The Real Deal

Isaiah 43:1-21

After reading today’s scripture I get a renewed sense of several attributes of our God.  I believe the reading reminds us that God is caring, compassionate, all mighty, all powerful and the source of life and hope.  Early in the passage there are words of reassurance and comfort.  It describes times of “passing through rivers” and “walking through fires,” and we are reminded that God will be with us.  Next, the verses remind us of who God is.  It’s as if we needed to check the credentials of the One who was providing these assurances.  Verses 10-13 reaffirm that He is the one and only God.  Next, and just in case we might still have doubts, the passage provides a reminder of His power in verses 16-17 when the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea is cited.  The last few verses of this reading seem to show the hope and promise that God represents as we picture Him as “water in the desert.”  In the 21 verses that make up today’s reading, I believe we are given words of assurance and hope.  God will be with us always, and no matter how lost or lonely we may feel at times, He can be like water in the desert to us, offering hope and life.  Also included in this passage are words that provide a clear confirmation of who God is.  The one and only Lord, creator, and savior.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, You are the one and only God.  Maker of all things, Lord of our Lord.  Help us each day to put our faith and trust in you, and to remember that you are always with us, Amen.

Jeff Henricks

Jesus as King

John 18:33-37

The first question Pilate asks Jesus when he summoned him was, “are you the king of the Jews?”  Jesus answers this question with a question.  “Is that your own idea or did others talk to you about me?”  Pilate’s reply reveals his pride and why he made such a bad governor.  “Am I a Jew?  How do you expect me to know anything about Jewish affairs?”  Pilate refused to learn about the very people he was governing.  No one can govern a people if he makes no attempt to understand them and to enter into their thoughts and minds. 

Jesus goes on to say that he is a King but his kingdom is not of this world.  How wonderful it is to know Jesus as our Lord and King.  He knows our everyday struggles, problems, concerns and joys because he became human and lived among us.  Jesus is also an infinite spirit and as such, knows our thoughts and minds and is always with us.  Though, he is King of the Universe, Jesus is totally accessible to us.  How many of you have ever met or talked to a King, or in our case, the president?  Even dignitaries must go through red tape and protocol to meet with the President.  Yet, Jesus is always available and welcomes our talks.

Prayer:  Our Father, how blessed we are to have a King who has lived among us, who knows our thoughts, who loves us and who welcomes our presence.  Thank you for being our King, Amen.

Ron Corley 

A Perfect Kind of Love

Colossians 1:9-23

                      

Paul wrote this passage to encourage his readers to accept Gods reconciliation and love.  Even with all of our knowledge, we only have one decision that matters, which we choose continually - to allow God to remake us "without blemish" or hold onto our rebellious imperfect selves.  All of history tells us we cannot fix ourselves, but we keep hoping results will be different next time.  Paul urges us to put our hope in the perfect LOVE that is Jesus Christ.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, You know me and my blemishes - thank you for loving me anyway. I am only complete because of your unconditional love and I am thankful, Amen.

Dana Askins

Baptism of Jesus

Matthew 3:1-17

The focus of Matthew 3 is on John the Baptist and the Baptism of Jesus.

Jesus was not baptized for repentance for sin because Jesus never sinned.  To fulfill all righteousness means to accomplish God’s mission.  Jesus saw his baptism as advancing God’s work.  Jesus was baptized because:

1. He was confessing sin on behalf of the nation, as Nehemiah, Ezra, Moses, and Daniel had done.
2. He was showing support for what John was doing.
3. He was inaugurating his public ministry.
4. He was identifying with the penitent people of God.

Jesus, the perfect man, didn’t need baptism for sin, but he accepted baptism in obedient service to the Father, and God showed his approval.

The Father made it known that he was “well pleased” with his son.  It is a successful life when it is lived to please God.  It was Jesus’ purpose, and it ought to be ours as well.  As Christians, we have been baptized into Christ.  We did not let anything “prevent” us from being baptized.  It is God’s command, and we revered him in keeping it.  When we did so, he washed away our sins.  It pleased the Father to take away our sins and receive us into his house by his grace.

Prayer:  Gracious and all wise Heavenly Father, Thank you for having John baptize Jesus.  This reminds me that baptism is about my relationship with you and not about who baptizes whom.  Thank you for Jesus’ example of living only to please you and accomplish your will.  Please fill my heart with that same resolve and empower it by that same spirit.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Cecilia Richey

Rejoice - Reverence - Response

Psalm 95

Reading Psalm 95, verses 1-5 are words and thoughts which often come into my heart and mind when I look at nature.  Driving through the Tetons, watching the ocean, clouds in a blue sky, the waving of grain touching a Panhandle sky with nothing else in sight.  These all fill me with joy and awe while I experience blessings of nature God created just for our enjoyment.  What a great and glorious God we have!

