Presbyterian Advent Devotions: Embracing Advent - Psalm 115

Psalm 115:2    Why do the nations say, "Where is their God?" 

Q:        What’s the best way to keep Christ in Christmas?

A:        Go to church on Sundays.

It always amazes me that so many people complain that Christmas just isn’t the same and yet they never seem to connect their spiritual emptiness with their lack of attendance at Church worship. If they are bombarded with commercial pressure for well over 60 days, then they are bound to be overwhelmed, especially if they don’t take time out to be with the Lord and His people during the season of Advent.

Over the years, I’ve sadly watched young parents crucify themselves emotionally and financially in order to make Christmas perfect for their children. I’ve seen families get frantic and fight over details about who is hosting Christmas dinner this year. And I’ve looked at beleaguered workers and sales people practically killing themselves in order to boost their figures in the last month of the year. In the midst of so much pressure, it’s so much easier to let go of God and miss the point of the whole celebration.

The Church prepares us for Christmas in meaningful, traditional, and time-honored ways. The four Sundays in Advent are worship vehicles to bring us closer to God in peaceful, priceless, and precious ways. Instead of wondering what Christmas is all about and turning it into a nightmare, we honestly and simply need to get with God’s program and make Advent a spiritual adventure where we refocus our lives on Christ.

The Gospel Truth is always this simple. We don’t need to put Christ back into Christmas; He is already there. We need to put ourselves back into Christ – Church gives us that wonderful opportunity every Sunday.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, keep us from the merciless busy-ness of Christmas and lead us to the stillness of God’s Kingdom. Protect us from going overboard in order to please other people and enable us to make and take time to please You. Give us a heart to be in worship on Sundays and open our souls to Your Holy Presence. In your Sacred Name, we sincerely pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is part of John’s New Yorker series. It features Central Park in winter, surrounded by the city’s buildings. If you would like to see a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/5141644080_1b3f84222c_b.jpg

You can also view John’s latest drawings at any time on his art blog, which you will find at http://www.stushieart.wordpress.com

Presbyterian devotions: Faith Works - Galatians 3:11

Galatians 3:11            Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." 

I love being a New Testament person. Christianity offers hope to a world that constantly ruins its relationship with God. Our faith in Jesus justifies us before God and we are saved through the sacrificial acts of Christ.

Before I became a Christian, I rejected God entirely. I wanted to live life in my own way and do everything I desired. Everything that helped me get what I wanted was deemed ‘good’ by me; anything that hindered my desires being fulfilled was ‘bad’ in my books. I was a very selfish, self-centered person. I lived for myself and couldn’t care less about the world.

But the more that I did what I wanted, the less appealing life became. Filling myself with alcohol emptied my soul. I was lost to God, my family, and my friends. I was so self-centered that I wanted to commit suicide and be done with life. A dark shadow engulfed by spirit and I became bitter.

And then Jesus came into my life and I discovered a new joy, a better way, and a hunger for God. Instead of being controlled by alcohol, I surrendered my heart to Christ. Instead of being bitter, my life became better. And instead of heading down a dark spiritual alley which would lead to suffering, death, loneliness and hell, I began walking on a new path which would lead to salvation, redemption, life and heaven.

Perhaps you are going through a rough time or you have recently made foolish decisions that have negatively impacted your life. Maybe you feel lost and alone, overwhelmed and unloved. It sounds trite and naïve, clichéd and unreal, but from my experience the act of truly giving your heart to Jesus changes things for the better and reveals a new, hopeful and better path for your life.

I invite you then, to become a New Testament person, to be forgiven of the past, supported through the present, and restored to a future everlasting relationship with God.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we are reclaimed for God through Your sacrifice. You alone in the entire universe have the authority to forgive our sins and restore us to God’s favor and love. Help us to share this message of gladness and joy with our families, our friends, our neighbors and colleagues. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s passage, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s drawing is one of John’s latest 2010 winter pictures. It’s called Snowy Church and you can view a larger version at the following link:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/5124746046_df27bb0793_b.jpg

Presbyterian Advent Devotions - Heart of the Holidays

Galatians 1:11            I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up.

There are so many fables and stories, customs and events attached to our current celebrations of Christmas that it is sometimes hard to distinguish what is real, important, and true. We spend so much energy and effort in promoting, upholding, and supporting Christmas traditions that we frequently forget the simple Gospel message at the heart of our holidays.

