Journey to Bethlehem – Advent Week One
How will you get to Bethlehem?
Daily Devotional Meditations for Spring Branch Presbyterian Church
Sunday, November 27, 2011
The Word:
“And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”
— Luke 1:20
Reflection:
It is hard to believe that Christmas is almost here. No matter how we might try, time cannot be stopped, reversed, fast-forwarded nor erased; and Christmas is coming! It is going to happen one way or another in 28 days, so my question to you is:
“How are you going to get there?”
Merry and bright and all is right?
Or more like… Hurried? Stressed out? Numb? Exhausted? Lonely?
I’m reminded of Zechariah (in the part of the Christmas story rarely heard) who made the wrong choice and became mute. He had to go the whole way without being able to make a sound.
Let me offer a different way to get there than the present world’s clamor.
You are invited to make a journey of the heart and soul; a journey not alone but together; a journey to the place where the babe is born in a manger – “A Journey to Bethlehem”. And along the Way, let us all receive the gifts that the babe brings to the world – Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. How shall we get there? By intentionally taking this time called Advent in our faith! Let us begin!
In Him who calls us,
Dr. Laurey Murphy
Journey to Bethlehem – Advent Week One
How will you get to Bethlehem?
Daily Devotional Meditations for Spring Branch Presbyterian Church
Monday, November 28, 2011
The Word:
“O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence.”
— Isaiah 64:1 RSV
Reflection:
I guess we could be forgiven for expecting the Lord and Savior to come to us as a great and mighty presence. We got a babe in a manger. Instead of forcing us to bow down in fear, God inspires us to grow up in love.
Pray:
Lord, as we begin this Advent journey, we ask that you open our minds that we may see that our ways are not your ways. Amen.
Journey to Bethlehem – Advent Week One
How will you get to Bethlehem?
Daily Devotional Meditations for Spring Branch Presbyterian Church
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
The Word:
“And when the Lord your God brings you into the land which he swore to your fathers to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you with great and goodly cities, which you did not build, and houses filled with all good things, which you did not fill, … then take heed lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”
— Deuteronomy 6:10-12, RSV
Reflection:
One of the hymns we sing during Advent contains the lyric, “O’ come, O’ come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel.” During Advent, we wait for the Lord’s Emmanuel, who will not only ransom us from our own houses of bondage, but also bring us the greatest of all good things: The Good News.
Pray:
Father in Heaven, we thank you for the gift of your Son, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Journey to Bethlehem – Advent Week One
How will you get to Bethlehem?
Daily Devotional Meditations for Spring Branch Presbyterian Church
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
The Word:
“Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.”
— Psalms 85: 10-11, RSV
Reflection:
God promises us wonderful things if we but wait. Advent is the season of waiting and preparation for God’s plans for us to be fulfilled. With such joyous gifts as promised by this scripture, we can anticipate the birth of the Messiah with wonder and thanksgiving. “Come, Lord Jesus, quickly come.”
Pray:
Dear Lord, we thank you for this time to prepare our hearts and lives for your promised joys. May we be appreciative of all your gifts to us. Amen.
Journey to Bethlehem – Advent Week One
How will you get to Bethlehem?
Daily Devotional Meditations for Spring Branch Presbyterian Church
Thursday, December 1, 2011
The Word:
“Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.”
— Psalms 24:7, RSV
Reflection:
Now is the time for us to prepare our hearts for the King of glory to come in. We journey to Bethlehem to seek this King. Because the traditional color of royalty is “royal” purple, it is the color we as Christians have chosen to represent this season of the birth of our King. But, how do we get to that long ago Bethlehem, to the birthplace of God’s son, with all the excess baggage of our lives today? Prayer and meditation and a deep desire to worship the King.
Pray:
Great Creator, as we seek to worship the King, we stop to remember to thank you with all our being for this most precious of all gifts, your son, Jesus Christ. Guide us on our quest to find him in Bethlehem and honor his birth. Amen.
Journey to Bethlehem – Advent Week One
How will you get to Bethlehem?
Daily Devotional Meditations for Spring Branch Presbyterian Church
Friday, December 2, 2011
The Word:
“O come, let us sing to the Lord…Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving.”
— Psalms 95: 1-2, RSV
Reflection:
It is Advent, a time of waiting, preparing, and contemplating. Let us also make it a time of singing, of joyous thanksgiving, of praising God for all our gifts, especially the gift of his son, Jesus Christ. On our journey to Bethlehem, let us go singing and glorifying the Lord, spreading the good news to those we meet along the way.
Pray:
God in Heaven, we praise your name in all the earth with our songs, with our words, and with our hearts. You have given us so much. May we be truly grateful. Amen.
Journey to Bethlehem – Advent Week One
How will you get to Bethlehem?
Daily Devotional Meditations for Spring Branch Presbyterian Church
Saturday, December 3, 2011
The Word:
“As a deer longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God.”
— Psalms 42: 1-2, RSV
Reflection:
As the first week of Advent draws to a close, one could begin to get the sense that it is a long road to Bethlehem. But, unlike the Psalmist, we know when we shall come and behold the face of God.
Pray:
Dear Father, We journey to Bethlehem to behold your son, and in him see you. We long for your presence in our lives and your guidance in our thoughts and actions. Thank you for your steadfast love and mercy in sending your son to bring us back to you. We love you, Lord of the universe. Amen.
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