Advent Devotions 2015: Love Came Down Among Us

I've just completed my 20th devotions e-book for Kindle readers. It's called "Love Came Down Among Us." The book contains 27 new daily devotions, beginning on the First Sunday in Advent (Nov 29) all the way through to Christmas Day.

Each daily devotional includes a suggested scripture passage, a highlighted Bible verse, a short devotion, questions for reflection, and concludes with a prayer. Each day also has its own unique artwork, drawn by me.

Hundreds of people use my e-book devotions each year. The cost is only 99 cents, which is both a bargain and a great investment for every reader.

The devotions can be used on a personal basis, with a small group, at church staff meetings, or even for special family devotions.


You can view and purchase the e-book by clicking the following image. Enjoy !

2014 Advent devotions for Churches

As many of you know, I write a lot of devotionals throughout the year. This year, I have written a full set of devotions for Advent for the congregation that I serve. For each day of Advent, beginning on Sunday 30th November, I have written a short devotion to correspond to the daily lectionary reading from the prophets. A Bible verse is highlighted, a question for reflection is posed, and a prayer is written at the end of the devotional.

If any churches would like Word file copies of the templates, then I would be willing to send them by email. The price is only $10 for the full set of four. Payment can be made via Paypal or check. An invoice for church records will also be sent via email.

Anyone who is interested may contact me by email at Traqair@aol.com.

Advent devotionals for Kindle

This e-book contains short devotionals for every day of Advent. They can be read at any time of day. Each daily section has a lectionary Bible reading, an emphasized verse, a devotional, an art image for meditation, personal questions for contemplation, and a communal prayer at the end.

The Advent readings that I’m using this year all belong to the Old Testament Prophets, whose ancient words reveal to us the promises of God that have been fulfilled through Christ’s Birth, as well as those that have yet to be completed when Christ returns.

Get your copy at the link below…J

Advent devotion: Two Great Gifts - Galatians 1:3

Today’s readings are Judges 2:7-15 and Galatians 1:1-10

Galatians 1:3  Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

If I could give two precious gifts to the world this Christmas, they would be grace and peace.

Grace would be given, so that folks could forgive one another and allow their past mistakes to remain in the past. Husbands and wives, parents and children, brothers and sisters could set aside their differences and begin again. Fractured feelings, persistent pride, and baneful bitterness could be gone forever, replaced by love, kindness, and compassion. What a gift to give our broken world!

Peace would be given so that different groups could learn to dialogue with one another; nations could recommit themselves to the betterment of humanity; religions could turn their theological barbs and spears into plowshares for effectively working against poverty, oppression, and injustice. Races across the globe could respect the wonderful variety of God’s image in all people and work together to eliminate bigotry and prejudice, humiliation and rivalry.

The bad news is that I don’t have the ability or power to give those gifts to the world; but the good news is this: Christ has already given those two great blessings through His sacrifice on Calvary and obedience to God. The gifts of grace and peace are already ours; we only have to find and apply them in each of our lives to begin the worldwide celebration of God’s love to the world.

Questions for personal reflection

Where have I experienced God’s grace and peace in my life? To whom can I share these great gifts during Advent?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You are both the greatest gift and the greatest gift-bringer in the history of the world. You came among us to grant all people everywhere the opportunity of being restored to God’s favor and love, as well as His grace and peace. Help us to share these blessings with the other people in our lives. 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 or ask a question, please send John an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Christmas drawings called “Tree Window.” It’s a stained glass design of a Christmas tree. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7389/11164226093_863c950b18_b.jpg

Advent Devotions for Kindle Users

Advent is now upon us and many Christians are looking for devotions to help them through each day of this very special season. Over the past three years, hundreds of people have used my Advent devotions on Kindle. This year, my Kindle Advent devotion book is called "Holding On To Hope."

It contains 25 new daily devotions with Bible verses, prayers, questions for reflection, as well as my own specially created pieces of digital artwork.

The Kindle book only costs 99 cents and, with the new free Kindle app for all laptops and mobile devices now available, any one can get to purchase a copy and join the growing number of people who use these books.

Advent devotions: Holding on To Hope by John Stuart

My new Advent devotions e-book, "Holding On To Hope" has now been published for Kindle users. It has 25 short devotions (all new), Bible verses, questions for reflection, and prayers for use by individual Christians, small groups, or families on a daily basis from December 01 through until Christmas day.

Many of my Advent, Christmas, and Nativity drawings are also included in the book.

The US price is only 99 cents, so its well within everyone's budget...:)

You can check out a copy at the following link:

Six hundred and counting....

