Wed, Dec 28 Devotional

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Isaiah 63:8-9 For he said, “Surely they are my people,
    children who will not act deceitfully,”
and he became their savior
9     in all their distress.
It was no messenger or angel
    but his presence that saved them;
in his love and pity it was he who redeemed them;
    he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

For he said “surely they are my people, children who will not act deceitfully,” and he became their Saviour in all their distress.

It was no messenger or angel, but his presence that saved them; in his love and pity it was He who redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

              - Barb Lowther

Mon, Dec 26 Devotional

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 Unto us a boy is born! The King of all creation,

Came He to a world forlorn, The Lord of every nation.

          Christmas is past, the tree and decorations are put away.  Many days and money were spent for yesterday’s big party.  For what reason-just to have a big party, or was it for another reason?  Did you open your Bible and read Luke’s account of the birth of baby Jesus?  Did you bow your heads and thank God?

The baby Jesus grew to manhood to be our Saviour.  At the age of 30, He started His three year mission of teaching, preaching and healing.  Great crowds followed HIM.  The religious leaders hated Him and made plans to crucify Jesus.  Besides being our Saviour, Jesus gave us three more gifts.

Death: Jesus died on a cruel roman cross bearing our sins in His body and shedding His blood to wash away our sins; so we can stand before God the Father - justified - just as if we had never sinned.

Resurrection: After lying in the grave from Friday sunset to sunrise Sunday, Jesus arose and appeared to His disciples and faithful followers.  Someday, we too shall arise to be with Him.

Ascension: Jesus told His disciples to go to a nearby mountain where He would meet them.  He spoke His last words and told them “...go and make disciples of all nations…” Matthew 28:19.  He ascended through the clouds and is seated by God, His Father.  One day we shall ascend to be with Jesus in that most beautiful placed called HEAVEN.

Is Jesus your Saviour?  He’s mine!

      - Eben Lennox

Sun, Dec 25 Devotional

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Luke 2:6-7 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place in the guest room.

      Whether it is an unexpected visit at just the wrong time, an unscheduled meeting in the middle of the day or a flat tire on the way to hockey practice, life is full of interruptions.  These unplanned and unwanted little inconveniences alter our plans and change our agenda, often leaving us irritated and upset.

Jesus was born amidst just such an unplanned and inconvenient interruption.  I am sure that the unscheduled trip to Bethlehem or the added inconvenience of sleeping in a stable were not in Mary and Joseph’s plan, particularly in the ninth month of pregnancy.  Yet, what seemed an unwelcome interruption to Mary and Joseph was really a part of a much bigger plan.  The journey to Bethlehem and birth in a stable were necessary parts of fulfilling the prophesies concerning the Saviour.

It is my belief that God has a purpose and plan for our lives, that plan being to create in each of us the very character of Christ.  Ordinary, everyday problems have a way of forming our attitudes and shaping our reactions.  If we have God’s perspective, it is in the unexpected that we can expect to see Jesus.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to see You in all circumstances in our lives.  Thank You for making our lives a part of Your plan.  Teach us always to follow the footsteps of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.  In His name we pray.  Amen.

 - Greg Wilson

Fri, Dec 23 Devotional

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Psalm 96:11-13

11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
    let the sea roar and all that fills it;
12     let the field exult and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13     before the Lord, for he is coming,
    for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness
    and the peoples with his truth.

When we read a bit of this Psalm, I think of church services. Our whole plan can be seen in the 13 verses of Psalm 96. Here is: singing, saying how amazing God is, telling what God does, and bringing offerings/gifts. Author, Marva Dawn, has written a whole book about Christian worship, modeled on this text.

What we usually do in Churches is a far cry from what ‘worship’ was for Jews at the time of Jesus’ birth in the Middle East. The traditional Christmas Eve Service in our pews tomorrow evening will draw a large crowd. It is nothing like the animal sacrifices or ceremonial washing prescribed in the Old Testament. Yet the Psalms - and other texts - are filled with words of praise that still inspire our singing and talking and praying when we worship God.

One interesting image at the end of Psalm 96 is that mention of the trees (of all things!) singing for joy: God is arriving to make things right! Let’s pray for this.

Holy God, do you really bring joy even to the trees? In these days may we join all creation and all Christians in loud praise of Jesus, making things right. And give us quiet moments amid the hustle and bustle to rejoice as quietly as the trees do.

