Category: Devotionals

Advent is a time of anticipation. I hope you look forward to these devotional thoughts each day.

Our 3-year-old grandson in Texas has been anticipating a visit from his grandparents. For days, our son has told Simeon, “Gramma and Grampa are coming!” Tim helped Simeon make a paper chain to count the days until our arrival. The simple task of tearing off a single paper link each day made our impending visit a bit more tangible.

For Mary, the reality of her pregnancy was hard to comprehend in those early months. Her body didn’t look any different. The baby was too small for Mary to feel a tiny kick. But when she visited Elizabeth and saw her older relative visibly pregnant and heard her talking of the baby leaping within her womb, Mary’s own pregnancy must have seemed more real.

Mary became…excited.

The reality of all that lay ahead hit home. The pregnancy within her womb was fact. She and Joseph would be raising God’s Son together. With a heart beating rapidly, Mary burst into song. In Luke 1, she sang of God’s amazing power, “filling the hungry with good things and sending the rich away empty.”

When was the last time you were excited about something about to happen? As you anticipate the arrival of Christmas, try to recapture some of the excitement of my 3-year-old grandson. We will only be visiting Simeon for a week, but Jesus is with us forever!

Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.  It was a once in a lifetime event, something for which he became world famous and has long been remembered. Few of us are destined for such fame.  We are not going to be known all over the world like Neil Armstrong.  We will lead routine lives of faithfulness in our own neighborhoods.  A thousand years from now, in this world, we will only be another name on a family genealogical record, like all those people listed in the “begats” in Genesis.

Mary was different.  The more Mary thought about the child within her and the message she heard from Gabriel, the more amazed she became that she was chosen for this task.   But in her amazement she did not become proud.

Instead Mary felt…humbled.

Shortly after Joseph told her he would not divorce her, she left town to visit her older relative Elizabeth in Judea.  The first chapter of Luke’s gospel tells us that as Mary walked into the room, the child within Elizabeth’s womb jumped.  His mother looked at this young girl and said, “You are blessed by God above all other women and your child is blessed.  What an honor this is, that the mother of my Lord should enter my home!”

In a society that respected age and gave honor to older people, people would have expected Mary to revere her elderly hostess, not the other way around.  Instead, Mary accepts the truth of Elizabeth’s tribute and reacts with humility.  She replies in awe, “How I rejoice in God my Savior!  For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and now generation after generation will call me blessed.”

Today, two thousand years later, Mary is still respected and honored as the mother of our Lord.  Not one other person in all of time has ever experienced the honor that Mary felt as she stood there in front of her cousin Elizabeth.  Eleven other men have also walked on the moon, so Neil Armstrong’s experience was did not remain unique for long, but no one else has ever carried the Son of God in a womb.

You and I might never face the temptations that international fame brings, but each of us has struggled with pride.  Today, take a look at your own life.  Take stock of your successes, small or large, and consider bringing them in humility as a tribute to God’s throne.

Advent reminds us that we need to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  I hope these daily devotionals are helping you understand a small portion of what Mary must have experienced as she carried the Christ child within her womb.

When Mary told Joseph that she was pregnant, he planned to divorce her. Mary felt overwhelmed at the thought of becoming a single parent.

But that night, when Joseph lay down to sleep, God spoke to him in a dream assuring him that this child was not the result of unfaithfulness on Mary’s part but just the reverse: Her faith-full-ness to God was the reason God chose her to parent this child.

When Joseph told Mary that he too had received a message from God and that they would still be married, Mary must have felt…relieved.

The load of responsibility that threatened to overwhelm suddenly seemed less heavy. Joseph would be at her side to help carry the load, and as her husband he would protect her.  She would not have to face societal condemnation alone.  She must have thanked God over and over that night for this special man who would help her raise this amazing child.

I too thank God for my spouse.  This week my credit card number was used fraudulently. I wouldn’t have known who to call or where to begin straightening out the account. How relieved I was as my husband Gene  handled the whole problem for me. In a matter of minutes, he canceled the old card and ordered a new one.  What a relief to have him take charge for me.

Have you ever passed through a stressful period and then found that someone was willing to come alongside you and lift a portion of your load? Take a moment today and offer a prayer of thanks to God for that person.  Even if you haven’t found that person, you are not alone. In Hebrews 13:5-6, the Lord tells us, “I will never fail you. I will never forsake you.”

You’re back! Thank you for returning to my blog for another Advent devotional. And if you are new, all the earlier devotionals are listed below.

When I worked with single moms at a pregnancy center, there was one word that described every one of them: Busy! Teen moms were trying to balance keeping up with schoolwork, caring for the baby, and holding down a part time job. The financial pressure of diapers, daycare, and doctor bills drove my girls to work hard around the clock, just to keep their heads above water. They felt the disapproval of people around them.  My clients loved their children but they felt completely overwhelmed by the heavy load of responsibility they carried.

