Traditionally, Advent started 6 weeks before Christmas and was a time to reflect and examine on ones life and the things in it that would cause us not to celebrate and gain the fullness of Christmas joy. Then the church shortened the time to 4 weeks and in doing so lost some of its meaning. All of us know that Advent is the time of preparation. We adorn our homes with greenery, put up the tree, hang wreathes and string the lights, all for the purpose of celebrating Christmas. However, I wonder if we spend as much time getting our hearts ready to receive our King as we do on the material trappings? This year, Pender members have given us a gift of their reflections of Christmas. It is our hope and prayer that you and your family will use this booklet to prepare for a holy Christmas rooted in the birth of our Savior and Lord Jesus. Just a few moments of prayer, scripture reading and reflection in the quiet of Advent will lead you and yours into a true celebration and not just having another holiday meal. Lets prepare our hearts and make Jesus the reason for the season!
December 1, 2013
December 2, 2013
December 3, 2013
December 4, 2013
December 5, 2013
Gods Grace
An everyday person appears on the TV screen. We hear him repeat over and over - Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now? On the surface, it is just an advertisement - to market the ability of a wireless carrier to send its signal out to others so they can hear the speaker. The technology is basic. There is a central computer that wirelessly sends words across airways to one cell tower, and that cell tower sends the words to its intended target - the person with a cell phone who needs to hear what is being said. What a simple recipe for success the message is sent through others until it is finally heard by a person who is in need of hearing the message. Gods Grace, the Holy Spirit, you and others what a simple recipe for extending Gods Grace to those who need to hear the message or feel the power of God's Grace. God has extended his Grace to us a free gift for each of us. Gods messenger, the Holy Spirit, is like the wireless connection to Verizons computer a simple tool of communication to allow us to experience his gift. But we are intended to be so much more than just the receiver of Gods Grace. If we have been created in Gods image, shouldnt we be an extension of God. If God gives us Grace, shouldn't we be like the cell phone towers, taking Gods Grace and extending it to others. The Holy Spirit exists to strengthen us in everything we do. As the messenger of Gods Grace, the Holy Spirit can enable us to extend his Grace to all people in need. We see people in need everywhere we look. A person needing a door opened. A person needing a caring touch. A person needing us just to be there and listen. A person needing to be loved. Gods Grace gives us the unlimited strength, the necessary wisdom, and the patience, to care for others as Christ cares for us. All around us, people are quietly saying I want to hear you, I need help, I need caring. The Holy Spirit provides us the tools allow His Grace to be extended through us to reach and touch those people. We are his vessel to let them hear and experience Gods Grace. Our challenge is to be that cell phone tower that takes the message and passes it on to others on a day by day, minute by minute, and second by second basis. Gods Grace is always there Can we always be there to pass it on to others? Can they hear you now Can they experience you now? Can they experience Gods love and Grace through you now? Today, tomorrow and for as long as we are alive, we can each make sure they can and will hear and experience Gods Grace.
By Bob Baumgartner
December 6, 2013
December 7, 2013
December 8, 2013
December 9, 2013
Perfect Love
Luke 2:35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. The setting for this verse is when Joseph and Mary took the newborn infant Jesus to the temple and there encountered Simeon who spoke these words about the impact Jesus life would have, not only at that time in Israel but through all time. When God reveals to each of us that which resides in our hearts, only then can sin be revealed so that it can be repented and washed away. As we turn from a life of sin, our hearts will be filled with Gods love. We are commanded to love God and to Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12. To be able to obey these commands to love, we must understand what love is - what love looks like in action - and allow the Holy Spirit to instill this in our hearts so that our actions words and deeds pour out love. Recently, Ive been working with a physical therapist to strengthen and retrain some muscles to make my body stronger and better able to execute life activities without undue stress and pain. Focused effort and repetition is required to achieve results. The physical therapist provides instruction and guidance as to how to best train the muscles to achieve the desired results. In a similar manner, in order to reap the full benefits and joy of living a life of love in God, training is required. God provided us the perfect teacher in Jesus Christ. God sent Christ into the world to save us from our sins and to provide a model for living: Christs life provides the perfect example of perfect love. Jesus came and brought the kingdom of God to the hearts of those who believe. Similar to the process of physical therapy, we need to spend time studying Gods word, praying to receive His guidance and practicing living lives of love. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them. John 14:21 When we receive the love of God into our hearts, then we serve, obey and glorify God as we act in love to others. And what do we receive? Abundant JOY! Prayer: Most gracious heavenly Father, Thank you for your gift of Jesus Christ to show us the way to abundant, joyful life. Please open my heart to receive your guidance for living and loving. In the precious name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen. By Becky Bryan
Lamentations 3:25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. Isaiah 40:31 They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
For the last 18 months, we have been seeking and following God's plan for the Pender Outreach Center Expansion and Thrift Store. There have been many obstacles and challenges along the way, any of which had the potential to derail and destroy the vision and inspiration God has given Pender for this bold expansion of Pender's outreach effort. Through it all, we have endeavored to persevere and retain our focus on serving our neighbors in need, taking each day, one at a time, leaving to God the next dollar, the next volunteer, the next store customer. Our journey has been as much one of patience as one of significant spiritual growth for all who have been a part of it. There is just an awesome beauty in watching how God is working through the store to not only help others, but to shape each of us in our own unique way to make us stronger, more faithful, and more confident to face each challenge in service to the store and within our own personal lives. For me personally, it has been a lesson in patience and trust in God's timing for provision. We cannot know where the next dollar or donation will come, but eventually it does and when it is needed most. This just-in-time manner of God with the store is extremely uncomfortable and inefficient, yet it inspires me to deal more productively with my own impatient tendencies at work and home.
