O One Who Brings Hope,
Our hearts cry out to You. Fill us with Your Spirit, we pray. During this Advent season we strive to prepare our hearts for the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Help us, O God, to strip away all that is superfluous, all that is distracting, all that separates us from the true meaning of Christmas. May the gifts we share also include gifts of food and warmth for the poor. When we reflect on the smelly, crowded manger may we also remember those who lack appropriate shelter and comfort. Christ came for all peoples. May we participate in His love as we love others. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
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Gene Carlson fell and was taken to the ER. Please pray for Gene.
There is an introduction to Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University this evening at 6:30 p.m. at the church in Room 109 and the Central Cinema Room.
Guild meets this evening at 6:00 p.m.
May the true Spirit of the approaching Christmas season fill our hearts.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Advent Devotion for Today. Please read Luke 6:17-26:
Verses 18 & 19 tells us that some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tired to take him into the house of Jesus to laid him before Lord. When they got to Jesus’ house they could not enter through the door because of the crowd that had gathered. They decided to go up on the roof and lower him on his mat through the tiles in the roof into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
In this story the crowd got in the way of the paralytic seeing Jesus much the same way as it did with Zacchaeus who had to climb a sycamore tree to see the Lord. It is ironic that it was the Pharisees and teachers of the law who help to make up the crowd. As you think about the time and culture we live in today the same thing happens to us. How many times this last week has the crowd gotten in your way to seeing the Lord? Especially at this hectic time of year we can lose track of the real meaning of Christmas by letting the crowd (the culture we live in) make demands on our time and money, which interfere with letting us have a personal and close relationship with Jesus.
In the Bible story of Jesus Heals a Paralytic the men carrying the paralytic did not let the crowd discourage them from getting close to the Lord. They set the example for us today. It is important not only at this special season but all throughout the year that we make time each day for a personal relationship with Jesus reading the scriptures and participating in prayer with the Lord. If we are to have a faithful life with Christ we need to make daily study and prayer an important part of our routine.
Our Heavenly Father,
At the special time of year we want to thank you for the precious gift of your son. Help us as we approach this season to discipline ourselves to have a closer relationship to you through our prayer life and study of the scriptures each day. Help us to not let the crowd get in our way.
Amen.
David and Sue Dell
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