St. Paul United Methodist Church, 2949 Davies Plantation Road, Lakeland, TN 38002

www.stpaullakeland.com

Devotions for the 2017 Advent Season

Written by the members of

St. Paul United Methodist Church Lakeland, Tennessee

December 2 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” -Isaiah 9:6 Is there anywhere a more beautiful promise? We read or sing or hear these words every Christmas season, but how much do we really think about them? Do we take them to heart and find strength and inspiration in them, or are they just another part of the familiar rituals that we’ve gotten used to and that give us that “warm fuzzy feeling” that usually goes along with the season? You know, “peace and goodwill,” “all’s right with the world,” “I’ll worry about that after the holidays,” etc.? Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with those feelings, as long as they are genuine and not just ways of avoiding going any deeper. How about peace and goodwill, for instance? Are we doing anything about trying to bring peace, even if it’s only making amends for those hasty words spoken last week? What about goodwill? Does it mean any more than feeling good about dropping a dollar or two in the Salvation Army kettle in front of the store as we leave after spending too much money or giving that thin, ragged homeless guy on the corner that we pass every day a couple bucks extra? Is all really right with the world? We know better; we see the harsh truth every day in the nightly news, in the faces of people we meet on the street, in the sight of people of all ages so connected to social media that they are blind to the needs of those in front of them. When the holidays are past and gone, do we really think about the needs, the hardships, the hastily made promises we made to ourselves to do better, to really try, or does something new come along and push them aside? What does all this have to do with the promised coming of the Prince of Peace? Just this: if we as people calling ourselves by His name do not take to heart the things that add to the burdens of our neighbors and try with all we have in us to help—to aid the cause of peace—to spread honest-to-goodness goodwill—all year around and not just when the music and the trappings of Christmas have us in a mellow mood, how will we answer the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, when our chances to “do better” run out and we stand before him? Prayer: O Holy God, whose name is Wonderful, may Your people truly accept You as Counselor so we may be led to not just celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace for a few days or weeks every year, but to truly live it every day of our lives, so that we may be more nearly worthy to call Thee our Everlasting Father. Amen Mary Harris

December 3 Self-care

1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.

During the Christmas season, I think it's safe to say that the majority of us are busy. Busy buying gifts; busy decorating our trees and the inside and outside of our homes; busy cooking, baking, and doing dishes (ohhhh, the amount of dishes washed during the holidays!). We are busy doing good things: helping others, shopping and donating Angel tree gifts, planning kids' class parties, buying and/or making gifts for our friends, neighbors, teachers, and families. We show love to everyone we come in contact with!

Except when we don't.

When we get rundown, tired, stressed, cranky, and even sick, we have a hard time showing love to others. Our Bible verse says that we love because He (Jesus) first loved us. God loves us and wants us to take care of ourselves so that we can love others. We've all been on airplanes and heard the flight attendant's safety brief where we are advised to put on our oxygen masks BEFORE helping those around us. Our oxygen mask is self-care. It could be taking a walk, having a cup of tea by the light of the Christmas tree, enjoying a hot bath, going to the gym, watching a favorite TV show, or reading a chapter out of a book. Self-care looks different for everyone. The part of self-care that is a constant for all of us is the need for time with God. Taking five minutes to read a daily devotional, praying while going for a walk or jog, bible journaling, listening to Christian music and talking to God during your daily commute are all ways to spend time with God. At the dinner table or at bedtime, ask your family members where they have seen God that day. One of my bible study leaders once told me that God will bless whatever time you give him. He knows that we are busy. He "gets" it. Show God that you love Him and let God love you in this season. Experience God's love so that you can love others. Shine Jesus's light wherever you go. May your holidays be merry, bright, and full of love.

Dear God, During this season of distractions, please help us to make time for You. Help us to take care of our own souls so that we may bless others. Above all us, help us to shine your light wherever we go. In your holy name we pray, Amen.

Amy Emerson

December 4

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord my strength and my Redeemer.” -Psalm 19:14

I work at Sylvan Learning Center and enjoy my work very much. It is very exciting to teach a child to read.

A few months ago, a young man who had just moved to the area, came to work with us. My director asked me if I would stay after closing and teach him the rules we use to be prepared for the next day’s classes. The following comments are his immediate responses to me, “Ms. Norma, when I first met you and we worked together, I thought you were very intelligent but now I know I was mistaken.”

