Radiant

“Trust Him”

As Advent presses on, I’m filled with warm memories of Christmases past. I remember my grandfather (who went to be with the Lord this year) reading the Nativity Story (Luke 2) as the grandkids piled around him. I remember the thrill the next morning as I charged down the stairs in my PJs to open presents with my parents and siblings. My grandmother cheerfully reminded us, “Jesus is the reason for the season!” (She was right.)

But, chief among the yuletide memories is a feeling difficult to describe. A hope. A sincere faith that dwelt in my heart, even then. The baby Jesus my Grandpa read about really was Immanuel: God with us. I didn’t yet possess the theological categories to understand the concept in-depth. I didn’t have to. I just knew that this Jesus, “away in a manger”, was actually God the Son. He created everything–and somehow loved me too. That was enough.

That innocence, that child-like faith isn’t just for kids at Christmastime. Jesus is calling everyone to a tender trust and intimacy with him. During his earthly ministry, he urged his disciples, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus wanted his disciples to follow him like little children, full of trust and amazement.

This doesn’t mean shutting off the mind and forgetting reason. Far from it! C. S. Lewis wrote: “[Jesus] wants a child’s heart, but a grown-up’s head. He wants us to be simple, single-minded, affectionate, and teachable, as good children are; but He also wants every bit of intelligence we have to be alert at its job, and in first-class fighting trim.” In other words, Jesus is seeking people who are radically dependent on him. Child-like faith says, “I don’t know. But, Jesus does.” At the same time, we are to be “shrewd as serpents” (Matthew 10:16). The best way to spot a counterfeit is to know the real thing. Wise Christians have a tender, childish dependence on Christ that discerns truth from error by the power of the Holy Spirit.

So, trust him this Christmas. All my fears, hopes, and dreams pale in light of his next Advent–when he comes again. Maranatha!

Jake Solis

by Jake Solis

She is my Daughter

April 2, 2005, will forever be imprinted on my heart, mind, and soul. After battling cancer for almost a year, my dad qualified for a new experimental chemotherapy treatment that had an increasing success rate. We were so hopeful this might be his cure! But three weeks into the treatment, something went incredibly wrong. In one week’s time, he went from running around with his grandkids to each organ shutting down and landing him in the hospital on dialysis. As I entered his hospital room in the early morning hours of April 2nd, I feared what I would find. My dad’s nurse saw me first and said, “Milt, someone is here to see you. Do you know who it is?”

My dad barely turned his head, squinted his eyes, and said with the most endearing voice, “It’s Lynette. She is my daughter.” No words could have expressed a more relational, heartfelt, compassionate love. As his daughter, he called me by name, the name he and my mom had given me. And he called me his daughter, a word that spoke volumes about my identity in relation to him as my dad.

In Luke 8, when the woman with the issue of blood reached out to Jesus, he didn’t scorn her or tell her to leave. He didn’t even ignore her. He looked deep into her eyes and declared her identity. Jesus called her “daughter” and proclaimed that her faith had healed her. Calling her “daughter” set aside and completely refuted every pretense, every bit of judgment, all scorn, and all shame. "Daughter" was her identity.

Later that same day, my dad passed into the presence of his Everlasting Father, where he was ushered in as a child of God; a son of the King. His words spoken earlier were his last here on earth, yet, “she is my daughter” will forever ring in my soul. It is part of my earthly identity. Yet how much more precious is it to be called a daughter of the Almighty King? To be called children of God is our identity. It defines whose image we bear. It speaks of our value as being more precious than silver, gold, and fine jewels. It tells of our future as heirs. It proclaims us recipients of immeasurable grace, forgiveness, and abundance.

You may not have experienced the adoring love of an earthly father, a sorrow that brings about deep anguish and grief. Please know that the love of your Everlasting Father unconditionally claims you as his heir; his precious child. And if you did or do have a loving dad, look for opportunities to remind others of their identity as sons and daughters of the Eternal King!

Lynette Fuson
Care & Counseling Director

by Lynette Fuson

Fatherly Love

Growing up my dad was a police officer and my hero. Dad was the oldest of seven during the depression and never really had a childhood but instead had too much responsibility at a very young age. His dad was a drinker and not a great example of fatherhood either. Though dad was the best guy in the world in my young eyes, compassionate and kind, when he drank he became a different person. It was very scary and the fights between my parents weren’t pretty. I learned early that my dad wasn’t a reliable force in my life and since my mom wasn’t either, I grew up with many trust issues, no understanding of boundaries, and definitely abandonment issues. Somehow, through it all, God kept his hand on my life and around my heart. My paternal grandmother was a believer, and when things got crazy in life, I would pray that she would come and rescue my sisters and I.

