There’s Hope - Advent, Week 1

READ: ISAIAH 9:1-7 (NLT)

6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us…And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

REACT

Did someone press the fast forward button on the calendar remote control? Where did the time go? Just last week, we were giving thanks and filling our bellies with turkey (tofurky for my fellow vegetarians). Now, it’s December and Christmas is around the corner. Blink twice, then it will be a new year!  December also marks the season of Advent - a  centuries old celebration in which we prepare our hearts and anticipate the return of Christ.

Advent is a fancy word which means to come; or, the arrival of something or someone. Religion and tradition aside, advent is an opportunity to deepen our relationship with God our Father. We longingly anticipate Christ’s Second Coming, and remember His  good works. This year, Advent starts on December 3rd, and continues for four weeks leading up to Christmas day. During this period, each week focuses on one of four themes: hope, preparation, joy, and love. This week, let’s talk about hope. To have hope is to boldly believe and expect that God will fulfill His promises. 

In the Old Testament, Isaiah prophesied that a virgin would give birth to a Son, and His name would be Immanuel. We see this promise fulfilled generations later in the New Testament. Matthew 1:1-16 (NLT) gives us the genealogy of Jesus and verse 16 tells us “...Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.” Later in verses 22-23 Matthew tells us, “All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through His prophet: Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”  

The gift of salvation, made possible by the birth and sacrifice of Jesus, is one of many promises given to us by our God our Father. God will not break any promise He’s made to His children.  In Psalm 145:13 (NLT), David declares “…The Lord always keeps His promises; He is gracious in all He does.” God promises blessings to His children: comfort for the hurting, provision for those in need, help in times of struggle, peace in the midst of storms; as well as patience, grace, and mercy when we step out of line and mess up. 

Just as God fulfilled His promise for the Messiah to come, He will make good on all His promises to us - including the promise of the Second Coming. Revelation 3:11 (MSG) proclaims, “I am on my way; I’ll be there soon. Keep a tight grip on what you have so no one distracts you and steals your crown.” I don’t know about you, but the hope of these promises being fulfilled sustains me.. I wouldn’t be able to withstand the many storms and battles I face without hope that Christ will return and Heaven is in my future. Where does your hope lie? 

RESPOND

Is your “hope cup” in need of refreshment? Recall a time when God fulfilled His promise to you; then find one or two promises in the Bible and commit them to memory. Is there someone in your life who can use a bit of hope? What will you do to share the message of hope with them? 

SONG OF THE WEEK: 

 You Keep Hope Alive (Mandisa, Jon Reddick)

*O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (for KING + COUNTRY) (*Bonus track for those who sing Christmas songs year round!)

-DNelson, 12/01/23

Workers Wanted

READ: Matthew 9:37-38 (NLT)

37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

REFLECT

Throughout His travels in Galilee, Jesus did wondrous works and spread the Good News about the Kingdom. He healed the paralyzed, gave sight to the blind, and cast demons out of the possessed. In carrying out His mission, Jesus recognized many were suffering, lost, and in need of a shepherd. He responded to the needs of the people by telling His disciples to pray. He didn’t tell them to pray for more harvest, better tools, or additional leaders. Instead, He told them to pray for workers. 

Jesus knew there were multitudes of hurting people who needed to hear the Good News. He also knew that the mass of people needing salvation far outnumbered the disciples. There was a bountiful harvest, but the number of workers needed to reap the harvest paled in comparison. Jesus responded not by telling the disciples to pray for the needs of the people, but rather, for workers to respond to those needs. 

Some versions of Matthew 9:37-38 use the word laborers instead of workers. A laborer is someone who performs unskilled work - in other words, no special training required - it doesn't take years of schooling, fancy titles, apprenticeships, or special skills. Any willing person can answer the call to be a laborer - even common folk like you and me. 

The duties of the laborer aren’t glamorous. Instead, the laborer performs grunt work that’s messy, tiring, and at times painful. While not the job title of choice by worldly standards, the laborer’s role is so important that Jesus instructs us to pray for more workers. Further reading in Matthew 10, reveals the answer to that prayer: Jesus sent His disciples out with authority to do His work and share the Good News to those in need. God has an open call for laborers. Will you answer? Will you be His hands and feet and  lead others to eternal life in His kingdom?

