INCREDIBLE POWER

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Scripture:

Read Matthew 8:23-27.

...and His Name shall be called ...
Mighty God .... (Isaiah 9:6b)

Reflection:

Last June tow truck driver Pedro Arzola
was working under a 1990 Cadillac Seville
when the car lurched forward. The front
right tire ran over his torso and dragged
him about 10 feet before he was finally
pinned under the rear tire. He yelled to his
wife to help him. Even when she was joined
by two strangers they were unable to lift
the car.

That's when Danous Estenor, an offensive
lineman for the USF football team walked by.
Hearing the screams he joined them but was
also unable to budge the car at first. Then he
backed up, felt energy come into him and tried
again. This time he was able to lift the 3,500
pound car and save Arzola's life.

At one point or another in our life we will all face
troubles larger than we are, situations from
which we can't save ourselves. We will
experience that helplessness when our last hour
on earth comes. No one on earth will be able to
save us-no doctor, lawyer, celebrity-not even a
football player.

Isaiah wrote, "To us a Son is given ... and His
Name shall be called Mighty God." No situation
we face is too difficult for the Baby of Bethlehem.
The devil and all his fellow, fallen angels tried every
trick in the book but were unable to overpower Him.
Even as He was dying on the cross the mighty Son
of God was able to crush the devil's head while
paying for our sins. By His resurrection He has
defeated death and opened for us the doors of
heaven.

PRAYER:

Savior of the world, thank You for Your great might.
You have crushed all my enemies and promise to be
at my side always. Protect me through this life and
bring me to heaven when You return.
Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

THE MORNING AFTER

This is our "morning after," so to speak: a
time to treasure all the Christmas events.
A time to ponder them in our heart. A time
to begin pondering what we want in the New
Year. How do we deal with the Christmas
story? What's it all about? How do we make
sense of it? What does it mean for our life?

A man who was feeling this kind of pain
decided to go to his doctor for a physical
checkup. After hearing the man's complaints
and conducting the examination, the doctor
said, "You have to remember that after fifty,
it's just patch, patch, patch." A woman who
heard this story said that there is a much
better way to tell that you've reached the
"patch, patch, patch" stage in life. She said,
"It's when you wake up every morning with a
terrible hangover -- and you haven't been
anywhere the night before."

Jesus is not offering us a "patch, patch, patch"
existence. He wants to lead us into a style of
life that will make us whole. And we don't have
to wait until we're having those terrible hangovers.
He wants us to experience genuine living now if
only we will say "Yes!" to God by embracing a
style of life in which we place our trust in the
power of love in every situation. Accept your
assigned role as God's dependent child and, in
new and beautiful ways, the power of love will be
released in your life, and you will begin to
experience the joy and wonder of becoming the
kind of person you were created to be.

If, on this morning after, you're going around
feeling as though everything is patch, path, patch
then you have missed the overwhelming
statement of the Christmas Event: The virgin will
conceive and give birth to a son and they will call
Him Emmanuel, a Name that means 'God is with
us'" (Mt. 1:23).

GOD IS WITH US

(from Sunday Sermons Online)

FACE TO FACE

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Scripture:

Read John 1:1-14.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among
us, and we have seen His glory .... (John 1:14a)

Reflection:

One of the greatest things about Christmas is
getting together with family and friends. How
wonderful to actually see them face to face,
instead of only hearing their voice on the phone,
seeing them on Skype or reading their words
in an e-mail.

That's what made the first Christmas so special.
For the first time, people could look into God's
eyes and see Him face to face. And it wasn't the
terrifying face of a powerful and angry God they
saw. Rather, it was the face of a tiny, newborn
Baby. This chubby face will one day be the face
of a man, and it will show His great compassion
for the sick and needy, comfort for the grieving
and concern for the lost.

These tiny fingers that curl around the fingers of
Mary and Joseph will later touch the blind and
the deaf and heal them. They will stretch out to
take a dead girl by the hand and raise her to life
again. These little hands will be stretched out
and pierced with nails to pay the full price for all
our sins. And finally they will be pried off of a
cross and laid in a tomb.

Three days later those lifeless hands will move
once more, as the Lord rises from the dead. That
night and in the coming days He will hold them
out to show His followers the nail marks that
prove it is Him-risen and alive forever! One day
we will stand before Him face to face, looking
into His eyes, and touching His glorious, nail-
scarred hands.

PRAYER:

Son of God, thank You for taking Your place as
a man among us, and laying down Your life to
save us. Fill us with joy as we wait for the day
when we too will see you face to face.
Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

THE REASON FOR COMING TOGETHER

Christmas Day

Scripture:

"All that came to be had life in him and
that life was the light of men" (John. 1:4).

