Y Continue to pray for Bill Fink’s dad
SERMON NOTES: PRAYER REQUESTS
DECEMBER 5, 2010
Y Carolyn Cuthill asks for prayers for
her family as they celebrate the life
of her sister, Rebecca Yow. Rebecca
passed a few days ago.
Y Angelica and Ronnie Van Iperen ask
for prayers for Dean Allen who is
grieving the death of his father.
Y Noeleen Awah thanks God for her
life, her son, her family, and begging
God to help her get a job, and more
children, and that her husband will
get here.
Y Edward, and Juliette (friends of
Jonathan & Judith Tse) prays for
good health and success.
Y Emmaculate Nde is thanking God for
this past year and asking for more
blessings.
Y Lucienne Fru-Tilong asks for prayers
for patience, focus, motivation to
carry through with my initiatives,
and the wisdom to recognize my
gifts.
Y Faith Rolston is asking for prayers
for help and support for her son
Peter and his son Ethen.
Y Pray for understanding, peace,
acceptance and love for the Tse
family.
Y Pray for Bill Fink as he looks for a
job.
Y Pray for Stephen Muhia as he
struggles with finances.
Y Continue to pray for Kevin and
Nancy for their health and recovery.
who is struggling with his health.
Y Pray for continued courage on
Dwight Zvorak’s recovery from
alcoholism.
DEVOTION
This week we are continuing our study
of the Kingdom of God. Last week we
looked at the “Kingdom of Heaven.” It’s
a term that Matthew used often in his
gospel.
The Kingdom of God is almost the same
as the Kingdom of Heaven. It’s the
inbreaking of heaven into the world.
Jesus was clear that certain values made
up the Kingdom of God. These values
are much different than the values that
the world honors.
These Scriptures show that the Kingdom
of God was a central theme of the Bible.
Comments and thoughts about the
devotion can be E-mailed to Pastor Paul
at pastor@colpres.org. Enjoy!!
Monday, December 13
Read Isaiah 9:1-7
This reading is often shared during
worship in Advent and Christmas. It’s
easy to look back at the reading and see
how it was a prediction for the birth of
Jesus.
Notice the contrasting images in the
passage: Light and darkness; peace and
war; a newborn baby as a king. The
kingdom doesn’t exist separately from
the world.
2 3
Look at the characteristics of the
kingdom—justice, righteousness,
endless peace. These are the
characteristics that Jesus wants his
followers to establish. They make up
the kingdom.
The passage ends powerfully, “the zeal
of the Lord of hosts will do this.” God
has passion for the kingdom.
What can you do to live out the kingdom
for the next week? Today as you pray,
pray that you can discover ways to live
out justice, righteousness and peace.
Pray that Chain of Lakes will have an
impact on the world by living out these
values.
Tuesday, December 14
Read Ezekiel 34:1-17
A couple hundred years after Isaiah, the
prophet Ezekiel wrote these words. God
was upset with the shepherds of Israel—
in this case the shepherd is a metaphor
for those who look out for the people.
The shepherds did not strengthen the
weak, did not heal the sick, did not bind
up the injured, did not bring back the
stray or seek the lost. (verse 4)
Because of the shepherds the people
were scattered and in danger. God had
decided to be the shepherd for the
people. In verse 15-16 God said what
was important. God was going to make
the people rest or lie down, was going to
seek the lost, bring back the injured,
and strengthen the weak. In some ways
these two verses are a reminder of
Psalm 23.
Again—these are qualities of the
kingdom. We at Chain of Lakes are
called to live them out in our ministry.
Today as you pray, pray that our
congregation and all congregations can
live out these qualities of the shepherd
for the world.
Wednesday, December 15
Read Luke 1:26-39
Gabriel’s announcement to Mary was
perhaps the most important
announcement in human history. We
could pick apart each verse to learn
about God. In particular look at verse
33. Gabriel announced that this new
child would grow up and his kingdom
would not end. This kingdom would last
eternally.
Often we miss this verse in Gabriel’s
announcement to Mary. Gabriel was
sharing more than the miracle of Mary’s
pregnancy. The angel was announcing
the continuation of the kingdom. This
kingdom was not dependant on a
succession of kings, but instead would
be lived out and taught by this baby—
Jesus.
Today as you pray, give praise to God
for this angelic announcement which
has changed the world!
Thursday, December 16
Read Matthew 5:1-16
These sixteen verses are a primer on
the kingdom. In fact in verses three and
ten Jesus mentioned (as he did often in
Matthew) the phrase the “kingdom of
heaven.”
These sixteen verses can seem
confusing because the values expressed
are in such contrast to the values of the
world. The kingdom is made up of the
poor in spirit (those in all sorts of
poverty), those who mourn, are meek,
who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
are merciful, are pure in heart, are
peacemakers, who are persecuted and
reviled.
4
What a glorious vision!!
We never quite live into the kingdom as
individuals, but we can experience
moments of it breaking into our lives.
Which of these values come easy for
you? Which of them are more difficult?
Today as you pray, pray for the
inbreaking of the kingdom as it is
expressed in these sixteen verses.
Friday, December 17
Read Matthew 18:1-4
One would never expect a child to be
the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
In Jesus’ day children did not have legal
status—they were viewed as property.
Once again Jesus turned upside down
the values of the world in his expression
of what made up the kingdom.
At Chain of Lakes we express the
importance of children by the Core
Value of “Investing in Future
Generations.” Children, youth and
young adults are a priority to us.
Think over what we are doing in our
ministries at Chain of Lakes. Think
about ways we are supporting and
encouraging children and youth. Reflect
on how we can do better. Today as you
pray, pray that we can live out this
value in our ministry.
Saturday, December 18
Read Matthew 25:31-46
Again Jesus shared the values of the
Kingdom. In helping those who are
hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, a stranger,
those in prison we are helping Jesus.
We are living out the Kingdom.
These values are such a contrast to the
values that the world values.
2 3 4
A week from today is Christmas. All of
us have plenty to do to get ready. Could
you include in your preparations a way
to help someone who is hungry, thirsty,
naked, sick, a stranger, are someone in
prison. Could you make it a priority to
do this in the next week? Helping out is
a way for you and your family to
celebrate the first entrance of Jesus into
the world—what we know of as
Christmas.

Despite out busyness we can get off the

Treadmill by helping the person Jesus
mentioned in this Scripture.

Today, as you pray, pray for an

opportunity to live out specifically the
kingdom in the next seven days.