Prayer: Lord we ask your blessing on Pender and all its people, that we might be bold enough to lead and serve others and humble enough to wait on you to work your almighty will in your time and not ours, knowing that you have only the best in store for us, plans to prosper us and provide a future. Amen. By Bray Becker
Find a Way
Romans 12:1-2 The Message (MSG) So heres what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary lifeyour sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around lifeand place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Dont become so welladjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. Youll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. There are a number of slogans in our culture that aim to inspire or provide a mantra to live by Just Do It, LIVESTRONG and Life is Good are a few that come to mind. Even the pursuit of a healthy diet has a mantra of sorts thanks to Michael Pollan: Eat food, not too much, mostly plants. On September 2, 2013 Diana Nyad became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a protective cage or flippers. It was her fifth try in 35 years. It took nearly 53 hours. She was 64 years old. Through it all, she held her mantra close: "You don't like it. It's not doing well. Find a way." In a later interview she said the message she carries is that if something is really important to your heart you look inside yourself and find a way. Find a way. What is important to my heart this Advent season? I want to keep the anticipation and joy of Jesus birth from getting buried amidst the shopping lists, long lines and busy schedules. Find a way. What decisions do I need to make to keep from being overscheduled? I want to be a powerful example of Christian love, a kind soul, a compassionate friend. I want to spend the first few minutes of my day reflecting on my lifes blessings, all the while giving thanks to our mighty and loving God. Find a way. What needs to change in my attitude or priorities to make this happen? This Advent season think about what is important to your heart, how you can reflect Gods love in your life, how you can be a tangible example of Christ to the world around you. My mantra in this super busy, often stressed filled season? Be still. Love one another. Pray.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to be true to what is important in our hearts this joyous Advent season. Help us to be still and know that you are with us. Help our actions bring light to those around us and glory to Your name. Amen. By Cheryl Moxley
Scripture: I love you Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall. Psalm 18: 1-2, 29
Sitting in the dark stillness of the early morning, I thought about the day ahead of mea day that would be unlike any other in my life, a day that would forever define for me as that time before and after. I began to realize that I was strangely calm. It was a strange calm because 6 weeks prior to this day, my life turned upside down and the ensuing days seemed chaotic, noisy, scary, hecticthe words invasive breast cancer resonating like an echo deep inside. So many appointments, so many decisions, so many tears and many, many prayers
But on this day, I sat in the quiet, only the wind blowing outside my window and I realized that everything was going to be just fine. I felt the hand of God gently on my shoulder. I felt the warmth of the love that only God has for us. I realized that I only needed a little nudge to take that first step towards the car.
I had a choice: I could be afraid or I could wholeheartedly trust in God. I chose to trust, to trust that this day would pass and I would wake up on the other side, ready to begin the first day of the rest of my life. I realized that I had nothing to fear with God as my shield.
