| Pastor Nelda’s ADVENT DEVOTIONS December 2 – Luke 1:11-17 “On the right side of the altar of incense an angel of the Lord appeared. This terrified Zechariah and he fell before him out of fear. The angel said, “Zechariah, don’t be afraid because your prayers have been heard! Your wife Elizabeth will have a son and you will call his name John. There will be a lot of joy, celebration, and many will be glad. Many of the sons of Israel will return to the Lord, his God. He will go before God in the spirit and power of Elijah and turn the fathers’ hearts to their children and the disobedient to an attitude of righteousness. He will prepare people for the Lord.” Seeing the angel at the altar must have terrified this priest—no one else was allowed into this special place. This must be a divine act. Yet even more divine was the promise that God not only heard his and Elizabeth’s prayers (they were childless) but that their son would one day lead people back to God. There was hope for the people of Israel! In a time when people’s hearts were captivated by the mighty Empire of power, false peace, and materialism; a faithful couple was told that their son would do God’s work. Lives would change! Christmas has always been counter-cultural. A Christian holiday celebrated intentionally during the height of paganism. The early church made the decision to celebrate our King on December 25, the birthday of Mithrais and the worship of Saturn. Christmas was an in-your-face celebration stating that God intervenes in time and space with a promise to turn people back to their Lord. Christmas boldly states that lives can change. Reflect Today the Empire of power, false peace, materialism, and consumerism seeks to capture our hearts and distract us from the daily presence of God, especially during this season of Advent. How are you praying for God to appear in your life this Christmas? Where are you longing to see a message of hope? Pray Lord, You appear where no one else is allowed, and sometimes that is the altar of my heart. You also appear in our lives to offer us hope and You cut through time and space to remind us that today people can turn to You, even in the dark times. May we fall before You in love and go before You in faithfulness. Amen.  |
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| We will continue to count down the days until the birth of the Christ Child together through these times of reflection back to what was happening in Bible times and, as we look ahead on our own lives and how we are preparing to celebrate this miracle and how to share His love with everyone we know. I hope you will join us daily, via this email to you or on my Kennedale News column each day, as we spend a little time in God’s Word. Have a wonderful Advent. I miss you all and I wish you a Merry Christmas! “I don’t know how, but I know Who!” Peace, Pastor Nelda Reverend Dr. Nelda Barrett Murraine is Pastor at First United Methodist Kennedale 229 W 4th St. Kennedale, TX 76060 If you would like to donate to the ministries and mission outreach of FUMC Kennedale, we now offer online giving. Just follow this link: Vanco Online https://www.facebook.com/KennedaleFUMC |
