What I’m listening to: Angels We Have Heard on High by The Combined Choirs of Luther College & Symphony Orchestra

Welcome to Day 19 of our Advent series! If you’re up to date, awesome, if not, be sure to check out the previous posts. The first one explains a little more about the series. Now, let’s go back to where we last left off in Matthew.

 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
                         Matthew 2:7-8 (NIV)

God calls us to have trust, but that doesn’t mean we have to trust everyone, only the Lord. Here in Matthew, Herod claimed that he wished to worship the baby Jesus, when he actually meant the Christ child harm. We are not called to be naïve in order to be “good” Christians. In fact, since we trust the Lord, we do not have to rely on putting our trust in anyone else. Trust the Lord to guide your trust in others. 

Prayer Prompt: Ask God to show you who is and is not trustworthy in your life. 

What I’m listening to: You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch by Thurl Ravenscroft 

We are on day 18 of our advent series!! As always, if you’re new, be sure to check out my previous posts in the series. The first post also has some additional information about our Advent devotionals. Now let’s dive back into Matthew!

 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for out of you will come a ruler

    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Great things can happen to ordinary places or people. It can be easy to think that nothing extraordinary will happen to you because you are “ordinary”. Here in Matthew, Bethlehem was a regular place that was transformed when the Savior was born there. I’m sure that most, if not all of us, have wished something amazing would happen to us at some point or another. The crazy thing is, something amazing already has! Jesus Christ was born onto this earth to die for us, saving us from the death we deserve, and offering us the salvation we need. Remember that we are made to do incredible things for Jesus because Jesus did incredible things for us. 

Prayer Prompt: Ask God to replace your feelings of self doubt with feelings of motivation to serve Him. 

What I’m listening to: Wonderful Christmastime by The Shins

We are on day 15 of our advent series!! As always, if you’re new, be sure to check out my previous posts in the series. The first post also has some additional information about our Advent devotionals. Now let’s dive into Luke!

 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

                         Luke 2:16-20 (NIV)

As Christians, we often pray for things that we want. Whether it be an object, person, or feeling, all of us have prayed for something at some point or another. The thing is though, we don’t always remember to thank and glorify Him when He grants us what we desire. Here in Luke, the shepherds were completely surprised by the angels, but still went away praising the Lord. It can be easy to get wrapped up in the thing we got, and forget to thank the giver. We wouldn’t do that to a friend if they gave us something, so why do we do it to God? One of the main reasons we do this is that we think He won’t care, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. If He didn’t care He wouldn’t have sent His Son to die for us. The next time God blesses you, remember Him as He remembered you. 

Prayer Prompt: Think of something that God has given you recently and take the time to thank Him for answering your prayer. 

What I’m listening to: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer by Gene Autry 

Welcome to Day 14 of our Advent series! If you’re up to date, awesome, if not, be sure to check out the previous posts. The first one explains a little more about the series. Now, let’s go back to where we last left off in Luke. 

 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

                         Luke 2:15 (NIV)

In our relationship with God we have a choice between being a Jonah or being a shepherd. We either can run away from or towards what the Lord wants us to do. Here in Luke the shepherds left the fields to see what the Lord had told them about. We too should leave the things that we have tasked ourselves with when the Lord calls us. We don’t have to fear the consequences of these actions because God promises to take care of us. When we trust God’s goals for us, we must also trust that he has a plan to get us there. 

Prayer Prompt: Ask God to show you the path he wants you to take to achieve His plan for you. 

What I’m listening to: Twelve Days of Christmas by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters

Welcome to Day 13 of our Advent series! If you’re up to speed, congrats(!), if not, be sure to check out the previous posts. The first one explains a little more about the series. Now, let’s take a look at today’s verses from Luke. 

 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

                      Luke 2:13-14 (NIV)

We don’t always want to praise God as much as we should. We say that we’re too busy to read our Bible, or go to church, when really we just want to focus on ourselves. It is an easy trap to fall into, we think that nothing will change in our relationship with the Lord even as we drift away. However, as stated here in Luke, peace is offered to those upon whom the Lord’s favor rests. If you want to be one of those people, and I think most of us would, then we must submit to the Lord. A relationship with God is a two way street. We serve and give glory to God, and in return we are blessed both on earth as well as in heaven. If you feel like you have been drifting away from God, ask Him to guide you back to Him. He will never turn you away. 

