Daily Devotion for November 30

This Sunday is the Second Sunday of Advent.

Theme for Advent: (Luke 20:10)

Behold! I bring you good news of a great joy....Christmas is coming!

We will continue discussing Narnia (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) by C. S. Lewis.

This Sunday our theme is: Turkish Delight

What is Turkish Delight? In Narnia, Edmund is offered anything he wants to eat by the witch. He requests Turkish Delight. She delivers.

This is the beginning of Edmund not being able to say "no." She convinces Edmund, while eating the Turkish Delight, to bring his brother and sisters to her. He is unaware that this is his first step of betrayal. All beginning with Turkish Delight.

QUESTION: What is your Turkish Delight (the thing that you enjoy the most)?

What would it take for you to betray those who are important to you?

This Sunday: the PASSING OF THE PEACE

QUESTION: Do we really need Christmas?

CHRISTMAS EVE (Call to Worship)

If our greatest need was for information,

God would have sent a teacher

If our greatest need was for technology

God would have sent a scientist

If our greatest need was for money

God would have sent a banker

If our greatest need was for entertainment

God would have sent an entertainer

But our greatest need was for forgiveness

So, God sent us the Savior and Lord Jesus Christ

INTRO TO SCRIPTURE

Question: Why do we really need Christmas?

SCRIPTURE: Romans 7:19

For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing

NOTE: Paul struggles with sin. He does what he should not do; and does what he should not do.

QUESTION

In our lives, do we have difficulty with some things we should not do, and still do?

If we fall short, and do the things we should not do, then what is our need?

THOUGHT TO PONDER

To need, or not to need; that is the question.

Daily Devotion for November 23

Tonight

is the joint thanksgiving Service with our brothers and sisters in Christ across the Street; the Lady of Lourdes. The service is at 7:30 p.m.

The Sermon is on I Thessalonians 5:18

The question is: What if I don't feel like giving thanks?

This Sunday

is the First Sunday of Advent

Our theme is: Narnia (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)

Theme Scripture: Luke 2:10 & 11

The Angel said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the city of Bethlehem, a child is born to you, He is the Messiah, the Lord.

Theme Question

What if it were always winter and never Christmas?

Daily Devotion for November 10

A POEM TO CONSIDER

History says, Don't hope

On this side of the grave.

But then, once in a lifetime

The longed-for tidal wave

Of Justice can rise up,

And hope and history rhyme.

So hope for a great sea-change

On the far side of revenge.

Believe that a further shore

Is reachable from here.

Believe in miracles

And cures and healing wells.

--Seamus Heaney

QUESTION TO PONDER

What does this mean to you?

THOUGHT TO PONDER

There are certain painful experiences that may cause one to desire closure.

In the midst of closure, there may also be a need for forgiveness.

SCRIPTURE TO PONDER

...And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors...

--Sermon on the Mount, Lord's Prayer, Matthew 6:12

Daily Devotion for November 9

This Sunday is LAITY SUNDAY.

Karen Soto-White is our fearless leader. Leading us into our theme of 2010; "We Are Family." This Sunday members will share their faith journey.

If you have a faith journey to share, let me know about it. Let's talk

Daily Devotion for November 7

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25:31

When the Son of Man comes in his GLORY, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly GLORY.

QUESTION

How do you see God? When you envision God, what is the first thing that comes to mind?

Is it “glory”? Or, is it something else? Do you see majesty, or awesomeness? Loving? Compassionate? Merciful? Shepherd? Friend? How about fear, as in “fear the Lord”? or Judge?

The above verse begins a passage where Jesus shares what will happen on Judgement Day. Not a very popular topic. At the end of his life, in the last discourse, Jesus who is about to approach his own judgement day tells the disciples what is like on Judgement Day.

In a couple of weeks, a long awaited movie is to be release: 2012. I haven’t seen it, but I remember back in the early 70’s talking about this “future” event. Back then we were into those kinds of ideas. Things haven’t changed much. It seems like there is always that future date: 1984, 2000 and now 2012 that can be the topic of conversation.

So, back again to our original question: How do you see God? There are many ways we see and experience God. What is important is to be active in that relationship with God, driven by love.

QUESTION TO PONDER

How do you see God?

THOUGHT TO PONDER

How does God see you?

Daily Devotion for November 5

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25:32

All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

OBSERVATION:

The shepherd separates the sheep from the goats at the end of the day.