Just sold my sixth hundred devotions book on Amazon overnight...:)

Advent Devotion: Revering God - Malachi 2:5

Malachi 2:5    “My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name.” 

Reverence is something that appears to be missing in our present world. That’s a pity because reverence is such a wonderful gift to experience. Giving reverence to God means to humble yourself before Him, as well as surrendering to His will and simply choosing to serve Him. There’s a great peace that can come into a person’s soul when, as the psalmist wrote long ago, their ‘delight is in the Lord.’

In midst of our daily stresses, artificial urgencies, and constant pressures, we could learn a lot from the people and prophets in the past who devoted their days to the Lord. It wasn’t always easy, but there seemed to be more satisfaction in sacred things and holy ways. I sometimes wonder if we aren’t ‘gadgetizing’ ourselves to an early grave and a purposeless life simply because we’ve become technologically distracted from the mysteries, wonders, and beauty of God.

As we head into another church year (Advent is the beginning of the Christian calendar), perhaps we should try to recapture the blessing of revering God with our time, our thoughts, and our devotion. It could be the beginning of a new life for each of us…J.

Question for personal reflection

What can I do with my life to make reverence of God a choice and not an inconvenience?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You revered God throughout Your life on Earth. You taught us how important revering God should be in our lives. Forgive us for being distracted with unimportant things and tasks. Help us to reclaim time to honestly and simply revere God. 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 traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s 2012 nativity drawings called ‘Emmanuel,’ which features the Holy Family in a snow globe decoration. If you would like to view a larger version, then please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7113/8170459261_03d3204704_b.jpg

John also has signed limited edition signed prints of this beautiful drawing. Just contact him by email for details.

Devotion for Thanksgiving: A Tale of Two Gifts

Zechariah 12:10         “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.”

John 1:14       The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

The older I get, the more I need God’s grace in my life. Decades ago, I thought it would be the reverse. I believed then that I would by now have worked out all of my flaws, failings, and mistakes because I would be older, wiser, and more mature. The reality is a whole lot different: I get set in my ways, whine for the good old days, and feel out of place. Ecclesiastical curmudgeonary and dinosaurial drudgery can best describe me at times. I was born in the 1950’s, raised in the sixties, and formed in the seventies. I’m a 20^th century man living in a 21^st century world. I know how I would like things to be but there’s no going back; in order to accommodate a new bold world, I constantly need an old beautiful gift: grace.

The two Bible verses for today were written hundreds of years apart, but they express God’s remedy for a broken world in almost the same terms: ‘grace and supplication’ and ‘grace and truth.’ In the Old Testament, God’s patience and mercy were appealed to through the means of sacrifice and supplication. In the New Testament, the Supreme Sacrifice had already been made, so the opportunity of God’s patience and mercy were given through this truth: Jesus is the Savior of our sins. In the past, grace was a means of being granted the permission to approach God; now grace through Christ means that we can not only approach God, but we may also abide with Him forever.

Grace: an ancient, blessed, and beautiful gift from God granted to us today (and for all time) through Jesus Christ our Lord and King.

Question for personal reflection

How many times have I needed God’s grace this week?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You were given to us to become the ultimate sacrifice and universal Savior of the world. By Your obedience and death, we have been given God’s grace and life. We will always be truly thankful for Your wonderful gift. In Your Holy Name, we humbly and gratefully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message or ask a question of him, please send an email to Traqair@aol.com. John is always delighted to read your comments and answer your questions.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Nativity drawing for 2012. It’s called “First Family” and is currently being used by churches in the United States, Switzerland, and England for their Christmas advertizing campaigns. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8193/8132931651_2e0cee43a8_b.jpg

John has signed 8x11 prints available. Contact him by email for details.

Advent Devotions: Waiting for Jesus

Advent devotions for Kindle fire are now available via my new Advent devotions e-book, "Waiting for Jesus." It contains fifty Advent devotions which can be used as personal reflections each morning and evening of the first 25 days of December.

These Advent devotions prepare Christians spiritually in the midst of the pressures leading up to Christmas. Both Kindle and Kindle Fire users will enjoy the reflections as well as the many art illustrations that I have included in the book.

So if you're looking for an Advent devotions e-book, then why not look at what I've written for this year. It only costs $1.99 and can be read not just by Kindle and Kindle Fire owners, but all computer users everywhere who have downloaded the Kindle app to their system.

