Advent Devotional

Week 3December 15 - 21, 2019

Sandy Fitch - SundaySandy Fitch has been an active part of ourcongregation since she and her husband arrived in Bella Vista in 2005. Sandy’s faith journey has been wide and varied, being raised in the Catholic Church and exploring many different faith paths. She’s found her faith home with the Methodist denomination and gives of her time and talents in a variety of areas. You’ll find her most Sunday mornings at the Well Service behind the audio console, or with the Youth in Sunday School but always at Mid-Week Manna.

Alan Packard - Monday & Thursday

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 Golden Links Sunday school class.

He is past president of the United Methodist Men and currently serves as secretary. He recently took responsibility as Charter Organization Representative of the Boy Scouts, now that our church is a sponsor.

Ashdon Wilson - TuesdayAshdon K. Wilson hails from the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Batesville, Arkansas. She attended Lyon College, where she double majored in Psychology and History. She grew up volunteering in children’s ministry at her home church and loves to share the light and love of Jesus with the youngest of disciples. She met her husband, Kenneth, in 2016 while they were interning at two local churches. Together they have two cats, Greta and Sybil, and love to hike the Ozarks, drink good coffee, and read lots of books. Ashdon and Kenneth were hired in the summer of 2019 to work with the children and youth of FUMC Bella Vista.

Meet Your Advent Devotional Writers

Wanda Williams - WednesdayWanda Williams was born and raised in Colorado but has lived in Montana, South Carolina, and for the fourth time, Arkansas. She has been in Human Resources for over twenty years and continues to work with the hopes of retiring before too long. She loves to read, do crossstitch, and has embroidered tea towels for the UMW bazaar every year she has been here. She also loves doing creative crafts, and her granddaugher, Jenna, can be found joining her in alcohol ink and melted crayon 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-inlaw, James, and Alec and Jenna.

Jennifer Lehmann - FridayJennifer Lehmann lives in Bella Vista with her husband Heath, their two children Dylen and Zach, and two dogs.  She is a romance author and fairly new to our Advent writings.  Music and nature inspire her.  Summer is her favorite season because she loves their family lake time. 

Alec Gilmore - SaturdayAlec Gilmore is currently a junior at Bentonville High School. His family—comprised of his parents, Amy and James, his sister, Jenna, and his grand-mother, Wanda Williams—have been blessed with this church in our lives since 2009. He loves being active in Youth ministry, media ministry and all possible involvement in the church...and, of course, writing devotionals!

Sunday, December 15 -Third Sunday of Advent

Courageous patienceTherefore, brothers and sisters, you must be patient as you

wait for the coming of the Lord. Consider the farmer who waits patiently for the coming of rain in the fall and spring, looking forward to the precious fruit of the earth. You also must wait patiently, strengthening your resolve, because the coming of

the Lord is near. Don’t complain about each other, brothers and sisters, so that you won’t be judged. Look! The judge is standing at the door! Brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as an example of patient resolve and

steadfastness.James 5:7-10, Common English Bible (CEB)

Expect the – Unexpected. I was curious when I read this passage as to how it tied into the theme for this week. As I usually do, I delved a littler deeper and saw why this section of James is a bit unexpected. The book of James is short – only five chapters. The letter was written to the “12 tribes of Israel” most likely to Jewish followers of Christ and not a specific community as are most of Paul’s letters. James extolls his readers in no uncertain terms to do good works, to eschew the riches of the world and to keep strong in their faith. He doesn’t pull any punches in reminding his readers that the wealthy outside the community will face their judgement day.

Today’s passage comes at the closing of the letter as a summary of what his readers, and we, need to do to prepare for the long expected coming of the Lord. We need to plant our gardens and tend them patiently. We need to support and encourage each other – and stop complaining! Because judgement will come, and we shall certainly be judged for our behavior. And finally – James reminds us of the prophets – their faithfulness and steadfastness while facing impossible odds and persecution.