Reading verses 6-7 remind me to be thankful and show reverence to the God who has given us so very much of Himself.  I remember a moment in time when my in-laws, Wilma and Joe Herndon, mentioned to me they had seen a beautiful, bright, rainbow in the sky and were overwhelmed with reverence of our creation and Creator.  They found a place to stop on the side of the road and together sang the Doxology.  They felt God needed to be adored and they responded.

Concluding with verses 8-11 we read something a bit different.  We are reminded not to harden our hearts.  In other words, listen and obey.  For me personally, I can rejoice in His majesty and I can be reverent in the limited knowledge my mind and heart can hold of God and I can listen.  HOWEVER, obey often makes me want to put the brakes on.  I have to first mull it over, to consider if it’s a good thing for me, if it is doable.  I believe for me, this is what “not to harden our hearts” that God is speaking to us about.  My human nature says, “wait…do I want to do this, is it something I can do and why.”  Am I the only one who does this?  Then these thoughts occur to me in this season of Advent…what if Mary said, “Are you kidding me? No, I can’t do this. Find someone else.”  Or, if Joseph had said, “Let me mull over this for awhile, God.”

Our Lord is a great God, God above all gods and the greatness of His creation is not just to make us feel good.  Isn’t it in living in a right relationship with that creation, through obeying our Creator, that we find the fullest life and the most joy?  I must not harden or ignore what God asks of me.  I must obey and walk with Him.  This is life in fullness.  My humanness still wants to say…”But.”  Please be patient.  God is not through with me yet!

Prayer:  God, We need balance.  It is easy to take from You the beauty of Your creation, to receive the love You have shown through the gift of Your son and accept Your forgiveness.  It is a comfort to know You walk with us but it’s often hard to respect Your word enough to obey the things You ask of us.  Balance our thinking, God.  Help us not only rejoice, revere, and respond but also to respect Your words.

Sharon Herndon

INTRO

Advent Season Devotional

2012

First Christian Church

Duncan, OK

Dear Friends,

“Christmas time’s a comin’” goes a great country music song.  It speaks to “Holly’s in the window.  Home is where the wind blows.  I can’t walk for runnin’ ‘cause Christmas time’s a comin’!”  Someone is glad, “’cause I know I’m goin’ home.”  By the time this happy song is finished the singer and listener are ready for the big day.  As disciples’ of Christ we understand it takes thoughtful, prayerful, preparation for Christmas to come with all the joy God has in mind for us.  It takes such devotions to take our hearts back home to Bethlehem.  It is during the season of Advent we take time to make ourselves ready to welcome Christ, the giver of love, joy, hope and peace into our lives anew.

With that in mind, church friends of ours have prepared the daily devotionals in this booklet.  This is a work of love by folks who don’t do such things very often.  They have put time and effort into it and I know the rest of us are grateful.

Please put this booklet and your Bible close at hand in a place where you can give them the time necessary for them to speak to you.  When you say your prayers each time, you might remember the contributor of that day’s devotion.  I will.

Please make a note in your calendar that we have special things planned for Advent.  Lots of effort is going into making it meaningful for everyone.

·         The Harmony Class will host the Fellowship Brunch on December 2.

·         Our youth will get together for Midnight Gladness on December 7^th to make Christmas brighter for other children of our community.

·         On December 19, we’ll celebrate our Christmas Extravaganza with a Christmas Dinner, singing and caroling, a performance by our children and a Guaranteed Visit by Santa Claus! 

·         On Christmas Eve we will have two services, at 5:00 PM and 11:00 PM. 

·         Each Sunday of Advent, we will light the Advent Wreath and sing songs of the season.

I hope you’ll make a special effort to be with us for as much of our worship and fellowship as possible.

“Can’t you hear them bells ringin’, ringin’.  Joy to all, can’t you hear them singin’.  When it’s snowin’ I’ll be goin’ back to my country home!”

Glad to be your pastor,

Arnold Nelson

Advent Devo 2012 Coming Soon

Advent Devotionals to be posted daily beginning the first Sunday of Advent - Sunday, December 2

ADVENT

2012

 

First Christian Church

Duncan, Oklahoma