Arrival of Advent

Advent Week 4

by Becky Davey

400 silent years. Many people were like those in in 2 Peter 3:3-9. Those words were written to all of us who have lived ever since Peter wrote them. But people haven’t changed. They scoff at God’s words and fail to understand God’s tremendous love for the people He created and will work out His plan so that all have an opportunity to believe in Him. While there were many who didn’t believe, there were always some who continued to believe God’s Word just as there are some today who believe and long for that fellowship promised. 

The silence is broken. Zechariah, a priest, was serving his duty. He had been praying for a child, a son, but he was getting old and God seemed to have forgotten him. Suddenly, as Zechariah stood by the altar of incense to lift up the prayers of the people, the angel Gabriel appeared before him. Scary! Gabriel said, Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. How wonderful to know that God always remembers His children and acts on their behalf. But Zechariah didn’t remember the miracle that God had done in the past when He gave a child to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. He just didn’t believe God (Luke 1:8-20). This promise of God to Zechariah and Elizabeth of a child who would be a way maker and a forerunner to prepare the people for the Lord was part of the plan God had made before time began!

In a little town called Nazareth the angel Gabriel suddenly made another appearance. This time it was to a cousin of Elizabeth a teenager named Mary who was engaged to be married. Mary was afraid just as Zechariah had been—seeing an angel wasn’t an everyday occurrence. Gabriel said, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.” He went on to tell her she was going to have a baby. Mary understood what he said, but she didn’t know how it could be—not in unbelief but wondering, “How?” He explained it to her, and her response was “I am the Lord’s servant, May it be to me as you have said. (Luke 1:26-38).

We don’t know exactly why but it added to our understanding about how God was working out His plan as Mary traveled to see her cousin Elizabeth. We learn a wonderful new truth about God. When she arrived Elizabeth heard her voice, was filled with the Holy Spirit and recognized Mary as the mother of the Special Someone God had promised so long ago. Another amazing and wonderful happening was that the fetus in Elizabeth jumped for joy. We can’t communicate with a fetus, but the Holy Spirit can. What an amazing God who can and does communicate with those who are in a condition that makes it impossible for us to communicate with them. 

Mary then sang to the Lord a song of praise that revealed her relationship with God, her knowledge of the Scripture and her love and dependence on Him. Take time to read these scriptures and join with her in praise. Maybe you could write your own.

Mary, now about 3 months pregnant, returned home to Nazareth. How Joseph, her fiancé, learned of the pregnancy we don’t know; he was a godly man and didn’t want her to be publicly shamed or stoned. An angel gave him instructions that he followed. He took her as his wife, had no relations with her and bore with her the shame of a pregnancy out of wedlock. Pretty bad in those days. But here they were in Nazareth and God told Micah this baby would be born in Bethlehem of Ephrathah. How would God take care of that? We know that He caused Caesar Augustus the ruler of the Roman Empire to take a census. Wonderful to know that God puts leaders in their positions, and even though they don’t know Him, God accomplishes His plans through them. To do the census in those days meant that everyone would have to go to their ancestral hometown. For Joseph and Mary that would mean Bethlehem of Ephrathah. Mary was 9 months pregnant! Bethlehem was a tiny village in those days; it had been the City of David long ago, but now, the accommodations had been maxed out and the only place for Mary and Joseph was a smelly cave used to give shelter to animals. 

It was in this place that Mary gave birth to baby Jesus. It was here that shepherds came to see this amazing event that the angels told them about. Galatians 4:4 tells us “when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem…” 

God is never late; He is never early. He always fulfills His promises. We can depend on it. The Special Someone, Messiah, and all the other titles has come. That is the Advent that we celebrate. He has promised to come again, and that promise also will be fulfilled at just the right time. 

Photo credit: Photo by Gareth Harper on Unsplash

Impending Advent

Advent Week 3

by Becky Davey

The last couple of weeks of Advent is often filled with frenetic activity. God never acts frantically, yet His plan from before eternity is accomplished on time. He had everything planned and done on time so the people He yearned to have fellowship with were/are informed about the Special Someone to come so that they wouldn’t miss Him. Among many roles, God had revealed Him as the snake crusher, savior, shepherd, rock, bread from heaven, king, priest, and prophet. How much time before He would come? Was there anything else the people needed to know so that they could recognize Him? 

