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Multimedia Advent Devotional – Week 4-3, Tuesday

December 23, 2024

2024:

Week 4, Tuesday:
• Scripture: Luke 1:67-79 (Patricia Dotson)
• Reflection (Karen Sculley)
• Prayer (Jim Roberson)
• Artwork: “The Birth of Jesus” (Kim Ki-Chang)
• Music: “Zechariah’s Song” (James Beauregard & Keri Taylor) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U85vZEH7lrM

Reflection on Luke 1:67-79 – Luke 1:67-79 – “Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy: ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. 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.'”

How do we respond to what goes on around us? That might depend on what we’re focusing on. If we focus our attention on unmet needs, relationship conflict, or our poor coping skills, we will likely be consumed with negative emotions that threaten to overtake us. Even though certain feelings like anger, anxiety, apathy, contempt, fear, jealousy, insecurity, loneliness, regret, and shame are often a normal reaction to certain experiences or events, these negative kinds of feelings tend to be distressing and unpleasant.

What if we were to instead focus on who God is and what God has done? What if we were to focus on God’s power and presence and provision among us?

Today’s scripture gives us a good model to follow: “Blessed be the Lord!” Zechariah waited to be filled with the Holy Spirit and then worshiped God in a way that echoes many Old Testament occurrences of praise which eventually became a standard opening prayer for Jewish blessings. Here are two examples:

  • Psalm 41:13 – “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.”
  • Psalm 72:18-19 – “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may his glory fill the whole earth.”

What if, this Christmas, we decided to focus on Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God with us, the one who has looked favorably upon us and redeemed us, the mighty savior, the one who has saved us, the one who is saving us, the one who will save us, the merciful one, the one who gives light to all who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, the one who guides our feet into the way of peace? We worship you, Jesus, Messiah! Come, Holy Spirit! Blessed be the Lord!

2022:

Week 4, Tuesday:

  • Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:1-10 (Karen Sculley)
  • Reflection (John Trotter)
  • Prayer (Paul Sculley)
  • Artwork: “Kenyan Nativity” (Kenya)
  • Music: “Lo How A Rose E’er Blooming” (Charlotte Church) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxmm0-Ts2ts

Each short Multimedia Advent Devotional is an invitation to set aside time each day during a typically busy season preparing for Christmas to rejoice in the coming of our Savior, Christ Jesus, and to respond to God’s invitation to us to join with Him in what He’s doing today.

Advent is a season of the liturgical year observed in most Christian denominations as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Christ at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming. Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year in Western Christianity and is part of the wider Christmas and holiday season. Advent is a period in which we are invited to set aside time each day during a typically busy season preparing for Christmas to rejoice in the coming of our Savior, Christ Jesus, and to respond to God’s invitation to us to join with Him in what He’s doing today.

This collaboration is brought to you by Liberty Vineyard Church

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