Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.He called out to them, “Friends, haven't you any fish?” Sometimes it just seems that nothing we do is right. Our work seems fruitless and we are just tired. The disciples must have felt that way too after they had fished all night and had come up with nothing. Then Jesus called to them from the shore in the early morning light. In his presence their catch was amazing. When we work in his light then we find meaning in our work and joy in his presence.
Prayer Lord Jesus Shine your light on our work today. Make our work fit you purpose and make us fruitful. Amen
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And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. A baby - Jesus came as a baby to a first time mother - the creator of the world as a tiny baby. Jesus, fully human and fully God, Savior of the world. Sit in awe and wonder. Merry Christmas.
Prayer Lord Jesus We bow and worship you this day as the shepherds did when you were born. Amen “Glory to God in the highest, Fireworks are used to celebrate all kinds of things - this one happened to be the Fourth of July. You might think this is an unusual picture to choose for Christmas Eve, but when you think about this verse it is a celebration. That first Christmas night, the angels were celebrating God's plan to send a Savior to the earth in the form of a baby. Next time you go to a fireworks show, listen to the crowd. They ooh and ah and tell each other to look at the amazing spectacle of light. We all celebrate Christmas in different ways; but on these days of Christmas may we also remember to celebrate and be amazed at the birth of Jesus.
Prayer Lord Jesus We stand amazed at your love for us seen in Jesus Christ. May we tell others about your glory this day. Amen Restore us, Lord God Almighty; I still remember the excitement I felt when I first saw this tree on the roadside close to my house. While I had passed by it countless times, this was the first time that I noticed the beauty in a tree without leaves. I couldn’t wait to get my camera and come back to try to take its picture. It was the first of many pictures that I have taken of this tree in all seasons at many times of the day.
Whenever I pass by the tree I remember all those times that I was so excited to take its picture. While I still see beauty in the tree I don’t have that same excitement that I had the times in the past when I rushed to take its picture. I think that I see the same thing in my walk with Christ sometimes. There are times when I loose my desire to spend time with Him. I let my mind become cluttered with all the trappings and worries of the world. Instead of thinking about the beauty of the world I give in to the temptation to think about some material thing. The only way that I will regain that joy of spending time with God is when I ask him to restore me - when I realize that I can’t save myself and turn to him for salvation. Show me the beauty of a tree without leaves again. Prayer Lord God Almighty Take away our sin and restore us so we may be saved. Amen In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. For the scientist these are crepuscular rays. They are sunbeams that appear to radiate from the sun shining through an opening in the clouds. They are most notable when there is the greatest contrast between light and dark. They appear as shafts of light separated by darker shadows. For photographers and other graphic artist this phenomenon of light is called God Rays. They shine through dark clouds and bring life and interest to the whole scene. They become the subject of the photograph and draw the focus the attention of the viewer.
During advent we celebrate Jesus who broke through the darkness like God Rays break through the clouds. His light is more than just a passing light that fades away when circumstances change. He brings light and life to all mankind forever. His true light will never fade for darkness of the world, of sin, will never overcome it. Prayer Lord of Light Thank you for the light you bring into our world. Help us to become reflectors of your light to those who are walking in dark times now. Amen When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” It wasn’t a rare flower or some spectacular find that people made a special trip to see. It didn’t have a fancy name plate like all the other flowers in the garden. It was only a common daisy, a humble daisy, yet it was beautiful. Our expectations can sometimes blind us to what we need to see.