Have we forgotten the reason for coming
together to celebrate the birth of the Christ
Child? Has our devotion to the cause of the
Prince of Peace come down to the level of
our "just going through the motions?"

We look into the manger and we see a
Baby. We see a Cross. We see danger.
We see risk. We see the clash between
what we are and who we are to become.
We see the struggle for redemption. We
see mercy. We see love. We see hope
for enduring peace...

..CHRISTMAS......" HE IS BORN!"

Please remember this:

The birth of Christ brought God to man;
the cross of Christ brings man to God.

MERRY CHRISTMAS HAPPY BIRTHDAY
JESUS!

CHRISTMAS MYSTERIES

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Scriptures:

Read Romans 16:25-27.

...the mystery that was kept secret
for long ages has now been disclosed
(Romans 16:25b-26a)

Reflection:

Over our lifetime Christmas is a series
of ever-changing mysteries. Our childhood
mystery "What's inside the wrapping
paper?" becomes "Where did they hide the
presents?" becomes "Is this Christmas the
right time to give her an engagement ring?"
becomes "How will we be able to afford
presents for the kids?" becomes "What can
I buy someone who already has everything?"

Is there any Christmas mystery left for you?
Is there anything about the season that
makes you smile in wonder? Does anything
still thrill you and a send a shiver down your
spine?

There is a mystery-a mystery greater and
more wonderful than all the others combined.
And that mystery isn't wrapped in colorful
paper; it's wrapped in swaddling clothes. It
isn't laid under the tree; it's laid to sleep in a
manger. It's the Baby born in Bethlehem.

What's so mysterious about that? It's the
fact that this Baby is the almighty Son of
God, stooping down to become one of His
creatures: a mere human. Why would He
want to expose Himself to all the hurt and
suffering in our crazy world? Why would God
be willing to become our substitute and earn
our way to heaven by His perfect life, and to
suffer and die in our place on the cross?

That is the greatest mystery, a mystery God
has revealed to the world. It sends a shiver
down your spine to ponder what kind of love
moved Him to do all of this for you.

PRAYER:

Son of God, Your willingness to be born of a
virgin, to share our life and to be our Substitute
is an incredible mystery to me. Fill me with
wonder, joy and gratitude for Your amazing
grace and love. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

THE INNKEEPER

Nine-year-old Wally was a hopeful boy, a
natural defender of the underdog, and
well-liked by his fellow classmates. His
parents encouraged him to audition for the
annual Church Christmas play and Wally
wanted to be a shepherd. Instead, he was
given the role of the innkeeper. The director
reasoned that Wally's size would lend extra
force to the innkeeper's refusal of lodging to
Joseph. During rehearsals, Wally was
instructed to be firm with Joseph. When the
play opened, no one was more caught up in
the action than Wally. And when Joseph
knocked on the door of the inn, Wally was
ready. He flung the door open and asked
menacingly, "What do you want?" "We
seek lodging," Joseph replied. "Seek it
elsewhere," Wally said in a firm voice.
"There's no room in the inn." "Please, good
innkeeper," Joseph pleaded, "this is my wife,
Mary. She is with child and is very tired. She
needs a place to rest." There was a long
pause as Wally looked down at Mary. The
prompter whispered Wally's next line:
"No! Be gone!" Wally remained silent. Then
the forlorn couple turned and began to slowly
move away. Seeing this, Wally's brow
creased with concern. Tears welled up in his
eyes. Suddenly, he called out, "Don't go! You
can have my room."

APPEARANCES ARE DECEIVING

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Scripture

Read John 1:19-28.

"Make straight the way of the Lord" .
(John 1:23b)

It's easy to pass by the manger scene
without giving it any thought. All we see
is a small human baby lying in a manger.
But this Baby is the mighty God who
created all the heavens and the earth.
His mother feeds Him and changes His
diapers, but He provides food for all His
creatures and holds all the stars in place.
His foster-father Joseph guards His life,
but He commands the wind and the
waves.

As this small Baby grows to manhood
this same wonder continues. He who
formed the mountains and valleys learns
to be a carpenter in Joseph's shop. He,
who spread out the galaxies in the
universe, walks from place to place
teaching and proclaiming God's Kingdom
to all. He, who commands all the forces
of nature, surrenders Himself to be
arrested, beaten, whipped and nailed to
a cross. And it is through His bitter
suffering and death He wins our pardon,
forgiveness and peace.

