The Sunday Lectionary Readings for SUNDAY, December 15, 2019 - Third Sunday of Advent - Gaudete Sunday

The Sunday Lectionary Readings

SUNDAY, December 15, 2019 - Third Sunday of Advent

Gaudete Sunday

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

BEHOLD AND BELIEVE!

Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146:5-10 or Luke 1:46b-55; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

Opening Statement

We are so caught up in the rush to Christmas festivities that we fail to notice the wondrous ways in which God is present in our lives. We often believe that God’s blessings are reserved for the holy and righteous—and never number ourselves among them. Yet, in the story of Mary, we learn that God works through God’s people—God’s regular, ordinary people—we just have to say “yes!” to God’s loving presence. Today is a day to behold the wonders that are wrought in the name of God.

These Advent readings proclaim a world turned upside down. For those who are currently poor, hungry, or oppressed, this is great news. But for those who enjoy the comforts of food in abundance, warm places to live, steady jobs, and a voice in the political system, well, this means acknowledging our role in the world’s injustices. Somehow the good news doesn’t seem quite so good. But the scriptures call us to work side by side with Jesus in bringing about God’s vision of abundance for all. When we claim our calling as partners in the dance, we can truly rejoice in the coming of Christ!

Third Sunday of Advent - Joy

Loving God, we open ourselves to you,

trusting that this is how you made us:

you created us for joy-filled hearts and lives.
Show us the creative power of hope.

Teach us the peace that comes from justice.

Fill us with the kind of joy that cannot be contained, but must be shared.

Prepare our hearts to be transformed by you,

That we may walk in the light of Christ. Amen.

Opening Prayer (Isaiah 35)

God of Glory, we rejoice in the good news of your promises. Come into our parched world and shower us with your gushing, abundant water of life. Enter into our brokenness, and renew us with the strength of your love. Be born anew in our hearts and in our world. Come, Jesus; come. We are ready! Amen.

The Collect (Book of Common Prayers)

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Prayer of Confession (Isaiah 35, Luke 1, Matthew 11)

Upside-down God, you announce your coming with exciting news: the hungry will eat their fill, the oppressed will dance in newfound freedom; you proclaim your mission with hard news: the well fed will go hungry, the powerful will lose their status. We find ourselves squirming as we acknowledge our participation in structures that oppress and marginalize. Help us accept and proclaim the coming of your Son as truly good news. Give us the courage to set aside our privilege, and help bring about this upside-down world, where everyone can sing together for joy.

Words of Assurance (Isaiah 35)

The desert shall rejoice and blossom. Waters shall break forth in the wilderness. The burning sand shall become a pool. The God who can transform the dry lands can also transform the desert of our lives. Abundant forgiveness is ours from the God who turns sorrow and sighing into joy and gladness.

Prayer of the Day

Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming, that, transformed by grace, we may walk in your way; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

First Reading

Isaiah 35:1-10

(The desert blooms)

The Return of the Redeemed to Zion
1  The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
     the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
   like the crocus 2 it shall blossom abundantly,
     and rejoice with joy and singing.
   The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
     the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
   They shall see the glory of the Lord,
     the majesty of our God.

3  Strengthen the weak hands,
     and make firm the feeble knees.
4  Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
     “Be strong, do not fear!
   Here is your God.
     He will come with vengeance,
   with terrible recompense.
     He will come and save you.”

5  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
     and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6  then the lame shall leap like a deer,
     and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
   For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
     and streams in the desert;
7  the burning sand shall become a pool,
     and the thirsty ground springs of water;
   the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,
     the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

8  A highway shall be there,
     and it shall be called the Holy Way;
   the unclean shall not travel on it,
     but it shall be for God’s people;
     no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
9  No lion shall be there,
     nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
   they shall not be found there,
     but the redeemed shall walk there.
10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,
     and come to Zion with singing;
   everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
     they shall obtain joy and gladness,
     and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Psalm 146:5-10

(God lifts up those bowed down)

5  Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
     whose hope is in the Lord their God,
6  who made heaven and earth,
     the sea, and all that is in them;
   who keeps faith forever;
7    who executes justice for the oppressed;
     who gives food to the hungry.