Mary too knew what it felt to be…overwhelmed.

Mary, unsure on whether Joseph would carry through on his plan to divorce her, faced the very real possibility of being a single mom. The thought of raising any child alone is a responsibility but imagine how heavy the weight on her shoulders would be knowing that her child was the Son of God.

Growing up as a child, Jesus must have observed the stress his mother faced daily. He heard the whispers of the yentas in the small village of Nazareth. Perhaps watching how people treated his mother was one way he developed such a gentle concern for women marginalized by his society. We see in John 8 how he looked with compassion at a woman caught in adultery. When Jesus spoke, one by one the angry scribes and Pharisees walked away. At last Jesus was left alone with the woman still there at his feet. “Where are your accusers?” he asked. “Did no one condemn you?  No more do I.”

The stress his mother faced impacted Jesus in another way.  Rumors about his parentage floated around town.  The Jews questioned him, saying, “Where is your father?” in v. 19. And later in 8:41, the Jews cast slurs on his lineage, saying, “We were not born of fornication [implication: like some people standing here].” Jesus defended his lineage as coming directly from God the Father.

Are you overwhelmed by responsibilities like Mary? Are you feeling a burden of condemnation? Hold your head high today. You are a child of the King!  He longs to help you carry your load.

Many of you have been coming back daily to participate in this Chase family celebration of Advent. I am glad. For those of you who are new, we have been looking at the powerful emotions that Mary experienced during the nine months of her pregnancy as she anticipated the birth of Jesus.

A pregnancy is supposed to be a time of happiness, but for many of the women I work with who are facing unplanned pregnancies, the joys are hard to find. They wonder if their sexual partner will go AWOL and abandon his responsibilities as the birthfather of the child. My clients often try to hide the pregnancy from their other children or from Mom and Dad. As a result, my clients are lonely people. They have no one to comfort them when they fight the effects of morning sickness. They have no one at their side who is excited by feeling the first kick of the baby within the womb. They arrive at the hospital with no one nearby to ease the pain of labor and delivery. Tears fall.

Mary understood those emotions. She herself experienced…sadness.

When she first told Joseph about the pregnancy, his plan was to quietly set aside the wedding plans. He would step out of the picture. Divorce papers would be drawn up. Bridal gifts would have to be returned. The wedding banquet would be canceled.

Without doubt, Mary would have been sad. Even the excitement of seeing an angel could not take away the sadness of losing Joseph. The prospect of being a single parent and facing the whispers of village gossips must have produced tears.

Not everyone is happy during the Christmas season. Look around you today and ask God to show you the colleague who is lonely or one neighbor who needs encouragement. Pass along a hug and remind them of 2 Cor. 1:3 which says, “All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us.” Perhaps you are the one who is sad today. If so, read Psalm 119:76 which says, “Now [Lord] let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant.”

Welcome to Day 4 of the Chase family celebration of Advent! Join us as we look at the powerful emotions that Mary experienced during the nine months of her pregnancy as she anticipated the birth of Jesus.

How did Mary feel right after the angel disappeared? What did she see when she opened her eyes and looked around her? Were women from her village walking to the well with jars? Was a neighbor feeding her chickens? Was a shopkeeper unrolling a tarp to shade his wares? Was life going on as usual all around her?

With the strong presence of an angel at her side, Mary may have experienced confidence, but when Gabriel disappeared to return to the throne room of God, perhaps other feelings crowded in. Mary may have felt…nervous.

Every woman feels anxious as she embarks on a pregnancy. Questions flood the mind. Will the baby be healthy? Do I have what it takes to be a mom? There is no turning back. But for some women the anxiety reaches far deeper levels.

Many of the women that I work with on a daily basis at our adoption agency panic at the thought that they are pregnant. If they are single teens, they wonder how they will tell their parents. If a woman is married but not to the birthfather, she anxiously wonders what will happen when her husband finds out he is not the father of her child.

Mary, without an angel standing by her side to hold her up, had to face both her parents and her fiance. Would Mom and Dad believe her story of seeing Gabriel? Would Joseph reject her? Would her neighbors and friends walk away shaking their heads in disbelief?

Have you ever felt nervous, not knowing what the outcome of an event will be? Perhaps your stomach has churned and your mind won’t allow you to rest at night. Remember that Hebrews 4:14-16 says, “Let us cling to [Christ] and never stop trusting him. . . . let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.”

Welcome to Day 3 of the Chase family celebration of Advent! Join us as we look at the powerful emotions that Mary experienced during the nine months of her pregnancy as she anticipated the birth of Jesus.

At the time when Gabriel appeared to Mary, to her knowledge angels had not appeared in Israel – let alone in Nazareth – for over 400 years. No wonder Mary was frightened. But she was also…confused.

