To Christmas and Beyond: Relentless Hope Week 1

Transcription

1 Advent Devotional 2018 To Christmas and Beyond: Relentless Hope Week 1 December 2 December 8 First United Methodist Church of Bella Vista

2 Advent Devotional Writers 2018 Sunday Rev. Jeanne Williams became our Senior Pastor in July of She has been in ministry ever since her call in the 7th grade as a preacher s kid. Jeanne and husband, Heath, reside in Bentonville with their first-grade daughter (Natalie), dog (Shadow), cat (Rabbi), and two fish (Angel and Bella). She loves the mountains of Northwest Arkansas, Arkansas football (even in disappointing seasons), chocolate and diet Dr. Pepper. She is excited to be able to share her Advent inspirations with us in these devotional writings. Monday Alec Gilmore is currently a sophomore at Bentonville High School. He and his family consisting of his younger sister, Jenna, his parents, Amy and James, and his grandmother, Wanda Williams have lived in northwest Arkansas on two separate occasions. They joined FUMCBV in 2009, left for South Carolina in 2012, and returned in Alec has roles in our Youth and media ministries, and is very passionate to serve our church in whatever ways he can. He is excited to continue his devotional writing after his contributions during the season of Lent earlier this year.

3 Tuesday Naomi Hagan Hello, family my name is Naomi Hagan. I am married to the love of my life Allan Hagan. I was born and raised in Fort Smith Ar. I graduated the Oasis Program in I m passionate about art and love to paint. I haven t always had the easiest life but I truly believe that s what s brought me closer to my love relationship with God. By using His Word that I read on a daily bases. I strive to become that Proverbs Woman. I m honored to share my experiences with everyone. Hope you all enjoy. Wednesday Alan Packard and his wife Judie moved to Bella Vista in 2007 from Wisconsin, They joined the church in September of that year. Alan has been a life-long Methodist having lived in many Midwest states from the time he was a young child. Most of the congregation knows him from his teaching the Disciple Bible Study classes and the Golden Links Sunday school class. He is past president of the United Methodist Men and currently serves as its secretary. He recently took on responsibility as Charter Organization Representative of the Boy Scouts, now that our church is a sponsor. Thursday Sandy Fitch has been involved with FUMCBV since she moved to Bella Vista with her husband Hal, in 2005 to be closer to Hal's family. Hal passed away in 2010, but Sandy has made Bella Vista her home. She is active in the Emmaus Community, as Mission Steward, and leads the Blankets of Hope Ministry. Sandy is a Certified Lay Servant. She enjoys knitting - a lot. You'll find Sandy at The Well service with her knitting needles clicking away.

4 Friday Amy O. Fulton (and Carole Boyd) moved to Bella Vista in December of 2002 and Amy currently works for Arvest Bank at Town Center. She s the church photographer and is rarely seen without her camera in hand. She truly enjoys capturing the life and service of FUMCBV a place she has called home since joining Easter of She sings on the Praise Team and enjoys cooking, reading, traveling, fishing, singing and playing musical instruments (saxophone and guitar) when she s not busy taking pictures or involved with something having to do with photos. She has plenty of energy and has enjoyed writing since her early teens. Saturday Wanda Williams was born and raised in Colorado but has lived in Montana, South Carolina and for the fourth time in Arkansas. She has been in Human Resources over twenty years and continues to work with the hopes of retiring before too long. She loves to read, do X-stitch, and has embroidered tea towels for the UMW bazaar every year she has been here. She also loves doing creative crafts, and her granddaughter Jenna can be found in her craft room joining her in alcohol ink and melted crayola projects. She is also the proud Grammy to Alec, and Craig who lives in New Jersey. Wanda attends the Well service with her daughter, Amy, and son-in-law, James, and Alec & Jenna.