When I asked him why he had come to that conclusion, his answer surprised me. He remarked that he had listened to me answer questions from one of our young teachers, “You told her that Jesus is real, and He will change your life when you accept him. You and I both know that this is not true. He is not real. I quickly prayed a “sweet Jesus prayer” in my heart and then I responded to him. “Since we have extra time tonight and we won’t have interruptions, could we talk about Jesus?” His response was a loud “No!” He went out the door.

He did not stay with us very long. I have no idea where he is. I pray with all my heart that somewhere a Christian is completing God’s work and helping him to know more about Jesus.

Norma McCarroll

December 5

“And Mary said: ‘my soul glorifies the Lord. And my spirit rejoices in God, my savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done a great thing for me—holy is His name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.’” -Luke 1:36-50

When I was a child, there was a family in my neighborhood that I think of often at Christmas. A mother, widowed at a young age, with five children, one just an infant. She worked hard, fed her children with vegetables grown from her garden, made most of their clothes, and took them to church. But I especially remember that at Christmas, their house was a little different than most. They had a scraggly cedar tree that they decorated sparsely with ornaments. On top was Angie, the angel with one broken wing. A handful of gifts were under the tree, mostly trinkets. Everyone in the neighborhood knew she shopped at TG&Y. One of the really strange traditions they had was this: shoe boxes. Although they didn’t have stockings to be filled, they knew that on Christmas morning there would be a shoe box laid out, containing one apple, one orange, hard candy and nuts. The strange thing about this family, to me, was that they were happy. The mother made sure the kids had fun, but she also made sure they did their chores, had clean clothes, and went to church. At the same time, she laughed and hugged a lot. No matter how tough things were, there was so much laughter in their house. So much that everyone wanted to go there and get in on the good times.

One year, Christmas actually fell on Sunday. One of the girls, my age, came home from church ecstatic. She went on and on about how special the day was, not only was it Christmas but when she got to Sunday School she was the only one there! She went on and on about how she guessed the other kids stayed home and played with their toys but how she had the best time ever. It was just her and the teacher. The teacher sat on the floor with her and read the Christmas story from the bible, and then they talked about Jesus and how He loved them more than anyone. They even made birthday cards for Jesus, just the two of them. She thought even if she really didn’t want to go to church on Christmas, her mother had, in a way, given her a really great gift by making her go.

I remember this family each year at Advent. They weren’t perfect, by far, but the mother loved them so much and she made sure they knew about Christ and His love for them. I hope and pray that I have somewhat lived up to the example of this mother, and that I open my heart again to the birth of Christ within me this Advent season. We all have that special someone who has nurtured us and guided us to Christ, who has helped us prepare for His coming into our hearts, so be sure to thank them while you still can.

You may have guessed by now…yes, it was my family—my crazy, dysfunctional family—but it was there that I learned of Christ, His love and His grace. And that is my most treasured gift. My hope for you this Christmas is that Christ is the center of your being. I pray that someone has influenced you to open your heart to Him and that you, too, know His great love and grace.

Gwen Augustine

December 6

Mary’s Song

My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on generations will call me blessed. -Luke 1:46b-48

This is the beginning of Mary’s song, “the Magnificat”, as she responded when Elizabeth greeted and acknowledged that Mary believed what Gabriel told her about God’s plan for her life. While she may have accepted this news graciously and even been somewhat aware of what all of this mean at the time, I am sure there was also a lot of fear inside her too as the news really began to sink in. How afraid she must have been to travel to stay with Elizabeth or to share this news with Joseph, her parents (or as legend has it, the priests since she was supposedly placed in their care much like Samuel was). With this in mind, I cannot get away from an understanding that this response was shared and recorded must later. We are not looking at a real-time video here. We are not told how Luke knows of this encounter, but I imagine that Mary retold this story later to the disciples and to Jesus many times, as he was growing up.

I know that the story I tell my son about his birth is true, but also filtered through faith and love. Along with his adoption and birth story there is also an underlying story of the pain of loss and years childlessness that I would endure before being blessed by the news of his impending birth. During those years, I came to know that God was using that pain to mold me into the person (and mother) that God was creating me to be. It took faith and humility to allow God work in the midst of that struggle but it led me into Youth Ministry, and showed me how deep my love could be for young people, but I had change my view of the pain of not being able to have children.