   The Lord sets the prisoners free;
8    the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
   The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
     the Lord loves the righteous.
9  The Lord watches over the strangers;
     he upholds the orphan and the widow,
     but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

10  The Lord will reign forever,
     your God, O Zion, for all generations.
   Praise the Lord!

or

Luke 1:46b-55

(My spirit rejoices in God)

Mary’s Song of Praise
46 “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47   and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his
         servant.
     Surely, from now on all generations will call me
         blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
     and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him
     from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
     he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their
         hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
     and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
     and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
     in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
     to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

Second Reading

James 5:7-10

(Patience until the Lord’s coming)

Patience in Suffering
5:7 Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! 10 As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia. I am sending my messenger before you,who will prepare your way before you. Alleluia. (Matt. 11:10)

The Gospel

Matthew 11:2-11

(The forerunner of Christ)

Messengers from John the Baptist
11:2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6 And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

Jesus Praises John the Baptist
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written,

   ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
     who will prepare your way before you.’

11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Here ends the Lessons

Click HERE to read today’s Holy Gospel Lesson message

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Closing Prayer

Lord, thank you that we are a family in Christ. Help us to share his love and legacy with everyone that we encounter this week. May we lavish Christ’s abounding goodness upon our families, friends and colleagues. Holy Spirit, come and equip us in our workplace, guide us in our school life, and inspire us in our neighbourhood. May we be your hands and feet to the needy, your words of affirmation to the oppressed and your arms of comfort to the lonely.

Thank you for choosing to use us to bring your kingdom here on earth.

Amen.

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
The Sunday Lectionary Readings for SUNDAY, December 15, 2019 - Third Sunday of Advent
BEHOLD AND BELIEVE!
Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146:5-10 or Luke 1:46b-55; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

“What Child is this?” The Sermon for SUNDAY, December 15, 2019 - Third Sunday of Advent

Our Gospel message comes to us today from the 11th chapter of Matthew, beginning with the 2nd verse.

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

—Matthew 11:2-11 (NRSV)

All mighty God, we thank you for your word and the way that you in it revealed to us who you are and what you've done for us in Christ. Now as we open that word we pray that your spirit may be present, that all thoughts of worry or distraction may be removed and that the Spirit will allow us to hear your voice. And so, oh God, fill us with your spirit through the reading and proclamation of your word this day. We pray in Jesus name. Amen.

“What Child is this?”

Grace be unto you and peace, from God our Father and from our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our gospel lesson this morning sees John the Baptist in prison and he was wondering if Jesus was indeed the Messiah. So he sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the one.

Jesus does not say yes or no, to that question but tells the disciples of John to tell John what you have seen and heard. And what did they see and hear. The lame can walk the blind had received their sight, the leper had been healed and the dead have been raised up.

Jesus told John’s disciples to go back and tell John what has been happening and then John could figure out for himself that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.

John was probably having a difficult time understanding who Jesus was.

He might be thinking, “Lord, where did I go wrong? I did what I thought you wanted. I said what I thought you wanted me to say. You told me that Messiah was coming. But where is he? Where’s the fire, the ax, the judgment he’s supposed to bring? And why, if he’s here, would he let me stay in this place? I’ve heard rumors about this one called Jesus. I thought I knew my cousin pretty well. I remember that day in the Jordan when I baptized him. What a glorious day. I knew it was all beginning then. God’s whole plan was being put into play. But, where is he now? Why isn’t he doing what I said he would do? Is he really the one or should I look for another?”

John waned to know why Jesus did not come with a fire instead of love. He wanted Jesus to bring judgment upon the people, but instead he brought love and forgiveness. This was not what John thought the one would do. He thought the one would come with fire and brimstone. But Jesus came with love and understanding. Jesus came with forgiveness.

Jesus then pays his respects to John by saying, “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

He tells the crowd that John indeed is someone who should be respected for the message that he brought. John’s message was right for that time, but Jesus’ message of love and forgiveness is the main message that God wanted to come to this earth.

And today, which message do we listen to when we see the child come at Christmas? Do we see judgment or do we see love?

What child do we see on Mary’s lap sleeping as that song says. What child, the child of judgment or the child of love. The child who can answer all our questions of faith, or the child that leaves some of those questions unanswered.

Wondering, having doubts, is that okay? Do we shy away from these questions of doubts? As Christians do we say doubts, questions of faith are wrong?

American theologian and philosopher Paul Tillich points out that God does not stand aloof, apart from our questioning; rather God is in the struggle of doubt, making himself known through it. Doubt therefore is a vital part and element of the faith which justifies.

