Revloc Presbyterian

PLEASE Give To The Salvation Army. Our church was asked not to donate time to ring the bell like we always do but to just send a donation. This has to hurt their fundraising by not having people ring the bell regularly at the store like usual. We have seen ways to give online to the Salvation Army but we don't know if those funds will be going to our local organization. If you give through us, your donation will go directly to the local chapter, You can give on our donation website at tinyurl.com/revlocpresby , use the QR Code to access the page, or use the Give Plus+ app and look for Revloc Presbyterian Churc(h), the app cuts off the (h). Our donation page, gives you the opportunity to give to the Salvation Army, Food Pantry, and other funds through the church.

Today’s Bible Reading: Isaiah 53:11-12 How I Met Jesus At The Mall It’s less than two weeks before Christmas and I’m at where I’m usually at nowhere on my mile-long to-do list. So, I do what every brave and slightly deranged woman does venture to a mall packed with the hustle of Saturday evening shoppers. ... I brace myself for the Battle of Elbow Room. I enter the fray of frenzy this is going to make the Roman Colosseum look like a children’s playground. But, as I step out of the elevator into the arena I am dumbstruck. Standing tall in the throng of humanity was Rio de Janeiro’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue. It was much smaller than the almost-100-foot-tall original, but it was still pretty impressive. Here was Jesus with His arms stretched out over the chaos of shoppers. I expected a few gold bells and red ribbons gracing the mall. But Christ the Redeemer? Does that even fit the Christmas story? Yes, at Christmas we celebrate the Christ child. But that’s only a part of the story a very small part. If our focus is entirely on Christ’s birth, we miss the purpose for which he came. Jesus doesn’t just want our adoration, he yearns for our salvation. He came to redeem us from our empty way of life. Without the whole story of Christmas, we miss out on the whole joy. Christmas is the love story of a God who broke into the darkness of this world. It’s the story of a God who would humble Himself and give up His majesty for a manger. But it didn’t end there. It’s the scandalous story of a God who chose to die for us. It’s the victorious story of a God who rose again and completely destroyed sin and death. Prayer Father God, This Christmas, help me stop and ponder all that You accomplished. You poured out Your life as an offering. You lived to die so we could be with You forever. Thank You for that love that I can never fully grasp. Amen.

Today’s Bible Reading: Isaiah 43:1 No Longer a Slave to Fear As a mom, I tend to worry. A lot. But after nine years on the job, most of my worries pale in comparison to when I was a brand-new mom with my newly-minted firstborn. I was constantly on edge. Was he hungry? Were the bottles sterilized? Did he need a diaper change? Was he breathing?... Now, for a moment, imagine being in Mary’s shoes (or, more likely, dusty, worn-out sandals). A barn for a delivery room, a trough for a crib, an inexperienced young husband for a midwife and the Savior of the World for a son. Talk about a perfect recipe for concocting fear! Ironically, this baby didn’t bring on fears typical of a first-time momma. He brought deep, unshakeable joy and peace to Mary and brings the same to us today. He brings us into a relationship with the Father. He replaces fear with faith. Sometimes, the journey getting there is painful. But when you’re not bound by fear fear of failure, fear of people and of circumstances, fear of rejection, fear of judgment, fear of you-name-it you become who you were created to be. I’m no longer a slave to fear. I am a child of God. Prayer Heavenly Father, oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to You in prayer. Yes, Lord, I bring my fears before You. Take those fears and replace them with a forever joy. Amen

Today’s Bible Reading: Matthew 1:18-21 Not Just A Regular Nice Guy This is a familiar passage about a really good guy Joseph, the man pledged to marry Mary. Things must have been going great for Joseph. Perhaps his carpentry business was doing well and he was ready for the next stage of his life to marry the woman betrothed to him.... Then Joseph’s plans fell apart. He found that his wife-to-be was already with child. The gospel account in Matthew records that since Joseph was a righteous man, he planned to divorce Mary quietly. That was till God spoke to him in a dream. Joseph then stopped being a regular nice guy. He became an obedient follower of God even when he didn’t know how things would work. He became a risk taker for God. He didn’t just do the good thing. He did the godly thing. He didn’t just do the right or reasonable thing. He did the righteous thing. What is my response when God calls me to do the unexpected? Do I shrink from obedience because of fear? Or, like Joseph, do I follow the righteous way because I trust that God knows what He’s doing? Prayer Father, thank you for the example of Joseph. Thank you that when You call, You also equip. Help me to remember that Your grace is sufficient for me, that Your power is made perfect in weakness. Help me to always choose the path that puts You first, no matter what the consequences. Amen