It is all about how we view the things that legitimately hurt and frighten us today. Can we see these situations as possibly being the beginning of the greatest blessing of our lives? We should not let fear and pain distort our perspective on God. Instead, we need to lean hard and trust that God’s plans for us are for our good, even when it means facing very real dangers. Moreover, maybe others will be blessed through our struggles, when we are able to look back and share how God was working through us as we relied on our faith to help us face our fears.

God, Help us to see You in the midst of every struggle that comes our way, knowing that whatever we face You will use it to strengthen our faith in You and that as we share our faith journeys with others, they too will be blessed by the power of your love. Amen

Rev. Shannon Pryor

December 7

He Helps Me The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and He helps me. -Psalm 28:7. When I consider the strength God graciously give me I have courage. Courage to face my fears, challenges, and sorrows. I can tackle new opportunities that seem scary. No matter the situation He will help me. I need not fear or hesitate. Prayer: Dear God I thank you that I can trust the help that is always present. Help me to be ever mindful of the the gift of Your strength and help. In Jesus name, Amen. Donna Price

December 8

The Waiting Game Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. -Psalm 27:14 (NIV) Let’s be honest. None of us really like to wait, do we? In our time of “instant gratification,” we get impatient if our cell phone takes more than 0.2 seconds to respond. One of the things I enjoy most during the holidays is baking my homemade sourdough bread. I open the cabinet, pull out the recipe, dust it off, and get to work. I have been baking bread every year since 1987. It just feels like Christmas when the scent of bread is in the air. Now, baking homemade bread is a process that must be carefully scheduled and orchestrated, or it will not turn out well. I must first make the “starter.” Some bakers keep their starter going year-round, but I make mine fresh every time. Mixing the initial starter is actually a pretty quick process, but once it is mixed, it must ferment for 24-36 hours before it is ready to be used in the bread. So the waiting begins... Then, when the starter is ready, I mix it in with the dough. After kneading it a bit, it goes in a bowl, and yes, you guessed it – more waiting! The dough must rise for 8-10 more hours. And there is even more waiting. When the dough is ready, it gets shaped into loaves, placed in loaf pans, and I wait again (8-10 hours) for the loaves to rise. After this last waiting period, the bread is finally ready to bake! Some would dismiss this process and go straight to a bread machine, or not bother at all. But not I. You see, the “waiting” is part of the thrill of making bread. It not only challenges me to plan and organize my baking schedule, but I must also be patient and follow the required times in the schedule to produce a perfect loaf of bread. It’s always worth the wait! And so it is with our Christian lives. Waiting upon the Lord for guidance, direction, answers to prayer – whatever our requests may be – takes patience and time. God’s timing is always perfect, even when we don’t like to wait for it. During this Advent season, let’s challenge ourselves to slow down a bit, take in the true meaning of the season, and wait. Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to wait upon you, as your timing is always perfect. Amen. Janice McCallen

December 9

“Hold on . . . ” In the nineties, a group called R.E.M. put out a recording titled “Everybody Hurts.” The song implores the listener to hold on to life when there’s pain. I don’t know where they got their inspiration for the words, but it may have come from the Book of James, in which James wrote about the importance of patience in the midst of suffering. I cringe when I hear well-meaning folk say, “It must have been God’s will,” or “this is part of God’s plan,” to someone who is just trying to get by when tragedy strikes. Does God cause the death of a child so that the parent may turn toward him and become a follower? I certainly don’t think so. God does not test us by creating trials. Life is full of trials. Life happens. Life can and does hurt. The test comes with how you put the pieces of your life back together after it has been shattered. That’s where Christians and faith come into play. We know that God is full of mercy and compassion. That is our reward for perseverance and patience. God pulls us through and gives us comfort. We can be examples to others who are hurting by loving God and being faithful to him. We have the hope of an everlasting life. Like the song says, “hold on.” James 1:2-8; 5:10-11 Dear Lord, give us the strength to hold on to your promise as we go through every day life on earth. Thank you for being our anchor and our guide. Amen. Cindy Hastas Morris December 10