I pray you had a godly dad who exemplified God's great love. In many ways, mine didn’t and maybe yours didn’t either. Mark Batterson said, “God (the Father) is great not just because nothing is too big for Him. God is great because nothing is too small for Him, either.”

I accepted Jesus at thirteen thanks partly to my grandma and my heavenly Father’s great love for me. I then began to learn about a father who loved us so much that he would give his only son Jesus to die so we could have a personal relationship with him.

This verse reminds us, “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 1 John 3:1 As a child of God, I’m cherished, treasured, and cared for. He knows everything about me and loves me unconditionally. Miraculous. No matter what my issues were through the years, he forgave me and lovingly taught me to trust him more.

I still miss my dad and I choose to remember his sense of humor and compassion, He taught me consideration for all people and I knew he loved me. I am forever grateful that God the Father is my rock and fortress and I love this scripture. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings, you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4

Father, thank you for your enduring, patient love that always pursues, and forgives, and lifts us from darkness into light. Help us show that love and light to others.

Christmas blessings to you,

Deb Hill

by Deb Hill

His Might Stops Flight…

Growing up when I would stay the night at my grandparent's house, I loved it most of the time, but there was always one moment that I was scared of. If you had to use the restroom in the middle of the night, the bathroom was located at the end of a long dark hallway. I remember my routine; I would pray, I would run, and the hallway would get longer and longer in the dark of night. In actuality, the hallway was not that long and not that scary, but I could not get past it because my fear would cause me to take flight instead of trusting in Jesus’ might. Of course, I’ve grown to realize how my mighty God would take care of me in those moments of fear.

Our Savior is not only a wonderful counselor, but he is also mighty (Isaiah 7:6). Usually I think of brute force or physical strength, but really I have a Savior who will be there in the dark hallways of life, watching over me, and protecting me. I do not have to be afraid or flee, instead, I can trust in his might. Paul explains in Ephesians 6:10 that we can be strong in God’s mighty power as he tells us about how to put on the full armor of God. When I understand his might, I don’t have to run or hide, I can trust him instead. I didn’t fully grasp that as a child and even now I can feel fear begin to rise at times, but then I look to the Lord and realize with him there is nothing to fear.

Maybe you are facing a decision to flee and take flight, maybe this is a little reminder of how we can trust Jesus’ might in those moments of fear. Take a moment and think about those things that might cause you to want to take flight, are they bigger or stronger than Jesus? Is there something he can not do to help? As we think about this advent season and what we need, take time to let our Lord know, he is mighty and can help. If you need any encouragement, we are here as well.

Jeremy Johnson
Family Pastor

by Jeremy Johnson

His Might brings Light

I want to suggest that there are at least three ways in which we can make sense of the title of this devotional, “His Might brings Light.” In fact, we will see that Jesus’ might brings light, light and light.

The first is quite literal. We can actually see things in this world with our eyes because his might has created light. John 1:3 tells us that “Through [Jesus, the “word,”] all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” In other words, Jesus is both the one who spoke and what was spoken when God said, “Let there be light.” His might brings light. Colossians 1:16-17 takes it a step further and tells us that all things “visible and invisible” were created by Jesus and that he continues to “hold together” all things. In other words, His might brought life and it continues to bring light.

The second way that we can understand this title is a bit more metaphorically. His might brings light to my heart and to the world. This is the way that John uses the word “light” in 1 John 1:5, when he says, “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” He is not suggesting that God is hard to look at like the sun. He is suggesting that God is the source of all that shines the light of truth on our world. In scripture, “light” is a metaphor for wisdom and knowledge. This is the way that the psalmist uses the concept in Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” It is by the might of God’s words to us in scripture that we are able to see reality. His might brings light.

But finally, the third way that we can understand this title is by noticing that the title still makes sense when we use it with another definition of the word light. Light is something that shines, but it is also something that doesn’t weigh much. Therefore, when Jesus says, “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30), he is telling us that “His might brings light.” By his might, because of what he does for us on the cross, the burden that we need to carry is light!

So, to put it all together, His might brings the light through which we see, it brings the light by which we know, and it brings lightness to our souls because our burden is lessened. Praise the Lord for our Mighty God!

Josh Rose
Discipleship Pastor

by Josh Rose

His Might Brings Delight

For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian. Isaiah 9:4 (NLT)

One joy of prophecy is that it often has a double-fulfillment, as many of you know. As the nation of Israel interacted with Isaiah’s words, they were no doubt thinking of their current situation and were looking for a literal breaking of their yoke of slavery and a lifting of their heavy burden (See Isaiah 7-8). They had real problems and needed their mighty God to deliver them.

So do we.

And while we all have issues and needs where we really need God to step in and deliver us, I’d like to point to our more ultimate needs that this “child…born to us, (this) son…given to us” meets.

You know where I am going with this.

