Read Luke 2:8-20
It’s Christmas Eve! The anticipation of Christmas is at its height! Tonight, we will join together at church in praise and celebration of Jesus’ birth.
Some of my favorite parts of the Christmas Eve service are the songs. When I sit at the front of the sanctuary, the whole church seems bursting with song behind me. Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Joy to the World and the many others we know by heart are sung with joy and enthusiasm. Can you even imagine this in comparison to the angels singing in response to the birth of Jesus?
The shepherds were a witness to this song and the incredible news of the Messiah’s birth. They could tell it was a big deal! They then hurried to the village to see what had happened and they knew what the angel told them was true. Upon returning to their flocks, they too were glorifying and praising God. I imagine they were in complete and utter awe at what they had seen and heard.
Let us do the same today to the good news of Jesus’ birth. Let us be so in awe and wonder at this gift, that we are moved to abandoned, unrestrained praise.
QUESTIONS:
1. How does this scripture stir your heart to worship?
2. How do you respond to the news of Jesus’ birth? How can it be more like the angel's response?
PRAYER:
Lord, I ask You to give me eyes to see You in fresh ways this Christmas and worship You through my words, actions and singing.
Kirsten Svendsen
Showing posts with label In AWE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label In AWE. Show all posts
Monday, December 24, 2018
Thursday, December 20, 2018
You Will Fill Me with Joy
Read Psalm 16:7-11
As we look at today's reading, it is interesting to note that during his first recorded sermon found in Acts 2:25-28 (Pentecost), the Apostle Peter drew upon verses from one of David's psalms. As Peter addressed the mostly Jewish crowd on this important day he viewed these verses as the foretelling of Christ's death and resurrection and the joy that is secured for all believers.
David and Peter both emphasize the importance of knowing God and the resulting joy as illustrated in Psalm 16:7-9 "I will praise the Lord who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices."
Christ offers Himself in our daily lives and in the reality of His resurrection and the promise of eternal life for all believers. We can experience the joy he promises in knowing Him through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, prayer, His Word, the Sacraments, etc. Ultimately, we have the promise of eternal life where we will see Jesus face to face and experience joy unending!
QUESTIONS:
1. How do you grow closer to God on a daily basis? What elements of the faith do you practice to grow in this relationship?
2. How often do you think about the reality of the resurrection? Are there times when you consider what this promise truly means?
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for the ability to know You and the reality of the resurrection. Thank You for the joy resulting from these gifts. Amen
Tom Richards
As we look at today's reading, it is interesting to note that during his first recorded sermon found in Acts 2:25-28 (Pentecost), the Apostle Peter drew upon verses from one of David's psalms. As Peter addressed the mostly Jewish crowd on this important day he viewed these verses as the foretelling of Christ's death and resurrection and the joy that is secured for all believers.
David and Peter both emphasize the importance of knowing God and the resulting joy as illustrated in Psalm 16:7-9 "I will praise the Lord who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices."
Christ offers Himself in our daily lives and in the reality of His resurrection and the promise of eternal life for all believers. We can experience the joy he promises in knowing Him through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, prayer, His Word, the Sacraments, etc. Ultimately, we have the promise of eternal life where we will see Jesus face to face and experience joy unending!
QUESTIONS:
1. How do you grow closer to God on a daily basis? What elements of the faith do you practice to grow in this relationship?
2. How often do you think about the reality of the resurrection? Are there times when you consider what this promise truly means?
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for the ability to know You and the reality of the resurrection. Thank You for the joy resulting from these gifts. Amen
Tom Richards
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Praise the LORD
Read Psalm 103:19-22
Praise can be big or small. Praise can be on your knees, face to the floor, through tears and whispers. Praise can be jumping and dancing, reaching your arms as high as they go, trying to touch the heavens. Psalm 103 speaks of praise in this bigness and in this smallness.
The angels, the mighty ones, praise the Lord. All the heavenly hosts praise the Lord. Every work of the Lord in His dominion praises the Lord! This vastness of praise is a massive chorus, a vehement anthem that rains over the heavens and the earth, singing of the glory of the Lord! Then, the Psalmist goes quieter saying, “Praise the Lord, my soul” and we understand that praise is also the gentle, still melody in our heart of hearts—and that God hears and loves it all the same.