Most of the things that we do around this time of year have really no Gospel connection to the miraculous birth of Christ. We get so wrapped up with wrapping gifts up that we miss God’s message to the world: we can experience everlasting hope, the forgiveness of sins, and the promise of eternal peace with God through Jesus.

We can make ourselves ill with the burdens that we place upon ourselves. We can exhaust ourselves emotionally by trying to make everything perfect for everyone else. Instead of allowing Christ to be the Burden Bearer of our worries and the Perfecter of our peace, we busily battle our way through the commercial rush and allow peer pressure to dictate our lives.

Christmas was never meant to be like that. The Holy Mass of Christ was supposed to be a sacred time when we allowed Jesus to be the Light of our world and the Healer of our sorrows. He came to show us that life can sometimes be a delusion, and that we often deceive ourselves with our busy-ness. We really need Him at this special time, not only to save us from our sins, but also to save us from ourselves.

The gladness and goodness of the Gospel at Christmas is a glorious God-given opportunity when we can truly experience a little of the joys of Heaven on Earth through welcoming Christ into our hearts and homes. After all, when everything is said and done and our finite lives draw to a close, it won’t be the fables, customs, and traditions of Christmas that will get us into God’s Eternal presence; it will only be Jesus Christ our Savior, Lord, and King who can do that for us.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, as we advance into another season of food, festivities, fables and films which will strain our finances, remind us that faith in You and true fellowship with God are the most important parts of Christmas. Keep us from burdening our lives and loved ones with trinkets and tinsel, delusions and decorations that have no everlasting value. Remind us that You are the Heart of our holidays and the Center of our celebrations. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s 2010 Christmas drawings. It’s called “Christmas Candles.” You can view a larger version at the following link:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/5119623018_6b4a062826_b.jpg

Presbyterian Devotions: Advent - Musical Windows - Psalm 108 v 3

Psalm 108:3    I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.

I love this time of year and especially the weeks that lead up to Christmas. No matter where I go, I hear Christmas music and carols everywhere. Christianity is a singing faith and I like to think that the songs and hymns we sing at Christmas are the musical windows of the church.

I know that some people think that there’s too much commercialism at this time of year and that the Spirit of Christmas is lost in a smorgasbord of feasting, fables, and fun. I used to think like that, but the more I experience Advent and Christmas, the more I understand the power of Incarnation and the actual presence of Christ in the world.

Every year we sing of Christ’s birth among the nations. Every Christmas someone is truly touched by the glad tidings of peace and joy. Every carol has the power to move the hearts of people, who have isolated themselves from church, and bring them back to joyfully praise the Lord. We see this actually happening in Christmas Eve worship services around the world. That’s why they are so crowded. People are attracted to our faith through the wonderful songs that we sing and play at this time of year.

So between now and December 25th, I’ll be singing, playing, and listening to as many Christmas carols as I can. My hope is that someone else will hear them and rediscover God’s joy to the world.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we give You thanks for the season ahead of us when many people across the nations will joyfully sing of Your glorious birth. Thank You for the musicians and vocalists who will inspire, delight, and please us with their talented gifts this Christmas. In Your Holy Name, we joyfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s 2010 stained glass Christmas drawing. He calls it “African Nativity.” You can view a larger version at the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/5064118966_784afd8a3a_b.jpg

John also has a limited number (25) of signed prints available. If you would like one, contact him at his email address.

Presbyterian Devotions: The Problem with Phinehas - Psalm 106

Psalm 106:30-31        But Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was checked.
 This was credited to him as righteousness for endless generations to come.

At first glance, it looks like Phinehas is a mighty hero in the annals of Hebrew history. After all, his loyalty to God is commemorated in a psalm written centuries later after the event which put him in the psalmist’s Hall of Fame.

But what exactly did Phinehas to achieve this glorious status from God? He killed a man and a woman in their own tent with a spear. You can read the gory story in Numbers 25. It reads more like a scene from a horror movie rather than a mighty act for God.

Sometimes the Old Testament scares the heebie-jeebies out of me. If God is so angry, violent, and wrathful, what chance do I have of surviving His judgment after I die? I have sinned so many times and offended Him with my sinful words and ways that I fully deserve His wrath. What hope do I, as an unholy person, have against a Holy God?

None, except for the fact that I am a New Testament person, who wholly depends upon Jesus Christ to save me. Without Him, I am bound for Hell. With Him, I am restored to Heaven.