Why did He do it all? Why did He set
aside His majesty, glory and power and
come to live in our world? He did it
because of His intense dedication to His
Father, who loved the world so much
He gave His only-begotten Son to save
us, and because of His own undying love
for you and for all people.

Our Savior still comes to us in the same
quiet, mysterious way today. He invites
you to His Church where you
will hear His ancient Word and learn more
about Him who gave His all for you. There
He will prepare you to celebrate His birth
with a profound joy, peace and hope.

Prayer:

Son of God, Your birth is a profound
mystery: God became human to live with
us. Open my mind to hear Your Word of
salvation and to believe You are God's Son,
my only Savior. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Scripture:

Read John 1:6-8.

There was a man sent from God, whose
name was John. ... He was not the light,
but came to bear witness about the light.
(John 1:6, 8)

Reflection:

Have you ever taken a close look at a
manger scene? There are a bunch of
figures all gathered together: Mary and
Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men,
perhaps even some sheep, camels and a
donkey. Usually they aren't placed in little
groups talking among themselves. Instead,
they're focused on that Baby whose birth
brought them all together in that place.

What if you were one of the characters in
that manger scene this Christmas? Would
you be focused on the Christ Child like the
others, or would your attention be somewhere
else? Would you be gazing out to the side,
staring at the Christmas tree and all the
presents lying under it? Would you be
scanning the kitchen and dining room thinking
about Christmas dinner? Would you be staring
into the family room where friends are gathered
for a Christmas party?

All those things are great parts of Christmas,
but only one thing belongs in the center as the
focus of our Christmas celebrations. That is
God's Son, born on Christmas day. The mighty
God became one of us and came into our world
to share our life, to suffer and die in our place,
and to rise to life again to guarantee our eternal
future.

His birth brings joy, hope, comfort and peace
to all our Christmas celebrations. He is always
with us to provide our needs and protect us from
all harm until the Last Day when He will come in
glory to bring us to our everlasting home.

PRAYER:

Son of God, Christmas holds so
many distractions. Please focus my mind and
heart on Your birth so every part of my Christmas
celebration will be more meaningful. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

SHINES FOR EVERYONE

Fourth Sunday Sunday of Advent

[Light the first three candles of the
Advent wreath.]

After the angel came to Mary and told
her that she would conceive the child
in her womb and would call him Jesus,
Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the
Lord; let it be with me according to your
word." (Luke 1:38)

And Mary sings her Song of Praise:

…My soul magnifies the Lord…he has
scattered the proud

…He has brought down the powerful
from their thrones

…He has lifted up the lowly

…He has filled the hungry

…He has provided for the poor
(Luke 1:46-55).

We marvel at Mary, the mother of the Messiah,
herself a single, teenage mother, herself poor
and powerless. But she understood that the
baby she would call Jesus was sent, not just
to her, but to the world…
…To the hungry
…To the weak
…To the very young and the very old
…To those who suffer or are in pain.

[Light the fourth candle of the Advent wreath.]

We light this fourth candle to remember Mary,
the mother of Jesus. May the light of this candle
also remind us that the light of Jesus shines
for everyone.

COME, LORD JESUS. AMEN

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Scritpture:

Read John 1:6-8.

There was a man sent from God,
whose name was John. ... He was
not the light, but came to bear
witness about the light. (John 1:6, 8)

Reflection:

Have you ever taken a close look at
a manger scene? There are a bunch
of figures all gathered together: Mary
and Joseph, the shepherds and the
wise men, perhaps even some sheep,
camels and a donkey. Usually they
aren't placed in little groups talking
among themselves. Instead, they're
focused on that Baby whose birth
brought them all together in that place.

What if you were one of the characters
in that manger scene this Christmas?
Would you be focused on the Christ
Child like the others, or would your
attention be somewhere else? Would
you be gazing out to the side, staring
at the Christmas tree and all the
presents lying under it? Would you be
scanning the kitchen and dining room
thinking about Christmas dinner?
Would you be staring into the family
room where friends are gathered for
a Christmas party?

All those things are great parts of
Christmas, but only one thing belongs
in the center as the focus of our
Christmas celebrations. That is God's
Son, born on Christmas day. The
mighty God became one of us and
came into our world to share our life,
to suffer and die in our place, and to
rise to life again to guarantee our eternal
future.

His birth brings joy, hope, comfort and
peace to all our Christmas celebrations.
He is always with us to provide our needs
and protect us from all harm until the Last
Day when He will come in glory to bring
us to our everlasting home.

