December 2, 2007

"May there be peace within your walls and security

within your citadels." Psalm 122:7

Recently, I read In the Presence of My Enemies by Gracia Burnham and Dean Merrill. It is the gripping account of Martin and Gracia Burnham's kidnapping and year of captivity at the hands of Muslim extremists. This truthful first person account of a couple's faith in the midst of sheer terror really touched my heart. Throughout their daily struggles, they continued to pray for a peaceful end to their captivity.

After reading this book, I truly felt humbled before God. I know both the security of a safe, warm home and sufficient food to eat. I have a loving life-long spouse and the joyful laughter of four healthy boys. I have my health.

Yet, so many around the world do not experience such peace and security. Many countries live the realities of war, poverty, and disease. Many families grieve the loss of loved ones through divorce or death. Still others know the pain of having a loved one miss holiday celebrations while he or she serves in the armed forces. These individuals recognize the brutal reality of a world that disrupts their sense of security and peace.

My hope for each of you is to find peace and security within the walls of your homes and of your hearts not only this holiday season, but for always.

Dear God,

We pray for peace on earth, peace in our homes, but

most of all for peace within our hearts. In Jesus' name.

Amen.

Kathryn Ochampaugh

December 3

“You open your hand and satisfy the desires

of every living thing.” Psalm 145:16

I’m a people-pleaser. I admit it. Conflict is something I try to avoid and it makes me uneasy when I think that anybody is unhappy with me or feels that I have not done a good job. I want to do whatever I can so that others are satisfied, and I want to do it in such a way that everybody feels satisfied. Of course that is unreasonable but normally that is my goal .For God it is not an unreasonable mission but an everyday occurrence. Psalm 145 is one of David’s psalms of praise. It speaks of the many qualities of God that we can only hope to emulate to a small degree. One of those is the ability, with ease, of satisfying all needs. Every living thing has its needs met by God, and He does it by opening his hand. It is so easy for God.

It reminds me of a jigsaw puzzle. Each piece needs to be joined with the others in a way that makes sense for the whole. Every piece has specific needs and yet they all fit together in such a way that each is satisfied and perfectly

content. From the chaos of a pile of cardboard pieces comes perfect order. God has the whole picture in mind but we can never hope to see that picture while we are rummaging around in the pile of pieces trying to fit them together in our own way. If only we can allow God to open his hand to us and satisfy us in his way. Perfect order. No conflict. Contentment.

Dear Heavenly Father, in this busy season calm my heart

and remind me to let you satisfy all desires. Open your hand

and put the pieces of my life in the perfect order to fit into

your perfect plan.

Ann Hamlett

December 4, 2007

“So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them

and are firmly established in the truth you now have.” 2 Peter 1:12

Ah, Advent and the Christmas season! What a beautiful time of year! There are reminders everywhere of God’s greatest gift to us. We can’t go anywhere without hearing music that reminds us of the Christmas story. We can’t go anywhere without hearing a story about Christmas or seeing a movie that reminds us of the Babe in a manger. Christmas cards come in the mail to remind us, cheery “Merry Christmas” greetings remind us, the children’s Christmas program reminds us, the choir’s Cantata reminds us, the “hanging of the greens” reminds us, Christmas lights and decorations remind us. Reminders are everywhere we turn. Being reminded of good things is a great blessing. When we are reminded of God’s gifts, we begin to dwell on our blessings and the joy that can be ours as Christians if we open to God’s work and plans for us.

So, this year, experience the same old Christmas sights and sounds with new eyes and ears. Let every song, every light, every card, every greeting be a reminder of how amazing and deep and great God’s love is for you and for all those born into this world!

Lord, thank You for the reminders that surround us this

Advent season of Your love and Your gift of Jesus Christ to us

to show us the way and make salvation possible.

Help us to slow down and really see the beauty in this season.

And help us to remind those around us as well.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Randy McVey

December 5

“Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.

He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes

grass grown on the hills.

He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when

they call.” Psalm 147: 1-11, especially verses 7-9

As the daughter of a dairy farmer and now a resident of drought-prone southwest Kansas, I feel well taken care of when I imagine God covering the sky with clouds and providing rain to make green grass grow. I find a sense of peace, as I imagine thirsty land soaking up the rain, the grass turning green, and God caring for his creation. A god who provides food for cattle and birds has provided for me and my family not only food, clothing and shelter, but more. He has provided eternal life through his Son, Jesus Christ. Yes, I am well cared for by a loving God.