Yes, there was more. God was moving to more specific revelations. Last blog we learned He would come as a boy child (Isaiah 9:6). Now we learn His mother would be a virgin! How can that be, there has to be a father?! Remember, God can’t be put in a box. He can do anything (Luke 1:27). This baby would be called Immanuel, meaning God with us (Isaiah 7:14). All of this was knowledge given to the people in the 700s BC. God spoke through the prophet Micah to let them know that the birth would take place in Bethlehem—not just any town called Bethlehem—the Bethlehem in Ephrata or Ephrathah (Micah 5:2). 

God had made plans before time began. He gave the people all the clues they needed to recognize this Special Someone He promised to send. It had been so long since the first promise had been made; in fact, thousands of years had passed. How did they respond? Could they, would they believe/trust Him? To encourage them He gave many promises 700 years before Christ, including, “Blessed is the man whose trust is in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord,” (Jeremiah 17:7). He not only expresses His blessing, but tells us He has plans for each of us, “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil to give you a future and a hope,” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Malachi, 400 years before Christ’s birth, tells us of the sad story of people who loved themselves more than God. Out of all that He had given them, they kept the best for themselves and gave Him the dregs. Even their worship was tainted. But—there were some who trusted. Even when things didn’t go the way they wanted; even when they couldn’t understand why things seemed so bad to them—maybe like Covid-19 seems to us—they responded in trust and confidence in God’s care and His plan. They said, “Though the fig tree does not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold, and there be no herds in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God the Lord is my strength,” (Habakkuk 3:18-19).

They wondered: when will He come? That was the only thing they felt they needed to know. WHEN? But God was silent. For 400 years there was no new message from God. But they kept their faith in Him! In fact for that faithful remnant, anticipation of God’s plan of sending that Special Someone grew stronger and stronger. 

Covid-19 has interfered with our lives for 9 months! It doesn’t get better; in fact, right now it seems to be getting worse. Which of the two kinds of people will we be? Like those of Malachi or those of Habakkuk? 

Photo credit: Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Approaching Advent

Advent Week 2

by Becky Davey

Years pass. God continued to reveal more and more about His Special Someone. He is revealed as the snake crusher, savior, Messiah, Shepherd, the Rock and much more. God also continued to select nations and individuals through whom He worked to accomplish His plans from long ago, from before time began. Some responded to Him in obedience and some refused His offers of friendship, fellowship; they turned away from His love and care. 

God never gave up. He wanted people to know and fellowship with Him again. In the 700s BC a man named Isaiah heard God say, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Isaiah answered, “Here I am! Send me,” (Isaiah 6:8). As often happens, when we live for God and tell people His words some listen, but many treat us just as they did God—with indifference, refusal to listen, sometimes even hatred. Isaiah began telling them some amazing things about the Special Someone to come. In chapter 9, Isaiah says something glorious was going to happen in the land of Galilee. In fact, it was so sure to happen he spoke of it as if it had already taken place.

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light: those who dwelt in darkness, on them the light shone…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.”

How amazing! God promises our snake crusher/Savior/Shepherd—whatever title we give Him—is to come as a child. He will establish His government and rule as a king! There are many new names given for us to understand what kind of a person He is. How can one person be all these things? What does it mean to me? 

This week let us ponder/meditate on these verses. There is so much I think I’ll choose a different one or two a day; ones that speak to my heart. Please join me adding your own questions.

• What does it mean for me that He is my Wonderful Counselor? What does a counselor do?

• How do I see Him as Mighty God?

• Everlasting Father: God is a wonderfully loving, caring father who makes provision for us. Perhaps your earthly father wasn’t like this so you find it hard to think anything good can come from a father figure, or perhaps you have a good father and find this a wonderfully comforting title. God is a father whose goodness and care never ends.

• Prince of Peace: In this time of turmoil we need Him more than ever. He will bring this peace into our hearts despite the unrest all around us. Just think—there is no end to this peace, only increase. Compare with Jesus words: “My peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

• What does it mean to me that he promises that there will be no end to his kingdom?