RESPOND

How will you answer God’s call for workers? How will you demonstrate your commitment to doing the work God has called you to do? Now, get to it…there’s work to be done! 

SONG OF THE WEEK

We Must Work (Dr. Bonnie Hunter & The Friendship Church Outreach Ministry)

DNelson 

11/11/2023

Compassion - A Call to Action

READ: Matthew 9:35-36 (NLT)

35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 

REFLECT

While traveling and spreading the Good News about the Kingdom in Galilee, Jesus was confronted by hurting and lost people. These people had physical and spiritual ailments which He responded to with healing and love. Even while performing miracles like healing the blind and paralyzed, and casting out demons, when Jesus looked at his people, he was moved with compassion. 

The Oxford Dictionary defines compassion as a noun meaning sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. The word compassion comes from the Latin word compati, which means to suffer with. When Jesus saw people lost and hurting, He didn’t just empathize with them, He had compassion for them - He felt their suffering and was compelled to do something about it. As His heart broke for the hurting, lost, and confused, He responded with a call for prayer, then action, as shown in Matthew 10.  

While Jesus walked the Earth, he modeled the way His followers should walk, talk, and live. He showed us how to pray, love, care for others, and respond to others’ pain and suffering. When Jesus saw the broken, he took pity upon them and healed. When He saw the tired and weak, He offered rest. When He saw the hungry, He fed them.

Jesus calls us to do the same. Instead of turning a blind eye to those suffering around us, He wants our heart to break with theirs and do something about it. Jesus doesn’t need us to feel empathy for others; He calls us to show compassion for the hurting and lost by taking action. A homeless man can’t keep warm by the cloak of empathy, he needs shelter. Starving children can’t get nourishment from empathy, they need food. A lonely woman isn’t comforted by empathy, she needs a friend. 

RESPOND

Pray and ask God to give you a heart of compassion. Is there someone around you in need of compassion? Answer God’s call and do something about it.  

SONG OF THE WEEK

The Cause of Christ (Kari Jobe)

DNelson

11/11/2023

Sacrificial Giving

READ: 2 Corinthians 9:6-13 (NIV)

…12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

REFLECT: 

Harvest season is upon us. For the farmer, harvest is the time and process to gather ripened crops. A portion of the harvest is  stored away for later use, while a portion is sold. If there’s abundance, a generous farmer might donate it to local charities. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with giving from abundance, God challenges us to give from the main crop - not just the extra. He provides us with the resources, and we’re to use them to carry out His works by giving to and serving others. This is sacrificial giving. 

Consider two scenarios: a billionaire begrudgingly donates $10,000 to charity each month because his accountant says it’s needed for tax write offs. At the end of the year, he’s praised for being the top donor and has a section of the building named in his honor. Meanwhile, on the other side of town, a single mother who makes minimum wage, faithfully gives $10 a month to the church offering. She also wakes up early every Saturday morning and makes peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which she joyfully delivers to the homeless people in her community. No fanfare - just her and an old wagon filled with saran-wrapped sandwiches. Which gift has the greatest impact? 

The world would likely say the billionaire's gift has the biggest impact. Afterall, $10,000 a month can help a lot more people than $10 and a few sandwiches. However, in God’s eyes, because the single mother’s gift is sacrificial, it has the greatest impact - a heavenly impact. You see, God measures the condition of the heart, not the dollar amount. He blesses us with a bountiful harvest to not only sustain us, but equip us to serve and bless those around us. When we give out of need (sacrificially), we demonstrate obedience and trust in God. When we perform godly works and serve others, He gets the glory and thanksgiving. Where His glory spreads,  His words spread.   

RESPOND:

Is there an area of your life where God is telling you to give out of need? This week, take a leap of faith, be obedient, and share what God has graciously given you with others. 

SONG OF THE WEEK:

Lifesong  (Casting Crowns)

-DNelson

11/06/23

An Attitude of Gratitude ~ Be Thankful and Return Kindness

 

READ: Matthew 10:5-8 (NLT)

5 Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, 6 but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. 7 Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!

