LOVE
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, draw us into Your love today. Let us feel the warmth of Your heart as we prepare for Christ’s coming. Amen.
Scripture
1 John 4:9
“This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.”
Meditative Thought
Advent love is not sentimental—it is sacrificial. God’s love moved Him to send His Son, not because we were deserving, but because we were in need. This love pursues, heals, and transforms. As Christmas approaches, we are reminded that love is not just what God does; it is who He is. To walk in Advent love is to reflect that same generous, self-giving heart toward others.
Closing Prayer
Lord, thank You for the love that came down in Christ. Teach us to love as You love – freely, deeply, and sacrificially. In Jesus name. Amen
Be Blessed,
Pastor Bob
JOY
Opening Prayer
Gracious God, open our hearts to the joy that comes from knowing Christ. Let Your joy rise in us today. Amen.
Scripture
Luke 2:10
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy, which shall be for all people.”
Meditative Thought
Joy is not fragile – it does not depend on perfect days or ideal circumstances. Joy flows from the good news that Christ has come for all people, including us. Advent joy is a deep, resilient gladness anchored in God’s presence. Even when life feels heavy, joy quietly breaks through because Jesus is near.
Closing Prayer
Lord, restore our joy. Let the reality of Your coming fill us with delight and renewed strength. Amen.
Be Blessed,
Pastor Bob
PEACE
Opening Prayer
Father, calm our minds and steady our spirits. Let Your peace settle on us as we reflect on Christ our Prince of Peace. Amen.
Scripture
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
Meditative Thought
The world often offers peace through escape or distraction, but God offers a peace that holds us steady right in the middle of life’s storms. Advent reminds us that Jesus didn’t come to remove all chaos but to anchor us in the midst of it. True peace is not the absence of trouble—it is the presence of Christ. When our minds stay fixed on Him, peace becomes a reality, not a rare moment.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, speak Your peace over our homes, our decisions, and our hearts. Help us trust You more deeply day by day. Amen.
Be Blessed,
Pastor Bob
HOPE
Opening Prayer:
Lord, as we begin this Advent journey, awaken our hearts to Your promises. Let hope rise in us again. Amen.
Scripture:
Romans 15:13
— “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Meditative Thought:
Advent begins with a reminder that God steps into darkness with light. Hope is not wishful thinking; it is anchored in the character of God who keeps His word. Even when circumstances seem uncertain, Christ is our steady expectation. In this season, we don’t just wait—we wait
with hope, knowing that the same God who came once is faithful to come again.
Closing Prayer:
God of hope, fill us with renewed expectation. Strengthen our hearts to trust You, and help us to see glimpses of Your promises each day. Amen.
Be Blessed,
Pastor Bob
Advent 2025
Beloved Church Family,
Grace and peace to each of you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As we enter
this sacred season of Advent, my heart is filled with gratitude for the journey God has allowed
us to walk together. Advent is a time of holy expectation—an invitation to slow down, to
watch, to wait, and to welcome the presence of Christ in fresh and life-giving ways.
This season reminds us that God steps into human history—not from a distance, but with
intimacy, humility, and love. In a world filled with noise, hurry, and uncertainty, Advent gently
calls us to lift our eyes and remember the promises of God.
In the first week, we light the candle of Hope, reminding ourselves that no darkness can
extinguish the light of God’s promise. Christ is our hope—steady, sure, and unchanging.
In the second week, we reflect on Peace, the kind only Jesus can give. Not the peace that
comes from everything going right, but the peace that flows from trusting the One who holds
all things together.
In the third week, we celebrate Joy, for the angel declared “good news of great joy for all
people.” Joy is the gift God gives when His presence fills our hearts, even in difficult seasons.
And in the fourth week, we meditate on Love, the greatest gift of all. God’s love took on
flesh and dwelt among us so that we might know the depth of His compassion and the power of
His salvation.
My prayer this Advent is that you will experience Christ in a renewed way—
that hope will steady you,
peace will surround you,
joy will strengthen you,
and love will overflow through you to others.
As we prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christ’s birth, may this be a season of drawing
near to God and to one another. Let us be intentional in worship, generous in kindness, and
faithful in prayer. And may our lives reflect the light of the One who came, the One who still
comes, and the One who is coming again.