John the Baptist had spent his life proclaiming a Messiah and now he is in prison. It wasn’t what he was expecting. I imagine that when he sent his disciples to ask if Jesus really was the Messiah there must have been desperation in his voice. Jesus words were not a resounding “Yes” - not what I would have expected had I been in John’s place. Instead they were calm and reassuring words for one who understood the prophecies of Messiah. Jesus was doing all the things that the Messiah was going to do, heal the sick and proclaim good news to the poor. He wasn’t the military king that everyone expected. He was humble and in his humility changed everything and gave us a hope. Jesus is Messiah. Prayer Jesus Christ Teach us your humility. Show us where we can bring healing and proclaim the good news in our world today. Amen For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. There are times when the clouds and sun paint beautiful pictures in the sky. I am amazed at the beauty of the heavens and these great paintings that only God can make. As amazing as the heavens are, our great God loves us with a love that is higher and greater than we can imagine. It is a love that forgives us when we turn from him. It is a love that removes the burden of our sin and guilt. It is a love that fills our highest heavens with beauty.
Prayer O Great King, We ask forgiveness of our transgressions and stand amazed at you love that is so steadfast and true. Amen But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. There was just something about those red chairs overlooking Rangeley Lake that drew me to them early that morning. There was no one else around and it was so quiet. It seemed the chairs were calling me to take time to be still, to stop and ponder. We all need times to stop and ponder. A short verse in Luke’s telling of the nativity that is often missed is this verse that tells us Mary’s reaction to all that happened. She saw these things as treasures. They were memories that somehow she knew she would need to keep so she pondered them in her heart. I am sure that there was a lot more pondering in her life as she grew in her understanding of who her son was. We, like Mary, need to take time to stop and ponder. We need to sit in quietness and treasure all that Jesus is. Take time this advent season to sit and ponder and allow that pondering to change your life. Jesus will do that.
Prayer Jesus In our pondering this season, deepen our understanding of who you are and break into our lives anew. Amen The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. Sometimes it happens suddenly; the fog rolls in and bright sunny days turn cloudy. Sometimes it is predicted; you know the fog is coming. Either way you find yourself alone. We all have lost people that we love and sometimes at this time of year the loss stings more and you feel alone again. When those times come, turn to Jesus and let him mend your broken heart and tend to your wounds. It isn’t an easy thing to do, admitting that you need to be healed. The healing may take many years; but I have found God to be faithful and tender. It is through him that I can see the light in the distance.
Prayer Loving Father, Healer of Wounds May those who are brokenhearted today feel your presence in a special way. When they no longer see light help us shine your light for them to see. Help us to be your healing hands. Amen Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. There are many different sizes and kinds of lighthouses but they all have one thing in common; they produce a light to guide sailors in treacherous waters. They were crucial to sailors at the time in which they were built since there were many more stretches of coastline without light. The darkness they faced was real, vast, and overwhelming, especially during a storm. While we live in a time where we have plenty of physical light, we still face different kinds of darkness that can be overwhelming - times of tragedy, grief, loneliness. At these times we need to let the light of Jesus shine into our lives. We need to remind ourselves that we don’t have to walk in darkness. We can walk in the light of Jesus.
Prayer Father of Light Help us choose to follow the light of Christ this day. May your light shine through our lives to bring light to all we meet. Amen This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: I live close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, one of the most visited national parks in our country with 11 million visitors in 2018. The interesting thing is that most visitors rarely venture more than a mile from their car. They miss so much of the beauty of the mountains just passing through. Oh, what they would see if they would only get out and take a hike or get up early to see a sunrise over the mountains.
Isaiah saw a time where God would establish his temple on a mountain, a mountain to which all people, not just 11 million, will stream. They will come not just to sit but to do the hard work of learning of God’s ways and take a hike on the paths of God. As much as I love my mountains I want to love God’s Mountain so much more. The good thing is that we don’t have to wait until some time in the future we can begin walking God’s paths now as we study his word. Go to the familiar places in scripture and see its beauty but don’t stop there. Take a hike to a new place in the Scriptures and let God teach you his ways. Prayer Great and Exalted God Teach us your ways as we walk toward the mountain of the Lord. Draw us a little closer each day. Amen |
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Soli Deo Gloria,
1 Corinthians 10:31
© 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Karen Milligan
1 Corinthians 10:31
© 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Karen Milligan