5 The FIRST Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 2, 2018 Scripture: Luke 21:25-33 NRSV 25 There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. 29 Then he told them a parable: Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30 as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Throughout the season of Advent this year, we are focusing on moving to Christmas and then beyond. The idea is that we re moving deeper into our relationship with Christ in these four weeks through exploring Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy. This week, we are looking for Relentless Hope. That is Hope that seeps through and around all of our earthly things existence. Our scripture for today points towards this relentless hope by foretelling the second coming of Christ by Jesus himself. This prophecy is given by Jesus as he tells of the

6 destruction of Jerusalem and then the second coming of the Son of Man. These people didn t have it easy. They were routinely sought out and killed for believing in Jesus. They needed the reminder of hope that being a child of God gives us. Jesus was preparing them for what was to come in the immediate future and in generations later. Throughout this chapter in the gospel of Luke, Jesus gives little glimpses of hope in the midst of the tragedy he foretells. Hope that not a hair on our heads will be harmed. Hope in the new growth of the fig tree. Hope that we will see signs and will know what is coming, yet we have a deeper hope of our eternal reward Jesus is coming for us. As I sit and look at my beautiful Christmas tree, I am reminded of the reason why we use evergreen trees to decorate our homes (and churches) during this time. The evergreen tree is always green and it always keeps its needles. Even in the harshest of winters, it stays green. It is a sign of hope that spring is not far away. And we will survive even this bleakest of seasons. It is a symbol of hope that we decorate with tradition and anticipation. Prayer: God of hope, may we find your kind of relentless hope today. Help us to see your deep, abiding hope for us and us for you. Maybe all we can see today is a small glimmer around our edges, but it is enough. Enough for us to begin hoping in a deeper relationship with you. Amen. Rev. Jeanne Williams

7 Monday, December 3, 2018 SCRIPTURE: Luke 21:34-36 Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man. (NIV) Luke writes the final Gospel to interpret the Earthly teachings and actions of Jesus Christ for his fellow adherents. As we know and are in eternal gratitude for, God humanly embodied through Christ loves everyone in every set of circumstances. In the best of times, that s easy to see. Chapter 21 of Luke, however, explores when this fact may not be so easy to see, when things aren t exactly at their best. God loves us through the good and bad, but how do we, as followers of Christ, handle the bad? This passage is found toward the end of Luke 21, following Christ s warnings of literally the end of life on Earth. Of course, this scripture doesn t only apply to life-or-death situations; more generally, it is relevant to rough patches, tough times, the bad. It should go without saying that everyone, Christian or otherwise, experiences rough patches and tough times. God loves us always, these situations no exception. Recognizing that is incredibly important. Knowing, understanding, and trusting God s ceaseless love is how we remain faithful, all the time. And when you are mindful and remain faithful when you trust God s ceaseless love you can overcome the bad knowing He is right there, having your back at any time.

8 The season of Advent happens to overlap with the most stressful time of year for many. As a high school student, personally, end-of-the-semester schoolwork will bring a world of stress upon me, as it will for other students, throughout these next few weeks. For others, it may be year-ending job work or Christmas preparations or something else. Whatever it may be, we re all likely to face the bad at some point. But as we celebrate this Advent season, we must remember that we must stay faithful to God, at all times...after all, He s eternally faithful for us. Prayer is one of the most amazing things we can partake in as Christ followers, and can certainly help us overcome these difficult situations, as mentioned in this very scripture. Prayer: Lord, as we enter this season of Advent, we may very well enter some difficult times in our lives. Help us to recognize your eternal, unconditional love when we fail to do so, and also help us remain faithful to You and all that You are at all times. In Your name we pray. Amen. Alec Gilmore Tuesday, December 4, 2018 Scripture: Jeremiah 33:14-16 The time is coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill my gracious promise with the people of Israel and Judah. In those days and at that time, I will raise up a righteous branch from David s line, who will do what is just and right in the land. In those days, Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is what he will be called: The LORD Is Our Righteousness. (CEB) Hope comes from Hopelessness What a dark time for the people of Judah and Israel. They had turned so far away from God that God was angry enough to bring on calamity and hardship towards the people he loved so much.

