December 9th, 2020
by Denee Bowers
by Denee Bowers

Wednesday, December 9
Luke 2:9-15
When I was a child, I read the Christmas story out of my Precious Moments™ Bible, and it was beautifully illustrated with those childlike figures portraying an idyllic nativity scene with plenty of adorable baby animals. I imagined a quiet, peaceful, and joyful scene as beautiful angels delivered the good news of the Savior’s birth to a sleepy world below.
Of course, as a child I didn’t think much about the world Jesus was born into. I assumed it was much like my own -- some bad things happened, but it was mostly good, and Jesus came to make it better. But as I grew up and learned more about the world that Jesus was born into, I realized that it was not such a sleepy world. Much like our own world today, there was brokenness and pain. War and conflict. Death and darkness. I realized that Jesus didn’t come to make things better, he came to save it.
To be honest, it’s hard to imagine the relief that God’s people must have felt when Jesus was born and the prophesy was fulfilled. The Christmas story seems so inevitable to us over 2000 years later. But, I have to remind myself that the people had spent generations praying, hoping, and waiting for their Savior. Talk about patience!
As I read the Christmas story this year, it’s a little easier to imagine their waiting. 2020 has been a hard year of waiting. Waiting for test results. Waiting for businesses to reopen. Waiting for schools to go back in person. Waiting for a vaccine.
But thank God we don’t have to wait for our Savior. He already came, He’s already with us, and He brought us peace. Not the kind of peace depicted by my illustrated Bible with its childlike depictions of shepherds and wisemen, but the kind of peace that heals the brokenhearted, brings together a divided people, and shines love into every corner of the world.
Reflection by Amy Sanders
Luke 2:9-15
When I was a child, I read the Christmas story out of my Precious Moments™ Bible, and it was beautifully illustrated with those childlike figures portraying an idyllic nativity scene with plenty of adorable baby animals. I imagined a quiet, peaceful, and joyful scene as beautiful angels delivered the good news of the Savior’s birth to a sleepy world below.
Of course, as a child I didn’t think much about the world Jesus was born into. I assumed it was much like my own -- some bad things happened, but it was mostly good, and Jesus came to make it better. But as I grew up and learned more about the world that Jesus was born into, I realized that it was not such a sleepy world. Much like our own world today, there was brokenness and pain. War and conflict. Death and darkness. I realized that Jesus didn’t come to make things better, he came to save it.
To be honest, it’s hard to imagine the relief that God’s people must have felt when Jesus was born and the prophesy was fulfilled. The Christmas story seems so inevitable to us over 2000 years later. But, I have to remind myself that the people had spent generations praying, hoping, and waiting for their Savior. Talk about patience!
As I read the Christmas story this year, it’s a little easier to imagine their waiting. 2020 has been a hard year of waiting. Waiting for test results. Waiting for businesses to reopen. Waiting for schools to go back in person. Waiting for a vaccine.
But thank God we don’t have to wait for our Savior. He already came, He’s already with us, and He brought us peace. Not the kind of peace depicted by my illustrated Bible with its childlike depictions of shepherds and wisemen, but the kind of peace that heals the brokenhearted, brings together a divided people, and shines love into every corner of the world.
Reflection by Amy Sanders
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Archive
2025
January
Happy New Year // M-Note 1.4.2025Cancel the Noise // M-Note 1.11.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 1The Beloved Community // M-Note 01.18.2025Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 2What A Coincidence // M-Note 1.25.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 3Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 4The Original Influencer // M-Note 2.1.25
February
The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 1Exploring New Sites…And You’re Invited // M-Note 2.8.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 2Uncovering Implicit Bias // M-Note 2.15.2025A "Flurry" of Activity // M-Note 2.22.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 3The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 4
March
Beloved Community Action Steps // M-Note 3.1.25Vulnerability & Wilderness | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 1Trusting the Spirit's Lead | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 2Courageous Connection | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 3What's Your Emotional IQ? // M-Note 3.8.25The Spaces Between Us | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 4Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 1Jesus Weeps With You | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 5When Sadness Lingers | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 6Lurking in the Shadows | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 7Cycles of Life and Death | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 8Inked in Memory | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 9The Void of Grief | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 10Sending Forth // M-Note 3.15.25Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 2Journey Not Alone | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 11
2024
January
Clean Slate: Week 1 Discussion GuideStarting & Sustaining Change // M-Note 1.6.24Clean Slate: Week 2 Discussion GuideStarting Small, Dreaming Big // M-Note 1.13.24Clean Slate: Week 3 Discussion GuideTogether Towards Change...and Healthy Habits // M-Note 1.20.24Clean Slate: Week 4 Discussion GuideSlowing Down for God to Show Up // M-Note 1.27.24
February
More Isn't Always Better // M-Note 2.3.24Money Talks: Week 1 Discussion GuideAshes for Valentine's Day? // M-Note 2.10.24Money Talks: Week 2 Discussion GuideLenten Devotional 2024Money Talks: Week 3 Discussion GuideWhat's your legacy? // M-Note 2.17.24Strength in Numbers: Community in Ministry // M-Note 2.24.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week One
March
Entourage Discussion Guide - Week TwoUpdates from Clayton and Easter Invitation // M-Note 3.2.24Twenty Students Confirmed Last Sunday // M-Note 3.9.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 3How serving at Easter can really make a difference // M-Note 3.16.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 4Can You Know Joy Without Pain? // M-Note 3.23.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 5It's time for EasterSTL at The Factory // M-Note 3.28.24
April
Easter Discussion GuideScreen Time: Troubleshooting our Relationship with Technology // M-Note 4.6.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 1Springtime Reminders: Joy Comes with the Morning // M-Note 4.13.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 2Shaping the Future at the UMC General Conference // M-Note 4.20.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 3 General Conference Halftime Report// M-Note 4.27.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 4
May
Very Good News at the End of General Conference//M-Note 5.4.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2Announcing The Gathering’s Church Planters Lab//M-Note 5.11.24My (Hypothetical) Commencement Address // M-Note 5.18.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 3Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 4
June
July
September
Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 1Transitioning...to 47 // M-Note 9.7.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 2Invitations Work in Mysterious Ways // M-Note 9.14.24Students Stepping Up: Getting Involved in Ministry // M-Note 9.21.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 3A Stressful Season // M-Note 9.28.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 4
October
It Doesn't Have to Be This Way // M-Note 10.5.24Hold These Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1Love Thy Political Neighbor // M-Note 10.11.2024Hold These Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2Fear is a Powerful Motivator // M-Note 10.19.24Hold These Truths Discussion Guide - Week 3Why Do Bad Things Happen? // M-Note 10.26.24
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