Prayer: God, only You know the mountains we face. Only You can give us the strength to get to the other side. Thank you for the many times that You are there to pull us through those last few steps or to encourage us into the first steps. Thank you for being the rock and foundation of our life. By Diane Wilhite
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
There are many ways that we could describe God, for He has many characteristics. But, as I see it, the most critical of Gods traits is His love. God is love. If we are fortunate enough to have been born of loving parents, we know what the love of an earthly father is like. But the love of God, our Father in heaven, is very different. It has no limits; it is perfect love; it will go on forever. When you were in your mothers womb, God made you into a unique person, one who is delightful to Him. There is no other person in all the world who is just like you. Because God wants you to know Him and to love Him, He sent Jesus as a baby in the manger. Jesus came to live among us and to show us Gods nature. He spent His life on earth teaching what God, His Father, is like and showing us how much God loves us. After living a sinless life of love, Jesus willingly went to the cross to die that we might be saved from our sins. Gods perfect Lamb gave His life so that we do not have to pay the price for our sin. If we accept Gods gift, Jesus, and believe that He died for our sins, then we have eternal life with Him in heaven. No greater gift could ever be given!! No greater love could ever be shown than the love God demonstrated by sending His perfect Son to give His life for you and for me. Each of us deserves to die for our sins, but through faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we embrace our loving God and receive the gift of eternal life.
Prayer: Loving Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. Please accept our gift to You on Jesus birthday we give you ourselves. Help us to be totally obedient to Your will so that we can be used for your divine purposes. Amen. By Guy Wilson
Remembering
Psalm 25:16: Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
I was always very proud of my paternal grandmother. In the early part of the last century she had been living in Scotland with her husband and they had a young son - my father. My grandfather was in the Black Watch during World War I, and he was killed in Peshawar, India. My grandmother left her life and family in Scotland and sailed to the United States with my dad when he was only 5. We have pictures of him disembarking in his little kilt! I cannot imagine having her courage, leaving home with a small child, and starting life anew in a completely foreign country. Many years later, when I was a freshman in college, my grandmother died the week before Christmas. I remember sitting in Waterman's Funeral Home in Kenmore Square, Boston watching the Citgo sign cycle through its neon pattern. No one but our very small family attended her calling hours. The funeral was a bit better. A few folks took the time to honor this brave woman. A week later, we celebrated Christmas "because that's what Nana would have wanted". Even then, I thought that she probably would have liked to see more caring people around her, while she was alive. Every year on the 18th of December I remember my grandmother and try to take a moment to be kinder to folks. We celebrate Christmas because thats what Christ wants. Please take time out of the hectic season to honor those around you, let them know you care and love them.
Prayer : Dear God, there are times in each life when there seems to be no one. In those times Your love shines through and we know that Christ is with us. Amen.
By Mary O'Connor
1 Corinthians 3:6 (NIV) Paul wrote, I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.
This summer my son, Tyler, was going to a Christian camp that he had gone to for the last two summers. The parents of one of Tylers very good friends called me about their son going with Tyler to camp. The friend had never been to a sleep away camp and they really wanted their son to go with Tyler, someone he knew. Tyler was thrilled that his friend was going to come with him, but Tyler was also a little confused. He asked me if they were aware that the camp was Christian based. I had told him that they knew and were still interested. Tylers response, God must have a plan. You see; Tylers friend was a Buddhist.
One of the requirements is for each camper is to bring a bible and Tyler wanted to be the one to give him his first bible. He wanted to help plant the seed. On the very first day of camp their counselor asked Tylers friend to say a prayer. His said he didnt know how. The counselor said, Talk to God like you would your father. Tylers friend lowered his head and said a simple prayer giving thanks for all the good things in his life. Afterwards, he asked if he had done it right and the counselor said, You cant do it wrong. Now that the seed is planted, it will need to be watered and God will give it growth.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us plant the seeds of faith through our words and actions. Let us not be afraid of speaking for you and to share your Word. May all come to know your Glory. Amen. By Heather Amos
