Advent Devotion: December 5

Luke 1:46-47

I love Christmas movies, it doesn’t feel like it’s the Christmas season if I haven’t watched, The Grinch, Elf, Rudoph, and more.  But my favorite Christmas movie is a Charlie Brown Christmas, I love the message against commercialism as Charlie discovers the true meaning of Christmas, “That a savior has been born who is Christ the Lord.”  And in verse 47, Mary understands this truth.

She says “God is my savior.”  What she is saying is, “I know I’m not good enough, I can’t do this on my own, I need someone to save me and I know that God is my savior and he will save me through his son Jesus.  And God has chosen me to be the mother of Jesus.”

Jesus is our savior, he died and rose again so that we could have eternal life and live with God forever.  And that is the message and hope of Christmas.  That Jesus is born into this world to bring salvation to all of us.

Activity: Watch A Charlie Brown Christmas and talk about how we often forget about the true meaning of Christmas in the excitement of everything else.

Advent Devotion: December 4. Mary's Song of Reversals

Luke 1:46-55
Have you ever been given a job that seems impossible? Well that’s what Mary is facing when she writes this song.  Mary has learned that she is going to be the mother to Jesus the savior of the Lord and she has just visited her cousin Elizabeth who blessed her because she knew that Mary was to be the mother of Jesus.

This song is Mary praising God for who he is and everything he has done and what he is going to do through his son Jesus.  Mary is humbled and amazed that God has chosen her to be the mother of Jesus.  And she praises God in the midst of probably some joyous and scary news for her.  It would not be easy to be the mother of Jesus, it is an incredible responsibility and I am sure Mary felt some degree of fear to have such a big responsibility.  But she accepts her role as a servant of the Lord.

God often asks us to accept responsibilities and jobs beyond what we think we can do.  But when God gives us those jobs he is calling us to not rely on ourselves and what we can do but instead to rely on God.  Just like David had to rely on God to kill Goliath we need to rely on God when it comes to whatever we’re facing, it might be making friends at school, trying to honor God when everyone is telling us to do something else, or something else entirely.  When that happens ask God for the help and strength to do the right thing and he will provide.

And when God does ask us to accept those responsibilities our response should be to happiness because God gives us the opportunity to rely on him instead of ourselves.  That’s what Mary does in this passage of scripture and that’s what we should try to do as well.

During the Advent Season I believe God gives us special responsibilities to help those who are less fortunate among us.  Try and look around and find a spot where your family can serve in a special way during this season.

Activity: Answer these questions.
What hard responsibility has God given you?  
What responsibility does God give to us at Christmas time?

Light the second candle of Advent, the Candle of Peace

Advent Devotion: December 3

Isaiah 52:12
When I was a freshman in high school, I was playing basketball and to help raise money for the team we had to sell adds to local businesses.  My mom drove me around to different businesses and the first one we approached I tried to speak but couldn’t because I was too nervous my mom ended up doing all the talking and we sold an add.  Like my 14 year old self, I think we have all faced challenges in life where we said this is too scary or too hard, I want to ask someone else to do this for me.

When those times do come, remember this verse.  God promises to be our guard both ahead of us and behind us.  Whether it’s a bully at school or trying to find time to do Christmas shopping on top of everything else we all faces challenges in life.  But God will be with us and we can trust in his promise.

Activity: Watch the movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, and then talk about these questions?   What was George Bailey afraid of, what did he learn when he saw an alternate reality.

Advent Devotional: December 2

Isaiah 52:11

Have you ever been on a long trip?  I know, every time I go on a long trip, towards the end I get really homesick.  I want go home and sleep in my own bed and relax in the living room.  Around Christmas time we often go to be with our extended family such as parents or sibling because we want to be home for the holidays.




There is nothing like the feeling of being home.
And in this verse, the prophet Isaiah tells Israel that they need to return their home. Israel had been living in Babylon for about 70 years and now they were free to return their homes in the land of Israel.

God has given us all a place to call home, And whether you are going to be in your own home, extended family’s home or somewhere else for Christmas we should all say thank you to God for providing a home for us.  Take time together as a family this Christmas season to enjoy time together because soon enough everyone is going to be away from home for Christmas.

Activity: Celebrate the Christmas season at home, together as a family by talking about your favorite Christmas memories and activities.  Pick one or two family activities to do together during the Christmas season this year.

Advent Devotion: December 1

Isaiah 52:10
As a child I always looked forward to the day when I would finally be able to sit in the front seat of the car. Finally, the day came when I was both tall enough and weighed enough to sit in the front seat of the car. I felt so proud sitting up front beside my mom, but my pride was short-lived. My pride soon turned to pain as every time we stopped quickly, my mom’s arm would fly across and hit me in the chest, in what has become known as the mom seatbelt. I’m sure some of you have had a similar experience, or if you haven’t you soon will.

The mom seatbelt is an involuntary reaction. My mom didn’t mean to hit me in the chest every time she stopped short, it came out of her desire to protect me. Much like the mom seatbelt, this verse talks about God baring his Holy Arm. God shows his holy arm in defense of his people the Children of Israel. God promises to protect his people and they trust in his outstretched arm. By trusting in God for our salvation we are also God’s people and we can trust in his promise to protect us. So whatever fears or worries you are facing this Advent season, give them to God and trust in his holy arm to defend and protect you.

Advent Devotional

It is once again the season of Advent, that special time of the year when we take time out of our day to prepare for and celebrate the Christmas Season and specifically the birth of Jesus, the savior of the world.

This year we will again be publishing and Advent devotion each day on this blog.  This devotional is designed to be used every day with your whole family.  Read the passage of scripture together and then read the short devotional and complete any extra activities that are suggested.  Our hope and prayer is that this devotional would help you focus on the joyful incarnation as God came into the world.

As we celebrate and enjoy the season of Advent, may your family experience the joy and wonder of Jesus being born.  May you and your family remember the blessing of Immanuel, God with us.  

An Unchanging God in the Midst of Ever-Changing Seasons

Pumpkin Spice Lattes, leaves on the ground, misty mornings, more scarves being worn, all of these are signs that we have transitioned from the long days of summer to the crisp days of fall.  And with that transition comes all the changes that fall brings with it.  Kids going back to school, a more regular and consistent schedule, and all the soccer practices, dentist appointments and more.  In the midst of all this our kids are growing and changing, and we grow and change right along with them.  All of this change can sometimes be overwhelming but let me encourage you with this verse, Ecclesiastes 3:1, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:” 

God has ordained a time and place for every season in our lives.  A time for summer and a time for fall, a time for school and a time for work, a time for us to be sad and a time for us to laugh.  He has given us all the little moments that make life unexpected crazy and awesome! 

So whether you are enjoying a good season of life, or a sad one those seasons are going to change.    And along with those seasons you are going to change.  You’re going to learn and make new friends and experience new challenges and joys.  But in the midst of all the changes and challenges and seasons of life our comfort is in God’s unchanging nature.

Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”  God promises to always be with us, to never leave us or forsake us.  He is with us on the mountaintop and in the valley.  Watching over us and loving us. 

So wherever you’re at in life, be it good or bad, take comfort in this verse from Ecclesiastes 3:11, “He has made everything beautiful in its time…” 

P.S.  If you want to dive deeper into this issue read the entire chapter of Ecclesiastes 3 and try to answer these questions as you read.

•  What does God mean by there being a time for everything?
• Why does God ordain times that seem contradictory, like love and hate or war and peace?
• What is the writer trying to tell us about the character of God and the reality of life?

May God bring you understanding and comfort as you seek his comfort and love in the midst of the changing season of life.