Advent Devotion - Shine On Us - Psalm 80 v 3

Psalm 80:3      Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. (NIV)

            I think a lot of people get nostalgic at Christmas. I know that I do. I like to think about years long gone and folks from my past who no longer walk the Earth. I sometimes wish I could sit down and talk to them, just to hear their voices, see the sparkle of their eyes, and feel the love and friendship that we shared. I carry their memory in my heart and see them in my mind’s eye, but it’s not the same. I miss them dearly and just wish I could have one more Christmas with them.

            This, in turn, makes me wonder about Christmas in Heaven. As each year passes on Earth, do the angels prepare a wonderful celebration of Christ’s birth? Do they, like us, feel the mysterious love of God and proclaim the Good news of salvation, year after year? Do they invisibly gather above Bethlehem skies and remember the time they were sent to tell the humble shepherds that the long-awaited Messiah had actually been born in their neighborhood? I guess when we all get to Heaven, we’ll see how God celebrates the earthly and humble birth of His Son Jesus.

            In today’s verse, the ancient psalmist asks God to make His face shine on His people. They are missing His presence in their lives and seek His favor once again. They want to be reassured that God is with them and they need to know that despite their failures, God still abides with them. They are looking for God’s light to shine on them, so that they can find favor in His eyes and feel the love that He has shared with them.

            As we begin the countdown to Christmas, may we each be blessed with the love of God and the grace of Christ, as well as the favor of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Point to ponder

Who do I miss at Christmas? How does God’s love help me, especially at this time of year?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, walk with us as we stumble through life and help us to hold on to Your love. Remind us of times and people from our past who touched our hearts and whom we still miss dearly. Keep us mindful of the joy that awaits us in Your glory that is yet to come. In Your Holy Name, we wait and pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings called ‘Christmas Candle.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Candle.

Faith for the Future - Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”(NIV)

            Last weekend, my eldest daughter got married to her sweetheart. It was a beautiful wedding and I was very proud of the newly wedded couple. I pray that they have a great future ahead of them and that God will bless them in many ways.

            Marriage is a leap of faith, as well as a loving ceremony. The two people involved publicly promise to love, support, and cherish one another for the rest of their lives. It’s a beautiful part of life, but it’s also a unique covenant which can sometimes be hard to sustain and prolong.

            Today’s verse from Jeremiah reminds us of the loving covenant that God has maintained with His people throughout the centuries. The words of reassurance were originally meant for the displaced Jews who had been defeated by the Assyrians and taken into exile. God’s promise through Jeremiah is a loving statement of His faithfulness toward His people. Whatever the future would bring in exile, they still seek God’s reassurance, comfort, and love. Things might be initially bleak, but God’s constant faithfulness to them would one day bring His people back to their precious homeland.

            Today, you may be experiencing uncertainty or are perhaps anxious about the future. You might think that you are isolated and alone, vulnerable and weak. Please know this: God’s reassuring love and reaffirming presence are with you, even now. Seek Him and He may be found; look to Him for help, and He will give You His love.

Questions for personal reflection

What are my hopes for the future? How can God help me attain them?

Prayer: Gracious God, we thank You for Your loving presence with us each day. We look to You for guidance and we place our future into Your faithful hands. Be with us and bless us, in Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John floral drawings called ‘Roses’. If you would like to view a larger image, please click this link: Roses.

Heart of God - 1 John 3:1

1 John 3:1        See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. (NIV)

            Like most of us, there are times and days when I rely on God’s love more than anything else. When I become weary or anxious, I need God’s assurance to pull me through those moments. When I feel depressed or confused, I lean on God’s understanding to help me find His light. And when I’m angry with myself or out of sorts with the rest of the world, I greatly require God’s peace to abide in my heart and mind.

            In today’s Bible verse, the apostle John tells us that we are God’s children. What a wonderful blessing! God calls us His children not because we’re perfect or saintly, but because Jesus has claimed that title for us. He has taken away the consequences of our sin and restored us to God’s delight and pleasure. Christ has become our elder Brother, who is willing to guide and bless us as His younger siblings, especially in our times of loss and grief, loneliness and isolation.

            I don’t know about you, but today I need God to be very close to me, to embrace and encourage me, and to hold and help me. Without God, life at times would be both unmanageable and unbearable. With Him beside me, I can stumble through the darkness and eventually come into Christ’s light.

            Wherever you are today and whatever you are going through, please know this: You are a child of God’s grace and love. You are not alone. His Spirit is with you and you are dear to God’s heart.

Questions for personal reflection

What am I feeling today? How can God help me?

Prayer:            Loving God, we thank You for Your Presence in our lives, especially when our minds are troubled and our feelings are unsettled. Allow us the gift of Your peace in our hearts and souls. Help us to know that we are loved by You, so that our spirits may be uplifted. In Christ’s Name, we make this heartfelt prayer. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s psalms drawings. It’s based on a verse from Psalm 51. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Psalm 51.