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said “ Behold! The lamb of God who comes to take away the sin of the world!” - John 1:29 My daughters and I learned this verse a few years ago as we completed a lamb advent calendar. We repeated the verse as we glued cotton balls to the sweet lamb each day. It struck me as the perfect Christmas verse to help keep our focus on God’s ultimate gift of sending Christ to forgive our sins. Dear Lord, thank you for sending your son Jesus to take away our sins. Help us to remember that He is what we are celebrating during this Christmas season. Amen. Wanda Treischman

December 11

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? -Romans 8:31-32 Sometimes the world can seem as cold and dark to me as the sky on a cold winter night. Personal issues, cultural conflicts and divisions, a world torn apart by hatred, greed, and violence all make me feel so small, powerless and vulnerable. That’s when I go walking in the night. My eyes are drawn to the starlit sky and to the constellation Orion. It’s easy for me to find because I can easily find Orion’s belt. I am then drawn to one of its brightest stars, Betelgeuse; the ninth brightest star in the sky. Roughly 640 light years from earth; its surface if placed in the center of our solar system would extend past the asteroid belt and totally engulf the orbits of Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars and possibly Jupiter. Yet to my eyes, it’s just a small dot among many many dots in the sky; one of billions and billions of stars in the universe. And even all that is still, much much smaller than the God I believe created the heavens, and the earth, and me. And then suddenly my soul, filled with awe; is also warmed with hope and joy and peace; because I remember Paul’s words in his letter to the Romans, “If God is for us…” And how do I know God is with us? Because an angel once told a man named Joseph who was feeling inadequate and insignificant; that his betrothed would conceive and bear a child who would be called Emmanuel, meaning God with us! And I believe Christmas is another reminder that God always keeps his promise. Prayer O God, thank you for being there for me when the forces of darkness are all around and intimidating me. Help me to trust and rely on your presence. Amen Rev. Mike Morris

December 12

What Would Jesus Do? One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’c This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’d All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” -Matthew 22: 36-40 These days we are constantly bombarded by a never-ending litany of “important” social issues, everything from abortion rights and same-sex marriage, to socialized medicine and kneeling during the national anthem. I’m not saying these don’t raise legitimate concerns, but which one is the most important seems to change from one day to the next (assuming no one is colluding with the Russians). Unfortunately, too many well-intentioned people feel strongly that a Christian must take their same position on an issue in order to be a “true” Christian and, to make matters even worse, this often comes from people on opposite extremes of an issue! So, what is a Christian supposed to do? Jesus’s response to the Pharisee always helps me sort through these matters. When asked to name the most important commandment, Jesus could have said anything. It’s telling that he didn’t say, “always vote Republican/Democrat,’ or “always stand during the national anthem.” No, he boiled it all down to two things, love God and love each other. Political beliefs should never be used as a litmus test to determine who is, or isn’t, a “true” Christian. Prayer: Dear God, even though we live in a society that is sharply divided along political lines, please help us to keep our eyes focused on what is most important to you, love for you and for each other, despite our political differences. Amen. Bill Clemmons

December 13

“Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” (Joshua 3:5 and Exodus 19:10-20 RSV) I’ve always been particularly excited to read these two accounts in which Joshua and Moses both ask the people to “sanctify” or “consecrate” themselves: Joshua, before Israel crosses the Jordan River into the Promised Land and Moses, before God descends upon Mt. Sinai and the people can hear His voice as he talks with Moses who will later receive the 10 commandments. They are told to “ prepare themselves” for God will be doing a wondrous thing. They washed their clothes, abstained from sex and prepared their minds in anticipation of receiving something special from the Lord. I feel that each Sabbath of Sunday Worship, and each Season of the Church Year (Advent, Christmastide, Epiphany, Lent, Pentecost, and Kingdomtide) is a call for us to “sanctify” or “consecrate” ourselves to receive something wondrous from the Lord. During Advent, we will relive the gift of “God with Us” –the gift of His son—a baby in a manger. What we receive will not be the same each season, but we should come in expectation of receiving something from God. We need to be mentally anticipating Worship and praying to get our hearts in an open and receiving mode for a day or two ahead of Sabbath--or a season of the Church year. Each season stresses a different aspect of our faith in God and helps us to be “going on to perfection” in our relationship with Him and our neighbors—that’s “sanctification” (to become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation). So start preparing your hearts on Friday, take that Saturday night bath and put on your Sunday best clothes and come to Worship in expectation of the Lord doing something wondrous. Prayer: Dear Lord, fill us with a spirit of expectation that you can do wondrous things among us who call you “Lord”. Sandy Mauney

