Evergreen Devotions December 20

   Snippet

The joy Christ gives is for time and eternity, for soul and body, for adversity and prosperity.  William Swets

     Scripture

There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger. Luke 2:8-12 Message

                                    Song Joy by Kings and Country

                                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-r7ogDaaEQ

Lately, I've been reading, watching the nightly news
Don't seem to find the rhythm, just wanna sing the blues
Feels like a song that never stops
Feels like it's never gonna
Gotta get that fire, fire, back in my bones
Before my heart, heart, turns into stone
So somebody please pass the megaphone
I'll shout it on the count of three
One, two, three
Oh, hear my prayer tonight, I'm singing to the sky
Give me strength to raise my voice, let me testify
Oh, hear my prayer tonight, 'cause this is do or die
The time has come to make a choice
And I choose joy
Let it move you, let it move you, let it move you
Yeah, I choose joy
Let it move you, let it move, let it move you
Yeah-eh, back when I was young, my eyes were full of life
But now that I am older, I live at the speed of light
Feels like the cycle never stops
Feels like it's never gonna
Gotta get that fire, fire, back in my bones
Before my heart, heart, turns into stone
So somebody please pass the megaphone
I'll shout it on the count of three
One, two, three
Oh, hear my prayer tonight, I'm singing to the sky
Give me strength to raise my voice, let me testify
Oh, hear my prayer tonight, 'cause this is do or die
The time has come to make a choice
And I choose joy
Let it move you, let it move, let it move you
Yeah, I choose joy
Let it move you, let it move, let it move you
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of night
Oh, with You by my side, I'm stepping into the light
I choose joy
Let it move you, let it move, let it move you
I need that joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart, down in my heart to stay
I need that joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart, down in my heart to stay
And I choose joy
Let it move you, let it move, let it move you
Oh, I choose joy
Let it move you, let it move, let it move you
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of night
Oh, with You by my side, I'm stepping into the light
I choose joy
Go let it move you, go let it move you, go let it move you
I need that joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart, down in my heart to stay
I need that joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart, down in my heart to stay

    Sentence Prayer

Your name is still called “Wonderful,” “Counselor,” “The Mighty God,” “The Everlasting Father,” and “The Prince of Peace.” As Your children, we cry out for a fresh filling and a new awareness of Who You are. We choose by faith to make the “good news of great joy” a reality in our own lives, so others can see us as lighted trees of life, pointing to You this Christmas. We know one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that You are Lord. And we also know that peace on earth can only come when hearts find peace with You.  Amen

Evergreen Devotions December 18

The word Joy is also an acrostic that contains the recipe for that commodity.  J. esus first.  O.thers second  Y.ourself last.

As we have learned and practice in the evergreen sermon series, all Israel wanted was a Messiah, for Christmas.  When their expectations did not match what God the Father sent; Jesus, they fell into despair.  But listen to the reaction of unborn John and his mother  Elizabeth. And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:41  Even the unborn dance with joy in the presence of the Messiah.

O.  stands for others.  One of my favorite Christmas carols is; Hark the Herald written by Charles Wesley.  The opening goes like this; Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled." Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem." Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King!

This hymn reminds me if I have Jesus, I have the joy all nations desire.  It reminds me of the great joy we experience when we share Jesus with others in words and deeds.  Having, a tough holiday?  The miracle cure is to simply be Jesus to someone else.

Y. stands for yourself.  Rich with detail, the record of Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:1-16) reveals to us a central truth: we’re called to worship Jesus—the Messiah who came to save us. Granted, we can’t always slow down the events of life, but our worship shouldn’t be based on our external circumstances. It should be based on what God has done and the glory of His Son. May we follow the shepherds’ example and glorify and praise God this Christmas: “The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20).

We are all doughnuts, we all have a God-shaped hole, that only Jesus can fill.  Christmas joy is impossible without the Christ!  

Evergreen Devotions, December 18

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord?” Luke 2:10–11

Well, we are getting close. The climax of our odyssey to the heart of Christmas is almost here. And although at first blush it may seem an odd one, I want to ask you a question: Do you have the Christmas spirit this year?

I mean, do you really have the Christmas spirit? Better yet, what is the Christmas spirit? Is it the warm and familiar feeling of being with family and friends around a soothing fire and flickering candlelight? Is it the joy of seeing the anticipation in the eyes of a child? Is it the satisfaction of unwrapping a special gift? Or, is the spirit of Christmas something else?

The answer is found in Christ, who for our sake came that Christmas morning two thousand years ago. Who came to earth and cloaked Himself in human flesh. Who emptied Himself. Who “made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man”(Philippians 2:7–8).

I would suggest, this is the spirit of Christmas. It is not the rush we experience when we get — get a gift, get a feeling, get a bonus. All these are wonderful in and of themselves. The real spirit of Christmas, however, is found not in what we get, but in what we give. It is becoming ever more like our Savior in the spirit of selflessness. And not just during the Christmas season or on Christmas Day, but rather throughout the remainder of our lives. The spirit of Christmas is not a once-a-year experience. It is a spirit to be embraced throughout the coming year. 

How are you serving others and showing them the love of Christ this Christmas? Do you have a neighbor in crisis, or ill, or elderly whom you could help or encourage? Have you shoveled snow off the driveway of someone who cannot do so on their own? Or shared a meal and a laugh with a friend going through a hard time? Or served a meal at a shelter? 

Thought of the Day: What other ways can you reach out and serve others?

From: Do you have the Christmas Spirit? Dr. Joe Pettigrew

Evergreen Devotions December 17th

 Brene Brown in Rising strong; "Disappointment is unmet expectations

and the more significant the expectations, the more significant the

disappointment.'  Many did not find Joy in the babe in Bethlehem,

only disappointment  because their expectations did not match

the new thing God was doing.

In Decembers Readers Digest a seven-year-old gives her father a

list of her Christmas expectations and he replied.  Here is part of

the list  Daughters list“Black, light blue, green, purple, and pink

North Faces.”   The Fathers response= Five North Face jackets at

100 bucks each? Dream smaller. That is apparel meant for

serious outdoorsmen who dangle from belayed ropes on the

south face of K2. The outdoorsiest we get is when we roll down

the window at Wendy’s drive-through.

The Shepherds in Bethlehem found great joy because they received what

God gave.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good

news that will cause great joy for all the people. Luke 2:10 Today, choose

joy by receiving what God gives, gratefully.