Category: advent

Posted in advent, Advent devotions, Devotions

2020 Advent devotion: Unto us a child is born

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Aditya Romansa on Unsplash

“Live and in person Advent devotion for December 8, 2020.” Read Isaiah 9:6-7 and Psalm 121.

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
    there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
    to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Who comes to mind when you think of a child star? I guess it depends on your generation. Shirley Temple? Ron Howard (Opie)? Maureen McCormick (Marsha Brady)? Barry Livingston (Ernie Douglas on “My Three Sons”)? Mccaulay Culkin (Home Alone)?

Scripture has its share of child stars, too. From Cain and Abel to Jacob and Esau to Samson and John the Baptist, the arrival of children would shape the story of God’s people. But none of them were expected to be or do as much as the child Isaiah spoke of. In the birth of this son the world would meet the “Mighty God” and the “Everlasting Father” live and in person!

The arrival of every son and daughter is filled with the anticipation of what they will grow up to be and the things that they will do. Each addition to a family is unique. Each will discover their talents and learn new skills as they grow. Each brings a hint of the future with them, for they will one day be leaders, teachers, inventors, healers and artists. Children whet our appetite for a world that is better than the one we live in now.

It certainly is fun to discover what our children can do. We give them balls to see what kinds of athletic abilities they have. We put crayons and paint brushes in their hands to unleash artistic ability. We sing songs, play games and read books, watching as they become the people God created them to be.

Long before His birth, Isaiah reveals what this child would become. He was born for public service, politics and government. He would be the one to fill the very big shoes of David, ascending to the throne of a kingdom that would never end. His parents, His people and the world had high hopes for this child.

We still do. Each Christmas, we have high hopes that Jesus will bring peace and joy to our world. How thankful we are for this child!

Lord, be the child star of our Christmas, coming with the counsel, strength and peace we so much need. Amen.

Posted in advent, Advent devotions, Devotions

2020 Advent devotion: A virgin shall conceive

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Live and in person” Advent devotion for December 7, 2020. Read Isaiah 7:14 and Psalm 2.

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

These words from the Lord came to Ahaz, one of the kings of Judah, more than seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ. To describe him as a king who did not do “what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God” is an understatement. King Ahaz pursued an alliance with Assyria, the foreign power that destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel. He practiced and promoted idol worship by sacrificing his own son and constructing a pagan altar in the temple!

The Lord had told Ahaz he could pick any sign he wanted as an assurance that God would faithfully defend his people from their enemies. Ahaz wouldn’t choose one. So the Lord gave him this well-known Christmas promise. The birth of a child would be the sign of God’s presence and involvement in the lives of His people.

If God gave you carte blanche to ask for any sign you wanted from Him, what would you choose? I’ve talked with many people who wish God would give them a sign. So I’ll ask, “Like what? What kind of a sign would you like?” The typical answer is, “Oh, I don’t know. Something big, spectacular and in-your-face.” I’m not sure what I would ask for. Anyway, how could I really be sure that a particular sign came from God?

Did anyone else ever ask for a sign? Gideon, one of the judges. But his sign was kind of weird. All he asked for was a dry rag out in a dewy field. Yawn. Hezekiah asked for the sun to move backwards in the sky. Nice. But a day or two later, you might ask yourself, “Did I really see that?” What about a virgin birth? Three-star, for sure. But those who heard about it assumed it was a scandal rather than a miracle.

But you know what? It is a sign that God cares when He shows up. After all Immanuel means “God with us.” What better way to show the world that He is real, He cares, and you don’t have to do this alone? Texts are nice. Cards are nice. But when you show up to share the moment, the celebration or the tears, it means a whole lot more.

When Jesus was born and grew up and started preaching, some asked Him for a sign. “Give us a sign so we know you’re the real deal.” Jesus didn’t bite. He was the sign, live and in person!

Thank you, Lord, for such a great sign! Your presence as a baby, a miracle worker and my Savior means everything to me. Amen.

Posted in advent, Advent devotions, Devotions

2020 Advent devotion: Manoah and his wife, the parents of Samson

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by René Ranisch on Unsplash

“Live and in person” Advent devotion for December 6, 2020. Read Judges 13:2-7 and Psalm 37.

I like to imagine Manoah and his wife sitting down for supper one night and he asks her, “Would you like some wine?” “No, thank you.” she replies. He just looks at her while she continues, “You know, the funniest thing happened to me today. A man of God appeared to me and told me not to drink wine or eat any unclean food, because we’re going to have a baby! And it’s a boy!” Were they shocked? Overjoyed? Amazed?