Good and Gracious Creator God,

You have given us much. Bless the seeds and livestock,

and make the harvest plentiful. Guide the farmers and

ranchers and agricultural workers that throughout

difficulties of nature and economies, they might feed their

families and the world. As you provided for cattle and

ravens, provide nutritious and plentiful food for all people.

I pray in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Mary Buchele

December 6

“Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on

Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come! Go to Calneh and look at it; go from there to great Hamath, and then go down to Gath in Philistia. ….You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves. You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments….Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile; your feasting

and lounging will end.” Amos 6:1-7

Complacent … it’s a great word…sometimes. In this passage complacent is NOT a positive word. These verses hit us right where it hurts. How many of us have grown complacent in our walks with God. All too comfortable in

our church pew each Sunday, while only half-listening to the sermon. More specifically, do we become complacent in our belongings and wants and forget the true meaning of Christmas? As cliché as that phrase is, it fits. We could write the last half of this passage to represent our Christmas. We eat our fattened turkeys listening to carols. We run from store to store worrying only about what to get that relative that we haven’t seen in months. In all this running and complacency, we seem to forget the awesome miracle that is Christmas. We sit in the Christmas service getting our spiritual “fix” and complacently living our lives, rather than in AWE and wonder at all these amazing things God has done! Maybe next time your mind starts to wander in church at least let it wander to the Awesomeness of God.

Father, thank you for giving me life on earth and filling

it with blessings. Let us daily remember all the miracles

you have done especially in Christmas! Help me not to

grow complacent, but stand in awe of you.

KayeLani Irvin

December 7

“I will bless the Lord who has counseled me ; indeed my mind instructs

me in the night.

I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at

my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalms 16:7-8

It is human nature to make our own plans and then ask God to bless them. Instead we should seek God’s will first. By constantly thinking about the Lord and his way of living, we will gain insights that will help us make right decisions and live the way God desires.

This is hard with all the T.V. and advertising we are bombarded with each day. Our lives are so busy it is hard to find time to talk with God. This is necessary so he can counsel us and give us wisdom. But you say you don’t get an answer. God is not going to send you a telegram. His will is found in studying the Bible, going to Sunday school and church. This puts you with God’s people. They can help you to find God’s will. God will not give-up on you, he will find a way to help you understand.

Lord please help me to understand your will and

give me the will to accomplish it, in your name. Amen

Nancy Sowers

December 8

“Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with

your righteousness. He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones

with justice….. He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children

of the needy; he will crush the oppressor. He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations”. Psalm 72: 1-2, 4-5

This psalm of Solomon was a prayer for himself as king. Solomon wanted to be a righteous king who ruled his people wisely and justly. But it seems to me that Solomon was also prophesying about the future royal son of righteousness, Jesus. At Christmas we focus on the baby in the manger, and what an incredible gift that baby is. Yet we also need to be reminded that Jesus is a king, a king who will one day judge all people and all nations. Someday that baby in the manger will judge you and me for what we have done or not done. Jesus will judge us for how we treated the poor and the needy. Jesus will crush the oppressor as Solomon stated, and Jesus will endure beyond all generations.

The Bible states that we all have sinned and we all fall short of the glory of God. I know that on our own merits and accomplishments and good works, none of us will be able to stand before the judgment seat of Jesus. We all have failed and sinned; none of us deserve to receive God’s forgiveness. But that is also the wonder of Christmas, that the baby in the manger grew up to be a man who died on a cross to buy forgiveness for you and me. Because of Jesus’ own sacrifice, you and I will be able to stand in front of the judgment seat of the King and receive his mercy and forgiveness.

Since we have this wonderful gift of forgiveness and mercy, let us remember to help and defend the poor and the needy this Christmas season. Support the local food bank and the Salvation Army. Give generously to the church’s missions and projects. Remember our soldiers overseas. I’m sure you can think of many other ways to share with those in need.

Dear Jesus, thank you so much for your great love and care and

forgiveness. Thank you that as our judge you offer us mercy

through your sacrifice on the cross. Help us to share our many

blessings with those who are in need. Amen.