The angel has told her that she is going to become pregnant and have a son named Jesus. Luke tells us in 1:29 that Mary was perplexed and disturbed by this announcement. “But how can I have a baby? I am a virgin.”

Her questions are reasonable. Her world is turning upside down. When she woke she had a list of things to do…buy fish at the market, sweep the floor, fetch water from the well. All seemed important but now? All her priorities for that day are reordered. None of the pieces of her life seem to fit together any more.

In 2004 I signed a book contract for a new release. The manuscript was complete. The labor and delivery of the publishing process had begun. Suddenly a new editor nixed the entire project. I wept as I saw my “baby” shoved back into the womb. I was confused. Hadn’t God led me to prepare that manuscript? Two years passed before I found another publisher. But during that time certain events freed me to share stories in the book that made the message so much more powerful. During those two years I was confused but God was not.

You and I may feel perplexed when God starts rearranging our world, but we can be certain that the outcome will be for His glory. Instead of feeling confused, we can be confident in the promise that Jeremiah 29:11 offers: “I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

What pieces of your life don’t appear to fit together? Can you replace confusion with confidence, knowing God is in control?

Welcome to Day 2 of the Chase family celebration of Advent! Join us as we look at the powerful emotions that Mary experienced during the nine months of her pregnancy as she anticipated the birth of Jesus.

Before that angel appeared, Mary’s life was running in neutral. Luke doesn’t give a clue where this event with the angel took place other than to say it happened in Nazareth, the small town where she had likely grown up. Surrounded by family and friends and familiar sights she had known all her life, Mary likely felt at ease. Life was predictable.

Enter the angel.

I am guessing that this heavenly being appeared to her privately, no small obstacle when one lives in a village where everyone knows everyone else’s business.  Believe me.   I know.  I lived in a small town in Mexico. One morning, while I was busy at my language helper’s home, my partner Inez went to the store to buy candles, soap and some batteries. She paid for them with a ten-peso bill. My language helper’s child happened to be at the store, observed the transaction and reported the entire event to me in detail, so when I went home for lunch I told Inez, “You went to the store this morning. You bought candles, soap and some batteries. And you paid for them with a ten-peso bill.” She was astonished! Nothing remains private for long in a small town!

So the angel appears to Mary when she is alone in some private area of town.

But privacy also means being alone. And alone means vulnerable. Gabriel identifies Mary’s emotion clearly: “Don’t be afraid, Mary!”

Don’t be afraid?!  Don’t be alarmed when an angel has just appeared in front of you?

Mary is…frightened.

Fear is a powerful emotion. It triggers a flight, fight or freeze response that bypasses the reasoning portion of the brain. Mary, however, does not run away. She does not resist. Nor does she freeze.  As the angel continues to speak, she listens.  Where did she find the peace to stand still and listen?

A new year is beginning. Are you anxious about the future? Do you have fears about finances? Do you worry about your health? If an angel could calm Mary’s pounding heart, surely God Himself can handle your fears. In John 14:27 (NLT), Jesus promises us the ultimate Christmas present: “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

Welcome to the Chase family celebration of Advent – 24 days of devotional thoughts leading up to Christmas. This tradition has gone on in our home for over thirty years but this is the first time I am sharing the tradition with a larger circle of friends and colleagues by means of my website.  Each year the overall theme varies, but my desire from the beginning has always been to prepare our family for the full joy of Christmas.

The theme for this year is “The First Advent.”

The first season of Advent was not 24 days or even a few weeks in a random December two thousand years ago. The first Advent was nine months long as Mary anticipated the birth of her child.

Over the next weeks, we’ll ask the following question: What emotions did the mother of Jesus experience as she moved through those nine months of pregnancy and how do her emotions relate to our own lives?

To begin, look at Luke’s account. In Luke 1:26,27 we find Mary living quietly in a village in Galilee. She is engaged to marry Joseph. Her family is busy planning for the wedding. Everything is moving forward for Mary, progressing in an orderly fashion. She faces a routine life as an average woman married to an ordinary craftsman in a small town. Nothing unusual here. Mary is feeling…secure.

That is a point I have often overlooked. For me, the story of Mary always began with the angel’s appearance. I forget that she had a life, she had dreams, she had plans before that angel showed up. And God interrupted all her plans and dreams. He intruded on her space.

A week or two ago, God reordered my day. A client canceled an appointment, so instead of heading to her home, I decided to start my Christmas shopping. But while I wandered at the mall, my cell phone rang. Another friend was deeply discouraged. Freed from my earlier agenda, I was able to go through the check-out line, drive a short distance and be with my friend ten minutes later.

For me, the new agenda involved a single afternoon. But for Mary it was her entire life.

Are you caught up in the routine cycle of life this year? Going to work? Doing the laundry? Shopping for Christmas? Wrapping packages? Be alert! 1 Thess. 5:6 tells us, “Be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be sober.” God may step into your path at any moment and turn your world upside down!