From my heart to yours, I pray that the beauty and wonder of Advent fill your homes, comfort
your minds, and renew your spirits.
With love and blessings in Christ,
Pastor Bob
Resurrection Day
“Christ Is Risen”
“It is true! The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon.”
Luke 24:34
Resurrection hope and joy caught on fast. The two disciples traveling to Emmaus, who relay the message that Christ is risen, had only recently been sad and filled with doubt. They had lost hope in the crucifixion of Jesus. But not now! Now they are filled with hope and joy. Somewhere between their own encounter with the risen Lord and their race to be with the disciples gathered in Jerusalem, they also met Peter, who had seen the risen Lord too. Peter, the catcher of men, is himself caught up in the hope and joy of The Resurrection. And before long, all of them would catch the excitement, witnessing the proof in Jesus’ hands and side and feet. Lest we forget, the hope and joy of the Resurrection began with Mary Magdalene who dashed from the tomb, where Jesus stood alive, to exclaim to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord” (John 20:18).
Catch the promise of The Resurrection. Better yet, let Christ catch you in his surprising grace. Then go and spread the Good News: “Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed Alleluia!”
Risen Lord Jesus, we praise your holy name, for you have overcome death and the grave for us all. Surprise us every day with your amazing grace, hope and joy. Amen
As you spend time in the Word this week
1. What jumps out to you as you read and pray? Is it a phrase of verse?
2. What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you about this verse or word?
3. What does the Holy Spirit call you to do in response?
Lenten Devotional Week 6
“Holy Week”
“Look, we are going up to Jerusalem…”
Mark 10:33
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, he did not ride in charging on a white horse but came in humbly on the back of a donkey. Crowds spread cloaks and palm branches on the ground before him and shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matthew 21:9). But those shouts would change to a different shout from the crowds: “Crucify him, crucify him!” (Luke 23:21).
In the Gospel of Mark, when Jesus shared with his disciples one last prediction of his passion, he began with the word “see”. Did they see? Did they comprehend this journey and where it would lead? Do we? Jesus knew where this path into Jerusalem would lead: to the Cross.
The ancient hymn Vexilla Regis Prodeunt begins with the words: “O hail the cross our only hope in this passiontide; grant increase of grace to believers and remove the sins of the guilty.” In faith, we make this journey with our Lord. Through faith, we see where it leads, to the Cross. For all who are still longing for the sheer joy of that grace, we lift high the Cross of Christ, and on our path to glory, we share this hope.
Lord, lead us to see the promising grace of Your Cross. Amen
As you spend time in the Word this week
1. What jumps out to you as you read and pray? Is it a phrase of verse?
2. What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you about this verse or word?
3. What does the Holy Spirit call you to do in response?
Lenten Devotional Week 5
“Tears of Hope and Joy”
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelations 21:4
Tears are often a sign of distress and grief, and there are many such struggles, not only in our lives, but in the lives of so many in this world, that brings us to tears. Tears tell the story of our grief and pain. Grief and pain are significant and important and should never be simply dismissed. But even in sadness and struggle, we are not without hope. The promise of grace is that our tribulations will not continue. The God of comfort will be with us to dry all our tears.
In this life on earth, Jesus Christ brought compassion to those suffering and sorrowing. He did not let criticism, anger, or violence toward him stop him from loving others, instead, he bore the agony of all in his own body on the cross and prevailed for us in his resurrection. Sin and death shall have no more dominion over us, for their power has been defeated. Nay our tears give way to hope and joy!
Lord, over all our sorrow, give us hope through your grace and raise us up in joy. Amen
As you spend time in the Word this week
1. What jumps out to you as you read and pray? Is it a phrase of verse?
2. What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you about this verse or word?
3. What does the Holy Spirit call you to do in response?
Lenten Devotional Week 4
“Healing All Our Woes”
“So, I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” Mark 2:10-11(NLT)
Healing will surely happen for the paralyzed man, thanks to the healing grace that Jesus administers. But the authority of Jesus goes farther still. His authority casts out all our crises needing healing, especially the power of sin in our lives. No doctor on earth has that ability. The critics of Jesus not only completely glossed over this poor man’s illness but charged Jesus with blasphemy for forgiving sins. Jesus’ healing and forgiveness will go all the way to cancel out every harmful crisis that afflicts this man.