In the book, A sign in the straw, Pastor Richard Hoefler asks, “Who of us have not cried out with John, ‘Are you the Christ, or shall we look for another’? When life gets tough and we see innocent people suffer. The bad so often succeed while the good fail. When we face a world locked in the death grip of one meaningless war after another; when we witness the destruction of nature as greed and desire for comforts drain the earth of her natural resources; when we choke on pollution and stumble over wrecked lives of people struck down by drugs and alcoholism; who can help but cry out, ‘If you are the Messiah, why this? Must we, shall we, look for another?’”

He asks again, “when will we learn that faith does not have all the answers? Faith is a risk. Faith is a life of trust, not of certainty and security. God never promised answers to all our questions. God never promised life without stress. He promises and gives only himself, with all the dangers and risks of personal encounters.”

He states further, “Our hope? Not faith without doubt, but faith within doubts. Not the answers we possess but who possesses us. We may doubt God, but God never doubts us. We may not know God but He with absolute certainty knows us. This is the gospel. This is our life. This is the love that will never let us go.”

We need to have faith with all our doubts and questions. The child comes with love and allows us to face our doubts and questions about life and faith.

The child comes and changes everything about life for us. He makes the weak strong, the strong weak, the dirty clean, the sinful sinless, and the unforgiven forgiven. In a word he changes everything.

He is like the baby in the following:The story goes that Roaring Camp was supposed to be the meanest, toughest mining town in all of the West. It was reported that there were more murders and thefts than any other place around. It was a terrible place inhabited entirely by men, except for one woman who made her living in the only way she knew how. Her name was Cherokee Sal.

She became pregnant by who knows whom and died while giving birth to a baby. The men took the baby and put her in a box with some old rags under her. Somehow that just didn’t seem right, so one of the men rode eighty miles to buy a rosewood cradle. He brought it back, and they put the rags and the baby in the beautiful new rosewood cradle. But the rags didn’t look very nice in the beautiful new cradle, so they had another man ride to Sacramento where he bought some beautiful silk and lace blankets. Now they put the baby in the cradle lined with silk and put the new blanket over her. It looked fine until someone happened to notice that the floor was so filthy.

So these hardened, tough men got down on their hands and knees, and with their calloused hands scrubbed the floor until it was spotless. Of course, now the walls and the ceiling and the dirty windows without curtains looked absolutely terrible. So they washed down the walls and the ceiling, and they put curtains at the windows. Things were beginning to look a lot better. But of course, they had to give up a lot of their fighting, because the baby slept a lot, and babies can’t sleep during a brawl. So the whole temperature of Roaring Camp seemed to go down.

They would take the baby out and set her by the entrance to the mine in her rosewood cradle, with one of the men staying next to her, so the others could see her when they came out of the mine. Then somebody noticed what a dirty place the mine entrance was, so they planted flowers, and they made a garden there. It really looked quite beautiful. The men would bring her shiny little stones that they would find in the mine. But when they would put their hands down next to hers, their hands looked so dirty. Pretty soon the general store was all sold out of soap and shaving gear. The baby was changing everything.

That’s also the way it is for those who have placed their faith in the babe of Bethlehem. The baby enters into their lives, and he slips into every crevice of their experience.

The one who John was wondering about, Jesus the Christ child born in a manger came and changed everything about life. He came into every part of life and changed it.

It is this child of change that we await for during this advent season. The child in the manger, the child on Mary’s lap sleeping that comes now in our lives and changes us from the inside out. He comes with love to forgive, to love, to change us.

Will you let that child of change enter your life this Advent and Christmas season? Will you be changed from the inside out?

A pastor writes:One rainy afternoon I was driving along one of the main streets of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick.

Suddenly, my daughter, spoke up from her relaxed position in her seat. “Dad, I’m thinking of something.”

This announcement usually meant she had been pondering some fact for a while, and was now ready to expound all that her six-year-old mind had discovered. I was eager to hear.

“What are you thinking?” I asked. “The rain,” she began, “is like sin, and the windshield wipers are like God wiping our sins away.”

After the chill bumps raced up my arms I was able to respond. “That’s really good, Aspen.”

Then my curiosity broke in. How far would this little girl take this revelation? So I asked, “Do you notice how the rain keeps on coming? What does that tell you?”