- Rev. Jeff White

Thrs, Dec 22 Devotional

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Isaiah 9:6-7  For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders, and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Great will be his authority, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

The moment I read the words “for unto us a child is born” I begin to sing them in my head, doing my best to capture the sprightly cadence of the 12th part of George Frideric Handel’s oratorio Messiah. I do not possess a talent for recounting scripture, but I am confident I can recite Isaiah 9:6—sing it, even. My familiarity with these verses is because my father listened to the entirety of Handel’s Messiah every Christmas Day while we cleaned up from the morning’s activities.

My father also made efforts through the years to attend live performances of Messiah with me, each of which occurred during the days leading up to Christmas. As such, Isaiah’s foretelling of Jesus’s birth and establishment of His kingdom, and the zeal by which the Lord (Jesus’s father!) will perform these feats, is as much a part of the Christmas story for me as the account of Jesus’s actual birth as told in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. With each line, Isaiah’s words impress upon me the love of a father, whether it be my earthly one or my heavenly one.

Prayer: Jesus, during this season of your birth let us remember the love of fathers, as Your father loved You and as You love us as our everlasting Father.  Amen.    

   - Joshua Shelley

Wed, Dec 21 Devotional

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Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing;

Come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

 The shepherds went back, singing praises to God for all they had heard and seen: it had been just as the angels had told them.

When the shepherds returned to their flock of sheep after seeing the baby Jesus, do you think they may have been singing Gloria in Excelsis Deo?  The same song they heard the angels singing.

Sometimes a sing gets into your head and you can’t stop yourself from singing it. The song may make you happy, it may make you sad, or it may have you remembering someone you love. I truly believe God likes to hear us sing. He doesn’t care how we sound, it just makes Him happy. It doesn’t matter whether we are singing about Him, singing a popular jungle or a lullaby to soothe a crying baby. Sing it loud and proud God and you are enjoying it and He loves to hear you sing.

Prayer: Dear God we have so many reasons to sing your praises. As this Christmas season draws near help us to be grateful for all you do for us. Always remembering Your son Jesus is the true reason for this season of great joy for over 2000 years. Amen

- Sherrill Pettigrew

Tues, Dec 20 Devotional

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Angels we have heard on high, Sweetly singing o’er the plains.

And the mountains in reply Echo back their joyous strains

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

The angels sang. The mountains replied - heaven & earth harmonious! The familiar carol recalls the experience of the trembling shepherds' from Luke's Gospel, so vivid and gripping it prompted them to search for the birth of Love.

On Christmas Eve morning 2020, fleeting as it was, I experienced a heaven-and-earth moment myself. Out early to complete last minute errands, I was grumpy - a pandemic was messing with family plans. In seeming accord with my frame of mind, the most dreary Christmas carol I'd ever heard  was playing on CBC.

 In its rhythm, the traffic light flashed green.  At the same time I registered the only clear lyrics from the grating carol, ..."dreams do come true"...hmp.  Making a left turn onto Robert Angus Drive I noticed,  for the first time that morning, a clear azure sky.  Straightening the car, now heading directly East, that sky was lit by a brilliant white flash, then a cascading watercolour vapor trail: blue to aqua to green to pink before fading.

 It must have all happened in a moment , but at the time I felt transported to the heavens. I'd become a part of the splendour of a rare daylight fireball! As the heavenly body vanished my heart sang a new song  -  gratitude and love. Like the shepherds of old, I would praise the day knowing: a young couple can surmount daunting circumstances; a stable can be a home for a time; & a little child can lead us.

Prayer: Wondrous God, open our hearts to perceive the glory of your presence in our everyday lives. We need  to hear the Angel choirs singing peace to troubled minds;  breathing softness and compassion. And hearing the songs,  we ask your guidance to act in harmony.  Amen

- Cynthia McCarthy

Mon, Dec 19 Devotional

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Matthew 1:19-21 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

My Poem:  Joseph was worried about his dear wife 

Because she was ‘bout to give birth to a life  

But she was a virgin and he was ashamed,

He’d divorce quietly and not be to blame

But that night on high, an angel came to him,

And said that the child would clear man of sin.

The angel also said that he should not leave his son

Mary was to name him Jesus and he’d be the only one;

To save all God’s people from the sin that they had done.

 

My Reflection: Frankly, I’m impressed at how brave Joseph would’ve had to be to face that he might have been publicly disgraced. But, he was brave, and in the end, he chose the option of protecting and raising his son - at the risk of being mocked - instead of the latter. I, in this position, would have found it very hard to decide. Of course, I don’t have any experience raising a child, but I bet it was hard for Joseph. 

Prayer: Lord, help us today to make good decisions even if we don’t want to. Help us also to be brave like Joseph and the unfathomable decision that he was told to make. Many times in the day we do not follow this, and choose not the right path but the most convenient option we see. In Your name, Amen.     

