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SERMON NOTES:Prayer Requests

Y For the family and new baby girlwho was born to Judith Shu and

Jonathan Tse.Y Safe travels for Amy Moores

family this week, coming fromNevada, Seattle, Germany and

Japan!

Y For Chuck Godfrey and his familyas they prepare for his step-fathers passing.

Y For Lee Bliss that he finds a job.

Y Pray for Erika Dochniak as shestruggles with diabetes.

Y Pray for a seven year old boy namedCarter Olson who is undergoingchemotherapy for brain cancer.Molecular tests show that he has anaggressive form of cancer whichplaces him in a high-risk category.

Y Pray for Jennifers sister Rebecca

Klein as their family go throughdivorce.

Y Pray for Angelicas friend Ann, afriend and colleague, who isreceiving treatment for breastcancer.

Y Pray for Carole Lloyd, a friend ofPastor Paul and Amy Moore, whosebrain cancer has reappeared.

Y Pray for Dwight Zvorak as herecovers from the disease ofalcoholism.

Y Pray for persons and processinvolved in property purchase forCOL.

DEVOTIONThis week I am sharing a devotion about theKingdom of God. Its a term that Matthewused often in his gospel.

The Kingdom of God is almost the same as

the Kingdom of Heaven. Its the in-breakingof heaven into the world. Jesus was clearthat certain values made up the Kingdom ofGod. These values are much different thanthe values that the world honors.

These Scriptures show that the Kingdom ofGod was a central theme of the Bible.

Comments and thoughts about the devotioncan be E-mailed to Pastor Paul atpastor@colpres.org. Enjoy!!

Monday, December 19Read Isaiah 9:1-7

This reading is often shared during worshipin Advent and Christmas. Its easy to lookback at the reading and see how it was aprediction for the birth of Jesus.

Notice the contrasting images in thepassage: Light and darkness; peace andwar; a newborn baby as a king. Thekingdom doesnt exist separately from theworld.

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Look at the characteristics of the kingdomjustice, righteousness, endless peace.These are the characteristics that Jesuswants his followers to establish. They makeup the kingdom.

The passage ends powerfully, the zeal of

the Lord of hosts will do this. God haspassion for the kingdom.

What can you do to live out the kingdom forthe next week? Today as you pray, praythat you can discover ways to live out justice, righteousness and peace. Pray thatChain of Lakes will have an impact on theworld by living out these values.

Tuesday, December 20Read Ezekiel 34:1-17

A couple hundred years after Isaiah, theprophet Ezekiel wrote these words. Godwas upset with the shepherds of Israelinthis case the shepherd is a metaphor forthose who look out for the people. Theshepherds did not strengthen the weak, didnot heal the sick, did not bind up theinjured, did not bring back the stray or seekthe lost. (verse 4)

Because of the shepherds the people werescattered and in danger. God had decidedto be the shepherd for the people. In verse15-16 God said what was important. Godwas going to make the people rest or liedown, was going to seek the lost, bring backthe injured, and strengthen the weak. Insome ways these two verses are a reminderof Psalm 23.

Againthese are qualities of the kingdom.

We at Chain of Lakes are called to live themout in our ministry. Today as you pray, praythat our congregation and all congregations

can live out these qualities of the shepherdfor the world.

Wednesday, December 21Read Luke 1:26-39

Gabriels announcement to Mary wasperhaps the most important announcement

in human history. We could pick apart eachverse to learn about God. In particular lookat verse 33. Gabriel announced that thisnew child would grow up and his kingdomwould not end. This kingdom would lasteternally.

Often we miss this verse in Gabrielsannouncement to Mary. Gabriel wassharing more than the miracle of Maryspregnancy. The angel was announcing thecontinuation of the kingdom. This kingdom

was not dependant on a succession of kings,but instead would be lived out and taughtby this babyJesus.

Today as you pray, give praise to God forthis angelic announcement which haschanged the world!

Thursday, December 22

Read Matthew 5:1-16These sixteen verses are a primer on thekingdom. In fact in verses three and tenJesus mentioned (as he did often inMatthew) the phrase the kingdom ofheaven.

These sixteen verses can seem confusingbecause the values expressed are in suchcontrast to the values of the world. Thekingdom is made up of the poor in spirit(those in all sorts of poverty), those who

mourn, are meek, who hunger and thirst forrighteousness, are merciful, are pure inheart, are peacemakers, who arepersecuted and reviled.

What a glorious vision!!

We never quite live into the kingdom asindividuals, but we can experience momentsof it breaking into our lives. Which of thesevalues come easy for you? Which of them

are more difficult? Today as you pray, prayfor the in-breaking of the kingdom as it isexpressed in these sixteen verses.

Friday, December 23Read Matthew 18:1-4

One would never expect a child to be thegreatest in the kingdom of heaven. In Jesusday children did not have legal statustheywere viewed as property.

Once again Jesus turned upside down the

values of the world in his expression of whatmade up the kingdom.

At Chain of Lakes we express theimportance of children by the Core Value ofInvesting in Future Generations. Children,youth and young adults are a priority to us.

Think over what we are doing in ourministries at Chain of Lakes. Think aboutways we are supporting and encouragingchildren and youth. Reflect on how we can

do better. Today as you pray, pray that wecan live out this value in our ministry.

Saturday, December 24Read Matthew 25:31-46

Again Jesus shared the values of theKingdom. In helping those who are hungry,thirsty, naked, sick, a stranger, those inprison we are helping Jesus. We are livingout the Kingdom.

These values are such a contrast to the

values that the world values.

Tomorrow is Christmas. Could you includein your preparations a way to help someone

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who is hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, astranger, are someone in prison. Could youmake it a priority to do this? Helping out isa way for you and your family to celebratethe first entrance of Jesus into the worldwhat we know of as Christmas.

Despite out busyness we can experience theKingdom by helping the person Jesusmentioned in this Scripture.

Today, as you pray, pray for an opportunityto live out specifically the kingdom in thenext seven days.