My take away from today’s study: I need to continue do good work, stay strong in my faith and support my brothers and sisters (planting and tending MY garden); I need to ignore what the world tells me is important; I need to continue to put my energy in my relationship with God above all else. And be prepared for the unexpected.

Prayer: Great Giver of All Gifts: Thank you for giving us the good gifts of community and talents to work to bring about your will for all your creation. Help us to know your will and allow us to work in concert with you and each other for your glory. Amen.

Written by Sandy Fitch

Monday, December 16Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His

twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities. And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him,

“Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another.”Jesus answered and said to them, Go and tell John the things which you hear and see; The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up

and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.

Matthew 11: 1-6

In Matthew Chapter 10, Jesus gives instruction to His 12 Disciples before He sends them out into the world to preach, teach and heal. After sending the twelve out, He goes to their cities to preach and teach. Carrying His message to the cities in Galilee.

John, the Baptist, who has been imprisoned by Harold Antipas, sends two of his disciples to Jesus to ask Him an important question regarding His identity. “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another.” Remember, Jesus and John are cousins, they had met while each was still in his mother’s womb, and John had baptized Jesus and experienced the appearance of God’s voice recognizing Jesus as His son. So, why was he asking this question?

By tradition, the Jews had thought that the Messiah would be a new “David”, would drive the Romans out of their land and reestablish “their” nation. Jesus apparently didn’t fit the role that John had perceived.

The answer that Jesus gave to John’s disciples shows that the kingship of Jesus would be different than what the average Jew was looking for in their Messiah. Perhaps the Jews should have spent a little more time reading about Isaiah’s “suffering servant” and perhaps they would have understood Jesus’ answer and His Ministry.

The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. What more could Jesus have done to show the justice, righteousness and peace that was the will of His Father? Jesus was the Messiah, He was doing the will of His Father, yet the Jews failed to recognize their own Messiah and lost the opportunity of a lifetime to return to the Garden of Eden (see the reading for December 9). Not surprisingly, John’s two disciples remained with Jesus after this encounter.

Prayer: Grant O Lord, that we might hear and understand Jesus’ message to John and like John’s two disciples may we stay with Him and follow Him all the days of the rest of our lives. Help us to recognize that JUSTICE, RIGHTEOUSNESS and PEACE are the will of Jesus and His Father for all of their children on the Earth...

Written by Alan Packard

Tuesday, December 17

When John’s disciples had gone, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John: “What did you go out to the wilderness to see? A stalk blowing in the wind? What did you go out to see? A man dressed up in refined clothes? Look, those who wear refined clothes are in royal palaces. What did you go out to see? A

prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. He is the one of whom it is written: Look, I’m sending my messenger before

you, who will prepare your way before you.Matthew 11:7-10, CEB

There’s a particular scene in The Charlie Brown Christmas Special that makes me cry every year. The gang is rehearsing their Christmas play and nothing seems to be going right. Matters escalate until Charlie Brown presents a scrawny little tree for stage decor, one that is hardly strong enough to handle but one little red ornament. Lucy and the gang point and laugh at Charlie Brown and call him a failure. In frustration, Charlie Brown realizes that surely there is more meaning to the season than decor and exclaims “Isn’t there anyone out there who can tell me what Christmas is all about?!” Enter Linus.

We all know this scene. I’m sure you can see it in your head right now. That little blanket-weilding child walks to the center of the stage, asks for the lights to be turned down, and quotes directly from Luke 2: “And there were in the same country shep-herds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night…”

In today’s scripture reading, Jesus reprimands his audience for their judgment of John the Baptist. At this point, John has been imprisoned by Herod Antipas and, after hearing of Jesus, had sent a message to Jesus and his followers: “are you the one who is to come?” (Matthew 11:2-3). Jesus responds, “Go, report to John what you hear and see. Those who were blind are able to see…” and so on (vs. 4-6).

But those around Jesus were apprehensive of the ties that Jesus was making between himself and John. Jesus reminds them to look beyond what they know about John on the surface level - his eccentric choice of dress, his odd choice of diet, and his lifestyle - and reminds them of the importance of John’s work. He reminds them of the prophecy surrounding John’s ministry and what that means for the beginning of the church.