Becky McVey

December 9

“Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come!” Amos 6:1

The season of Christmas is the time of year for good feelings, traditions, families, and gifts. It is also the time of year when Christians get inspired to help the needy: Operation Christmas Child, Soup Kitchens, Visiting the elderly, etc. We get out of our comfort zones and reach to the world, our communities. Some Christians feel that this is the time to stop being complacent and actually do something. These acts are good and helpful. The poor need help during the Christmas season. Those who sacrifice their time during Christmas, I commend you.

However, a question asserts itself to me: What about the rest of the year? Are the poor less needy the other eleven months of the year? No, they are not. Yet, others and I seem to think we have done our share. The complacency and laziness set in. We do not raise our finger to help others until the next Christmas comes around. Yet, we have so much to lose by choosing to do nothing. We are losing a chance to realize that we must help people, because we need help, too.

Please, allow me to explain this. We are in need of saving and forgiveness from our sins. Jesus came to earth and died for the sins of every person. That was His biggest purpose for being born. However, once he accomplished this, he did not stop his work. He is still helping sinners everyday, because Jesus understands that we are in need of Him everyday. He has not fallen into complacency because He fulfilled the biggest goal.

We should not stop helping the poor, because Christmas is over. Instead, we should continue those good works realizing that Christ is helping us needy Christians on a daily basis. Continue the work year round. If we do not, woe to us.

Dear Lord,

Please, forgive us for the times we do not help those in need.

Forgive us for the times we are complacent and do not realize the

suffering that is around us. Help us to have soft hearts and the

will to help others, and help us to help others even when we do

not want to. Keep our eyes open. While doing all of this NEVER

let us forget that we are needy ourselves. In your name we pray,

Amen.

Anna McVey

December 10

“Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.”

Revelation 1:1-8, especially verse 3

As we move through Advent we should reflect on the beauty of the word and its prophecies, and the joyous anticipation of the arrival of our Lord. As the word

becomes real, we are reminded to believe and be prepared because the time is near.

I am reminded of waiting for my 10^th birthday, came and went. My parents did not even remember it. I was crushed. I would be so sorry if Christ’s coming passed like that! So let us read the word, proclaim his coming and celebrate his birthday.

Dear Lord,

Let us remember your birthday, and sincerely and

joyously celebrate it. May we never forget Your birthday

and what it means. Amen

Chris Lampe, Anna McVey and Kurt Peterson

December 11

Matthew 22: 34-46

This passage, it refers to the Pharisees testing our Savior’s ability to teach the word of God. These troublemakers try to trick Jesus into contradicting himself, but of course, he sees this plan, and counters it with his own “magic spell.”

The Pharisees ask Jesus, “What is the ultimate Commandment?” Jesus must have wiped his brow, pondered this question for a moment, while the Pharisees waited impatiently. Finally, Jesus answers.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” And leaving the unfaithful in the dust, so to speak,. he then goes on to say: “Love thy neighbor as one would love thyself. The answer leaves the Pharisees, and any doubters of Jesus, most likely speechless, and rather dumbfounded.

This commandment, this “Love thy neighbor” statement, is, how does one say… AWESOME!! Come on now, if you were in a crowd of people listening to every dastardly plan being thwarted by Jesus, and not only deterred but shot down and smashed into teeny tiny pieces, you would be rather impressed also.

“Love thy neighbor as one would love thy-self.” This is a hugely profound statement in its simplicity. It is basically saying “Treat unto others as you would be treated.” As often as we ignore this statement, it should be repeated, and often, in our society of impropriety, cynicism, and general discouragement. Jesus didn’t make this a commandment for nothing. I know I would be a liar if I said I followed this rule. No one is perfect, and no one is expected to be perfect, but, of course, that is where forgiveness plays an important role in healing and emotional recuperation.

“Lord, we pray that you help us to have understanding of

other people, and their ways and beliefs. We pray that you

give us the ability to love, and to have compassion and

caring for everyone, for our neighbors, friends, and family.

Lord we thank you for your blessing, the blessing of love.

Amen.”

AJ Dome and Mitchell Watson

December 12

“He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.”

Psalm 147:1-11, especially verse 4-6

He determines the number of stars and calls them each by name. This is what verse four says. I think David wrote this to be in the literal sense of the stars in the sky. I interpreted this verse not in the literal sense: I thought the stars were all of God’s children. Verse 5 is talking about how God understands how we feel. He has experienced it himself in the form of Jesus. The next verse really stood out to me. The Lord sustains the humble. To me that is such an awesome thought! I think that helps me to be more humble. The second part of the verse is “but casts the wicked to the ground.” When someone is being mean to me, it helps me to know that God knows and He will deal with that person.

