Advent Devotional - Day 20

Praise the Lord from the heavens… Praise him, sun and moon… Praise the Lord from the earth… snow and frost… Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds! Kings of the earth and all peoples… old and young together!  (Psalm 148) 

What are we to do each new day as God commands the sun to offer a new beginning? We praise! The plant kingdom does, the animal kingdom does, and we should, too! Praise him, praise him, all ye little children. Why? God is love. There’s no greater reason, and now, no greater season. Let praises spring from our lips, fresh as each morning, sure as each sunrise.

Lord, we must praise you. We have no choice when breathing in each new beginning. Let praise rise from deep within us and burst forth in joy. Amen.

Alice Tondora is pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Johnstown

Advent Devotional - Day 18

How good it is to sing praises to our God  (Psalm 147:1)

Sing hymns of praise to the Almighty with all music and harps, this the last group of psalms a piece of marvelous poetry, is a treasure which represents the needs and feelings of all the people of God.

There are reasons to praise God:

1. Restoration from exile.
2. Healing of wounds, hurts and broken- hearted.
3. For His wisdom.
4. For His might:
5. God decided the number of stars, spreads clouds over the sky, spreads of snow on earth and sends hail, wind to melt it.
6. For His delight.
7. For His protections.
8. God provides rains.
9. God makes grass grow.
10. God gives animals food.

God takes pleasure in those who honour, trust and love Him and gives his messages to His people...He gives His laws and instructions to Israel His people and not other nations.

We praise you The Almighty, because you are a God of yesterday... today..... and forever.

Aida Nasser Werankalo teaches at the Nile Theological College in Sudan and is a mission partner. 

Advent Devotional - Day 17

I will praise the Lord as long as I live.  I will sing praises to my God all my life long.  (Psalm 146:2)

The author of Psalm 146 is not identified as are many of the other psalms. I like that anonymity of this psalm because it invites us to add our voices to the chorus of those praising God for all that God has done for us. For me this is a wonderful message for the Advent/Christmas season because the Gospel account of the birth of Christ was a quiet event that took place among ordinary people like us. Like the Psalmist, may we lift our voices in praising the Lord.

Great and wonderful God, the Psalmist reminds us of all the things that you have done and continue to do. In this Advent Season, may we be the vehicles through which others may experience your loving care reaching out to help those around us. Amen

Cliff Foster is pastor at Congruity Presbyterian Church.

Advent Devotional - Day 16

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable.  (Psalm 145:3)

Today is the day the Lord has made. Rejoice and be glad in it! Seize the day, for Jesus prays for you this very moment! Yes, obstacles will arise, but God calls us to overcome. When prolonged suffering strikes, the Bible’s best advice is to remember what Jesus has done for you and give praise. We are never alone for Jesus Christ prays for us this very moment. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Loving and Gracious Father, we thank you for freely choosing to give us life. May Christ’s Holy Spirit enable us to choose to actively praise and celebrate. Amen.

Curtis Paul is pastor at Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church.

Advent Devotional - Third Sunday in Advent

Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament!  (Psalm 150:1)

As we prepare afresh for the coming of our Lord, this psalm calls us to be faithful and intentional to praise the Lord. Other texts picture the trees clapping their hands in praise. Maybe each creation has a way to offer praise. We as human beings can offer praise with our voice and instruments and dancing. In fact, it is the offering of our very breath (which we don’t control) and therefore life.

Imagine a balloon floating about the sanctuary and you are playing the game of keeping it aloft. Then imagine that the offering of praise especially in song keeps God “afloat” in your midst. How is your offering of praise at work? At rest? At play? Let everything that hath breath, praise the Lord!

Try listening to a setting of this psalm.

https://soundcloud.com/beckenhorst-press/let-everything-that-has-breath

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws9kr1k9c6A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH9U1sK5Zxc

Alleluia! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord for the incarnation! for Emmanuel! For the giving of your Spirit! Come Lord Jesus Come. Fulfill your revelation promise “Behold I am coming!” Praise ye the Lord! AMEN.

Marnie Silbert is associate pastor at Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church.

Advent Devotional - Day Nine

He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.  (Psalm 40:3)

Oh, my heart would desperately yearn for acceptance, belonging, certainty and love. Blessedly, His will was to remove the veil from my eyes and to renew my mind to see the need just for Him. For out of the great and Holy wrath of God, was born an even greater love in Christ. For out of the mortal death to flesh and sin, was birthed an immortal awakening of the soul and to new life. And for out of the sorrowful ending to one season, He promises to bring forth the glory to come in the beginning of a new season.  

Lord Jesus, the Christ, we thank you for your unending love, mercy and grace upon those to whom you have chosen before the beginning of the world. May we treasure this current season and yet always be reaching and longing for the new eternal season to come with you in Heaven. Amen.

Anthony Marciano is pastor of Tyrone Presbyterian Church.  

Advent Devotional - Day Five

I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies (Psalm 18:3)

When I picture an enemy, I think of Nazis. But enemies come in other forms: bullies make life miserable for some; opioids, alcohol, other substances and addictions want to ruin lives. Hunger, depression, loneliness, and anxiety: torment their victims. We cannot defeat our invisible enemies alone. Jesus came to earth to save us, to be our eternal friend as Emmanuel, God with us. We call upon Jesus, our friend, in times of need.

Gracious God, in this season of waiting, we call upon you to save us and redeem your creation. You are worthy of all praise and glory, Emmanuel. Amen.

Caroline Vickery is pastor of Delmont Presbyterian Church.