You can view the Advent devotions book at the following link:

http://amzn.to/TWhiHO

Church Staff devotions: My Eyes Have Seen - Luke 2:30-32

Luke 2:30-32              “For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

I have seen God’s salvation in the lives of other people, as well as my own. I have seen addicts turn their lives around and their families restored. I have seen people healed of various illnesses and injuries, and have watched them continue to enjoy life. I have seen the work of many churches across various cities, towns, and villages seeking to support the weak, love the lost, and embrace the hopeless. I have seen the work of missions and missionaries among the poorest of people and in the most deprived communities on Earth. In all of these places and among all of these people, I have seen the continuing ministry of Christ and God’s unending work of salvation.

The prayer of Simeon of old is still relevant in today’s world. All over globe, Christians are working for the Lord to bring salvation to anxious persons and healing to broken hearts. Life is a constant struggle for most people on this small planet, but Christ’s work, words, and ways still manage to bring light and love, as well as hope and healing to billions of human beings in hundreds of nations.

The prophecy that Simeon expressed in the Temple courts is still being experienced today. If we open our eyes to see, our ears to hear, and our hearts to receive, we will notice what God is truly doing among us. Christ’s light reveals to us the redemption, renovation, and restoration of lives throughout the Earth. We only have to be open to His Spirit; we only have to be willing to serve Christ in order to see.

Questions for personal reflection

Where is God at work in my life, community, and world today? How may I help Him?

Prayer:             Lord Jesus, You are the Light of the world and we look to You for everlasting hope and eternal life. You came into this planet to restore us to God through mercy and forgiveness, grace and love. Thank You for these priceless gifts and infinite blessings. In Your Holy Name, we gratefully 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 drawing is John’s latest stained glass design. It’s based upon windows that he saw as a child when living in tenements in Glasgow, Scotland. The drawing is called both “Halfway Up the Stairs” and “Glasgow Rose.” If you would like to see a larger version, click on the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8158/7458512986_9fc4bdf206_b.jpg

Short meeting devotion: A Good Movie - Luke 2:17-18

Luke 2:17-18              When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Whenever I see a good movie, I like to share my delight with other people. I do it because I want them to enjoy a similar satisfying experience. My wife Evelyn and I enjoy going to the movies on a regular basis and it helps us to relate to one another. Some of our first dates, before we got married, consisted in going to the movies, so I guess we’re still sustaining that mutual interest and bond that we share together.

Faith is supposed to be like that, but because of keeping common courtesies and retaining social boundaries, we’re not so inclined to share our faith with others. We’ll readily tell people about a good book, great movie, or riveting new television series, but when it comes to relating about an ‘ah ha’ moment in church last Sunday, we’ll probably keep it to ourselves and inwardly reflect on it.

It’s a shame that we do that because all sorts of people in our world, which is such a broken place, need to hear about God’s presence still being felt in today’s church. They want to know that God still reaches into the hearts and minds of believers. They want to hear that in the midst of all the fear, anxiety, and confusion around us, God is still in control. When the shepherds went back to the hills after seeing the baby Jesus, they were singing, rejoicing, and exuberant about the Good News they had personally experienced. As they told their story to everyone they encountered, the people that they met were amazed.

Wouldn’t the world be a wonderful place, if we allowed ourselves to share our joy in the Lord?

Questions for personal reflection

What makes me delighted to be a Christian? How can I share this with other people in my life?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You are God’s Gift to the world and we are joyful because You are constantly with us. Help us to joyfully share the Good News of forgiveness and salvation with others. Prevent us from keeping the blessings of the Gospel to ourselves. 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 digital glass Psalm drawings (Psalm 24). He has been tentatively invited to present and display some of his Psalmic art in Dallas, Texas this Fall. If you would like to view the Psalms art project online, please click on the following link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/traqair57/sets/72157603288751629/

Church devotion: Promises, Promises - Genesis 21:1

Genesis 21:1   Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised.

My Grandma Stuart had a saying about people who disappointed her: “He’s a great promiser, but a bad fulfiller.” She came from a small Scottish religious community who were known as Rechabites. Her direct family members were all teetotalers who abstained from drinking alcohol and smoking, which is funny because her grandfather, James Doyle, made his money manufacturing clay pipes for tobacco users. She was a strong-willed person who had a lot of gumption and determination. I guess I get most of my stubbornness and religiosity from her side of the family.

Throughout the Bible, God constantly makes promises and never fails to fulfill them. In Sarah’s case, from the events described in Genesis 21, He sees to it that she bears a child even in her old age. The same blessing is also accomplished in Luke 1, when the elderly Elizabeth gives birth to John the Baptist. It’s all part of God’s way of completing the work of His salvation for the people on Earth. God is not only a great promiser; He’s also a great fulfiller.

