November 30. Day Four

November 30 – Luke 1:67-79 Hope. This prophecy-prayer from Zechariah, father of John the Baptist is just oozing hope and joy, isn’t it? He recalls the darkness. He remembers the promise to David. He marvels that he has lived to see the fulfillment and that his miracle baby will usher in the Messiah prophetically. Zechariah started out a bit cynical when we first meet him. He and his wife had been childless for their entire marriage and there was no hope left for a baby. Then Gabriel came and told him that the impossible would happen and he, despite looking at an angel in the Holy of Holies, could not quite believe it. He spent the nine months of John’s womb-time in silence. He had […] Read more »

November 29. Day Three

November 29 – Isaiah 9:1-7 Hope. Have you ever awakened in the middle of the night and been unable to get back to sleep? The darkness feels oppressive and endless. You either lie there and toss and turn, or you get up and turn on a light, but either way, it’s midnight-black outside. When the first flush of dawn appears outside your window, and you know the day is near, doesn’t your heart feel a stirring of hope? The long night is over and the day has come again. That’s the feeling we get from this beautiful prophecy passage in Isaiah. It won’t always be dark, God promises. A light is coming! We hear a mention of Galilee, where Jesus will spend much of His […] Read more »

November 28. Day Two

November 28 – 2 Samuel 7:8-26 Hope. This is such a wonderful “hope” passage! It starts out with God saying “no” to King David, who desired to build a temple honoring Him. It progressed to God’s amazing promise that from David’s line would come an everlasting kingdom and it ended with David’s stunned amazement that he, of all people, flawed and sinful and small, would be honored in this way. This is why the lineage of Jesus listed in Matthew and in Luke is so supremely important. The hope of Israel – Messiah – was to come through David’s line. I loved the words “lasting” and “everlasting” that were repeated in this passage. God was never going to withdraw His love from David’s line. He […] Read more »

Awaiting an Arrival

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” —John 1:14a NIV I’ve spent a lot of time in my life waiting for the arrival of someone special. Because my mother is British, many times we would drive to Boston’s airport and await the arrival of a relative from England, coming on a long-anticipated vacation to America. I’ve waited four times for the return of a loved one from a war zone. My girls and I sat in an old gym for close to three hours long ago in Stuttgart, Germany, waiting for the moment when Ray would arrive, safely home from the Persian Gulf War. Later, I would greet my oldest daughter as she returned from Afghanistan, and later still, celebrate my sons-in-law […] Read more »

November 27. Day One

WEEK ONE – HOPE “The first candle symbolizes hope and is called the "Prophet’s Candle." The prophets of the Old Testament, especially Isaiah, waited in hope for the Messiah’s arrival …” (Crosswalk.com) November 27 – Psalm 42 Hope. What a fascinating word. It has multiple meanings in our own world. When I say I hope it will snow or I hope my package will arrive today, I am expressing a wish that might or might not come true. Biblical hope is very different from that. The Bible tells us that our hope in God’s promises is “ … an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19 NIV). Our hope in what God says is not a wish. It’s a sure confidence and a happy longing and anticipation […] Read more »

Our Method of Devotional Bible Study

As you start this study, follow these four "R's" and you'll have a sweet time of fellowship with the Lord. REQUEST. Ask the Lord to help you as you read. By asking Him, you'll find your heart is opened to His Spirit and more able to be taught. God loves to be asked and answers abundantly. Request His help as you begin each day. READ. Next, read the passage twice. The first time, just to get the overview. On your second time, find the verse in the passage that interests or challenges or blesses or puzzles you the most. RECORD. Write that verse out in your journal. Writing slows you down so you can really meditate on each word in the verse. Writing it down […] Read more »

“My Beloved Is Home!”

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” —Luke 15:4-7 One heart attack, two stents, and a three-day hospital stay later, I had the joy of putting the word out to family […] Read more »