- C. W. SHELLEY

Thrs, Dec 15 Devotional

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Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace!

Hail, the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings,

Risen with healing in His wings

T’was the night before Jesus came and all through the house

Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.

Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care

In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed,

Not once kneeling or bowing a head.

And Mom in her rocker and baby on her lap

Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter,

I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear

But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.

With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray

I knew in a moment this must be the day!

The light of His face made me cover my head.

It was Jesus! Returning just like He had said.

And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,

I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which He held in His hand,

Was written the name of every saved man.

He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;

When He said, “it’s not here,” my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love

He gathered to take to His Father above.

With those who were ready He rose without a sound

While all the rest were left standing around.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;

The coming of Jesus is drawing near.

There’s only one life and when comes the last call,

We’ll find that the Bible was true after all!

 

-  a traditional poem, submitted by Pauline Lusby

Tues, Dec 13 Devotional

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Matthew 11:3-6

3 [they] said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with a skin disease are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6 And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

Tues, Dec 6 Devotional

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Matthew 3:1-3 3 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,

         “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ”

Those days: refers to the time just before Jesus started his ministry, around 26-27 AD and John the Baptist was preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, all across the Judean wilderness.  Repentance is about changing your ways, not just feeling bad about them.  John is telling his followers that they need to turn from their old ways because there's going to be someone else in charge, someone the prophets had spoken about and He's coming now.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank you for the Gospel of Matthew and how it helps us understand the time when Jesus lived, and for the ministry and message of the faithful John the Baptist.  Make our path to you straight during this Advent season, and instead of rushing through the season buying gifts, help us instead to proclaim to the world the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Amen

- Bev Curry

Mon, Dec 5 Devotional

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Romans 15:12-13 12 and again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one  who rises to rule the gentiles; in him the gentiles shall hope.” 13 May the God of hope fill you  with all joy and peace in believing,  so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Our family's Christmas story: 25 years or so ago a young couple with two small children were worrying about how they were going to get through this Christmas.  The children were off playing in another room as mom and dad were cleaning up the supper dishes.  What are we going to do?  Will we have enough to pay the bills and still have money left to get the children some gifts for Christmas? 

There was a knock at the door and the wife went to answer it.  There was a kind looking older man wearing an overcoat and hat.  She said “can I help you”?  He asked, “is this the home of the Miller family?’  “Yes, it is” she answered.  He then handed her an envelope and said “Blessings to your family and Merry Christmas.”  He turned and walked away.

Her husband came to the door and asked who was at the door.  She said I don't know.  I didn’t recognize him.  They opened the card and couldn’t believe what they found.  There was around $300.00 inside of the envelope.  They were so happy and relieved.  They now could pay the bills and still have money left to buy the children some Christmas gifts. 

She said, “I have to call mom and tell her what happened.”  When her mom answered she began to tell her. “Mom, how did he know our name, where we lived and that we needed help?”  Her mom said, “it doesn’t matter how and why but just say thank you Lord.”  Mom said “I think you had a special visit from a Christmas angel.”  We have retold this story every Christmas and that is why we call it our Christmas Angel Story.

Prayer: I believe in the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit and the heavenly angels.  Thank you Lord for watching over us all and thank you to the heavenly angels.  At our time of need you are with us. Amen.                                      - Norma MacGregor

Sun, Dec 4 Devotional

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Psalm 72:1-3

1 Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son. May he judge your people with righteousness and your poor with justice. 3 May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness.

The first church service for a four year old: It was a glorious Sunday. The first day of church ever for Elizabeth. A new coat that was fit for a princess, white ankle socks (but still had to wear the brown Oxfords), patent leather probably had not been invented yet. She couldn’t remember what she wore under the coat, but it didn’t matter, she was never taking it off. But the hat...she was sure the Queen had never worn finer! The soft silky gloves that only a movie star would wear, with the ruffle around the cuff. Such finery to be worn at this Highland Baptist Church on Park Street. The grand finale: Her dad gave her a quarter to put in the plate. What on earth was the plate? So off to church they walked, Elizabeth and cousin Marie, the quarter clutched ever so tightly so it would never come out of that glove. They made it to church, the steps up to the main door (oh so regal) then inside. The pews must have came from heaven. The service went on and on. What the minister said did not matter, just that Elizabeth looked wonderful and cousin Marie didn’t look so bad either. Then it happened…”The Plate” and it was getting closer and closer. Money was going in it, oh dear she thought what shall I do? I cannot part with this money. The plate got to her and Marie gave her the nod to drop the money into the plate. Look, well there was a lot of silver in “The Plate” so Elizabeth dropped the quarter and took a dime back! Needless to say, she got a sharp slap on the wrist, no quarter or dime to be had. Elizabeth wasn’t sure if God would spend it wisely and it really didn’t hurt to give as it was not her quarter to begin with.