Every day, we experience the promises of God in our individual lives and across the entire Earth. His promises are both personal and global, as well as being current and historical. In Jesus Christ, we have the greatest promise of salvation that humanity has ever known. In Jesus Christ, we also have the greatest fulfiller of God’s holy words.

Question for personal reflection

When and where have I experienced God’s promises in my life?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, by Your complete obedience to God and the fulfillment of all His promises, we are given the sacred opportunity of being forgiven of our sins and eternally restored to God. We seek to dedicate our lives to You and to Your continuing ministry of salvation throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we serve and 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 latest chess drawings. It’s called ‘Slavic Knight’ and is a part of his new ‘One of These Knights’ art series. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8167/7411440258_2e934d85a8_b.jpg

Church devotion: Created to Be - Luke 1:30

Luke 1:30       But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.”

Every day I try to please God, but I know that at some unguarded daily moment, I’m going to say or do something wrong that will both displease Him and disappoint others. I could justify my mistake by shrugging my shoulders and saying, “I’m only human. What do you expect?” but that would be doubly sinful. If I want to find favor in the eyes of God, I need to confess my sin and makes reparations for my mistake.

Being humble does not come naturally to me and I guess if everyone was to be truly honest, they would say the same. I read a poster this morning which stated something like: ‘I do not seek God to make me what I want to be; I want to become what God created me to be.’ It’s a profound thought and something that I really need to write down and carry with me each day.

When the angel Gabriel visited Mary, he told her about God’s plans for her young life. She was to become the mother of God’s Son, just as He had created her to be. Mary could have rejected this blessing, but instead she accepted this special calling and humbled herself before God by saying, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”

It’s an amazing moment in the history of our faith. A young woman yields to God’s Holy Spirit and, in doing so, sets in motion an event and produces a life that will change the world forever.

Questions for personal reflection

What has God created me to be? How can I fulfill His purpose for me today?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, Your mother Mary humbly accepted the divine role and sacred responsibility of bringing You into the world. Without her obedience, our faith history would not be the same. Today, we each seek to fulfill Your calling in our lives in order to serve and please You. In Your Holy Name, we humbly 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 wildlife drawing called “Cheerful Chickadee.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7224/7373844830_2ce5af2fdf_b.jpg

Church meeting devotions: Make a Difference - Matthew 9:35-38

Today’s Bible readings are: Isaiah 24:7-13 and Matthew 9:35-38

Matthew 9:38 (Jesus said) “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Some people in your life are waiting to be invited to church this Christmas. They want to come and sing Christmas carols; they want to hear the timeless story of Christ’s birth; they want to be forgiven for their past mistakes. They want to reconnect with God and belong to a community of faith. They are afraid to do this on their own; they feel unworthy and unholy; they feel lost and isolated, vulnerable and broken.

They want to be loved by God again.

They just don’t know where to start, where to go, or what to do. They are waiting for a sign. They are seeking guidance. They need help. They don’t want Christmas to go by again and carry an empty heart and unfulfilled life from this year to the next. They want to come to church, but they are worried that they won’t be welcomed.

This is where you come in. God is calling you to invite them. He needs you to ask them to come to church this Christmas. He wants as many people as possible to be reconnected to His love and to experience the joy of Jesus in their hearts. God needs you to be the one to welcome those seekers to come to church. He wants you to give them a positive and clear invitation to come back to church. You are the worker that He needs to go into the harvest field to restore His blessing to someone who feels helpless, hapless, and hopeless.

Let God do what He does best. Let Him use you to bring others to church this Christmas – your family, your friends, your colleagues, and your neighbors. Everyone needs to be loved by God and given a new beginning. This year, this Advent, and this Christmas, be the one to bring someone closer to Christ and back to church.

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few,” said Jesus. This Christmas, become one of the few!

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, open our hearts and minds to the people in our circles who are seeking You in their lives. Grant us opportunities and possibilities to invite them to church this Christmas. Take away our fears, and enable us to give a positive and welcoming invite to all whom You would have us ask. 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 about today’s message, or ask a question, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s Christmas drawings called “Nativity Nap Time.” It’s being used by churches throughout the world to promote their Christmas Eve services, as well as part of a national non-profit organization’s annual donor campaign who are sending out 370,000 Christmas cards with the drawing across the United States this year. If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4003/4159555940_eb5f7bb5c2_b.jpg

Opening Devotions: A Lost Generation - Matthew 2:3

Today’s Bible readings:   Isaiah 9:8-15   and Matthew 2:1-6

Matthew 2:3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

Herod was a bad ruler and a terrifying king. He murdered both his relatives and rivals. He terrorized his own people. He ruled with an iron fist and a heartless heart. He was an insecure and insane tyrant, so when he became disturbed about the news of the Messiah’s birth, the whole city of Jerusalem also became anxious and agitated.