They think Im some kind of cruel, heartless landlord. But theyre wrong, plain wrong, and its time to set the record straight. My wife, Rachel, and I decided several years ago to take in travelers to Bethlehem. The people started to come and each night wed have one or two people. Then came the census requiring new taxes and people from all over the province flooded into town that week. We doubled up with several families in each room before we turned people away. I must have left my bed ten times a night to say No more room, sorry folks. Theyd complain and sleep next to a house with a blanket. But, I did make room for one more couple. Joseph wouldnt take no for an answer and I looked at his little Mary. She was pregnant and in pain. The barn would have to do and I led them and the donkey out back and went to fetch Aunt Sarah, a midwife. Rachel joined her while Joseph and I took our leave outside in the cold. The baby was a boy and he was wrapped in swaddling clothes. His name was announced as Jesus! And, just as I returned to my bed, I heard noises. As I reached the barn, I saw smelly shepherds kneeling down on the dirty floor. I wanted to run the shepherds off. Joseph looked up and said it is ok, they have come to see the Messiah. The Christ baby? The Messiah? That was when I knelt too and I realized the enormity of this event in my barn. Ill always be glad I made room in the barn for that familythat holy family. You see, Im not a mean innkeeper. I was there. I saw him. Years later that boy came back to Bethlehem, this time telling about the Kingdom of God. I was there that December and, mark my words, I believe in him and if youd seen what I witnessed, youd be a believer too.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, when your precious Son became a tiny baby in a stable in Bethlehem in poverty and simplicity, you changed our world. As we imagine those surroundings, we join the shepherds and wise men in wonder and praise. Thank you for our material lives and we praise you for our spiritual lives. IN JESUS NAME, Amen. By Nancy Trent
I have always believed that God has a plan for each of us throughout our lives. Wonderful plans to help us become closer to Him and to make us become more than we ever thought we could be. But as I have gotten older, I have come to understand that Gods big plan is for us to become part of His family..Gods Family. We were created in His image to be in relationship with Him! We as children are raised by a family, and we grow and learnand I think all during this time God is waiting for us to see the bigger picture, His family! The first Christmas morning, Christ was born into a family. He too was raised by His earthly Mom and Dad. He came to show us the way to be in Gods family! How simple it seems to me nowI find great joy in knowing that Christ came into this world and loved us enough to teach us the joys of the Heavenly Fathers Family. As a child I could sense the excitement in the air during the Advent Season. People seemed happier, nicer, willing to share stories and dreams. I believe that most people, believers and nonbelievers sense that HOPE of something wonderful coming this time of year. When I see this in action, my faith increases, because Gods at work growing His family. I was in Office Depot the other morning, and the man who checked me out was ready and willing to share his faith with all that came through his checkout line. We spoke about who was the center of his lifehe beamed with faith as he talked about his relationship with Christ. He understood Gods Family Plan. He understood that God loves us all. He could see that God wants us all to be free to live life abundantly in Him. He simply was allowing God to use himself to share the love of the family! As we pass through this Advent Season, pray and ask God to show you how to share his Family Plan. How to share His bright outlook through you with all you meet. It might just become a habit, and you might just guide someone who needs it to Gods Family. It is as simple as that!
Prayer: Father, we praise you, for you were so generous to us by sending your Son to show us the light, the truth and the way! Help us in our life to be generous in sharing about your family. With a kind word, a smile, a hug or however you stir our hearts to act. Let our wish be for all to be a part of your Family! In Your precious Sons Name! Amen! By Sarah Hocker
Pondering My Faith
Luke 2:33-35 The childs father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Simeon prayed over Mary and Joseph and the child saying, My eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. Then Simeon said to Mary, his mother: This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too. Can we imagine Marys faith? Can we even wrap our 21st century heads around what she was told? People who come to admire your new baby say things like, Oh, hes adorable. He will grow to be big and strong. He will make you proud. He will play football. He will be bright and smart, and go to college. They dont say the things that Simeon said. They dont say that someday your heart might be broken, because you know what? We all know those things down deep in our hearts, and at certain times we ponder them, and then we live life to the utmost anyway. Life is made beautiful every day with the joy of children, and laughter and fun they bring; whatever else comes along with it in this lost world is worth it to know God has given us such precious gifts. Mary treasured up all the things that people said about her son, and all the things that Gabriel and the angels had said. And she pondered them in her heart. What a beautiful way to speak of how she must have felt. She doesnt really know whats going to happen. She knows she has been blessed beyond belief, as have every one of us who has had a child or been given care of children knows as well. All Mothers and Fathers think about who their babies will become. We all believe we can scope the way our children will turn out. We believe that if we just teach that precious baby boy or girl the things we know, and train them up to love God, they will be just fine. Sometimes we see them get taken from us, or they turn away from our love for a time, and we cant stop them. Didnt Mary just want to run away with her precious child and protect him from pain and evil? Didnt she just want to keep him hidden away so nothing would happen to him? Dont we all? Im quite sure Mary realized deep in her heart that she would have nothing to say about it, and that she would have to just watch and observe and care deeply every single day of her life about the wonderful gift of Jesus. She knew that God would always be with him, and that Jesus would never leave her, nor forsake her, and that she would see him again. And so do we all. May each of you, our Pender family, ponder the absolute wonder of Advent, of the coming of Emmanuel, Christ Jesus, God with Us, and be filled with joy. By Sally Lyberger
Wordless Testimony
