Message from Bishop Carter and Advent Devotion

Hello beautiful people! I hope you have been enjoying a wonderful Christmas weekend. Here is a link to a Christmas message from Bishop Carter of the Florida United Methodist Church Conference.
www.flumc.org/christmas-message-from-bishop-carter-20

I invite you to take time and read this devotion from the "21 Days of Advent" which I have been reading during this Season of Advent.
First, read Luke 1:5-25 (link for BibleGateway.com) or your favorite Bible, then read the passage again from a different translation and see how each one speaks to you. Read the passage slowly, deliberately, and discover what words are revealed to you that perhaps you have never noticed before. Now read the devotion below...

The Gift of Prayer

Are you asking some big questions of God right now? Maybe you have a lot of unanswered prayers like Zechariah and Elizabeth did. As I re-read their story in Luke 1, it reminds me of a time when I had to believe God was working in my situation but didn’t see any heavenly activity in the physical sense. 

Much like Zechariah and Elizabeth, I too waited upon God for a solution. I mean they really waited upon the Lord. They never lost sight of God and were content with living a life of devotion, even in the midst of their personal hardship. 

I’m encouraged this Advent season that God does indeed hear our prayers and sets to work immediately on providing a solution. Otherwise, to think that He doesn’t care, or is inattentive in any way, lessens His power to work in our lives. He’s not a cruel manager of our requests. He hears every word we utter. 

No doubt we enter seasons of life where we feel distant from God, or have sin in our lives, or feel unheard in those prayer circles. We’ve all been there a time or two. But to think that God, our Immanuel, abandons His own, is ridiculous! He is totally devoted to each of us and dedicated to growing us into His likeness. 

In talking to God regularly we move away from an entitlement attitude. Guilt and shame often get in the way of our relationship with God, veils our sight to how God is working, and robs us of simple trust in God. So dispense with these questions: God, do you care? God, do you hear? God, are you there?

Be consistent in prayer! Keep asking God for what you need. Prayer doesn’t always change your situation, but you will be changed by involving God in your situations. God’s power is the catalyst we all need to pursue our best life here on earth. God will act on your behalf and by His redirection, God brings His best protection. Talk to God about every little and big thing! 

Advent reflection:
Lean in, stay the course. Talk to the Giver of every gift. Praise Him for the gifts you have. Look to Him for what you don’t have, not to people. See yourself blessed and look to Him alone for answers. Seek, pray, and believe He is your answer. 

I pray that you have a wonderful week as we move toward celebrating a New Year of 2021! I am sure we are all looking forward to turning the page on this past year and are ready to start this new chapter of 2021. I am looking forward to us returning to in-person worship soon as we hope to begin again by February. May you feel the living presence of Christ surround you in all you do. Blessings, Pastor K