December 14

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and your minds in Jesus Christ. -Philippians 4: 6-7 I am a worrier by nature but I have learned our gracious God provides what we need when we need it. My husband, Scott made a career change in September 2015. He had always been the breadwinner in the family. I was the merry bread spender and Christmas organizer. We weren’t sure exactly what the future held for us but our income was severely reduced, and Christmas was coming! Our daughter, Madison was a junior in high school but I still felt the need to shield her from life and hoped to provide the same commercial Christmas as before. Thankfully God saw fit do basically the opposite of what I wanted but provided us with so much better than I could have imagined. That Christmas the gifts under the tree didn’t really matter, I’ve forgotten what most of them were. For the first time at Christmas we got to spend time together. Not the kind of time that you are so stressed out that you can’t focus on the person in front of you, or the kind you are so tired you just want to veg out in front of the TV but real time. It was the gift that continues to give today. We talked and deepened relationships, came together to focus on where we wanted to go. Scott opened up to God and He entered our relationship in a new way strengthening it. Yes, we are still busy with life but that scary time helped us remember what was really important in life. During that time we learned happiness is more than how many gifts you can get under the tree. God also used that time in my life to encourage me to grow closer to Him. The more I was in His word and involved in the church, the less I worried. I am still a worrier but I catch myself and asked God for his peace. He hasn’t let me down yet. Heavenly father, thank you for all you have given us. Please fill us with your Holy Spirit and let us feel Your peace that transcends all understanding during this Christmas season as we celebrate the birth of your only son Jesus Christ. Amen Sharon Brown

December 15

The Stranger at the Door “Lord, when did we see you…a stranger and invite you in…? Jesus replied, ‘Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” -Matthew 25:38a, and 40b. It was a bitterly cold December morning, the last day before Christmas vacation in 1988. Shivering, I left my home at 6:30 a.m. to drive the fifty-two miles to the high school in Weiner, Arkansas, where I taught English. About half way there, just as I reached the outskirts of Jonesboro, I had a flat tire. Bam! I was stuck. I was going to be late for school and cause all kinds of problems for the principal and other teachers. I pulled over as far as I could onto the shoulder of the narrow two-lane highway and got out of the car. Looking up, I saw a neat white frame house across the road. I hoped the occupants of the home would let me come in and use their phone to call a service station to fix my flat. (This was before cell phones.) The young couple invited me in. The house was warm and inviting. The Christmas tree in the corner cast a warm glow and pine scent throughout the room. I was invited to sit down at the table where the young man and woman had been eating breakfast. The wife poured me coffee and offered toast and honey while her husband cheerfully left his breakfast table to go out into the frozen morning to change my tire. As he lay down with his back against the hard, cold asphalt, I was welcomed and made comfortable at his table. They may have been having morning devotions when I came in for there was a Bible open on the table. But even if I had not seen the Bible, I would have known they were Christians by the way they cared for their home, each other, and me, the stranger at the door. When the tire was changed, I continued on my way. But, I was changed too. I had a deeper appreciation for the value of simple deeds of kindness and hospitality, for willingness to sacrifice my comfort for a stranger in need. Prayer: Dear Lord, calm our minds during the season of advent, so we can remember the needs of others and be ready to serve anyone, anytime, in your name. Amen. Pat Edwards

December 16

GOD IS WITH US IN THE EMPTY CHAIR

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel” (which being interpreted is, “God with us”).