Just as Linus reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas. After Linus’s speech, Charlie Brown smiles, grabs his scrawny little tree and walks outside. The sky is filled with twinkling stars, the ground covered with snow, and he places that little tree on the ground. His friends follow, they spruce up the scrawny sapling, and they begin to sing. “Hark, the herald angel’s sing, glory to the newborn king...”

Friend, I ask you to look beyond the commercialism of this season. Look past the ever-growing wish lists, the parties, and the church services and remember what this season is truly about.

It’s about a vulnerable little baby boy, being born in a back-water town, in a military occupied country, to an un-wed mother, in a cave surrounded by animals. It is the promise of a new beginning and of a life better than this one. It is the thrill of hope that Jesus brings to us this season. May we weary souls rejoice.

That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

Prayer: God of Peace, give us the strength that we need for this season. Help us to remember what this season truly means and to reflect upon what that means to us in our lives. Help us to look past all of the flashy lights and fuss of this season and to remember the promise of hope that Christ Jesus brings to us.

Written by Ashdon Wilson

Wednesday, December 18

But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the lord their God.

He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever.He gives justice to the oppressed

and food to the hungry. The lord frees the prisoners.

The lord opens the eyes of the blind. The lord lifts up those who are weighed down.

The lord loves the godly. The lord protects the foreigners among us.

He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.

The lord will reign forever. He will be your God, O Jerusalem, throughout the generations.

Praise the lord!Psalms 146:5

This is such a wonderful, happy set of verses. We know God ‘made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them.’ But what a great reminder. ‘He keeps every promise forever’. How many of us can say we keep all of our promises? We often mean to. “I promise I won’t tell a soul.” Yet, how long does that last before we hear gossip and have to add to it? ‘He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry’. The food he gives is the spiritual kind - the Bible can feed us in a spiritual sense, even more than meat and vegetables can give our bodies nourishment. I think the verse that says he “opens the eyes of the blind” can also refer to the Bible. “Blind” doesn’t necessarily mean not being able to physically see, but I take it as blind to the needs of others, blind to seeing a God in every day things, blind to helping the needy, and blind to what the Bible says.

‘The Lord protects the foreigners among us.’ Does that mean the immigrants and the DECA people among us? It could, but I also think it means the unbelievers. He wants us all to believe in him and become one with him. I especially like the verse that says ‘But, he frustrates the plans of the wicked’. Isn’t that a wonderful thing to think about? The wicked may plan, but God can put a stop to their plans before they come to fruition. ‘The lord will reign forever.’ What a wonderful thought. He doesn’t just reign for today or for this week, but forever. ‘Praise the Lord’ indeed! Prayer: “Oh God, how unexpected are your gifts to us. You give us promises. You give us food to nourish our soul. You give us sight to see your love and beauty. You protect all of us. You keep the wicked from hurting us. May we praise you forever and ever. Amen”

Written by Wanda Williams

Thursday, December 19

The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them,And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose;

It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice,Even with joy and singing.

The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,The excellence of Carmel and Sharon,

They shall see the glory of the Lord,The excellency of our God.

Strengthen the weak hands,And make firm the feeble knees.

Say to those who are fearful-hearted,Be strong, do not fear!

Behold, your God will come with vengeance,With the recompense of God;He will come and save you.

Isaiah 35: 1-4

In a section of Isaiah 35 entitled “The Future Glory of Zion”, we see the prophet describing the earth as it is restored to the beauty it had had before the destruction by Babylon. Everything will be changed from the wilderness and wasteland that it had become to a vital blossoming land. “They shall see the glory of the Lord, the excellency of our God”. The captives will return from exile, the land will be restored.

“Strengthen the weak hands’,… ‘Be strong, do not fear!” “God will come with a vengeance, He will come and save you.” God will bring the exiles back to their home, the Promised Land. Perhaps the people of Israel will have learned their lessons and will return to the Covenant with God.