Matthew 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. I once read a Christmas article that Ill never forget. It brought home the realization of my responsibility to live for Christ consistently so that my actions & attitudes dont confuse others that may be watching. The essence of the article went something like this . . . The authors Christmas ornament collection included a very ugly, cheap, plastic ornament, bought as part of a yard sale collection. It was a crche, painted in bright ugly colors and all 6 eyeballs of Mary, Joseph & baby Jesus were painted just a hair off target. It never made its way to her Christmas tree, or even out of the ornament box. For years she was tempted to throw it away, but for some reason never could. Until one year she went on a purging/cleaning spree and Christmas decorations were prime target. The ugly crche finally made its way into the trash can - but just a few hours before the cleaning crew arrived to clean her home. As usual, when the cleaners were there, she tried to stay out of their way. Even so, from afar she couldnt help but hear a horrified gasp. Fearing something awful, she quickly came to the rescue only to find one of the cleaners staring paralyzed at the trash. The author was dismayed as she watched the cleaner tenderly lift the ornament out of the trash, lovingly wipe it clean, wrap it in a paper towel and put it into her purse for safekeeping. So why did this story make such an impact on me? Is the lesson to value material things because what is trash to me may be treasure to another? No, I rather think the message was meant to make me aware of my wordless testimony. When I declare my Christianity by praying in a restaurant or proudly displaying my Pender car magnet, do I then act in a way thats inconsistent with the gospel that Im attempting to share? Do my declarations get diminished by seemingly inconsequential things like skimping on a tip, speaking unkindly or squeezing past a red light? Is the cashier puzzled when I subtlety proclaim Christ by wearing a cross pendant but swear at him for making me wait too long? As I decorate my home for Christmas, do my neighbors see a frazzled, stressed out person, or someone anticipating the joyous celebration of Christs birth? And do my decorations prominently include baby Jesus or do Santa and Rudolf get the bigger billing? Do I keep Christ in Christmas by sending cards that celebrate Jesuss birth rather than the all-inclusive Seasons Greetings? What does my wordless testimony say about me? Prayer: Lord, please dont let me forget that the cleaners in my life are watching. Dont let them conclude from watching me that following Christ makes me no different from the rest of the world. By Debbie McKamey
John 1:4-5 In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it.
The most meaningful Christmas Eve I ever spent was away from family and the traditions that I had grown up with. I was in Seminary in Oklahoma and couldnt get home for Christmas. I was serving as Pastor at a new church start in Glenpool, Ok. We had no building of our own and Christmas was coming. So we planned for a Christmas Eve Candlelight service in the living room of one of our members. Nozer and Parvine Satarawala, Iranians who were refugees to the US, had both come to know Jesus during the year and had been baptized into faith. They saw having Christmas Eve Service in their home as a gift to the Christ child. When we arrived Nozer and Parvine had adopted the normal American customs of a Christmas tree and wreaths on their windows and doors. It all looked quite natural. When we walked into the house, immediately you were drawn into the true meaning of Christs birth. For as you walked into the house there were hundreds of candles flickering all over. The room was ablaze with light. Light in the winters darkness, light from the Baby Jesus to show us the meaning of His coming and light As Nozer and Parvine shared with us that Christmas Eve night, they had discovered that Jesus was the light for the world and for their lives. Even though they had lived in darkness most of their lives, Jesus had given them a new life and a new light to follow all year long I have tried to always look for the LIGHT of Christmas wherever it might be found. Where have you seen the Light of Jesus this Advent? And now having seen the light again this holy night how will you let the light shine in the darkness of those around you?
Prayer: Jesus, Light of the World, shine on us each day. Let your light so shine from our lives that the worlds darkness might vanish. In the name of the Baby of Bethlehem, Amen. By Pastor Kenny Newsome
Matthew 2:11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Many years ago, when our children were small, we spent months preparing for Christmas putting money away, poring over catalogues and discussing wish lists for Christmas toys. To be quite honest, our focus was more on our children than on the Christ-child. One year, we were blessed to go to Jamaica on a mission trip the week following Christmas. We were told one of our tasks would be to deliver gifts to the street children in the area: children whose parents were unable to care for them, children who scrounged for survival in the streets, begging from the tourists who came to vacation on their island. Our gift bags included one balloon, one pencil and 3 or 4 small pieces of hard candy. When the afternoon came for our outdoor Christmas party, we were able to purchase a large fruitcake and enough ice cream to serve each child. Unfortunately, the cake and ice cream delivery was delayed and we, the volunteers, and the children, stood in the hot sun for several hours awaiting this special treat.
Not one child complained. Dirty, ragged, older ones looking out for younger ones, they patiently waited. When we finally served them, each child looked into our faces, smiled, and said thank you and it was said with utter gratitude. Because of their gift to us, our gift giving has never been the same. Our gift: In each and every precious face, we saw the face of the Christ-child.
Prayer: Gracious God, we come to bow down and worship the true gift of Christmas the Christchild. Help us to worship with hearts full of gratitude for the perfect gift of love. Amen By Ann Rollins