Through the Cross of Christ, we are granted the healing of His grace. Through faith, the crisis of our sin sickness is removed. And with our Lord’s smiling approval and authority, we are free to care for the sick and the suffering. Even the healed man then makes his way home, mat in hand, walking before them all in the grace of our Lord who overcomes the sins of the world.
Lord, give us faith to trust Your healing and forgiving presence. Amen
As you spend time in the Word this week
1. What jumps out to you as you read and pray? Is it a phrase of verse?
2. What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you about this verse or word?
3. What does the Holy Spirit call you to do in response?
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Lenten Devotional Week Three
“The Shield of Faith”
“With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
Ephesians 6:16
Battles are fought in our daily lives, that is why we need the whole armor of God to defend us. Our faith is a particularly important part of that armor. Faith grasps the promise of Christ whenever criticisms and judgments come flying our way like “flaming arrows.” The evil one, who seeks to lie and deceive the faithful into despair, will certainly capitalize on and even employ the judgment of God’s own law to leave us defeated and without hope.
Christ is our sure defense. Faith trusts that Christ will not let the flaming arrows penetrate his shield. Christ is also our best defense. He has already won the victory for us over sin, death and the devil on the cross. Faith holds that shield firmly, rendering the powers of evil darkness futile. Through faith, we do not fear evil but work to set free all who are enslaved in its darkness.
Lord, by faith we hold firm to Your Shield. Preserve us from all attacks of the evil one, and keep us in Your grace. In Jesus name. Amen.
As you spend time in the Word this week:
1. What jumps out to you as you read and pray? Is it a phrase of verse?
2. What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you about this verse or word?
3. What does the Holy Spirit call you to do in response?
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Lenten Devotion Week Two
“Grace for The Lost”
“For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” Luke 19:10 (NIV)
Zachaeus was a wealthy tax collector, short of stature, and even shorter on respectability. He climbed a tree to get a glimpse of Jesus, who was passing by, but Jesus was seeking him out, saying that he must stay at Zachaeus’ house that day. Zachaeus was honored to provide this hospitality. Although, the greater recipient of hospitality would be Zachaeus himself, who was honored by Christ’s presence.
Some began to grumble that Jesus was staying at the home of a “sinner.” This was an
attack upon Jesus, but Zachaeus knew that he was being publicly disgraced as well. Seeing this deceitfulness, he declared before the Lord that he would share generously with the poor and anyone he had defrauded. But Jesus made an even bolder claim about Zachaeus – and right in front of the critics. “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham” (Luke 19:9)
Today Jesus seeks us in love, even and especially when we are lost and ashamed, to restore us in the honor of His grace.
Lord, seek us and all who are lost, that we may be honored today by your abundant grace. In Jesus name, Amen.
As you spend time in the Word this week:
1. What jumps out to you as you read and pray? Is it a phrase of verse?
2. What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you about this verse or word?
3. What is the Holy Spirit calling you to do in response?
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Lenten Devotion Week One
“We Have Grace”
“You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NLT)
We might hear people say to us, “YOU HAVE GIFTS, OR “YOU ARE GIFTED,” don’t let that go to your head, or keep it to yourself. Let all thanks go to the Head – Jesus Christ, then let it flow to others. All good gifts come from God and the most “generous acts” (the grace) of Christ. Christ took the poverty of our sin through His life, death and resurrection. Through these acts of Christ’s grace, the ragged poverty of our forsakenness and despair becomes His and we get the eternal riches of Christ’s love and promise.
Christ did not hoard what gifts he had but gave them freely. How deep and far-reaching the grace of our Lord goes! As ambassadors of Christ, may we share with all those who find themselves in the depths of “poverty” the great blessings of this abundant grace. You have gifts, go, use them to spread good news to all.
Lord, as you have gifted us through your amazing grace, so embolden us to gift all others, overcoming all poverty with your rich blessing. Amen.
As you spend time in the Word this week:
1. What jumps out to you as you read and pray? Is it a phrase of verse?
2. What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you about this verse or word?
3. What is the Holy Spirit calling you to do in response?
Blessings,
Pastor Bob—
Bowmansdale Church of God 