Sixty years have passed and the exiles who are returning to Jerusalem have never seen the city or the Temple before. Why are they so excited about returning to a city they have never seen before? The only reason I can guess is because for

those sixty years they have heard the stories of what Jerusalem had been, told and retold by their elders and their parent who might have had memories of the city and the great Temple.They shall return!

Prayer: God of our fathers, what do we need to do to reestablish our covenant with You? How will You bring us back from the edge of destruction to a Right Relationship with YOU? Can we ever regain Your trust? Will we ever see a land of justice and righteousness here on earth? We are aware of your scriptures and we know of the teachings of Your Son, Jesus, but we don’t seem to understand the importance of studying and following their path to a peaceful world. Help us Lord to see and to learn and to follow YOU. AMEN

Written by Alan Packard

Friday, December 20

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer,

and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the

desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a

swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way;the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s

people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up

on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to

Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing

shall flee away.Isaiah 35: 5-10

Scripture Highlight: There is a highway called “The Road of Holiness”. On this road there are no sinners, no fools, and no fierce animals. Those whom the Lord has rescued will travel home by this road. They will sing and shout for joy and be happy forever; forever free from sorrow and grief.

Wading through the ocean we expect waves, but when the stronger waves hit us, the power of them is unexpected; making us lose our balance or sometimes knocking us down. Similar, to how we expect this time of year to be stressful yet when the pressure hits us it can be very overwhelming; sometimes resulting in us losing our focus or faith of the reason for the season.

It’s a season for miracles. One of the miracles we expect to hear is Jesus’ birth. However, the growth of knowledge we absorb from this story or the delightful feeling that warms our souls may be unexpected.

“His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has

brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the

rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he

promised our ancestors.”Luke 1:50-55, NIV

The first Chapter of Luke introduces us to Mary. We all know who Mary is: she’s a young woman—likely a teenager—who pledged marriage to Joseph. She’s a daughter within a very religious family, and she herself is a virgin in accordance with her faith. And she receives the biggest shock of her life when a heavenly angel tells her she will birth the Son of God.

It’s hard for us to imagine how we expect to handle situations that are, in their nature, unexpected. Mary could never have dreamed of even imagining God picking her to mother His one and only son. In our current society, it’s a mammoth decision to mother or father the child of another human being; parenting a child of the creator of the universe would be unfathomable, to say the least. Yet here was young Mary, who was suddenly due Jesus Christ. How did she respond? She sang her praises in a song. The excerpt above is six of ten verses dedicated to the song Mary sings to Elizabeth, another woman who is subject of a similarly-stunning revelation. Mary had reason to be angry, depressed, confused, bewildered...but she’s full of joy instead.

Saturday, December 21

Jesus is the perfect gift and the reason for the season as C-h-r-i-s-t is in Christmas.

Prayer: May we have wondrous feelings of joy, peace and love this Christmas as “earth receives her King!”

Written by Jennifer Lehmann

I recall the theme of Jesus lifting the humble being present in our Lent devotionals earlier this year, and that’s exactly what Mary is proclaiming to Elizabeth. She is humble, and more importantly, she is faithful. She’s also right: God lifts the hungry from hunger, the poor from homelessness, with spiritual conviction and humility. Recognizing that God is above all opens us up to His mercy and grace. Mary was terrified, and not without reason; her being impregnated by God would have sent some mixed signals to her very religious family, particularly her future husband. Andhow can one handle parenting Jesus Christ? Yet she sung her praises, giving thanks to the God she recognized as the Most High.

This Advent holiday season, humbling ourselves will go a long way. God loves everyone the same, but He rewards the most faithful, the ones devoting their lives to Him. So let us love Him, keeping ourselves down-to-Earth for the God who created it.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for all the love you show us no matter who we are. As we near the day when we get to celebrate the birth of our Savior, help us to be like Mary. Help us to have her joy during the most trying of circumstances, and her faith during times when our spirituality is tested. We love You, and we ask that you keep us grounded in that love. It is in Your name we pray, Amen.

Written by Alec Gilmore

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