REFLECT: 

November is the unofficial start of the holiday season. It’s a time to connect with loved ones, reflect on things we’re thankful for, and express gratitude. A common Thanksgiving tradition requires each individual around the dinner table to say what they’re grateful for. Familiar things include family, friends, food, shelter, and health. This isn’t a practice reserved for Christians - even atheists express gratitude. While you don’t have to be a Christian to express gratitude,  believers are challenged to take gratitude a step further.

In Matthew 10, Jesus sent out the disciples to continue His works and spread His message to God’s lost people. He instructed them to tell others of the impending Kingdom of God,  as well as to heal, raise the dead, and cast out demons. Then, He charged them to give as freely as they received. This is gratitude in action.

There are two components of gratitude: being thankful and returning kindness. Telling God that you’re thankful for His goodness is a necessary first step. Next, we must express thanksgiving by returning God’s kindness. We do this by sharing the goodness of the Lord with those around us - not hoarding His blessings for ourselves. 

With the authority, power, and gifts He bestowed upon us, we are to share the gospel of Christ with others, help those in need, deliver the message of hope and healing to the broken, feed the hungry, help the poor, and comfort the lonely.  When we do these things, not only do we acknowledge the goodness of God, but we return His kindness by sharing it generously with others.  

RESPOND: 

In what ways has God shown you His goodness? What will you do this week to share God’s goodness with those around you? 

SONG OF THE WEEK: 

Thankful (Verses)

-DNelson

11/02/23

Faith Fights

When the world tells me God isn’t there, faith fights. 

When circumstances scream God doesn’t care, faith fights. 

When the ground around me crumbles and shakes, faith fights. 

When it’s my joy Satan tries to take, faith fights. 

When loved ones say goodbye, faith fights. 

When you cry so much the tears run dry, faith fights. 

When you give all you have but they expect more, faith fights. 

When you fall on your knees and pray, but feel ignored, faith fights. 

Faith fights. 

Faith is the shield that guards my heart; 

Faith is the measure by which mountains parts. 

Faith is belief in the One we cannot see; 

Faith is knowing that without Him, there’s no me. 

Faith fights. 

Faith is not mild, timid, nor weak; 

Faith is firm, steadfast, and complete.

Faith is the authority by which I speak.

Faith fights.

Faith fights through the struggles, storms, and tears;

Faith is more powerful than all my fears.

Faith reminds me God is near.

 

Faith fights. 

Believe it’s written so it is true.

Fight the good fight of faith; 

Trust God’s faithfulness to fight for you.  

-DNelson

Originally published 3/13/13

Revised 10/19/23

Day 21 of 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting

Day 21 of 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting

We are at the end of Awakening, 21 days of prayer and fasting. How are you feeling? Are you feeling closer, more connected to God? Has there been an awakening in your spiritual life? 

Do you feel like obeying God? Let me put it to you this way, “If you don’t feel like obeying God, then something is wrong with your feelings. So much of our Christian teaching focuses on obeying God regardless of how you feel, but the Bible is clear that for the majority of the time we should feel like obeying God. This is where awakening comes in. This is where fasting comes in. When you have an awakening with God, you begin to have a desire to obey Him and walk the path of righteousness. 

We are back where we started on day one with Romans 12:11. I hope as a result of the last 21 days you are fueled and aflame. It is so important for your obedience to flow from “want to” and not “have to.” Though we are not led by our feelings, they are important. We are created in the image of God, and God created us with emotions and feelings. God wants your heart, your passion and your love to increase and overflow in obedience. Remember passionate Christianity is the norm, not the exception.

The principles you have practiced in these twenty-one days are very easy to sustain long term. Prayer, fasting, and personal devotion are all quite simple to incorporate into your everyday life. Over these last twenty-one days, you’ve created space for God to fill. The best way to continue in these same practices is to keep that space open indefinitely. Don’t allow it to fill up with other things! Protect that time and space with God and make it your priority each day. You can live your best life now, if you are living your best life spiritually