9 Hopelessness, what a horrible feeling to be felt by anyone. If you re reading this you probably just shook your head. We have felt the hopelessness in our lives in one form or another. Lost job, failed relationship, kids angry with us, finances running out, someone we love dearly dies. What happens next? Instead of growing closer to the one who can give us the hope and strength to get through these times. We push God away. The biggest mistake we make next is relying on ourselves. We work more, go to church less. We stay home instead of going out with our friends who just want to help us. We put down the Bible and pick up the bottle.hopeless. I have been learning through my experiences that with darkness light follows. The prophet Jeremiah prayed to God for these people- to save these people from themselves. He still had hope for the people of Judah and Israel. I don t know about you but I have a praying mom. I m sure you have someone in your life who s been praying for you also. Jeremiah, God s prophet, was in prison. Alone and isolated from the world uncertain and waiting for what might happen to him. In that darkness God spoke to him answering an earlier prayer for the people to be given another chance to redeem themselves and follow God. Advent is a time for waiting, a time for praying. I believe God answers in 3 specific ways: yes-no-and wait. Because in waiting our hope remains. Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank you for not giving up on me and your people. Thank you for being the God of 100 chances. Thank you for the radical hope you give so freely to so many. Be with us all as we prepare for the coming of your son Jesus Christ. Amen Naomi Hagan

10 Wednesday, December 5, 2018 Scripture: Psalm 25: 1-5 A Psalm of David 1To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. 3 Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed. Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause. 4 Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. 5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; On You I will wait all day Many of the Psalms of David were written while he was fleeing the wrath of King Saul. After Saul learned that David had been anointed by Samuel, he openly declared his desire to kill the young man who had helped him (Saul) win battles and ease his psychological pain and grief. The remaining 17 verses of this Psalm continue the theme established in the first 5 verses. David is in hiding as he flees Saul s wrath and he turns to God for hope. Lines 1 & 2 indicate his plea for help and asks that his enemies might not triumph over him and he might not be ashamed. That no one who serves the Lord will be ashamed. Notice in the end of Line 3, David refers to those who deal treacherously without cause, seemingly a reference to Saul who seeks his life.

11 Lines 4 & 5 show where David places his hope he places it in his faith in God. Show me, Teach Me, Lead me. For You are the God of my Salvation; On You I will wait all day. What greater hope can there be than to place one s complete trust in the Creator God of the Universe? Prayer: God of truth and salvation, we pray in this Advent season that we may more earnestly place our trust in you. Show us and teach us your ways, that we may hope like David. Amen Alan Packard Thursday, December 6, 2018 Scripture: Psalm 25:6-10 Lord, remember your compassion and faithful love they are forever! But don t remember the sins of my youth or my wrongdoing. Remember me only according to your faithful love for the sake of your goodness, Lord. The Lord is good and does the right thing; he teaches sinners which way they should go. God guides the weak to justice, teaching them his way. All the Lord s paths are loving and faithful for those who keep his covenant and laws. (CEB) The Lord knows all my sins. No matter how much I ve tried to hide them, ignore them, justify them the Lord knows them all. And the most wonderful thing? God loves me anyway!

12 I ve had to remind myself many, many times that the Lord loves me. The God that created the smallest of flowers and the most awesome of galaxies, created me too. As God loves all his creation, he loves me as well. And you. And that neighbor who mows his lawn at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. And the guy who cut you off on your way to work. And the lady with the screaming kids at the store. And the couple standing by the side of the road with their hand out. And the Muslim and Jew and Hindu and Buddhist and Wiccan and atheist. All through the Bible, God tells us He loves us. Through the Prophets, He calls us to love Him and follow his ways. And Jesus sums it all up quite simply Love God and Love your neighbor. Jesus tells us that love is the way, the truth and the light. When I look at my sins I realize they really boil down to the simple things: I m not loving my neighbor (or myself) which means I m not loving God. And when I don t allow God to be the center of my life, I m not following His ways. As John Wesley taught, I m working toward perfection in learning to love. Relentless Hope that s what I have in the love and grace of the Lord. Prayer: Creator of the Universe, Thank you for loving me as you love all your creation. Thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for showing me the way through your holy son, Jesus. Thank you for sharing your Holy Spirit with me each day to guide me toward your path in love. Amen Sandy Fitch