I love Manoah’s reaction. Basically, he says, “I want to talk to this guy.” When the angel of the Lord — the man of God — returns, Manoah meets him out in the field and asks, “So, what’s up with the birth announcement?” After the angel of the Lord repeats the good news, a meal is prepared, flames shoot up to heaven, and Manoah and his wife know they have seen and heard from the Lord Himself! It is a pre-Bethlehemic gender-reveal gala from long, long ago.

The birth of a child is a life-changing event for any couple. All of a sudden this person shows up in your home and expects you to put them up, prepare meals for them and cater to their every need. Of course, we do all that with joy, for we discover a love like we’ve never known before — love for our son or daughter. And if we get a bonus of more than one child, we experience the miracle of love that multiplies for each and every one of our sons and daughters.

That’s the kind of love God has for you. You are His child, adopted by grace and the redemption we have in Jesus Christ. He is overjoyed to call you His son or daughter and to provide a home, meals, and all of your needs.

I think it’s cool to think of your baptism as a birth announcement, the surprising and amazing news that someone important, influential and loved has joined God’s family. Born of water and the Spirit, you’ve got the promise of victory over sin, the world, and the power of the devil himself.

Every once in a while, you might want to talk to the guy who told you all this. Feel free. He would love to hear from you!

Lord, thanks for the glorious birth announcements in Scripture, including my own! Amen.

Posted in advent, Advent devotions, Devotions

2020 Advent devotion: The commander of the Lord’s army

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Jaime Spaniol on Unsplash

“Live and in person” Advent devotion for December 5, 2020. Read Joshua 5:13-15 and Psalm 124.

It is an exciting time for the people of Israel and their new leader, Joshua! God had stopped the Jordan River so they could cross into the promised land on dry ground. They don’t have to eat manna anymore, because they now have access to the abundant produce of their new home.

They are ready to begin their conquest of the land by taking the city Jericho, when suddenly, Joshua looks up and sees a man with a drawn sword in his hand. I’m sure Joshua had his sword out too when he stepped up and asked, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” Is he a good guy or a bad guy? Will the fight begin right here and now?

The man answers, “I am the commander of the army of the Lord.”

This is no ordinary soldier. Joshua falls facedown on the ground and worships. He has to take off his sandals at this holy place, just like Moses did in front of the burning bush. This must be more than just one of the heavenly host. This must be the Lord, live and in person!

I don’t know about you, but if I were team captain and choosing sides, I would definitely want the Lord on my side! Scripture names other impressive warriors. Like Samson, who killed a lot of Philistines. Or some of David’s mighty men. But as David said, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7). When the Lord is on your side, victory is a given!

Before this, Moses told the people, “the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory” (Deuteronomy 20:4). Later, Joshua would also remind the people, “it is the Lord your God who fights for you” (Joshua 23:10).

Much later, the apostle Paul would write to Timothy, encouraging him to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). The Christian faith is a struggle, a battle if you will, to hold onto the eternal life we have in Christ. The devil, the world and our sinful nature constantly attempt to distract us with promises that never fulfill, never last and never live up to expectations.

It’s a losing battle – unless the Lord is on your side. Here’s the good news. Not only does He fight for you, but He overcomes the world, he defeats death and He wins the victory for us! So don’t give up. Keep fighting the good fight of faith. The battle belongs to the Lord! (1 Samuel 17:47)

Lord, thank You for the victory You have given me in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Posted in advent, Devotions, writing

What I learned writing Advent devotions

Posted on by William Douthwaite

This past season of Advent, I wrote daily devotions which I sent to anyone interested in receiving them. I had about twenty-five folks subscribe, so I was committed to twenty-four devotions, beginning December 1. I chose a selection of bible passages that mentioned darkness and light as the calendar moved us slowly but surely to the winter solstice. The increasing darkness each day was a perfect backdrop for the coming of light, fuel for both physical and spiritual insights. Here are a few things I learned writing this collection of devotions.

  • From the beginning to the end, there are a lot of verses in the bible that mention dark and light. While darkness is used to describe sin, wickedness and death, light brings hope, righteousness and life.
  • Writing daily devotions is hard work. Especially when you’re working from a theme. (I wrote devotions last Lent, too, but used two chapters of a gospel.) Even though each was only three- to five-hundred words, I often struggled to find meaning or application for the passages. This is actually a good thing. It made me stop and think, dig a little deeper, and find personal application. Each one had an important lesson for me.
  • I didn’t get much feedback. Maybe that’s a good thing. My writing could probably use some work. Anyway, you never know who is or who isn’t reading your work. Apart from a few, “I’m really enjoying your devotions,” I didn’t get many comments at all.
  • When you are writing every day, you develop a rhythm. You get into a groove. The more you write, the easier it is to write. I am sure the daily routine improved my writing. It is a good discipline to commit to.
  • I think I wrote more for myself than for others. I wanted to show myself that I could do it. I felt the need to create rather than just consume ideas and insights.

