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

    [email protected]

    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.

  • 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.