• Today everyone seems to be seeking justice, and rarely feeling that they have found it. Yet, here is the promise of a kingdom with justice and righteousness from this time forth and forevermore! Do I believe this? Is it really true? How do I connect with this kingdom?

Photo credit: Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Anticipating Advent

Advent Week 1

by Becky Davey

Advent—the very word brings a smile to my face, causing feelings of anticipation to float around in my head. Why this anticipation, this stirring of excitement? Who or what is coming? After all, advent simply means “coming or appearance.”

The plan for this Advent began long ago—before the earth was in existence. God made plans, He created the universe with millions and millions of stars and their planets. In one part of the universe He placed one planet with its sun, moon and stars. He called it earth and put seas, rivers, plants, birds and animals in it. Then He did something different; He created a man [Adam] and woman [Eve], made in His own image, to live there, tend the garden, eat the produce and fellowship with Him daily. An idyllic existence. 

One day, a Tempter came; Eve listened to the Tempter, disobeyed God and so broke her fellowship with Him. Adam joined her in her disobedience and he, too, no longer had fellowship with God. How sad. How terrible. But! God had made plans before creation. One of those plans that would cover all time, was a plan for fellowship to be restored. God would send a Special Someone to make a way for fellowship with God to be restored.

God gave many promises as He prepared people for the Advent of this Special Someone. Each promise, or prophecy, gave more and more information about this Special Someone, so people could recognize Him when He came. As the years passed, the promises gave a reminder, and also a built-in mounting sense of suspense and anticipation of this special Advent. When would it happen? Who would it be?

Each year, as Advent begins, I like to go back and re-read those promises. It adds to my sense of wonder and anticipation—God really wants our fellowship. He promised the way; He sent that Special Someone and fulfilled the promises—Who is that Special Someone? Has He come? If so, when? Are there any promises still to be fulfilled regarding Him? How does the Advent season as we experience it today relate to God’s promised Advent? Come; read the promises with me. We’ll start with just one today and go on to more next week.  

The first promise may seem obscure but its meaning becomes clear as we read further promises. This was part of the judgement against the Tempter (snake/serpent) and God’s part in it.

Genesis 3:15: I [God] will put enmity between you [the tempter/serpent] and the woman[Eve], and between your offspring and her offspring [singular: the Special Someone/ snake crusher]; he shall bruise your head [fatal injury], and you will bruise his heel [non-fatal injury]. 

God began giving more information about this Special Someone: some different names, qualities and actions—but still not a “when.” We’ll begin looking at them next week.

Photo credit: Photo by Rodolfo Marques on Unsplash

2020: Salty and Sweet

“Oh, Jesus, do all that you will with us Lord! We are yours!” 

Amy Hanson

A family favorite around the Gerlach Thanksgiving dessert buffet is a simple treat originally shared by Heidi Bleeker. (She and I go way back, even before the teenagers leading the youth group charge were ideas in our minds.) It’s simple: saltine crackers placed on a cookie sheet, creamy, buttery brown sugar atop, polka-dot chocolate chips on the hot butter, spreading as the chips soften*. Once cooled, the toffee treats are cut into puzzle pieces and devoured by young and old. A tasty classic, they offer a bit of salty and sweet, smoothness and crunch, each aspect bringing out the other.

This year kind of feels like those saltine toffee cookies: salty and sweet, smooth and crunchy. How can a year of so many unprecedented challenges have any blessings? It’s only through the work of Our Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Anxiety and depression have ruled over many this year with the uncertainty of health and job security, isolation and loneliness, many disappointments, and cancellation after cancellation. Anna Palfreeman shares, “It's hard to have to cancel so many plans [and] hangouts [because of a cold]; there are so many consequences to getting sick right now.” A deep grief seems to have covered the country and local community as we have prayed for those who were sick or could become so, and while watching everything we thought would never change, change in a minute. 

“We really miss seeing grandparents as much as we used to. No one in our family had a birthday party this year. The kids miss their friends, and I miss seeing people and having grow-up conversation. We miss our homeschool co-op and field trips,” shares Tavia White, whose parents Kep and Carolyn Stone also attend The Vine. Kep shares their grandchildren’s disappointment, “[We’ve been] unable to spend in-person time with our daughter, her husband, and our four grandkids.” 