- Liz Hickey

Sat, Dec 3 Devotional

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Saturday, December 3 ~ Isaiah 11:1-2

1 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,
    and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
2 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
    the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
    the spirit of counsel and might,
    the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

People find meaning in work which calls one to the service of others, or in rich human connections, or in following a leader or cause that can give purpose to living.  When these diminish or fail, some have the good fortune to discover a cause and a leader that enhance that meaning.  As they struggle for answers to personal and social problems, as they realize that respected politicians and celebrities have feet of clay, they hope to find again that Jesus who gives purpose to their lives.  They need the wisdom he will share with them if they welcome his coming. 

These words of the prophet Isaiah leapt from the pages of the scriptures of the first followers of Jesus.  They had seen Jesus’ compassion and power over “evil spirits” that immobilized people.  They had witnessed his wise teachings.  They realized that this was the leader for whom their nation longed.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you that in Jesus we will find someone whose spirit radiates wisdom and understanding.  Help us once again to welcome His coming in this Advent season.  Through Him, give our lives meaning and purpose.  In His name we pray.  Amen.

           - Ed Colquhoun

Fri, Dec 2 Devotional

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Friday, December 2

O come, Thou key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home;

Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

 As I picked this date I picked it because it was our second daughter’s birthday. I did not look at the verse until later, I realized ‘Rejoice! Rejoice Emmanuel’ I have sung several times over the years and I should be able to write something.

I’m not sure if it was God, Jesus or Emmanuel that was with us on December 2nd when my wife was to be the bridesmaid at her sister Carol’s wedding. Our friend and doctor, Donachie, told us not to worry the baby would be here before December 2nd. He apparently didn’t know God (Emmanuel) had a different plan.

The wedding was at 2; in case she was unable to be the bridesmaid a friend was standing by and she would be an honorary bridesmaid. First thing that morning as she got out of bed, bent over with pain, just a cramp and then another, so off we go to the hospital. However, I am in the wedding party, so I head to the church to be told my wife delivered before I hit the first floor. After the wedding ceremony the entire wedding party march into Highland View Hospital to the third floor to be welcomed by Mom and Julie Arlene. God works in mysteries ways but he always has a plan.

Prayer: Dear God you work in strange ways and make life interesting. Thank you for a life full of challenges and love. Thank you for being a part of or life. Amen.

- Roy Pettigrew

Thrs, Dec 1 Devotional

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Thursday, December 1 

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here;

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

Do you enjoy singing Christmas carols? I certainly do! And childhood memories in church with my family, singing carols in many choirs, and carolling door to door with church groups (Explorers, C.G.I.T., Young Peoples) all bring feelings of warmth and joy!

This carol above (O Come, O Come Emmanuel) was originally written in Latin during the 12th century. John Neale (England, 1860s) made it accessible to us by translating it into English. Sung in Advent, the carol  anticipates the first coming of Christ to earth. The old term “Dayspring” can be translated as “the rising sun” and is a metaphor for the coming or birth of Jesus, “Emmanuel”.

Hunger, poverty, sickness, greed, materialism, war, and natural disasters of our current world feel like the “gloomy cloud of night”, as sung in this carol. But we can welcome Jesus, the babe, once again! The hope and joy that He brings can “put to flight” these “dark shadows”.  So let us sing this wonderful old carol and “Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come!”

Prayer: Dear Lord, as we listen to carols and raise our voices in song in anticipation of Your coming, the “Dayspring” of our challenged world, may we experience in our lives the joy, hope, and love that You bring.  Amen.

    - Susan Colquhoun

Wed, Nov 30 Devotional

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Wednesday, November 30 ~ Matthew 24:42-44

Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.  But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.  Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Jesus lived and died a long time ago and for a lot of people He is no longer foremost in their minds.  It is easy to get caught up in our busy lives and forget that our life is brief and nobody knows what day will be their last.

The Bible says that Jesus will one day return to us to establish His kingdom on Earth.  It could be during our lifetime. We should prepare daily and live with expectation.  When we stand before Christ, all that will matter is what we did for Him while we lived.  So live your life full of good deeds and expectation.  Ready or not, He IS coming.

Prayer: Jesus, we stand before you today asking for you to remember us during your second coming and judgement. Prepare us for the new Heaven and the new Earth where you reign with righteousness.  Help us to prepare others with excitement about your return.  In your name we pray.  Amen

- Karen Fraser