ASLC Devotions - Monday

 Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.

People change. People grow. Sometimes people regress. Regardless, people change. We change physically, we change emotionally, hopefully sometimes we even change our mind about some things. It's a sign of humanity. People change. Jesus does not. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and for ever.

This seems a strange thing to say in these days when we are especially thinking of Jesus as a baby. Obviously he grew and changed as well. But what we mean when we say this is: Jesus Christ is God's love brought into flesh for the world. Never changes. God's love doesn't change. The meaning and purpose of Jesus' life never changes. It's love and grace. Always. Jesus Christ, the love of God, is the same yesterday and today and for ever.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Join us for midweek Advent worship Wednesday at 7 pm as we hear from an angel. http://www.allsaintspalatine.org

ASLC Devotions -- Friday

 Isaiah 12:2-3

²Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation. ³With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

Do you have a Bible verse that you keep with you? In your wallet or on a keychain? Maybe even memorized? Perhaps it was your confirmation verse or something you read at a pivotal point in your life; a verse that has meaning for you. I know some people have done this, and it brings them great comfort.

These verses from Isaiah seem like good ones to keep near. I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might. During this season of Advent, there might be quiet moments when you’re afraid – fearful of the darkness, afraid to be alone, scared of the bills piling up on your desk.  I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might.

Let God be your strength and your might.

Peace,

Pastor Jenn

 

ASLC Devotions - Thursday

 2 Corinthians 8:12

¹²For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have.

 

We talk about stewardship in a lot of different ways. But I don’t know that I’ve ever talked about stewardship and giving with the word “eagerness” attached to it. We’ve talked about joyful givers, and willing givers; we’ve talked about giving abundantly and giving proportionately. But I don’t think we’ve ever talked about giving eagerly. I’m far more likely to think about receiving eagerly than giving in such a way. 

This letter to the church at Corinth reminds them that the people in the Macedonian churches gave out of their adversity and affliction, but with enthusiasm. Reminding the Corinthians that it’s not the size of the gift but if given with eagerness, it becomes acceptable. In the coming days, we will probably give a lot – meals, presents, money, gift cards. May all of our giving be done with eagerness.

Peace,

Pastor Jenn  

ASLC Devotions - Wednesday

 Psalm 126 

¹When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
²Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”
³The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
⁴Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
⁵May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.
⁶Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

When we read the psalms we experience the great ups and downs of faith – those deep laments, the overwhelming joy and thanksgiving, the moments of worship and praise. Psalm 126 recalls a time when the people’s prayers and dreams were restored, “and we rejoiced.” But again the people approach the God with a request: “Restore our fortunes, O Lord.” 

They have seen amazing things happen in their lives, and trust that again those amazing feats can happen. I suspect that we have all seen “great things” happen. Let us trust that God will restore our tears with joy.

Peace,

Pastor Jenn

ASLC Devotions -- Tuesday

 2 Peter 1:5-8

⁵For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, ⁶and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, ⁷and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. ⁸For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How do we grow or stay strong in our faith? All of these things go together – goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, mutual affection, and love – to support our faith. They build on each other, and when they are present and increasing, we are effective and fruitful in our knowledge of Christ.

I don’t know if I could go down the list every day, but it provides a helpful place to begin. If you’re feeling displaced or like your faith needs more, start with goodness and move on from there. Support your faith – don’t let it languish.  

Peace,

Pastor Jenn

ASLC Devotions -- Monday, December 10

 Romans 8:22-25

²²We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; ²³and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? ²⁵But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

 

I have probably written before (or preached, or mentioned in casual conversation) that patience is not my virtue. Sure, I can wait for some things – I (rarely) peek at presents, for instance. I let the cake cool before cutting into it. But for some of the bigger things in life (and admittedly more important), I am wildly impatient. Maybe that’s why I love Advent with its reminders to slow down and be patient.

 

Reading this letter to the Romans reminds me that we wait for those things we cannot see. It’s true as I look around me, that I no longer hope for what I see. Whether or not I wait for what I do not see with patience… well, perhaps that remains to be seen.

 

Peace,

Pastor Jenn

ASLC Devotions - Friday

Luke 1:78-79 By the tender mercy of our God,
   the dawn from on high will break upon us, 
 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
   to guide our feet into the way of peace. 

This is one portion of a song related to Advent and the Christmas story. It's not the Magnificat, the song that Mary sang that is quite familiar to us. This is the song that Zechariah sang at the birth of his son John the Baptist. He was overcome with joy at his role in the fulfillment of all of God's promises, and so he sang. He sang about what this birth (the birth of his son John and the the birth of Jesus whom John would precede) means for the whole world: the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

In these days of darkness and dreariness, look to the light. In these days when it is dark night at 4:30 in the afternoon, follow the light. Know that light is coming. There is light coming that is stronger than the deepest darkness of this world. There is hope coming that is stronger than all the fears of this world. There is life coming that is stronger than death itself. Look to the light. Wait and watch with me for the light.

In Christ,
Pastor Seth

Worship with us for the Second Sunday in Advent this Sunday at 8:30 and 11. Our choir will present a special cantata at both services: "Let the Whole Earth Sing." http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar and details.