Click or tap on the week headings below to read the weekly devotional. The scriptures are listed for you as well as a reflection and suggested family action. Your prayers change lives every day. Thank you for devoting a few moments of your Advent season to pray for KyUMH youth!
Read these scriptures together as a family:
Jeremiah 33:14-16 “The day will come, says the Lord, when I will do for Israel and Judah all the good things I have promised them.
“In those days and at that time
I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line.
He will do what is just and right throughout the land.
In that day Judah will be saved,
and Jerusalem will live in safety.
And this will be its name:
‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’”
Luke 21:33 “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.”
God keeps his promises! We can remember that on the first Sunday of Advent. We know that to be true, but there are some promises God has made that we are still waiting for him to keep! There are children in our community who are also waiting for promises to be kept; these children might feel like they can’t trust God because they can’t trust the grown-ups in their lives. Let’s pray together for children who need to know that God loves them deeply. Let’s pray that they could find adults they can trust to care for them and meet their needs.
Family Action:
Pray together about ways your family can help kids in need. Here’s one way to help:
Pool your money (kids’ money too!) to meet some of the needs of the children at the Kentucky United Methodist Homes. You can shop from our wish list or donate.
Read these scriptures together as a family:
Malachi 3:1-4
“Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
“But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes. He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. Then once more the Lord will accept the offerings brought to him by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as he did in the past.
Luke 3:2-6
At this time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness. Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. Isaiah had spoken of John when he said,
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
Clear the road for him!
The valleys will be filled,
and the mountains and hills made level.
The curves will be straightened,
and the rough places made smooth.
And then all people will see
the salvation sent from God.’”
Prepare the way of the Lord! Did you know that Jesus-followers are called to “prepare the way”? Our Malachi scripture today says “I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.” What is the work of a messenger? A messenger can tell us what to expect or what’s happening next. A messenger can help us get ready for a transition. The passage in Luke says “the curves will be straightened and the rough places made smooth.” Have you ever ridden on a dirt road or a bumpy road? It feels quite different from a newly paved, smooth road! Friends, we can share the message with others that Jesus is coming. When we do that, we’ll make Jesus’ travels smooth! There is a baby on the way—how can we prepare the way for him?
Family Action:
One of the ways we can make rough places smooth for people who have never heard of Jesus is to meet their very basic needs. Collect a few cans this week to share with your local food pantry. When people’s bellies are full, it’s easier for them to hear the message of Jesus!
When you’re driving to school or work, watch for road construction. Talk about the ways the workers are making rough places smooth. Talk with your kids about the ways we can prepare the way for Jesus!
Read these Scriptures together as a family:
Zephaniah 3:17
"For the Lord your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”
Luke 3: 7-14
When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, “You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.”
The crowds asked, “What should we do?”
John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.”
Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?”
He replied, “Collect no more taxes than the government requires.”
“What should we do?” asked some soldiers.
John replied, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.”
Do we have more than we need? This is a hard question! It’s so easy to get caught up in the holiday season of buying gifts for our loved ones. Buying gifts isn’t bad—it’s a great way to show love for others. John says “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.” John the Baptist’s words for us here are so powerful. If we know how much God loves us, and if we follow Jesus, our actions will show our love for Jesus. You might not know that you have neighbors at school, at church, or in your community, who are in need. How can you share God’s great love with your neighbors? Do you have two shirts?(You probably have more than two!) Can you share something of yours that is important to you with someone who needs it?
Family Action:
At the Kentucky United Methodist Children’s Homes, we ask for gift cards, so our teens can choose their own “shirts”. Can your family pool your money and donate enough to give a gift card for a young person who doesn’t have a safe, healthy family?
Read these scriptures together as a family:
Micah 5:2-5
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
are only a small village among all the people of Judah.
Yet a ruler of Israel,
whose origins are in the distant past,
will come from you on my behalf.
The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies
until the woman in labor gives birth.
Then at last his fellow countrymen
will return from exile to their own land.
And he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’s strength,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
Then his people will live there undisturbed,
for he will be highly honored around the world.
And he will be the source of peace.
Luke 1:46-55
Mary responded,
“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
For the Mighty One is holy,
and he has done great things for me.
He shows mercy from generation to generation
to all who fear him.
His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
He has brought down princes from their thrones
and exalted the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away with empty hands.
He has helped his servant Israel
and remembered to be merciful.
For he made this promise to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his children forever.”
God’s Kingdom is Upside-Down! What do you imagine when you picture an upside-down Kingdom? Jesus’ story is so amazing, because we are waiting for a new King, but this King is a tiny baby who was born in a stable together with the animals instead of a royal leader who sits on a gold throne. Do you have any younger siblings? Do you remember how your siblings cried and depended on your grown-ups for everything? Can you imagine a tiny baby being a King or Queen? That is what God’s Kingdom is like—some of the things we might expect from a Kingdom are upside down. Mary’s Song tells us that God lifts up the humble and the lowly instead of the rich and famous. Our verses in Micah tell us that our new King comes from an unexpected place—a tiny little town called Bethlehem! What can you do this week to lift up someone who is “lowly”?
Family action:
Did you know that some families and homes aren’t safe? It’s hard to imagine if your home is a safe place. Please take the time to pray together for our kids at KyUMH; they need to know God’s love for them! The Bible tells us that when we pray, God listens! And the cool thing about praying is that it changes our hearts toward others.
If you’d like to, you can send them a Christmas card or picture you drew together. Mail your card or picture to: 1115 Ashgrove Rd, Nicholasville, KY 40356.
