Friday, December 22nd

“The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.”  Daniel 4:17

Dear Father in Heaven, I am so thankful that you don’t give up on me, that you are relentless in your pursuit of me.  Throughout my whole life you have pursued me even when I wandered and even ran away from you.  You were and still are always relentless to keep me close, to lead me to repentance, and to bring me back.  Even when I stubbornly resisted and even rejected you, you did not give up on me.  In my life and through your Son you have relentlessly pursued me.  Please, I beg, keep on pursuing me.  The devil is after me to destroy my faith and to lead me far from you.  The world seeks to conform me in their ways.  My own sinful flesh is no friend of mine.  There is so much in and around me that would lead me from you.  Do not give up on me.  Keep on relentlessly pursuing me.  Do whatever it takes so that I might remain your child for all eternity.  Do the same for all the people in my life, especially those whom I love.  Do whatever you must to keep them as your child.  Use me during my days on earth to pursue all your people and to gather more into your kingdom.  Amen.

We quickly and easily fall into sin and away from our God, but he is not quick to dismiss us.  In fact, the opposite is true.  God is quick to pursue, quick to forgive, quick to love, quick to work in our lives to call us back.  He is patient with us and slow to anger.  He relentlessly pursues us just as he pursued King Neb. 

Thursday, December 21st

“Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, ‘Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?’  They replied, ‘Certainly, Your Majesty.’  He said, ‘Look!  I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’”  Daniel 3:24-25

Lord God, As I live in this world there are dangers on every side.  The devil comes after me from every direction and wants to harm me.  There is truly danger all around me.  But, Lord, with you by my side I do not need to fear even if the mountains are falling into the heart of the sea.  Father, I am afraid right now.  I am worried and scared about   ________.  I am afraid because ________.  I am afraid that ________ will happen.  Come and walk with me in this moment.  Go before me as a shield to protect me from danger.  Come beneath me to give me a solid foundation for my feet.  Walk beside me to support and strengthen me on the way.  Fly above me to watch over my way and to lay out a path before me.  Come and walk with me in this fire and in this moment.  Then, Lord, I ask, save!  Save in a way that only you can save.  Deliver from this present danger.  Deliver me from all Evil.  And, then, at the end of my life, bring me safely into your heavenly kingdom.  You live and reign, Lord God.  No god can save like you save.  So, come now and save.  Amen.

Hold to those two truths today and every day: “There’s another in the fire with me.”  And, “No other god saves like my God!”

Wednesday, December 20th

The third candle on the banner has the word BELIEVE printed on it.  This probably sounds like the most obvious one, of course we have to believe.  Yet we ought not take the faith that we have for granted. Think about Mary, about to start the next phase of her life.  She is betrothed to Joseph.  She is about to be a wife and if God will it a mother.  She likely had all these plans in her head about what life would be like.  Then an angel appears to her with a very strange message.  The angel tells her that even though she is a virgin, that she is going to become pregnant and give birth to the Son of God.  If that happened to you, what would you think?  We might think it was a very strange dream, or maybe we might wonder if there was a gas leak in the house that is making us hallucinate.  Yet Mary believes the angel (Luke 1:38), “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.”  Even though what she has just been told is impossible and ridiculous to human reason, yet Mary believes it.  By his grace God overcomes her unbelief and brings her to faith.  God has done the same for you.  You believe that it was not just an ordinary birth in Bethlehem, but that in the manger rests true God and true man in one person.  That you believe this is God’s gracious gift to you.  That faith also believes that this same Jesus will come again, but not as before in humility.  Instead we believe that Jesus will come again in glory with all the angels and end this world.  When that day comes we believe that he will take us to be with him forever. 

Wednesday, December 20th

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to him, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.’”  Daniel 3:16-18

Father, Give me the courage and focus today to seek your glory in every situation.  It’s easy and even natural for me to seek my own glory.  It’s easy and even natural for me to cave in to the wrong people or things in this world.  Help me to see my own self-seeking after glory and to repent of it.  In this world, help me to stand out and shine like the light of the world that you have made me to be.  Keep me from glorifying people or things in this world and giving glory to them.  Rather, help me to live a life that gives glory to you.  Today, I know that you are able to shape me and to use my life and all events in this world for your glory.  You are able in any and every situation to gain glory for yourself.  All glory is yours.  I know that you are able to make this happen.  So, I pray, take my life today, dear Lord, and gain glory for yourself through it.  Work in me, work through me, yes, work even in spite of me to gain glory for yourself.  I know, Lord, that you are able to do this.  So, I pray, make it happen so that in all things you are glorified.  Amen.