Dear God,

Thanks for the awesome thought that you know all of our

names. Thanks for being mighty and powerful. Thanks

for understanding everything we do, and what we say.

Thanks for sustaining us when we are humble and for

letting know when we act wrong. In your name we pray,

Amen

Sadie Pile, Eli Woods, Amy McVey

December 13

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.”

Revelation 2:8-17, especially v. 17

Thinking of a rock for Christmas? No, not a diamond, but a white stone with a new name on it. Giving the gift of a white stone doesn’t seem to be much of a gift, does it?

But in this passage in Revelation a white stone is an exciting gift from our Lord, Jesus Christ. There are several possibilities for interpreting the “white stone” but in all cases it is a precious gift.

In New Testament times, it was a custom that all kinds of votes be cast with different colored stones being dropped into a box. At the conclusion of a trial judges or jurors would drop either a black or white pebble into a box to indicate if they thought the person was guilty or not guilty. The black would stand for condemnation, the white for acquittal. By giving us a white stone, Christ is acquitting us before God, setting us free from condemnation for our sinfulness.

Reading Rev. 2:17 in this light, Christ is acquitting us before God, or setting us free. A wonderful gift indeed!

Or another way to interpret this passage is that white stones were used was as admission tickets, or that stones were used to commemorate a happy or momentous occasion (as when the Israelites crossed the Jordan River, they marked it with 12 stones). Both these interpretations also show that a stone represents a wonderful gift – an admission ticket to enter into God’s kingdom, or a joyful event in our faith journey.

Thank you, Defender and Savior, for the precious gift of

your life on earth and your sacrifice. Help me in this

season to remember why you gave up your power and glory

and came to earth as a baby. Fill me with joy for your love

of all creation, and your desire that we should be part of

your heavenly kingdom. Amen.

Mary Buchele

December 14

“Praise the Lord” Psalms 148:1-14

During this Christmas season we encourage you to praise the Lord for His many gifts to us. This passage reminds us that everything comes from God and we need to let Him know that we appreciate all of His many gifts, the greatest of which is His Son, Jesus Christ.

Listen to the Lord, keep Him in all of your thoughts. Let Him direct your every thought. Pray daily that He will direct our clergy and our missionaries to let the world know of His power, grace and mercy.

Praise the Lord always.

Good and Gracious God,

Please help us to praise you and listen to you daily.

Forgive us for turning against you. We thank you for

sending your Son, Jesus, to forgive our sins. Please help

us to do what is right, even in the worst of times. Amen

Melinda Dome, Mary Lynn Buchele, Kyle Ochampaugh

December 15, 2007

"All kings will bow down to him

and all nations will serve him."

Psalms 72: 11

As a young child, I always loved to set up the family nativity set. I enjoyed placing the characters in their proper places. I always put the Holy Family in the center, surrounded by the shepherds, wise men, and the animals. The wise men kneeled in homage before the infant child. As I grew older, I learned that not all the shepherds and wise men arrived on the night of the Christ Child's birth. In fact, the wise men probably arrived closer to Jesus' second birthday. Nevertheless, I always like to picture in my mind, the arrival of all of the characters at the same time, encircling the Christ Child just as they did in my childhood recreations of the Nativity.

I never realized until I read the above verse how significant the wise men truly were to the Christmas story. They signify the first of many kings to "bow down to him." If three wise men can recognize the holiness and honor due a little child,

a future king, then we ought to do so too.

I challenge all to disregard the rigidity of the church's

calendar and put the wise men in place in your Nativity sets BEFORE Christmas. During the advent season, every time you pass the Nativity, glance at the wise men and remember that soon we will welcome not only a Holy Child, but also an honorable King.

Dear God,

Thank-you for Jesus Christ the one who was "born a child,

yet a King." In Jesus' name. Amen.

Kathryn Ochampaugh

December 16

Isaiah 35:1-10

As a child, I was always excited and anxious during

advent. My parents would decorate our advent wreath with fresh pine branches and new purple candles with one pink candle and, of course, one white candle. Then, in the next week or two, Dad would get a live Christmas tree and we would decorate it with those old-fashioned multi-colored lights and other ornaments. The thrill of things to come was instilled in me during those moments.