In the hustle and bustle of buying gifts and preparing for holiday meals, there is still that quiet voice in the background that beckons us to earlier times. We begin to have tears well up in our eye as we recall the times when that chair wasn’t empty at the table. Memories of one who used to make these seasons joyous who is no longer with us. That first Christmas season after someone passes or even simply moves away unable to return for a holiday is usually the hardest but somehow someway you find your way to the new year surviving your grief. As the years forge on the memories remain and eventually families grow and change and that seat is occupied by a son/daughter-in-law, grandchild, or special friend. If you find yourself in a spot of grief this year, pause and remember that the reason for this season is to give you hope and assurance. God is with us – every step of the way. He blessed us with the years of memories we have and He sent his son that we may have eternal life to rejoice with the angels and our family for eternity. In this Advent season, may we seek God and His will for us as we continue our earthly journey until it is our seat that is empty at the table. May we seek to create memories this season that are lasting that those we love can remember fondly as they gather around that table. Step away from the commercialism and the media and look around the table to remember those we have lost, celebrate those who have entered our family since, and make memories to last beyond our lifetimes.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the Joy you sent to the World. Help us to find the joy even in sorrow. Amen

Elizabeth Von Hofe

December 17

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

Life is messy and unpredictable. Sometimes your friends aren't there for you. Sometimes you make a bad grade. Sometimes things just don't seem to be going your way. But there’s good news. God offers us a joy that can surpass all the obstacles that will be thrown your way. You just have to seek out God in every single situation & you will find the good. “Fill me with the wonders of your love.” Ask God to fill you with his joy & I promise when things aren't going your way you will still feel okay. As Christians, we have a hope that anchors the soul. This hope is the joy, love, and unchanging, unbreakable Grace, God has to offer us. This will anchor your soul when life is trying so desperately to drag you and beat you down. Look for the joy. Seek God always. Feel His Grace. Love Jesus & live passionately.

Prayer: Dear God, I pray we always seek out your goodness is every situation. Root us in your hope and your love. Amen. Kallie Alexander December 18

C H A N G E

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. -2 CORINTHIANS 5:17

On the wall at Rehab, Etc. in Oakland, a beautiful picture portrays a great waterfall crashing into a creek below and on the other side of the creek is a lovely old oak tree with roots protruding out of the bubbling water around it.

It is such a peaceful setting; and yet, so much change is evidenced in the splashing of the water and the natural activity it causes below. Above the scene is written:

Change Is Life Giving. It Helps Us Grow Into Someone Greater Than We Already Are.

And I was reminded of the Bible Verse in Corinthians. The falling water changes the landscape below, just as, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…...all things have become new. Can we suggest that Christ is the water, falling on the world below, and all we have to do is accept the change, allowing it to: Help Us Grow (like that grand old oak tree) Into Someone Greater Than We Already Are…?

Prayer: Dear God, Giver of the Water of Life, During this Advent Season and beyond, help us use positive change for life giving growth to become the persons You would have us be. Amen.

Carol Florow

December 19

Clay Jars

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not us.

2 Corinthians 4:7

I started thinking about the different kinds of dishes I have in my house. I have every day dishes and then fine china. The ones we pull out on special occasions and the ones that are used all the time. The everyday dishes are chipped and have a few cracks; there even some that have been broken so the set is no longer complete. They are sturdy and everyone can use them. However, the fine china almost never gets used for the same reason the everyday wear looks the way it does. The fine china looks nice and it can be used to make a big impression, but it is also fragile so everyone is very careful when handling it and it cannot be put in the dishwasher so it has to be hand washed.

As I think about the verse above, I think I like being compared to a jar of clay rather than really wanting to be like the fine china. An everyday faith journey can leave us cracked and broken but also stand the test of time.

There have been times when I have been a bit jealous of the religious leaders that we have experienced at seminars, or spiritual retreats like BigStuf who are known by so many. They make a big impression and inspire others to want to grow stronger in faith. Yet, many of those who attend these events and hear these great speakers do not really know the person who is speaking to them. Their talks are well written but repeated over and over again with each new group or venue. It is not that these leaders do not have value and their influence is awe-inspiring but they are not blessed with the same kind of relationship that can be built in a smaller setting. How often have we heard of a spiritual leaders fall from grace because they could not (or did not) live up to the expectations that were placed on their lives. Not everyone can be well known in faith but each one of us can influence those around us with awe-inspiring faith. When we allow God to use us, really use us despite our chips and cracks, God is who is glorified. We join into community with other believers whom do not look just like us (think of the mix-matched plates that somehow end up in our cabinets).

As jars of clay, we may carry ordinary water but we are poured out as wine that announces the unexpected power of Jesus in our midst.