We do not know what God will do in our lives.  These three didn’t either.  They weren’t sure whether they would be rescued from the flames or if they would destroyed by the flames and delivered into heaven.  Yet, they knew their God and they knew that in either case, he would not disappoint them; they would not be ashamed.  We do not know what God will do in our lives.  But we know this, the God whom we serve is able. 

Tuesday, December 19th

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.  Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”  Colossians 4:2-6

Dear Jesus, I think it’s really cool that you have given me the opportunity to change the world with you by two simple practices: 1) talking to you for people and 2) talking to people for you.  I will do both today and tomorrow and the next day.  Thank you for reminding me that if I will speak truth seasoned with grace, then you will make it settle in human hearts to take root and grow over time.  Give me the wisdom and patience to remember that you convert people over time as much as in one instant, so I will faithfully participate in their journey back to you.  Amen.

Trust God enough to talk to him about people and to people about God.  He’ll take care of the rest.

Monday, December 18th

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”  Colossians 3:23-24

Dear Jesus, I do not want to be hindered by a bad attitude when I am serving my family, church or community.  But sometimes the circumstances between them and me are difficult.  It makes it hard to do my job with joy.  This word from Paul helps me stay focused.  I am serving you, my Creator and loving Savior, when I am serving them.  I can do this for you even when they are a pain.  You will be happy and I will be blessed.  Thank you for this golden nugget of truth to carry with me into every situation.  Amen.

When you do everything for Jesus first, then everyone is benefited including you. 

Saturday, December 16th

“Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.  He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his --friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.”  Daniel 2:17-18

Lord God, Heavenly Father, You sit in heaven and you do whatever pleases you.  All kingdoms and powers and thrones are beneath you.  You hold all wisdom and power and might and knowledge in your hand.  I pray, be merciful to me on this day.  Do not give me what my sins deserve; rather give me grace and kindness because of your Son, Jesus.  This day is surely more than I can handle.  The decisions and the responsibilities are more than I can handle.  My own sinful nature will be at war with me all day long.  I pray, pour out mercy on me.  Do for me what I cannot do for myself.  Give me a strength that I do not have in my bones.  Give me a wisdom which does not reside between my ears.  Give me words that are not mine, but are yours.  Lord God, I will not make it through this day or carry out my responsibilities this day with you.  I am absolutely and wholly dependent on your mercy.  Pour it out on me this day.  Amen.

God does immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his great power that is at work within him. 

Friday, December 15th

“Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: ‘Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.  He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others.  He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.  He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.’”  Daniel 2:19-22

Lord God, All power and wisdom and might are yours.  You are the only true God and the only One who is hands-on with your world and with your people.  You were hands-on when you created this world, carefully and wisely and powerfully creating it all with your mighty word.  You hand-made human beings and even have a direct hand in me; I am your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for God works which you pre-prepared for me to do.  You are directly involved in all the affairs of my life, of my city, of my state, of my country and of this world.  You are never far off.  You see and you help.  You see and you intervene.  You manipulate carefully, wisely, powerfully, and lovingly all the affairs of this world.  And you do it all in love and mercy.  Today, almighty and all-knowing God, I praise you because of this wisdom and might which you hold and possess.  I thank you that you teach and instruct me.  I thank you that you have shown me and given me faith to trust you.  Father, I trust you to care for me!  Savior, I praise you because you have redeemed me.  Spirit, I thank you because you have made me God’s special possession now and forever.  Amen.

When God manipulates this world it is neither bad nor is it haphazard.  It is all purposeful.  It is all toward good ends and purposes.  In his love and mercy to us, just as he did for Daniel, he may even give us a glimpse of the way he is working things out.  But whether you can grasp his ways or you can’t, you can be sure that he is the God who has all wisdom and power.  He will use that wisdom and power for your good on earth and, especially, for your eternity in heaven. 

Thursday, December 14th

“Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.”  Colossians 3:11

Dear Jesus, Thank you for raising up Abraham Lincoln to establish so many more opportunities for everyone through his efforts that resulted in emancipation of slaves on this day in 1865.  He helped establish the value of every human being.  I love the passage above because it reminds me that long before and above all public policy you made us all equal by redeeming us all the same.  We are all children of God through your equalizing redemption.  In the church, we find our unity with others as your Holy Spirit works between us to make us love and support one another.  Help me to see my sameness with every other human being no matter their gender, race, culture or station in life.  Give me a holy honor for the supreme value of every single soul, little and big.  Amen.

In Christ we find the greatest equalizing force for all people. 

Wednesday, December 13th

“To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning.  And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.”  Daniel 1:17

Lord God, You are never far from me.  You are here.  You are here to guard me and to guide me.  You are here to bless and protect me.  You are here to rule over my life.  You are here to strengthen me and give me courage.  You are here to pour out your Spirit on me, the Spirit of insight and wisdom.  You are here in this moment, by my side, and not even death can separate me from you.  Today, help me to revel in this simple truth:  God, you are here, right here, in this moment, wherever I am.  God, you are here!  Fill me with joy at this truth.  Grant me courage and confidence because of this truth.  Amen.