Aspen didn’t hesitate one moment with her answer: “We keep on sinning, and God just keeps on forgiving us.”

We keep on sinning and God just keeps on forgiving us is the way for us to see this child born in a manger.

What child is this, the child who comes into every aspect of our lives and changes us, forgives us and cleanses us from our sins. Will you allow that child into your live this Advent and Christmas season? Will you allow him to change you from the inside out? Will you allow him to clean up every aspect of your life?

Let us pray: Eternal and Almighty God, we give you most hearty thanks, that in your great love, you graciously pitied us, who were doomed to eternal death for our sins, and ordained your only begotten Son, before the foundation of the world was laid, to be our Mediator, Atonement, and Savior; that he was promised unto our first parents in paradise, after their deplorable fall, and at the appointed time was sent into the world, that he assumed our flesh and blood, became our Brother, and in all things like unto, sin excepted. We praise you, that by his death he destroyed him who had the power of death, the Devil, and delivered us, who must otherwise have spent our whole life in bondage to the fear of death, from the kingdom of Satan and darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of light and eternal happiness.

We heartily beseech you to fill us with your grace, that we may rightly know this your love and mercy, and Jesus Christ your Son, whom you have made unto us for wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, and so love and honor him, as wholly to surrender ourselves up unto him, to confide in him, and esteem everything in the world as dross and dung, for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ. And may we cling unto this Savior with true faith, who forgives all our sins, and heals all our diseases, that we may rejoice in all the tribulations of this life, and sing with the heavenly host: “Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, and good-will towards men,” and finally attain unto the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls.

We entreat you also for all the governments of the world. Grant unto our rulers grace and peace, that they govern those placed under them in your fear, and with your approbation, that righteousness may be promoted, and iniquity be checked and punished, that we may fulfill our days in quietness and peace, as becomes Christians.

Confirm all weak and disconsolate spirits, and send down upon us your peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who has taught us to pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.

Amen.

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Scripture taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)® Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Sermon contributed by Rev. Tim Zingale.
What child is this, the child who comes into every aspect of our lives and changes us, forgives us and cleanses us from our sins.

The Daily Prayer for SUNDAY, December 15, 2019

The Daily Prayer

SUNDAY, December 15, 2019

Twentieth-century Jesuit Anthony de Mello said, “In the land of the spirit, you cannot walk by the light of someone else’s lamp. You want to borrow mine. I’d rather teach you how to make your own.”

Try as we might, Lord, we cannot carry the full load of another’s burden. Only you can take on our burdens in a way that frees us to walk upright and confident in our future. Help us learn to trust you even as we continue to lend a hand to others. Amen.

Verse of the Day SUNDAY, December 15, 2019

Luke 1:30-33 (NIV)

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Read all of Luke 1

Listen to Luke 1

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Un dia a la Vez - Domingo 15 de Diciembre de 2019

Consejos prácticos para el diario vivir

Lámpara es a mis pies tu palabra, y lumbrera a mi camino.

—Salmo 119:105 ( RVR1960)

Hay un refrán popular que expresa: «El que no oye consejos no llega a viejo». Y es muy que cierto.

No sé si te ha pasado, pero a mí sí. A veces nuestros padres nos aconsejan y nos dicen cosas que saben que son buenas, pero no les hacemos caso. Hoy, después de tantos golpes en la vida, te puedo decir que debemos escuchar los consejos de nuestros padres, pues tienen la experiencia y la sabiduría de la vida. Además, desean lo mejor para nosotros.

He aquí algunos consejos útiles que a mí me han dado buenos resultados:

• Coloca a Dios en primer lugar.
• Deja el pasado atrás.
• Ten en alto tu autoestima.
• Valórate.
• No menosprecies lo que tienes.
• Sé fiel, honesto y sincero.
• No envidies los triunfos de los demás.
• Trabaja con excelencia.
• Sé humilde.
• Sé obediente a los mandamientos del Señor.

Si quieres ser feliz de verdad, pon en práctica lo que te aconseja la Palabra de Dios.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Hay un refrán popular que expresa: «El que no oye consejos no llega a viejo».

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Sunday, December 15, 2019

LOVE MYSTERY

This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.

—1 Corinthians 4:1 (NIV)

Our Open Doors colleague, Ron Boyd-MacMillan, shares the following insight from his teaching, “Why I Need to Encounter the Persecuted Church.”