God of creation,

Thank you for making me for your purpose. Use me everyday to be a witness to your power and glory. Humble me so that I may be in your service in the ordinary places of this life. Amen

Rev. Shannon Pryor

December 20

A Child is Born

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. -Luke 2:1 KJV

As I sat in the Labor and Delivery waiting room awaiting the birth of my first great grandchild, I thought of another baby born approximately 2017 years ago in Bethlehem. How different that birth must have been.

My grandson, Jake and his wife Kayleigh were thrilled to announce the impending birth of their daughter. Kayleigh had received excellent prenatal care and even knew that the baby would be a girl. Mary learned of the birth of her baby from an angel and knew that her child would be a boy. She was a virgin and her conception was immaculate. She accompanied her soon to be husband, Joseph, to pay his taxes, riding on a donkey. There was no room for them in the Inn and her baby was born in a manger of a stable. His name was Jesus. He would change the world. God sent him to save us from sin and to teach us how to live abundantly.

As I pondered the Nativity Story, I prayed that my little Josie would learn about Jesus and accept him as her personal savior. I prayed that all of our family would live lives that would nourish her in the Christian faith.

This Christmas I am most thankful for Jesus and the marvelous gift that that He was to the world. I will always cherish my gifts of three wonderful children, their spouses, six grandchildren, a granddaughter-in-law and Great Grand Baby, Josie Lane.

Prayer : Our Father, thank you for your goodness, for the gift of your Son Jesus, for giving us the Holy Spirit and for all of our many blessings. Thank you for those who have gone on before us and for the assurance that we will see them again. Amen

Prayer Focus: Parents of newborn babies

Sammie Walker

December 21

But Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not to come unto me for such is the Kingdom of God.” -Matthew 19:14

On a recent visit to Tucson, we attended church with our daughter and two young grandsons. Our son-in-law is the Rector at this beautiful church and the services there are quite formal. As part of the service, the children are returned to the Sanctuary so they may participate in the Communion Ritual with their families. Our older grandson was very well behaved and listened while the Father Peter lead us through the service. The younger grandson was not so quiet and even called out a greeting to his father in the midst of the communion service. As the service came to a close, Father Peter said to the Congregation, “Let us pray.” In the quiet of that huge Church, we could plainly hear the voice of this precious young boy praying, “God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food.”

What a powerful prayer that is. To proclaim that God is Great and Good and to Thank Him for our food, our shelter, and ALL of the many blessings that he has bestowed on us. Brayden “got it.” At this special time of year, don’t forget to Praise Him and Thank Him for all he has done for you.

Bill Cummings

December 22

Planned Interruptions

Many of us don’t like to be interrupted, especially when it’s inconvenient or alters our plans. Jesus treated interruptions much differently than we do. Our Savior stopped what he was doing to help people in need in so many examples in the Gospels.

When our plans are disrupted or when we’re interrupted by someone who really needs our help, we can ask Him for compassion and wisdom in how to respond with genuine love. Whether it’s taking time to have a conversation, stopping by a neighbor’s house, or reading a book to a child, our loving Lord has a different schedule for us, and being “interrupted” is exactly what He has planned for us to do that day! Interruptions can be a prime opportunity to serve Him.

An example of Jesus just stopping what he was doing to help someone in need can be found in Luke 18:35-43

Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see”, he replied. Lord, fill us with Your love, wisdom and compassion that we may respond as You did to people in need.

Rebecca Estridge

December 23

We have so many reasons to be happy at this time of year—besides the fact that it’s the season of Jesus’s birth. We take wide-eyed kids to see fabulous light shows and ornate Christmas trees that make us think we can do it ourselves. We find the perfect gift for everyone on our list, and we can’t hide our giddy joy when the unwrapping begins. We make that once-a-year, only-can-make-it-at-Christmas dish that our families ooo and ahhh over. And everything’s just so pretty!

But this time of year can also magnify heartache and loss because we miss the laughs and hugs of the ones we’ve lost. We mourn relationships that have been broken or traditions that have evaporated as time has passed. Or we find that our well-laid plans just did not meet our expectations.

I came across Psalm 34 and thought of all the ways it can apply to the ups and downs of this time of year. David begins by proclaiming that he “will praise the Lord at all times” (v. 1), and he tells how God saved him “from all [his] troubles” (v. 6). But it’s what he says in verses 17-18 that spoke to me:

The Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help.