You are not in exile even if you are far from home.  Your God goes with you wherever you go. 

Wednesday, December 13th

There are a million things to do before Christmas, sometimes we even start in September preparing.  There are gifts to buy, travel plans to make, meals to plan and let’s not forget worship services to attend.  Yet what so easily gets lost is that we need to take time to PREPARE ourselves too.  With everything going on we don’t always take the time to make sure we are preparing our hearts to meet Jesus.  The primary way we prepare to meet Jesus is through repentance.  Repentance is more than just feeling bad about the things we do wrong.  Repentance is turning away from our sin.  Yes, that means we feel bad about the things that we do wrong, but it also means resolving to not repeat our mistakes.  The other part of repentance is turning to God to forgiveness.  Our hearts are prepared to meet Jesus when we recognize our sins, all the foolish things we have done, and trust in Jesus to forgive us.  The hymn writer said it so beautifully, “Then cleansed be ev’ry life from sin and furnished for a guest within, and let us all our hearts prepare for Christ to come and enter there.” (CW93 #16)

Tuesday, December 12th

“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.  Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel.”  Daniel 1:8-9

Dear Lord, I come to you today with a broken and repentant heart.  And, I know that you do not despise a contrite heart.  I confess to you my sins of _______.  I come to you in repentance and I know that you will not cast me out or despise me because of my sin.  Forgive me for my sins of ______.  Cleanse me of my sin.  Wash away all that I have done wrong.  Forgive me, Lord.  Forgive it all!  And then raise up in me fruits of my repentance.  Show me the way I should live and act today for you.  Give me clear resolutions for my life and then give me courage and strength to follow up my resolutions with definitive actions.  Help me to stand up for what is right in the face of pressure to be silent in this world.  Keep me from being conformed to this world and its values.  Help me to stand up and shine in this world.  Amen.

Repentance + Forgiveness à Resolution + Action.  Repentance and forgiveness leads to resolution and action.  God, lead us to it as we serve him in this world. 

Monday, December 11th

“Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.”  Colossians 1:24

Dear Jesus, Give me that selfless attitude that you gave Paul that I would spend my life for the spiritual and physical welfare of your people whom you redeemed with your life.  Make me find purpose that cannot be lost because it springs from my faith in you which lives in my heart despite all circumstances.  I want to live my life to the full for you and your people.  Amen.

If you live for Jesus’ people you’ll never be bored wondering what you can find to do. 

Saturday, December 16th

“Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.  He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his --friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.”  Daniel 2:17-18

Lord God, Heavenly Father, You sit in heaven and you do whatever pleases you.  All kingdoms and powers and thrones are beneath you.  You hold all wisdom and power and might and knowledge in your hand.  I pray, be merciful to me on this day.  Do not give me what my sins deserve; rather give me grace and kindness because of your Son, Jesus.  This day is surely more than I can handle.  The decisions and the responsibilities are more than I can handle.  My own sinful nature will be at war with me all day long.  I pray, pour out mercy on me.  Do for me what I cannot do for myself.  Give me a strength that I do not have in my bones.  Give me a wisdom which does not reside between my ears.  Give me words that are not mine, but are yours.  Lord God, I will not make it through this day or carry out my responsibilities this day with you.  I am absolutely and wholly dependent on your mercy.  Pour it out on me this day.  Amen.

God does immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his great power that is at work within him. 

Saturday, December 9th

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”  Colossians 1:15-20

Dear Jesus, There is not one more wonderful than you in my whole life.  You made me, watched me fall, and then came and rescued me.  You rose from the dead to show me my glorious triumph too.  You changed my perspective on everything happening in my mundane days.  They all find their value as part of the great future you purchased for me.  I believe everything I just said but I don’t always act like it.  Too often, I get all worked up about lesser things.  I’m sorry.  Thank you for covering my sins from distraction with your grace.  Help me live in the peace that won for me and to use the strength it gives to serve others.  Amen.

Reconciled to God. There’s no better identity.

Friday, December 8th

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people-the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel.”  Colossians 1:3-5

Dear Heavenly Father, I have faith because I learned about your love me in the gospel since infancy.  My parents and my home church taught me about your unconditional love for my little sinner’s soul.  That message has given me hope for an eternal rescue during all of my life.  It has accompanied me at the most difficult times.  Since I trust I have a great inheritance waiting for me in heaven, I’m not caught up in the “dog-eat-dog” world of anxious pursuits.  I’m free to love people boldly and to give generously for their benefit.  You freed me from that worldly, boring, dead-end life, right from the start.  Oh how thankful I feel for te truth of the gospel of your Son.  Keep me in the center of his love all day today.  Amen.