However we splice it, the Christian life involves living with mystery. Many times the will of God is utterly incomprehensible to us. This is as it should be, since God’s ways are so much higher than ours, but it doesn’t make it any easier to live with. Living with mystery is hard.

Mystery should make us silent, humble, careful. We should not rush to explain what cannot be explained. But I remember on a visit to China meeting a famous house church leader. We were talking about revival. Revival is a mystery. Why does God bring it to some countries and not to others? We don’t know. This leader said he knew: “Oh, there is no mystery to revival. Revival is brought about by persecution. You pray for persecution, and you will get revival later on.”

But this is quite untrue, and one has to make allowances for persecuted Christians, for though they may know the history of their own churches well, they are often unaware of the history of the church worldwide. It is obvious that God has brought many revivals about without persecution. The Great Awakenings of 18th century America and Britain for example were brought about largely as a result of the preaching of Whitefield and Wesley. It is also obvious that there are places where persecution has not brought revival. One thinks of the whole of North Africa and the Middle East, which provided so many of our early church leaders like Tertullian and Augustine. Now there are only the sandy ruins of churches, and Islam.

Mysteries also should make us honest. We have to admit “we don’t know” to God. But all too often we beg for answers we simply could not handle. But if I look at the experiences rather than the explanations of the persecuted, I see that at the heart of mystery is not frustration, but joy and grace.

The same Chinese leader—so confident he knew the formula to revival—also shared a prison experience: “I had lost my church, my freedom, and I was starting to lose my health, and I cried to God, Why are you letting me go through this?” He received no formal answer, but said, “I felt a light within me that chased away the darkness, and I received the companionship of Christ. I cannot explain it any more than that, though God knows I have tried. It never comes out right. But the mystery of God’s will was the means I rested on the bosom of Christ.”

Mysteries appear dark, like black holes on the outside, but as we enter them, we are in for a wonderful discovery. At their center is not darkness, but light. This light is the light of Christ. Don’t be afraid of a mystery. It is dark on the outside, but full of light on the inside.

RESPONSE: Today I will not fear mystery but love it by entering to find the light of Christ.

PRAYER: Lord, keep me silent, humble, careful and honest as I explore the mystery of Your grace.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.

LHM Daily Devotions - December 15, 2019 - WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING?

"WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING?"

Dec. 15, 2019

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior ... for He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His Name."

—Luke 1:46-47, 49 (ESV)

I'm teaching my son to drive a car, and one of the things he needs to learn is that where your eyes go, the car goes. If you stare at the car that is approaching you on the other side of the road, you may hit it. Better to look at the road straight ahead of you, where you want your car to go.

"What you see is what you get." Mary knew that. Listen to her joy as she describes what has happened to her! She says, "My soul magnifies the Lord ... my spirit rejoices in God my Savior ... He has looked on me ... He who is mighty has done great things for me ... holy is His Name." She is focusing on the Lord. He is the One who means everything to her. Even in the middle of this mighty miracle, her heart returns to the Miracle Worker—to the Lord, who has chosen her.

Mary has her head on straight. There is no danger of her getting lost in the miracle—of making it all about herself—of turning the whole thing into a freak show or tourist attraction. She loves the Lord, and so she keeps the miracle in its proper place—as one more gift of love from her Lord.

Where are your eyes today? Take some time to stop and stare. Gaze at the baby Jesus in the manger—born into humanity for you. Watch as Jesus teaches, heals, comforts, and calls lost people to Himself. Fix your eyes on Him as He hangs on that cross for you. And look joyfully at Him as He meets you after the resurrection—loving you, forgiving you, and sending you out into His world to share His love with others.

What you see is what you get. Let's fix our eyes on Jesus!

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, keep my eyes and my heart fixed on You. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• When have you run into something? What caused your accident?
• Are there things in your life right now that are taking up too much of your attention? If so, what?
• What small habits could you begin that will help you focus on Jesus?

Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
When have you run into something? What caused your accident?

CPTLN devocional del 15 de Diciembre de 2019 - ¿Dónde buscas?

ADVIENTO—NAVIDAD 2019

¿Dónde buscas?

15 de Diciembre de 2019

Entonces María dijo: "Mi alma glorifica al Señor, y mi espíritu se regocija en Dios mi Salvador... Grandes cosas ha hecho en mí el Poderoso; ¡Santo es su nombre!