The people were almost panicked because they knew what Herod was like. If the king was upset, then heads would soon roll. It must have been a terrifying time for the people of God, which was ironic because they were always hoping for the Messiah to be born. As the hymn writer once wrote: “the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” That was about Bethlehem, but it could have been written about Jerusalem too.

These are also anxious days for the Church. Society seems to have gained the upper hand and many young people are moving away from the Christian faith in order to embrace a universal movement of peace, equality, and love. Those are high ideals and noble causes, but we’ve been down this road before in the 60s and 70s. Eventually those high ideals gave way to anarchy, irresponsibility, and immorality. The Hippie movement of 50 years ago, which started with so much happiness and love, degenerated into a despicable drug culture that ruined millions of lives.

Christ is moving among us, but not in the ways that our culture wants or society predicts. The Spirit of God is strong throughout the rest of the world and one day faithful men and women, who have given their lives to Christ in other nations and lands, will come again as missionaries to these shores to revive the Church, reclaim the people, and restore Christ’s Way, Truth, and Life to a generation that is presently lost, as well as to those yet unborn.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You see the turmoil in the Church and the restlessness across our nations. You’ve seen this all before in other lands and cultures, at other times and ages. Already, You are planting the seeds for a new generation of missionaries to come to our lost generation. We praise Your Name and pray for the time when the Church will be released from its cultural Babylonian captivity and re-brought into the Light of Your True Love. In Your Holy Name, we fervently pray. Amen.

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

Today’s image is one of John’s Psalms project drawings. It depicts a verse from Psalm 37 – “Commit Your Way to the Lord.” You can view a larger version at the following link: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3357/3283895612_313bf65d2a_b.jpg

Advent Devotions for Kindle: Preparing the Way by John Stuart

I’ve written a 25 devotional e-book for Kindle to help people prepare their hearts and minds for the Advent season. As well as Bible verses, stories and meditations, the Kindle book also contains a new Advent/Christmas/winter drawing for each daily message.

It’s an ideal way of keeping Advent and full of finger-tip resources for busy Christians. It only costs $1.99 and may be used as a reflective guide or for opening meetings during the season of Goodwill.

Clicking on the following Amazon ad will take you straight to the book.

Church meeting devotions: Where is the Joy?

Galatians 4:15a What has happened to all your joy?

Centuries ago, when there were no electric lights, people would bring their own lamps to evening events at their churches. Whenever a night time worship service was held, families would sit together in their own designated pews and one member would be the keeper of the light or holder of the lamp throughout the service.

The whole church would be lit up as people thronged together to worship God, but if a family was missing their pew would not only be empty, there would also be an area of dimness in that part of the church. Everyone would know who was missing and the church elders would seek the family out during the next week to see if illness or injury had kept them away from worship.

If people stopped coming to church altogether, then those areas of the sanctuary would be dim and dark. The worship at the church would carry on, but there would always be a joyless darkness in that pew until the family came back or a new family replaced them.

I’ve been a pastor for almost 25 years and throughout that time I’ve seen a number of families and friends come to and go from church in both Scotland and the United States. When the joy of worship and the gladness of faith dwindle in the soul of a person, it is sometimes very difficult to rekindle the light of Christ that once was there. That’s when Advent and Christmas give our churches great opportunities to reach out to families and friends, who have been missing from worship for a while, to welcome them back into the faith community. If we are truly glad to see them and reach out to them in a positively sincere way, then perhaps the joy of faith will be rekindled in their lives.

So let’s reach out and invite the people that we know in our communities to come and rediscover the joy of the Good News through the Christmas services, songs, and opportunities that we offer in our churches at this wonderful time of the year.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You are the Joy Bringer to the whole world and there are people in our lives who need to reconnect with Your Holy Spirit. We pray that You will give us many opportunities to invite them to worship You this Christmas. Help us to reach out to them and allow them to reach back to You. 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 latest drawings. It’s called “Winter Walk” and it depicts a snowy street scene from a city in Poland. You can view a larger version of this drawing at the following link: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5283/5219973282_9606857501_b.jpg

Church Meeting devotions: Embracing Advent

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

Church Meeting 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