And it’s not just families with young children struggling to adjust, as even college classes have transitioned to online. “The biggest negative was for my son who signed up for college classes. He is not an online-learner and struggled through three classes, failing one. His VA school benefits have been put on hold until he can prove he can pass his next class, which he has to pay for himself…difficult to do when he can’t get sustainable work during COVID. There is no extra money,” laments a church member.

An elderly church member shares that her family was the reason she kept the will to live while battling an illness before the COVID shutdown. Upon her recovery, she was one of the first people in our area to contract COVID-19. But when she was released, “The family I fought to get better for has not been able to be around each other. But I thank God that he continues to use my family to serve him. We will have an eternity to be together.”

The sweetness has shown itself as well. With the COVID shutdowns, individual families have spent more time together than ever before. Dads and Moms working from home and after-school activities cancelled lent to regular family walks, lunches together, board and card games, and creative sibling bonding. With family and friends near and far now unable to see one another, the technology of Zoom has become a household name. It’s even the tool we rely upon for Sunday worship! Only God could turn something so salty into something so sweet. Karen Schickling shares her struggle with isolation and loss of income, but “[It] has made me get into some organization at home, things I’ve been putting off, downsizing, and foremost more time in prayer and in scripture.”

Amy Hanson, whose husband John has been an essential worker throughout COVID, reflects, “The ongoing nature of this crisis has forced [us] to talk through his history of anxiety and depression on deeper levels than ever before. This crisis has not presented a clear finish line; [which] has been a catalyst for us to seek outside help, prayer for healing, and discover ways to promote health for the long-term.”

Division, a salty relative of anxiety and depression, have reigned in our world this year too. To mask or not? To open or close? As Christians, we get to discern wisdom from God (James 1:5) and are told to respect those in authority over us as a society (Romans 13:1-2). Kelsi McGann comments, “[This season has] been pretty dividing as far a what loving your neighbor looks like. Some say masks show your lack of faith, others say wearing a mask shows compassion for others. The church has been divided on this, and the division is what’s most frustrating.” 

Simultaneously, the season has provided for sweet unity in new ways. The $11,000 raised for the Community Care Fund is only one way our church has united to help those in need. (Read more about the CCF here and here.)

Sweetly, the Elder Team has been in consensus frequently as they have led our congregation in decisions about how to meet safely. Each coming to the crisis from different backgrounds, perspectives, and concerns, a peace seemed to cover each one. Says Brandon Hudson, “During this difficult season the elders have learned even more the need to press in and seek the wisdom of God. He’s guided us in ways we couldn’t have imagined a year ago.”

God has also been generous in knitting together the hearts of His people through a deepening of prayer and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Prayer groups have formed over Zoom and after in-person service on Sundays, and wonderful things are happening. Says Anne Dunn of her community and prayer group over Zoom, “[We] greatly appreciate Zoom and the opportunity to get to know more people through our small group. We’ve grown in numbers and in closeness to one another. I believe God is at work in this whole pandemic, through our times of prayer and outreach to one another.”

Of the post-service prayer group, Thien Lai shares, “As people began to come to us each week, we've seen God do everything from healing back pain completely to reducing the swelling in limbs. What we've also seen is God's healing work in our hearts and spiritual lives. God has been freeing our members from anxiety, fear, brokenness, shame, and guilt. We are seeing the Holy Spirit bring spiritual strength and restoration in families.” The group has seen miracles among them and in their broader communities as the reliance on prayer has become a daily necessity.

Although this year has been seasoned with challenges, God is also using this time to show his beauty and kindness. Thien summarizes it well, “Healing seems to be coming both internally and externally. God is teaching us along the way, it has been a beautiful journey of trust, vulnerability, new life, and encouragement. Through this work we should only expect to see the fruit of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

This season of Thanksgiving, remember some of the ways God has blessed you this year. From darkness comes an appreciation of light, from cold an appreciation of warmth, from salty an appreciation of sweet. As we have seen in our study of Genesis this year, God is capable of changing the worst of situations to those that glorify Him. 

Genesis 50:20 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

James 1:5- If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Romans 13:12— Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 

*https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/11376/saltine-toffee-cookies/