He rescues them from all their troubles.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;

He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Today’s prayer: I praise You for being with me when my spirits are high and when they are broken. Thank You for the gift of this season and the reminder that You are always with us! Amen.

Deborah Thomas

December 24

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” -John 1:1-5

In the beginning God, our All-Knowing God, in His wisdom, knew we were all sinners; therefore, He blessed us with a savior, and his name is Jesus!

As we approach Christmas, we celebrate Jesus’ birth, and for God’s great love in Jesus’ name, we praise him. The birth of Jesus is in our hearts because we recognize that He gave His life for us on that “Old Rugged Cross”.

“The mission of the Cross is hidden in the message of the cradle.” -Author unknown.

Praise the Lord!

Anna Barker

December 25

So they came in a hurry….

“When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger” Luke 2: 15 - 16

Depending on the translation you use, “hurry” is only used 4 times in the New Testament. Most Christmas help articles are about slowing down and focusing on the Holidays. And we do hurry around, frantically trying to do all our Holiday things….shopping, our parties, kid’s parties, decorating, cooking and preparing the perfect Christmas event. And that’s part of the Christmas excitement. Sometimes we do slow down and enjoy a moment or two.

Even in our regular daily life we hurry around. I get up in the morning and hurry my son off to school. Then I hurry my husband off to work. Then I hurry to catch up with news, emails and Facebook. And then I think I’ll just play a little longer on Facebook. Oh no, now I must really hurry to dress, clean a little, go to the grocery, do some Kairos Outside work, church work, do something for Senior year, or the theater class or, or…..and for many of you there is the added hurry of work & work traffic. I remember. Some days I do my bible study homework. Some days I have to do two homework’s to make- up for the one I let “hurry” brush aside. Even on Sundays I have found we are occasionally walking in later to church.

When was the last time I came “in a hurry” to the Lord?

I have hurried for the Lord. It’s hard to do ministry and not hurry for the Lord. But that’s not the same, is it?

When our boys were little they would run to Robert with hugs, tackling him about the knees when he came home from work each night. As they grew up, I can remember Robert saying sadly, “no one runs to me when I get home anymore.” It was loss for him.

When was the last time I came “in a hurry” to the Lord?

Matthew 18:3 says “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” I think of the many different ways 5 year olds approach Santa. Some are eager, some fearful, expectant, or trusting. These are all ways we should approach God. And on Christmas morning, like the shepherds on that first Christmas day, children rush to the tree, whooping with excitement in a hurry to open their gifts.

God gives me great gifts. In my heart this Christmas I want to hurry to the Lord expectantly and whoop, like a child, for all he gives me.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You renew in me Your joy and strength. I rejoice because I am your child. I want to know you more. Please, Lord, increase in me this season, and in the coming year, a child-like enthusiasm so that I will come to you “in a hurry.” You have given me the greatest gift. You are a great and wonderful God. I want to remember that in all I do. In Jesus holy name, Amen.

Sharon Higgins, December 2012

St. Paul UMC Lakeland - Advent of Calendar Events

December 2 - Breakfast with Santa 9:30am-10:30am

December 3 - Worship 10:30; Youth movie night “A Christmas Carol” 4-6pm

December 6 - Wednesday Church Night Christmas Party 5:30-7:30pm - dinner,

dessert, games, and carol sing; $9 adult dinner, $5 child dinner

December 8 - UMW Bake Sale cookies due

December 9 - UMW Bake Sale 10am-2pm; Inquirer’s Class Christmas Party 6pm

Fellowship Hall

December 10 - “Angelhead” children’s Christmas play 9:30am; Choir Christmas

Cantata 10:30am; Youth Caroling

December 17 - Worship 10:30

December 20 - Youth Christmas Party - Zoo Lights

December 24 - Christmas Eve - regular 10:30 service; Family Candlelight Service of

Lessons and Carols 6:00pm; Midnight Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols

11:00pm

December 25 - Christmas Day (office closed through 1/2/18)

December 31 - New Year’s Eve - regular 10:30am service

For more information about these and other events, visit www.stpaullakeland.com or

https://www.facebook.com/St-Paul-United-Methodist-Church-Lakeland-Tn-109304839087275/