Isaiah 35:1-10 lists several things to make one truly excited and filled with anticipation. The thought of God coming to my rescue and punishing my enemies is a good start. Blind people gaining sight, deaf people hearing (after not being able to listen to great music), and the lame being able to leap and dance adds a nice touch too. This is the opposite of my more superficial longing for a time to open presents and eat rich food. What’s more important is the HOPE we get from reading this passage. When this time comes, phenomenal things are going to happen. This is the hope we have in Jesus Christ and something to really look forward to when He comes to take us home.

One of the greatest reasons that I am a Christian is that there is hope in Jesus Christ. In addition to his bountiful provisions for me, I have the hope of going to a place where my uncle who could not walk on this earth will have left his armchair quarterback position and be scoring touchdowns! My dad, who had a below-the-knee amputation, will be playing basketball like when he was in college.

Dear God,

Thank you for the feeling of anticipation and excitement

that we get during advent. Also, we want to thank you for

the hope we have in your Son Jesus. Help us to share this

hope with others that don’t have it. Amen.

Kurt Peterson

December 17

“Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my god, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.” Revelation 3:7-13, especially verse 12

In the cities of Asia Minor, and in Philadelphia, when a priest died after a lifetime of faithfulness, he was honored with a new pillar in the temple with his name and his father’s name inscribed on it. This passage may refer to the honor faithful Christians will receive in heaven. It may also be a reference to the custom of branding a slave with the initials of his owner to show that he belongs to him. God will put his mark on his faithful ones, and they will be identified as his. And he will put on his faithful ones the name of his city.

Think of your luggage at the airport, marked with your name and marked for your destination. Instead of luggage being marked for a destination, it will be you, marked with the name of God and marked for your destination – the City of God. But there will be no mix-ups in God’s airport! Everyone marked for the City of God, will arrive there! A destination that begins here on earth, at the manger, at the cross.

Dear Jesus, Son of Man and Son of God,

I ask your protection for people traveling this week, that

they would arrive safely at their destinations. Especially

protect and comfort those who have lost loved ones, who

are lonely, or who are estranged. Mark me with the name

of your God and the name of the City of God. If I end up

like lost luggage, find me, reclaim me, enable me to be

faithful to you. Amen

Mary Buchele

December 18

When I used to read the scriptures for the Israelites, I was moved by the descriptions the descriptions of God’s love for His chosen people especially when He would refer to her as His bride. I would think to myself how special that love

must be for them. I knew God loved me because I was His child, but I thought the Israelites were somehow loved more than Christians. I was not jealous or envious because I feel that God has given me much more than I deserve. I thought about how wonderful it must be an Israelite and to have the promises written about in the Bible to look forward to. Now I understand I am loved just as much and can trust in the same promises because the Gentile Christians have been ‘grafted in.’ In the book of Romans, Paul describes the Jews and Gentiles as branches on the olive tree. The Jews are represented by the natural branches. Some of the Jews have been cut off because they lacked faith. Gentile Christians are represented by a graft of a wild olive shoot into the olive tree. God is the root of the olive tree and he accepts us and allows us to grow in him. Other scriptures that helped me understand the love of God towards Christians are those that

explain that while Jesus is God’s only natural son, as Christians we were predestined and chosen to be God’s adopted sons and daughters. Being an adopted daughter of earthly parents I understand that the love of parents have toward an adopted child is not less than that of natural children.

Father God,

Your love is so great we can’t completely comprehend it.

Thank you for giving me a thirst for you that resulted in

searching the Bible and gaining a deeper understanding

of Your love for both Jews and Christians. Help me to

continue searching your word and spending time in prayer.

I rejoice that I am your adopted daughter.

Brenda Watson

December 19

“Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good,

who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.

Titus 1:8

God calls us to be examples of him for other people. He wants us to be loving, caring, understanding, and willing to forgive no matter what.

I know, I know, it’s much easier said than done. Like for me today, that was hard. Some people were getting on my last nerve, and I wanted to go home and punch a hole in the wall. Instead of letting them push my buttons, I should have told them how I felt.

So, what if you have messed up in where you could have been a better example? Don’t sweat it. God will always forgive you as long as you are truly sorry. He will wipe away the old and start with a new. Besides, what’s a better time to start over than Christmas?