PRAYER:

Son of God, Christmas holds so many
distractions. Please focus my mind and
heart on Your birth so every part of my
Christmas celebration will be more
meaningful. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

A CHRISTMAS GIFT

The parents of three grown children would
divide their Christmases among their children’s
families. But with the difficulties involved in
holiday preparation and extensive travel,
sometimes they were tempted to throw up their
hands and say, “It’s too much! It’s just not
worth the effort.” Whenever either of the parents
got that feeling of exasperation, they would give
the other a wink and say, “Long walk, dear, long
walk,” and they would laugh and get back to
work.” “Long walk” was one of their code signals.
They began using it years ago earlier after
reading a story about an African boy who gave
his missionary teacher an exquisite seashell as
a Christmas gift. The lad had walked miles for it,
to a special bay, the only place where such
shells were found. “How wonderful of you to have
traveled so far for this present,” said the teacher.
The boy’s eyes shone as he replied, “Long walk
part of gift.”

FEELING IMPORTANT

Scripture:

Read Mark 11:1-7.

... "The Lord has need of it ...."
(Mark 11:3b)

Reflection:

How do you like Christmas shopping?
Are you looking forward to playing
"chicken" for that elusive parking spot?
Are you excited about your chance to
push your way through the crowded
aisles? Do you get a thrill out of arm
wrestling for that last box on the shelf?

Wouldn't it be great just once to be an
important person? Imagine walking
down an aisle and watching people
step aside to let you pass, or standing
in front of an empty shelf and having
someone hand you that must-have
present you want to give your kids.
Best of all, imagine everyone motioning
you to the front of the line at the checkout!

On that first Christmas when God chose
to send His Son into our world as a tiny
baby, we might have expected Him to
choose an important family. Perhaps it
would be the Jewish high priest, the ruler
of the Jews, or even the Roman Emperor
himself. Instead, the most important
person ever born lived as the obscure
Son of Joseph and Mary-two very
ordinary and unimportant parents.

That's how Christmas can transform us.
God's only Son became unimportant in
the world's eyes to make you and me
important in God's eyes. He credits His
perfect life to us as if we were the perfect
ones. Then He took all our failures, faults
and sins on Himself and suffered and died
in our place on the cross to free us from
God's wrath.

The hustle and bustle of Christmas
shopping may make you feel unimportant,
but this Christmas the birth of the Christ
Child shows just how important you are
to God.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank You for becoming unimportant
in the world's eyes to make me important
in God's eyes. Transform my view of You
and of myself this Christmas. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

I HAVE ROOM

Scripture:

7 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 2:7) TNIV

Reflection:

Nine-year-old Wally was a hopeful boy, a
natural defender of the underdog, and
well-liked by his fellow classmates. His
parents encouraged him to audition for
the annual Church Christmas play and
Wally wanted to be a shepherd. Instead,
he was given the role of the innkeeper.
The director reasoned that Wally's size
would lend extra force to the innkeeper's
refusal of lodging to Joseph. During
rehearsals, Wally was instructed to be
firm with Joseph. When the play opened,
no one was more caught up in the action
than Wally. And when Joseph knocked
on the door of the inn, Wally was ready.
He flung the door open and asked
menacingly, "What do you want?"
"We seek lodging," Joseph replied.
"Seek it elsewhere," Wally said in a firm
voice. "There's no room in the inn."
"Please, good innkeeper," Joseph pleaded,
"this is my wife, Mary. She is with child
and is very tired. She needs a place to rest.
" There was a long pause as Wally looked
down at Mary. The prompter whispered
Wally's next line: "No! Be gone!" Wally
remained silent. Then the forlorn couple
turned and began to slowly move away.
Seeing this, Wally's brow creased with
concern. Tears welled up in his eyes.
Suddenly, he called out, "Don't go! You
can have my room."

Jesus Christ came into the world to open
up for us the door to eternal life; to invite
us to share in his life of intimate union
with the Father. In and through Jesus Christ,
God invites us into His space, the place
where He lives. God is calling us into the
Kingdom prepared for us "from the foundation
of the world," where there is always room for
one more -- always room for you....

(Sunday Sermons Online)

HIS WILL

Third Sunday Sunday of Advent

[Light the first and second candles
of the Advent wreath.]

If Jesus comes to us again at Christmas this
year, and if Jesus dwells within each of us,
shouldn't that make a difference in who we
are and how we live our lives? Hear these
words from 1st Thessalonians:

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is
the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

"Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise
the words of the prophets, but test everything;
hold fast to what is good; abstain from every
form of evil."