Christ is enough to make our lives complete. 

Thursday, December 7th

“For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him.  He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ-with all boldness and without hindrance!”  Acts 28:30-31

Lord Jesus, You have given me faith in you and have joined me to yourself.  You have also invited me and called me and even sent me out into this world with the gospel that saves people.  I am often afraid.  I am often distracted by life.  I am often not paying attention to the gospel opportunities that you give me every day.  Forgive me, dear Jesus.  I pray, make me attentive to the gospel opportunities that you give me.  Make me bold to speak up when the opportunities arise.  More than that, I pray, press forward with your gospel through me and through your whole church on earth.  Let nothing hinder the gospel preaching whether by me or be others.  Bring peace and calm to our country for the sake of quiet lives and, more so, for the sake of the gospel.  Father, you desire that every soul in this world would be yours for all eternity.  I pray, continue to march forward through your church to bring more souls along to heaven.  You have invited me to join you on this mission.  I want to come.  Help me to follow where you lead and to share the gospel with all boldness and without hindrance.  Amen.

By faith, you, dear Christian, are a part of the gospel movement.  God will not stop on his mission to save the world through the message about Jesus.  Now, he invites you to come along.  It will be a wild ride.  But when we’re going along with him, we can’t fail.  Join him, won’t you?

Wednesday, December 6th

Advent is really a Latin word, advenio, which mean to approach or draw near.  During this season we reflect upon the coming of Jesus.  We see him come to us first at Christmas, but we also know that he is coming again on the last day.  Advent then looks at Jesus coming from those two perspectives reminding us to prepare our hearts for his coming to our world at Christmas and for his coming on Judgement Day.

One of the ways we prepare our hearts is through the decorations that we put up.  They are more than just beautiful to look at, they also carry a message.  For example, the banner that now hangs on the (from your perspective) left side of the chancel (the chancel is the front part of the church) has four candles on it, representing the four candles of the Advent wreath and therefore the four weeks of the Advent season.  Each candle has a different word printed on it.  The first word is WATCH.  During the season of Advent we watch for the coming of Jesus.  We know when we are going to celebrate Jesus coming; December 25th of course!  It is on our calendar, but it wasn’t on the shepherd’s calendar.  They were out in the fields keeping watch over their flocks by night.  They were surprised to hear from the angels that the savior had been born to them, because they were keeping watch for his coming.  We keep watch for Jesus glorious return not by staying awake forever or going up some mountain and staring at the sky.  We keep watch for Jesus by listening to his word and using the sacraments.  Through word and sacrament the Holy Spirit keeps our faith strong, faith that is constantly watching for Jesus return. 

Wednesday, December 6th

“The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table.  They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.  Among those who were chosen were some from Judah; Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.  The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.”  Daniel 1:5-7

Lord, This world wants to change me.  The devil wants to pressure me to give up my identity as a child of God and to lose myself in this world so that I lose my eternity with you.  In both blatant and more subtle ways, I am pressured to lose my identity in this world.  Help me and keep me from this, dear Savior.  Make and keep me vigilant so that I am always aware of the Devil’s schemes.  Make me strong and courageous so that I stand up for what is right in the face of the pressure to give in to what is wrong.  Root me ever more deeply in my identity as your child and an heir of eternity.  When I stray, help me to see it and then to run back to you as quickly as I can.  Receive me, then, dear Father with arms of your forgiveness and cover me with the blood of Jesus.  I am yours.  Keep me from straying and keep me as yours for all eternity.  Amen.

The time may come (perhaps it already has) when you will look back at your life and see how far you have wandered from following after Christ.  That time may come and you will be ashamed.  You gave into the pressure and lost your identity in this world.  In that moment, run back to Christ.  It isn’t too late.  He will receive you with open arms to forgive and receive and restore.  He always does and always will do that.  He will always receive you back with open arms.  You are still his forgiven and redeemed brother.  You are still a dearly loved child of the Heavenly Father.

Tuesday, December 5th

“Give joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.”  Colossians 1:12

Dear Heavenly Father, I remember how excited I was when I knew I first qualified for a house loan.  That qualification was dependent on the declaration of the underwriter at the bank.  I had to let go and let him/her decide.  How much more with my eternal rescue.  I was totally dependent on you to “qualify” me to be a saint in your family and an heir of heaven.  You held all the cards and had many reasons to disqualify me.  But you didn’t.  Instead you lavished me with grace and forgiveness.  I get to live in a heavenly home on the same street as your Son who paid for my qualification.  I will live today as a thankful child.  Amen.

Never stop being joyfully surprised that God included you of all people into his family.