Dear Heavenly Father,

You have asked us to be examples of Your love. I know

that I sometimes mess up, but I really am trying. Please

help me to know what You want me to do. Amen.

Amy McVey

December 20

“For nothing is impossible with God. I am the Lord’s servant.”

Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.”

Then the angel left her.” Luke 1:37-38

The most important part of this passage is that Mary trusted in God. I think we can all learn from that, and try to trust in him better. For instance, maybe you are hoping for a promotion at your job. You don’t get it, and this frustrates you very much. Even though you didn’t get the promotion, God still has a great plan for you. This is one thing we forget very often. We always want what we think is best for us, and disregard what God knows is best.

Maybe after you didn’t get that promotion, you get an offer to another job, or you’re called to start your own business. Whatever your circumstances may be, God always has a plan and always knows what’s best.

Dear God,

Please help us to go out in your name and to trust in you

always. Help us to know that you always have a plan and

love us very much. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Brevin Irvin and Trace Woods

December 21

“He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done

in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

Whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ

our Savior,

So that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs

according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 2:11 - 3:8a

All three persons of the Trinity are mentioned here because it takes all three to do the work of salvation. Because Christ was born, lived, and died for us, the Father will forgive us and sends the Holy Spirit to help us. All our sins, not merely some, are washed away. In becoming a Christian, the believer acknowledges Christ as Lord and recognizes Christ’s saving work.

We gain eternal life with all its treasures. We have renewal by the Holy Spirit and he continually renews our hearts. None of this happens because we earned or deserved it; it is all God’s gift. Grace is the only way we can do God’s will and achieve eternal life with God.

Lord, help me to Thank God each day for his Grace and

to do God’s will with joy.

Nancy Sowers

December 22

“This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs

together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers

together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:6-9

“The neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, ‘What then is this child going to be?’ For the Lord’s hand was with him.”

Luke 1:65-66

So we all know that Christmas is a tight season, even spiritually. We all try to get the right gift, read this devotion, wrap this, carols, give to the needy, listen to advertisements, say spend! spend! spend!, remember the baby Jesus. Overwhelming is it not? I invite you to look at two normal human beings, not God on earth, not His mother or earthly father, just two normal humans: John the Baptist, and Abraham. Ok, now before you say “They’re not normal” just think about it. They were human, they even sinned, they made mistakes, they even died (and stayed that way). Everything they did was normal and not very special. But the hand of God was with them. They were just his vessel. Now what God did through them was the amazing part. Abraham’s descendants were blessed and John paved the way for others to have that blessing too. But only because God was with them.

Now think for a moment, these two people were living among some of the hardest and most stubborn people in history. Now we may not be able to do the amazing feats that these two did, but maybe we don’t have to. Maybe if we have God in our hearts, letting the mom with 5 kids go in front of you at Wal-Mart might be enough. But neither Abraham nor John the Baptist were settled with “enough.” They knew that God’s hand was with them, so they did more. And God’s power in them grew. I encourage you to do more with God’s power in you. (Going into the desert and eating honey and locust might be going a bit far.)

Christ, Savior, Help us to do the Right thing with your power.

In your name, help me to do great things. Shower me with your

blessing To help others. May my life be A path of richness.

So in your name I pray. Amen

Steven Buchele

December 23, 2007

“…therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Isaiah 7: 10-16

Hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah foretold of a special child who would be born and would be called Immanuel, God with us.

There are many stories in the Bible that tell us of God’s desire to be in our lives. He created us to be part of his family, with God himself as the head.

Are you part of his family? I can look back over the past years in my life and see the special times that I could feel God with me; my wedding to Larry; the birth of my two sons, Harvey and Jeff; annual Children’s Christmas programs; church camp; family vacations; family reunions; many special and happy times. But, even the best of families have hard times and God desires to be with us, even then. When I was younger, I thought I could handle anything, all by myself. But as I grew older, I learned that when I asked God to help, the problems didn’t seem so bad. I learned that when God desires to “Be with us” he means it; in the good times and the bad; the highs and the lows.

There is a famous fourth-century prayer known as St. Patrick’s Breastplate. Read it today. Know that God is with you.

Christ be beside me, Christ be before me,

Christ be behind me, King of my heart;

Christ be within me, Christ be below me,

Christ be above me, never to part.

Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand,

Christ all around me, shield in the strife;

Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting,

Christ in my rising, light of my life.

Christ be beside me, Christ be before me,