"May the God of peace himself sanctify
you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and
body be kept sound and blameless at the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

"The one who calls you is faithful, and he will
do this." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24)

If we seek Jesus, who is born in the manger,
shouldn’t we:

…be at peace among ourselves?
…help the weak and the poor?
…not repay evil for evil, but always do good
to one another?
…in all circumstances, give thanks?

[Light the third candle of the Advent wreath.]

As we light this third candle, let us remember that
this is the will of God in Christ Jesus, who comes to us.

COME, LORD JESUS. AMEN.

TOO BUSY

Scripture:

Read Isaiah 40:1-5.

And the glory of the Lord
shall be revealed .... (Isaiah 40:5a)

Reflection:

It's only the fifth of December,
but many of us are in a near panic.
There are so many things to do to
get ready for Christmas: presents,
decorations, cookies, cards, parties,
and the list goes on and on. (Is it
just me, or are they speeding up the
Christmas music like the last minute
of a Mario game?) With all the hustle
and bustle where can we find the
peace and joy we most want this
Christmas?

It makes me think of that first
Christmas when Mary and Joseph
had just traveled 80 miles from their
home in Nazareth to the little town
of Bethlehem. Mary was about to give
birth and Joseph was trying to find a
place for her. I imagine he knocked on
quite a few doors, but no one could
make room for the out-of-towners.
Finally, they settled on a shelter for
animals.

How many of those people would have
gladly opened their homes if they knew
who was standing outside? Each of
them was busy with their own lives
and families-too busy to welcome God's
Son into their home.

In the brief moments of these devotions
God's Son is quietly knocking at your
door too, waiting for you to set down all
your Christmas preparations and welcome
Him inside. He has come to remove
your guilt, calm your fears, carry your
burdens and provide for your needs. He
wants to assure you God is at peace with
you because of His perfect life and
innocent suffering and death, and when
He returns you will live with Him in
unending peace and joy.



PRAYER:

Great Son of God, thank You for coming
to me in this hour. Quiet the busyness in
my mind and fill me with Your peace and
forgiveness, so that I may resume my
Christmas preparations with joy and gratitude.
Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)
­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

A MESSENGER

Second Sunday Sunday of Advent

[Light the first candle on the Advent wreath.]

The prophet Isaiah wrote, "See, I am sending
my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare
your way; the voice of one crying out in the
wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make
his paths straight.'" (Mark 1:2-3)

And John, the messenger of God, proclaimed to
all the people who came to him in the wilderness
that they must repent of their sins and be
baptized. Many people heard his message,
repented, and were baptized in the river Jordan.

It has become our custom to prepare for the birth
of the Messiah by decorating our cities and homes,
hanging the lights inside and out, singing "Frosty
the Snowman" and "Rudolph the Red Nosed
Reindeer," and measuring the quality of our
Christmas morning by the number of gifts we receive.

[Light the second candle.]

As we light this second candle in preparation for the
coming of the Messiah, perhaps we need to listen
again to John the Baptizer's message, preparing the
way of the Lord:

…make straight the paths

…repent of your sins

…be baptized

…and live holy lives devoted to God.


COME, LORD JESUS. AMEN.

BROKEN FAMILIES

Scripture:

Read John 1:29-42.
John 1:29-42: He first found
his own brother Simon .... (John 1:41a)

Reflection:

Some brothers and sisters get along really
well. They get along so well they can work
side by side at the same job, then gather
together for Christmas and the other holidays.
That appeared to be the case for Andrew
and his brother Simon Peter in the Bible.
They made a living by fishing together. And
when the Savior invited Andrew to follow Him,
the first thing he did was to find Simon and
bring him along. They had fished together
all their lives; now they would follow the Son
of God together.

I hope your family is that close. But that
doesn't always happen. Often get-togethers
are more like civil wars. We all know getting
together should heighten our enjoyment of
Christmas, but sometimes the only way to
have a peaceful Christmas is to stay apart.

Transforming a broken-family Christmas is
difficult, but not impossible. You just need a
peacemaker. The trouble is most brothers
and sisters end up on one side or the other.
We need someone from the outside to come
in and bring peace.

That's where God's Son stepped in. He
became human and came into our world to
be our peacemaker. First, He tackled our
most important broken relationship-the one
between God and us. He did that by taking
our place and going to the cross to suffer God's
wrath for all the wrongs we think, say and do.
Having won our pardon from God His Father,
He transforms us. He gives us a new heart
that feels true love and forgiveness toward our
enemies, even if those happen to be our own
brothers and sisters.

PRAYER:

Great Savior, if my family gathers
together this Christmas please bless our time
together. If there is any festering hurt or offense
dividing us, bring us together peacefully through
Your sacrifice on the cross. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)