13 Friday, December 7, 2018 Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-10 For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before God, night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith? (KJR) In this chapter, Paul has sent Timothy to Thessalonica to find out how the church has been doing since Paul s last ministerial work there and awaits a report on how their faith has grown. Timothy encourages the Thessalonians while there before returning to Paul with a positive report on the progress the church is making. As I reflect upon these words and the theme for this week of relentless HOPE, I remember the words I shared with Pastor Brenda earlier in the year and she referenced in a sermon. I really like acronyms to help me remember what a word means (to me) and it was that God gave me H.O.P.E. and stands for Holding On Perceiving Eternity! This question then came to mind, What are you hoping for this Advent or Holy -day season? What are you seeking? Is it love? Is it peace? Is it joy? Is it healing? Is it restoration? Is it strength? Is it perseverance to just make it through this hectic time of year? Is it understanding? Is it a more tender heart? It is an attitude adjustment? Is it a desire to belong or have purpose? Is it to grow in grace or wisdom? Could it be to see with fresh and new eyes what awaits us as we peer into the stable and kneel at the feet of The One The Christ Child Emmanuel God With Us whom we long for to fulfill that hope? The answer is yes for me and I pray that it is for you, too! No matter what your need(s) may be or what your hopes are this holiday season keep your eyes upon H.O.P.E.

14 Holding On Perceiving Eternity in the circumstances you face this holiday season, because that is what it takes to help sustain and encourage you (me/us) to keep on facing another day. That notion of holding on while we wait is important! But knowing Who it is that holds our hand(s), knowing Who it is guiding us to our ultimate destination (heaven), knowing Who s got our back and only has our good in mind! Even if we are facing a setback in our health (or in my case recent surgery), the recent or former loss of a spouse; you name the situation), remember this: we are being held (whether by the hand or gently wrapped within the embrace of God (much like the Christ-Child as we imagine Him wrapped in swaddling clothes and in the Father s embrace) just waiting for God s timing for things to unfold in His life and ours. There is much HOPE as we peer into the stable in awe and child-like wonder!!! Hold on to that relentless HOPE, my friends, in ALL circumstances! Prayer: Father, God, help us to rest in Your embrace, close to Your Heart, knowing that even if we grow weary and let go of Your hand - You are there to hold on to us and never let us go. We love you Lord. Please help us to continue to hold on to hope with a faith that does not waiver, grow weary or falter. You alone are faithful and we put our HOPE in You. Amen! Amy O. Fulton Saturday, December 8, 2018 Scripture : 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you may be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. NIV

15 Paul writes a letter to the church he began in Thessalonica shortly after leaving them. He could not be there but sent Timothy instead. In the above verses, Paul s prayer for the Thessalonians emphasized three things that are important for every Christian today: First, he wanted to be with them, so they could benefit from his apostolic wisdom and authority. Second, he wanted them to abound in love, and third he wanted them to be established in true heart-holiness. There is a pop song that goes What the world needs now is love, sweet love. I believe that to be so true. I am a newsy in that I listen to the news in the morning before I go to work and at 5 p.m. I read the newspaper every day. But lately it makes my heart hurt to read of all the anger and hatred that seems to be the majority of the daily events. There are too many stories of people shooting others in synagogues, businesses, hospitals, concerts and schools. These acts are about hate, not love. As sad and disheartening as these events are, we must have relentless hope hope that the innocents that God welcomed home are with Him, hope that these random acts of violence will end, and hope relentless hope - that we can all learn to love one another and that our love increases and overflows for each other as Paul wished all those years ago. Prayer: Father, we cry and our hearts ache when we hear of the senseless killing of others. We not only ask blessings on these souls, but we also pray that you strengthen our hearts and let the love you have for us surround everyone and let it seep into their hearts so that we may live in relentless love. Amen Wanda Williams

16 First United Methodist Church of Bella Vista 20 Boyce Drive, Bella Vista, AR fax facebook.com/fumcbv