—Lucas 1:46-47, 49 (RVC)

"Lo que ves es lo que obtienes" dice un viejo adagio. María lo sabía. ¡Observa cuánta alegría demuestra cuando describe lo que le sucedió! Ella dice: "Mi alma glorifica al Señor, y mi espíritu se regocija en Dios mi Salvador... se ha dignado mirar a su humilde sierva... Grandes cosas ha hecho en mí el Poderoso; ¡Santo es su nombre!" Ella se centra en el Señor. Él significa todo para ella. Aun en medio de este poderoso milagro, su corazón se vuelve a quien obra el milagro, al Señor, quien la ha elegido.

María tiene la cabeza bien puesta. No hay peligro de que se pierda en el milagro, de hacer todo por ella misma, de convertir todo en un espectáculo extraño o en una atracción turística. Ella ama al Señor, y por eso mantiene el milagro en su lugar apropiado, como un regalo más de amor de su Señor.

¿Dónde están tus ojos hoy? Tómate un tiempo para detenerte y mirar. Mira al niño Jesús en el pesebre, nacido en la humanidad para ti. Observa cómo Jesús enseña, sana, consuela y llama a sí a las personas perdidas. Fija tus ojos en él mientras él cuelga de la cruz por ti. Y míralo con alegría cuando te encuentre después de la resurrección, amándote, perdonándote y enviándote al mundo para que compartas su amor con los demás.

Lo que vemos, es lo que obtenemos. ¡Fijemos nuestros ojos en Jesús!

ORACIÓN: Querido Señor Jesús, mantén mis ojos y mi corazón fijos en ti. En tu nombre. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

• ¿Hay cosas en tu vida en este momento que ocupan demasiado tu atención?
• ¿Qué cosas puedes hacer para ayudarte a concentrarte en Jesús?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. ¡Utilice estas devociones en sus boletines! Usado con permiso. Todos los derechos reservados por la Int'l LLL.
¿Hay cosas en tu vida en este momento que ocupan demasiado tu atención?

Unser Täglich Brot - Wasser wird zur Hoffnung

Wasser wird zur Hoffnung

Lesung: Johannes 4,4-14 | Die Bibel in einem Jahr: Amos 1-3, Offenbarung 6

MP3 herunterladen

Wenn jemand Durst hat, soll er zu mir kommen und trinken.

—Johannes 7,37

Der Dienst von Tom und Mark erfrischt Leben. Das wird deutlich in dem Video, das eine Gruppe Kinder zeigt, die im erfrischenden Wasser einer Dusche lachen und tanzen. Die erste Dusche ihres Lebens. Die Männer arbeiten mit einheimischen Gemeinden, um Wasserfiltersysteme an Brunnen in Haiti zu installieren. Somit wird Leben verlängert, weil Krankheiten verhindert werden, die durch verunreinigtes Wasser verursacht werden. Zugang zu sauberem, frischem Wasser gibt den Menschen Hoffnung für ihre Zukunft.

Jesus verweist auf das „lebendige Wasser“ in Johannes 4, um eine ähnliche Vorstellung der steten Quelle zur Erfrischung aufzuzeigen. Müde und durstig bittet Jesus eine Samariterin um Wasser (V. 4-8). Diese Bitte führt zu einer Unterhaltung, in der Jesus der Frau „lebendiges Wasser“ anbietet (V. 9-15). Wasser, das die Quelle des Lebens und der Hoffnung in ihnen wird, wie eine „nie versiegende Quelle in ihnen“.

Johannes erklärt: „Mit dem »lebendigen Wasser« meinte er den Geist“ (Johannes 7,37-39).

Durch den Heiligen Geist sind Gläubige mit Jesus verbunden und haben Zutritt zu der endlosen Kraft, Hoffnung und Freude, die in Gott zu finden ist. Wie das lebendige Wasser, lebt der Heilige Geist in uns Gläubigen, erfrischt und erneuert uns.

Wie hat Jesus durch seinen Geist deinen Durst gestillt? Wie kannst du weitergeben, was Jesus für dich getan hat?

Lieber Herr, danke, dass du uns deinen Geist gesandt hast. Wirke in uns, damit unser Leben andere auf dich hinweist.

Von Alyson Kieda

© 2019 Unser Täglich Brot
Der Dienst von Tom und Mark erfrischt Leben.