I’m not sure if I’ll do this again. I felt like I could only write once a day, so I put my blog on hold. It took time, maybe ninety minutes or so every day. That’s a lot of time to devote.

But I probably will.

Posted in advent, Christmas, Life

A wonderful, beautiful, minor key.

Posted on by William Douthwaite

ben-white-170383
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

At noon and then again this evening at our midweek Advent worship services, I realized that all the hymns I picked out were in a minor key.

Songs in a minor key sound sad, melancholy, foreboding and desperate. And yet, I love the minor keys. They sound so real, passionate and gutsy. They don’t soar like major keys, lifting our hearts, but dive deeply, into the depths of our souls.

Really? At Christmas? The “most wonderful time of the year” which is designed to be “merry and bright?” Whoa, big guy, it’s not Christmas yet. It’s Advent. It’s still a time of reflection, repentance and even desperation. Good thing. We need help.

Like an endless line of dominoes, those in the public eye are falling to allegations of inappropriate sexual misconduct. A seemingly endless obituary of innocent victims shot at concerts, in schools and on the street floods our eyes with tears and minds with fears. Smartphones connect us with more people than ever, yet we sit home lonelier than ever. Rockets take us closer to Mars, and bring nuclear weapons closer to our homes.

Jesus steps into that world. He was condemned for inappropriate contact with people you weren’t supposed to be near. He was innocent, yet condemned and executed. Surrounded by crowds, he ended up on the cross alone. He spoke of leaving this world, which was coming to a violent end.

Anyone see a connection here? First, there’s nothing new under the sun. We’ve been struggling with these issues for a long, long time. Second, we can’t seem to fix the problems. They keep coming up over and over again. Third, our fears of the end are legitimate. This world will not last forever.

Thank God! This is not what He intended, nor what we were created for. We need a new heaven and a new earth. Soon. Churches like ours that observe Advent pray long and hard for that. We know that is our only hope.

But at least we have hope. We have something to look forward to. As a musician I know that if you raise the third just one half step, you will feel the lift of a major chord, and it never fails to thrill me. I love those hymns, so close, so achingly close to a resolution, a major key, and new life.

Posted in advent, Christmas, Devotions, Ministry

Five ways to stay close to God during a busy holiday season.

Posted on by William Douthwaite

gareth-harper-1753421.jpg
Photo by Gareth Harper on Unsplash

It seems like a no-brainer. The holiday season, spanning Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas and New Years is rooted in Christian tradition, filled with special music and worship services, and fills our view with many Christian themes. The busyness of the season, whether it’s planning for guests, getting ready for travel, scheduling worship, buying and wrapping gifts or practicing for performances, we may discover that there isn’t a whole lot of room for Christ himself, a problem dating back to the birth of our Lord.

So, how do you stay close to God during this fun, amazing and busy time of the year?

Put him on the calendar. There’s worship at your church on Sunday mornings and maybe some midweek services during Lent. Ink them in and be there. Our Lord promises to join our worship gatherings of two, three or more, speaks to us as His Word is proclaimed, and brings His gifts of grace in the sacrament. These worship moments provide an anchor when you find yourself being pulled in many different directions.

Do a “plus one.” OK, you already have a morning quiet time or evening devotion. Grab a seasonal devotion and give him an extra five minutes. Our church gives them out. Many are available online. Here’s a great one from Lutheran Hour Ministries. Just like that first cup of coffee, jump start your day with His word rather than all the other things going on. It makes all the difference in the world. (Bonus points: get or make a little Advent wreath and burn the candles.)

Play a little sacred seasonal music. You can listen to non-stop Christian music every day beginning well before Thanksgiving. Much of it, however, will be secular rather than sacred. You can find it on Pandora, Spotify, YouTube and Amazon if you look. Most of your favorite artists have a Christmas album. I like “All I Want For Christmas is You” and “Sleigh Ride” as much as the next person, but you can do a whole lot better.

If you send Christmas cards, send one with a Christian message. You would not believe how many member of my church send me secular Christmas cards featuring cardinals, snowmen, and Santas! It’s usually around 50%! There are so many amazing and affordable cards that creatively capture the birth of Christ. Pick up a box of those to send out, for your sake and theirs.

Serve. Help out at church, help out a neighbor, help at a local ministry. Don’t just give something or send something. Be there. Jesus said, “As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Jesus came and spent time with those who seemed furthest away from the kingdom. That’s where you’ll still find him in this world.

If those don’t work for you, I’m OK with that. If gingerbread, Burl Ives, Kris Kringle, mistletoe and the Hallmark Channel do it for you, go for it. If not, why not try something different this year?