If you truly give your heart to Jesus, you can also experience the same.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, save us from ourselves, our sins, and God’s wrath. Forgive our fallen and unfaithful ways. Redeem us by Your blood and restore us to God’s everlasting favor. In Your Holy Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s latest Fall drawing called “Autumn Mill.” It depicts an old Appalachian Grist Mill surrounded by the colors of Fall. A limited number of signed prints are available from John. If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1247/5117638642_806c993f72_b.jpg

Presbyterian Stewardship Devotions: Money Matters

2 Corinthians 8:3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.

It’s Stewardship season in many churches across the country. Before the end of the year, congregations try to anticipate what their budget will be for the next year. In these tough economic times, it’s hard to estimate what people will actually give of their money. Time and talents are sometimes easier to share with the church rather than income and resources. Sadly, when people hold back or cut back on their giving, the work of the church is deeply affected.

The Macedonian Christians were not wealthy. They had limited finances in troubled times, but when their hearts were given to Christ and their lives were kindled by the Holy Spirit, they cheerfully wanted to give to the church, even beyond what was expected of them. When Paul writes about them, he does so with a great deal of pride and pleasure. The Macedonians were a great example to the rest of the young Mediterranean church. Their enthusiasm in giving acted as a wonderful motivator for other Christian communities to go all out and do more than their fair share of pledging and giving.

Today, we are all faced with the same exciting challenge. Christ’s work in the world is needed as much now as it ever has been. Our faith is connected to our finances and our beliefs are indicated by our bank books. If we feel insecure about our resources, then we may be also insincere about our faith. If we hold back our money, then what else are we holding back from God?

Cheerful, considerate, and generous giving can release us from our financial worries and money woes. In doing so, we show that we do not depend upon the dollar or pin our hopes to the pound; by giving honestly, sincerely, and cheerfully, we liberate ourselves from the chains and burdens that a love or obsession of money can trouble us with, and show our true devotion to the Lord.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, it’s so easy for us to get caught up in financial worries and cash concerns. Sometimes we live beyond our capacity to give. Sometimes we burden ourselves by borrowing more than we can afford. Teach us the biblical principles of money management and help us to release our resources to You and Your church. In Your Holy Name we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s latest night time drawing of Knoxville’s Sunsphere at the World’s Fair Park. A larger version of the drawing can be viewed at http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/5095209018_cf3f00de0f_b.jpg

(John has a limited number (25) of signed and matted prints for sale)

Presbyterian Devotions: Confidence Restored

2 Corinthians 7:4       I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.

I flew to California last Friday to conduct the wedding of a young couple. The bride has been a member of the church that I serve for many years. She was originally part of the youth group when I came to Erin. I was delighted to do the wedding and it turned out to be a wonderful occasion. I was glad that I had the courage to go.

Maybe that last sentence intrigued you, after all how much courage does it take to conduct a wedding? Well let me put it this way: I hate flying.

The last time I was on a jet, I had a terrible experience with turbulence and by the end of my journey, my nerves were totally shot. I vowed never to go on an airplane ever again and haven’t been flying for several years. I had resolved to being tied to the land and only going places where I could drive or catch a train. Then I received two invitations to conduct weddings in South Africa and California. I couldn’t do the 24 hour flight to South Africa, but after giving it much thought and prayer, I decided to take the five hour flight to California. I reckoned that if my experience was much the same as before, then when I returned home, I would no longer take to the skies ever again.

The flights were wonderful and I enjoyed the whole experience. To keep me occupied and distracted, I listened to podcasted sermons from preachers that I admire on all my flights. Some turbulence scared me, but it did not ruin my flying. I felt supported by God and upheld in prayer. My confidence is now restored and I am greatly encouraged. Next time that I have to do it, I will be ready to fly.

Perhaps my fear of flying is nothing compared to your own anxiety or worries. Maybe you have many real and serious problems to contend with. I hope that you can discover God’s presence in the midst of all that troubles you and that Paul’s words will help you to endure and overcome them. May you be greatly encouraged about the future and find that in your time of crisis, God cares enough to lead you through it to a future of greater gladness and joy.

Prayer:                        Lord God, You know everything about us and we fully depend upon Your favor and patience. We need Your love and care to get us through tough times and our current crises. Bless us with strength and confidence to overcome all that we face. Grant us healing and peace for the days to come. In Christ’s Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s impressionistic drawing of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco at dawn. You can view a larger version of the drawing here: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2405/4506588885_3aaff840ee_b.jpg