POINT:

At the “end of the day” the GOOD SHEPHERD separates the sheep from the goats.

IMPLICATION

Not an exciting prospect. To be separated at the “end of the day” by an all powerful Shepherd (God). Judgement is not an exciting prospect at any time.

Ric, Bill and I have been meeting and discussing a book called Crazy Love. In that book, there is an excellent question, “What would be the first words out of your mouth if you encountered God?”

QUESTION TO PONDER:

What would be the first words out if your mouth if God appeared right NOW in your life?

SOME POSSIBLE ANSWERS:

“Lord, I want to be a sheep.”

“We are not worthy”

“Woe is me I am a man of unclean lips”

THOUGHT TO PONDER

Whatever the answer, let these days be a time of preparing to worship God on Sunday. Worship is a time of experiencing God right NOW in our lives. Worship is not about us and being worthy, but about God and God being worthy of worship.

DAILy Devotion for November 5

This Sunday

Is VETERAN’S SUNDAY and CROP WALK SUNDAY.

Our Scripture is Matthew 24: 31 - 46. It could perhaps be summed up in one verse found in James:

SCRIPTURE: James 4:17

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

QUESTION: did you help that person in need across the street?

REFLECT

This is a good week to reflect on our need to help others.

Who do you help? Do you only help those worthy of your help? How about the folks who are unworthy?

When you reflect on the people you have helped over the years, does it say anything about who you are? Do you find yourself gravitating toward a certain type of environment when it’s time to help? Do you find yourself only helping when it is convenient to you?

This Sunday a dozen people are walking for others. I am so grateful for their willingness to walk as well as the willingness of others to sponsor them. CROP is an organization that feeds people locally and globally.

PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS:

Carol, Joann, Teresa, Judy, Vicki, Phyllis, Pat, Gordon, Charlie, Jeri, Barbara and Mike

Daily Devotion for November 4

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25: 34 & 41

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

NOTE: There are two kingdoms. a kingdom prepared by God for the righteous. And a second kingdom of eternal fire.

The first kingdom is where everybody wants to go, thought just not yet. It is a kingdom that the common concept for criteria is grace. Can’t make it by our works. Yet, this passage turns that concept upside down. Where is grace, when it looks like works. Notice that the works aren’t even the typical concept of moral character, but the works is our response to the weak. Once again, whatever happened to grace?

If one truly loves god, and experiences the grace of god and that love, then as we grow in that love and grace we will begin to love others. If we truly love others, then we shall respond to the weak. In other words, it is love (Greatest and 2nd Greatest commandment) that is the criteria for entering the kingdom of God. The works reflect that love. In other words, you can’t fake love. You either love or don’t. Fake, unauthentic love, no matter how poetic the words are, if the actions don’t mesh with the words, the words are meaningless. James (faith without works is dead); and love without action is not love.

QUESTION TO PONDER

To love or not to love, that is the question.

THOUGHT TO PONDER

The rule for all of us is fairly simple: do not waste time bother whether you “love” your neighbor, act as if you did. C.S. Lewis

Daily Devotion for November 3

INTRO TO MATTHEW

Matthew is the “Do” gospel. It is the gospel that aligns with the Letter of James (“faith without works is dead” James 2:20) more than any other gospel.

INTRO TO MATTHEW 25

This chapter is the last words of the last discourse of Jesus. These words follow six parables about living ethical. This section contains a description of the Parousia (Second Coming of Christ). The focus is on actions of the follower and not merely the words. The scene is heaven, the act is judgement.

QUESTION: Do you believe in Divine Final Judgement?

If so, what then shall judgement be on?

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25: 31 - 46

31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

NATIONS

There are two basic interpretations of NATIONS

1. Literally nations, as all people of the world

2. Followers of Jesus only

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

QUESTION: What is the criteria of judgement?

ANSWER: How one responds to the weak.

PROBLEM: What happened to the assumption of judgement based on grace?

A POSSIBLE SOLUTION: Tomorrow’s Devotion may shed light

POINT: This Sunday is Veterans Sunday and CROP Walk Sunday.

At the end of both worship services the CROP Walk Walkers will be asked to come forward for a prayer and sending.

If you would like to sponsor one of the walkers, please feel free to see them after the service.

SCRIPTURE TO PONDER: Matthew 25:40

'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'