Prayer Prompt: Today, ask God to show you the path to Him. He will guide you and grant you peace and acceptance. 

What I’m listening to: It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year by Andy Williams

We are halfway through our advent series!! As always, if you’re new, be sure to check out my previous posts in the series. The first post also has some additional information about our Advent devotionals. Now let’s dive into Luke!

 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

                             Luke 2:8-12 (NIV)

Have you ever met someone you felt was an amazing Christian? Like even if you tried really hard you would never be as good, or as important to God, as they are? Here in Luke, the shepherds were regular people with nothing special about them. The Bible never said that they were picked for being unusually good or holy. Yet they were told about Jesus’s birth before the (certainly deemed more important in society) Magi. The Lord knows your heart, and anyone can be just as good a Christian as the next person. No one is a more important person than the next in the eyes of God. Next time you find yourself wanting to be someone else, remind yourself that the lowly shepherds got to see the baby Jesus first. Just because the world, or even the church, might see you one way, it doesn’t mean that God sees you that way. 

Prayer Prompt: Remind yourself that even if you are only a “shepherd” in the world’s eyes,  you are worthy in the eyes of the Lord. 

What I’m listening to: Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt

Almost halfway through our advent series! As always, if you’re new, be sure to check out my previous posts in the series. The first post also has some additional information about our Advent devotionals. Now let’s get started! 

 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

                             Luke 2:4-7 (NIV)

Do you ever feel like you can’t achieve the goals that God has placed in your heart? Maybe you don’t feel like you have enough money, connections, or talent. It’s easy to forget the meaning behind the manger in the Christmas story. Jesus could have been born the Son of a king, or a wealthy merchant. Instead, He came from humble beginnings, placed in a feeding trough after he was born. God has equipped you with everything you need to do His work. Even if something seems impossible, God’s will will prevail. Remember that just because you don’t think that you can do something doesn’t mean God doesn’t think you can. 

Prayer Prompt: Ask God to help you believe that you can do His will, even if you think that you are not good or capable enough to. 

What I’m listening to: All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey

Welcome to Day 10 of our Advent series! I can’t believe we’re in the double digits already!! If you’re up to speed, congrats(!), if not, be sure to check out the previous posts. The first one explains a little more about the series. Now for today’s verses from Luke. 

 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. 

                       Luke 2:1-3 (NIV)

Sometimes circumstances seem out of our control, as well as unfair, or even burdensome. It could be a bad grade on a test, or a troublesome government policy you must obey. Here in Luke, it’s more of the latter. Every citizen had to go to their hometown to, essentially, be counted by the government. Joseph was forced to make that journey home with his pregnant wife, which couldn’t have been an easy task. Sometimes when God tests us, or makes something difficult, he is trying to help us grow. He could be trying to build our patience, humility, or compassion, but in the end the trials He puts us through are for our benefit. We should never assume that God is merely punishing us, but rather helping us to become better followers of Him. 

Prayer Prompt: Ask God to show you the reason behind a trial that you are currently facing. He will not only guide you to it, He will also get you through it. 

What I’m listening to: The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole

Welcome to Day 8 of our Advent series! If you’re up to date, awesome, if not, be sure to check out the previous posts. The first one explains a little more about the series. Now, let’s go back to where we last left off in Matthew. 

 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”) 

                  Matthew 1:22-23 (NIV)

It’s easy to overlook the small verses, but it’s often the small verses that offer us the most hope. For the last two days we’ve been talking about the first two of the four gifts that God gives us. On the first day we talked about the gift of love; yesterday we talked about the gift of faith. Today we are going to be discussing the third gift: the gift of hope. This verse might seem like its reiterating what we already know, that Jesus is the Son of God, but it’s also saying something else. God keeps his promises. We can have the gift of hope because He does. We can have hope in the prophecies in the Bible because we have already seen many of them fufilled. It may not always be easy, but feeding our hope will always be worth it. 

Prayer Prompt: It can be easy to feel hopeless, especially during the holidays. Ask God what you can do to help Him this Christmas season.