Senior Pastor Sunday, December 28 9 & 11 a.m. only Speaker: Rev. Dr. Drew Sams, Senior Pastor No 6 p.m. service

2014 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL | 97

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