When we look at Mary’s song, we don’t know if her praise was a shout or a whisper, a vehement anthem or a still melody. But we do know that she praised the Lord with everything she had that day, for she knew her Savior was coming. And we can do the same, for we know our Savior is here.
QUESTIONS:
1. How does Mary's song help you in your faith and trust of God?
2. When God asks something really outside your comfort zone, how can you be ready to respond with a big YES, with joy?
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, I want to have unflinching faith like Mary, Jesus' mother. Fill me with that desire. Amen.
Kelsey Payne
Praise can be big or small. Praise can be on your knees, face to the floor, through tears and whispers. Praise can be jumping and dancing, reaching your arms as high as they go, trying to touch the heavens. Psalm 103 speaks of praise in this bigness and in this smallness.
The angels, the mighty ones, praise the Lord. All the heavenly hosts praise the Lord. Every work of the Lord in His dominion praises the Lord! This vastness of praise is a massive chorus, a vehement anthem that rains over the heavens and the earth, singing of the glory of the Lord! Then, the Psalmist goes quieter saying, “Praise the Lord, my soul” and we understand that praise is also the gentle, still melody in our heart of hearts—and that God hears and loves it all the same.
When we look at Mary’s song, we don’t know if her praise was a shout or a whisper, a vehement anthem or a still melody. But we do know that she praised the Lord with everything she had that day, for she knew her Savior was coming. And we can do the same, for we know our Savior is here.
QUESTIONS:
1. How does Mary's song help you in your faith and trust of God?
2. When God asks something really outside your comfort zone, how can you be ready to respond with a big YES, with joy?
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, I want to have unflinching faith like Mary, Jesus' mother. Fill me with that desire. Amen.
Kelsey Payne
Monday, December 3, 2018
Zechariah's Unbelief
Luke 1:18-20
A decade ago, I dreamed of having many children—each one unique in the interests they would share with me, the activities we could do together, the joy they would bring to my life. But I have struggled in romance, and with each passing year my dreams get smaller, my hope dwindles a little more.
One of my favorite holiday traditions is watching “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”. I enjoy the innocent love story between Rudolph and Clarice, and I hope a little more when they sing, “There’s always tomorrow for dreams to come true.” Then, the misfit toys depress me when they think they’ve been forgotten and cry out in despair, “I haven’t any dreams left to dream!” In spite of their hopelessness, Santa comes to turn their despair to joy by bringing children into their lives.
For many, the holidays are more a painful reminder of what we lack than a joyful celebration. Some of our longings will always be longings; others are felt for only a time. One day, like Zechariah, we may be awed by the plans God has made for us. We can trust that God will fulfill His promise at the proper time.
QUESTIONS:
1. What do you long for this holiday season?
2. What longings of your past is God granting in your present?
PRAYER:
Lord, I trust Your plans for me—plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future.
Star Bradley
A decade ago, I dreamed of having many children—each one unique in the interests they would share with me, the activities we could do together, the joy they would bring to my life. But I have struggled in romance, and with each passing year my dreams get smaller, my hope dwindles a little more.
One of my favorite holiday traditions is watching “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”. I enjoy the innocent love story between Rudolph and Clarice, and I hope a little more when they sing, “There’s always tomorrow for dreams to come true.” Then, the misfit toys depress me when they think they’ve been forgotten and cry out in despair, “I haven’t any dreams left to dream!” In spite of their hopelessness, Santa comes to turn their despair to joy by bringing children into their lives.
For many, the holidays are more a painful reminder of what we lack than a joyful celebration. Some of our longings will always be longings; others are felt for only a time. One day, like Zechariah, we may be awed by the plans God has made for us. We can trust that God will fulfill His promise at the proper time.
QUESTIONS:
1. What do you long for this holiday season?
2. What longings of your past is God granting in your present?
PRAYER:
Lord, I trust Your plans for me—plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future.
Star Bradley
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