Ocala First Connection

Today we celebrate that Christ has come into our world! God has touched the earth with feet and breath. Joy to the world indeed! To celebrate this, try to intentionally notice each thing you touch today:   little things like food and hugs or keys or doorknobs…. Consider blessing things today... Just like we pray for food to be blessed, we can also lift other things to God; Giving thanks and recognizing that God can use them for good.   This doesn’t give ‘mystical powers’ to physical objects, but it does recognize the goodness of our world—and God’s grace alive in it. Here are some ideas to get you started... Blessing of a Nativity Scene God of every nation and people, from the very beginning of creation you have made manifest your love: when our need for a Savior was great you sent your Son to be born of the Virgin Mary. To our lives he brings joy and peace, justice, mercy, and love. Lord, bless all who look upon this manger; may it ...

Today’s devotion is simple. It’s an advent prayer by 7-year-old Graham Rogers. Read it. Pray it. ...And reflect : Where, in this season of Advent, have you seen the contrast between light/dark, hope/struggle ?   ... What’s your advent prayer?  Dear God, We ask that you be with us during this cold night of sin but we know that Jesus is the warmth and light that surrounds us all. Help us be children of the light. Amen. 

Luke 2:8-15 One of the goals in this “Journey to the Manger” theme is to put ourselves in the place of the nativity characters and follow their lead. So today, imagine yourself in the position of one of the shepherds. You’re simply at work—following your routine—when God’s glory appears around YOU with a burst of light and you hear that God has chosen you to hear and carry good news to the world: Says the angel, "I am bringing YOU good news of great joy for all the people…”    The reality is that God HAS chosen you. God HAS called you. Read this worship poem with the mindset of a shepherd, sought and called by God...  " O great God who chooses me"       From Nailscars.com O great God who chooses me Who calls to me and picks me Who looks past all of the things that other see Those things that cause them to pass me by O great God who choose me Who calls to me and picks me Even when I am running from you ...

This week, we finish our advent journey with the angels and shepherds. .. and THEN we continue by celebrating the arrival of Christ! Some passages to read this week: Luke 2:1-20 Matthew 2:1-12 John 1:1-14 Two Things to Consider: First, this week’s devotional brings us into the season of Christmas, but we still have some time left in Advent, so I’m praying that all of us will savor the anticipation (instead of rushing past these last few days of reflection and confession). Second (looking ahead….) You know the song about the 12 days of Christmas? Well, did you know that the church calendar recognizes Christmas as an entire season , so there actually ARE 12 days of Christmas? From December 25th until Epiphany Sunday (Jan 5th), the church celebrates the coming of Christ into the world. This may sound exhausting, (buying and wrapping presents for 12 days in a row? No thank you!) but recognizing Christmas as a season instead of a single day allows us to focus o...