We don’t have King Rezin of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah bearing down on us. But we are in the laser-focused sights of sin, death and the devil. And it is from these things that we are delivered by our faith in this “child…born to us, (this) son…given to us.”

I hope we can remember and reflect on that in fresh ways this Christmas. Our Mighty God has delivered us from the things that really matter when eternity is taken into consideration.

So, perhaps it might be helpful to re-read the verses with these double-fulfillment realities in mind. If you were to do that, here is what you would get -

For you will break the yoke of their slavery (to sin) and lift the heavy burden (of guilty and the fear of death). You will break the oppressor’s (Satan, or the devil) rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.

And because we are on the other side of the Incarnation, the “you wills” of this passage are changed to “you haves” for those who trust in Christ.

Emmanuel Faith, may the (perhaps) well-known realities of what Christmas means for your spiritual life become real to you in some new ways this day!

Scott Smith
Care Pastor

by Scott Smith

His Might Corrects Sight

“…and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God…” Isaiah 9:6b

Before teaching a Bible story lesson to children, we prepared an experiential activity for them to engage in that would cause a question in their minds related to the lesson aim. One such activity was like a human Gordian knot! The children would stand in a circle and be instructed to grab a hand of someone not on either side of them. As the kids scrambled to do this they might climb over or under the clasped hands of others. When they were all connected, they were told to untangle themselves back to a circle without breaking hands. It was a giant frustrating human Gordian knot and the kids could not do it….on their own! They would have to call on a leader to stand on a chair and tell them how to untangle themselves and he/she also had the power to unclasp hands as needed. Afterwards, we would ask them what it would mean to them to know there is such a powerful person who wants to help them in their own lives.

When we cannot see a way out or a direction to go, we have an Almighty God with us! In Isaiah, one of the newborn’s names was and is Mighty God, the one who rescued the Hebrew people time and time again when there was literally no way out but for Him. Both the Nicene and the Apostles Creeds name in their first lines the Father as Almighty God. This foundational truth is needed especially in the darkness of today’s hopelessly confused and broken culture. Our Almighty God wants us to call upon Him so we can be lights to give people hope and salvation where they see none. It is in knowing the Almighty God that we get our sight corrected.

There is a famous book by Elizabeth Elliot entitled In the Shadow of the Almighty. In it she tells the true story of what happened when her husband Jim and four other missionaries tried to bring the truth of the gospel to the Waodani (Auca) Indians in Ecuador’s jungle. From the world’s perspective (sight), it ended tragically in the death of all the men. But in the sight of our Almighty God, the purpose was greater, not only in the eventual turning to Christ of the Waodanis (even the killers), but also in the calling of hundreds into the harvest as laborers in the field.

The title of her book comes from Psalm 91:1

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty”

When we don’t know what or how or why, we can still act on the truth our God is Almighty and rest in His purpose. After all, we have read the end of the book! So let us remind each other we can “rest in the shadow of the Almighty” and see correctly!

Francie Overstreet

by Francie Overstreet

El Shaddai

Genesis 17:1-2

It felt like we’d talked for hours on end about what we would name him. He was our first child and the pressure of coming up with the right name was quite visceral. We settled on naming him Ethan… until about a week before he was born. At that point, we started to rethink whether Ethan was in fact the right name. I’m guessing most parents-to-be have those moments of doubt. The time came for Ethan to be born and we decided to name him Nolan. As we laid him in his hospital bed and saw the nametag above his transparent crib, both Kelly and I agreed that Nolan wasn’t the right name; he was, in fact, Ethan.

Names are a big deal to us today, but back in biblical times, they were even more important. Names meant something, they sent a message about identity. Over the last few years, I’ve been intrigued by the different names of God we read in Scripture. I guess I’m struck by the fact that it’s impossible for God to be summarized or captured with one name. He is Yahweh, El Rio (the God who sees), Adonai (Lord, or Master), Jehovah Rapha (Shepherd), and the list could go on; there are over 100 names for God in the Bible. El Shaddai is one of the Hebrew names for God. It is typically translated in English as, “God Almighty.” It’s used over 40 times in the Old Testament.

Genesis 17 is the first time the name El Shaddai is used. God uses the name to describe himself to Abram. The passage reads,
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” (Genesis 17:1-2)

“I am El Shaddai.” God wants Abram to know and believe that God is almighty, powerful, and able to deliver on his promises and keep his covenant. Even though Abram was 99 years old, he would still become the father of many nations. Abraham didn’t see any way that what had been promised to him decades before could come to pass. However, what he was about to learn was that what was impossible for people, was possible for God. He is able; it’s his name!

God is still El Shaddai today. He’s still powerful and mighty. He’s able to provide, he makes good on his promises, and he keeps his covenant. Spend a few moments and think about an area in your life where you need God to show his power and then invite him in as El Shaddai.

Ryan Paulson
Lead Pastor

by Ryan Paulson