devotion week of december 4 2011
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8/3/2019 Devotion Week of December 4 2011
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SERMON NOTES:Prayer Requests
Y For Heather Butterfields sister Susie who just
found out she has glaucoma (she is in her 30s).
Y Pray for the Butterfields friends Laurie, Ellen
and Candi who have cancer and for Gods
healing.
Y Pray for Val Owens and her family as they
suffer the loss of her mother.
YPray for Joanne Shingledeckers daughter,
Ann Brodersen. She is home recovering from
gallbladder surger.
Y Pray for Devin Vosdingh as she goes through
extensive dental work.
Y Pray for Erika Dochniak as she struggles with
diabetes.
Y Pray for a seven year old boy named CarterOlson who is undergoing chemotherapy for brain
cancer. Molecular tests show that he has an
aggressive form of cancer which places him in a
high-risk category.
Y Pray for Jennifers sister Rebecca Klein as
their family go through divorce.
YPray for Franks Grandma Warnock. She has
qualified for hospice and may pass away soon.
Please pray for peace and the assurance of her
salvation in the Lord.
Y Pray for Angelicas friend Ann, a friend and
colleague, who is receiving treatment for breast
cancer.
Y Pray for Carole Lloyd, a friend of Pastor Paul
and Amy Moore, whose brain cancer has
reappeared.
Y Pray for Dwight Zvorak as he recovers from
the disease of alcoholism.
Y Pray for persons and process involved in
property purchase for COL.
YPlease remember the following NCD churchesin your prayers:
Concord Pres, Delaware, OH
New Albany Pres, New Albany, OHRamseyer Pres, Columbus, OH
Puerta de Salvacion Pres, Amherst, OHNew Presbtyerian Hispanic Church, Fort Dodge, Iowa
Southeast Asian Christian Church, Storm Lake, Iowa
DEVOTIONChristmas is ultimately about a story. We celebrate
Christmas through gift giving, parties, family
celebrations, cards, and church activities. These aremeans to a larger endthat being the story of Jesus
birth. Unfortunately these events sometimes define
our Christmasthey become the ultimate end.
We can learn more about the story by having a
deeper understanding of the two adults who were
present at Jesus birth. These adults, of course, are
Mary and Joseph.
This week were looking at some Scriptures thatdescribe Mary. Besides Jesus and Paul she is one of
the most important figures in the New Testament.
Enjoy!
Comments about the devotion can be sent to
pastor@colpres.org
Monday, December 5
Read Luke 1:26-38
This reading is well-known among the entire world.
Whether a person believes in God or even practicesChristianity that person probably knows this story.
Mary was understandably puzzled by the angel,
Gabriels message. No one in the history of the
world has conceived a child the way that Gabriel
described.
Gabriels message also put Mary into great danger.
As a woman who was pregnant outside marriage she
risked being stoned to death by her community.
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8/3/2019 Devotion Week of December 4 2011
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2 3 4Her answer to Gabriel is one that changed the world,
Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me
according to your world.
Mary was willing to do whatever God asked her to
doeven if that request put her in great danger.
Mary didnt live her faith by telling God what she
wanted and then complaining when God didntanswer her prayers. Mary was open to living outGods desireeven if she didnt understand that
desire and Gods desire put her at risk.
We probably arent putting our lives at risk by doing
what God wants, but Mary serves as a role model for
us. Today as you pray, use Marys prayer as your
own prayer. Take the following prayer and use it
over and over.
Here I am, (insert your name), the servant of theLord. Let it be with me according to your word.
Tuesday, December 6
Read Luke 1:46-56
These verses are known as Marys Magnificat. Her
prayer is very similar to Hannahs prayer in 1
Samuel 2:1-10. If you have some time, compare the
two prayers.
Hannah had also unexpectedly been given the gift of
a son. Hannah was barren and had given up hope of
every bearing a child. God answered Hannahsprayer by giving her the child, Samuel.
In these verses in Luke, Mary shared a vision for the
world that came from God. She shared that God has
a special place in the divine heart for lowly servants,
the hungry, and the poor. This is a vision to lift up
during Advent.
As you pray today, pray that this vision that Maryshared in the Magnificat will take place. Pray that
the church will have the courage to live out thisvision.
Wednesday, December 7
Read Luke 2:21-35
Soon after Jesus was born Mary and Joseph
presented the baby for circumcision and purification.
In doing this Mary demonstrated her faithfulness to
her Jewish identify.
The details behind purification can be found In
Leviticus 12. The sacrifice that Mary and Josephpresented was a pair of turtledoves. Normally thesacrifice was a sheep, but if a family could not afford
a sheep they would offer a turtledove. By sharing
this sacrifice we learn that Mary and Joseph were
poor.
How amazing that God would choose to enter the
world through a poor woman. It would have been
safer to enter through a wealthy woman. That person
would have better health care and more
opportunities. However in entering a world througha poor woman, God shared the compassion in thedivine heart for those who are poor.
The church is called to have this same compassion
for the poor. Today as you pray, give praise to God
that Jesus entered the world through a poor teenage
girl; pray that the church can have the same passion
in helping those in the world who are poor.
Thursday, December 8
Read Mark 3:31-35
When Jesus grew up Mary stayed very involved inhis life. In this story we learn that Mary had other
children. Jesus was asking about his brothers in
verse 33. Some people have taught that Mary was a
virgin throughout her entire life; however this story
seems to refute that idea.
It must have been very hard for Mary to see Jesus
say these words in verse 34. Jesus did certainly not
disown Mary as his mother, but he was saying thathis family extended beyond Mary and his brothers.
We dont read of Marys response to Jesus words,
but we can imagine that this would have been
difficult.
All of us have had experiences in our family when
we were disappointed. Mary understands these
experiences. As you pray today, reflect on times
when you were disappointed in your family. Pray
that you will let them go, that you will release them
as Mary seemed to do.
Friday, December 9
Read John 19:25-27
Its hard to imagine the pain that Mary must have
experienced as she watched her son die on the cross.
This boy who was in her womb for nine months
grew up to be killed in a terrible and gruesome way.
No mother should have to experience what Mary
experienced in this story.
Many women and men have had to bury theirchildren. You probably know of some. Today, asyou pray, pray for these parents. Pray that we at
Chain of Lakes can be a community where we love
and care for parents who have lost a children through
death.
Saturday, December 10
Read Acts 1:12-14
Mary experienced the joy of the resurrection that the
other male disciples experienced. She continued to
be part of the early group of followers of Jesus who
went on to start the church. In this way she was anapostle.
Marys participation with the other apostles is one
reason that Presbyterians believe that women should
be in leadership in the church. Its hard to believe
that if the mother of Jesus was alive today, she would
not be allowed to share Communion in some
congregations.
Today as you pray, pray that the church will
recognize the gifts of all people. Pray that we willbecome a church where Mary could share her gifts in
whatever way she wanted.
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