By: Marcy Barthelette

For I know the plans I have for you….plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 (paraphrased)

Last week’s message illustrated the constant promise of God’s presence in our everyday lives, and I’ve felt so many instances in recent weeks when tiny everyday miracles have taught me lessons in humility. I just thought a little more focus on God’s perfect timing was in order, especially following Pastor Dennis’ message on Sunday which had a lot to do with the timing as well. So, bear with me as I share a few more reminders of who is in control in every situation.

Take for instance the story I shared during Ken’s hospitalization about his overwhelming need to vote in this past election. Had our daughter not been there, no one would have called to find out if there was any way to facilitate this wish. We were too traumatized at that point to consider what action might be taken. And what made her think to call Christian County Court House? I believe that certainly had to be a God thing. When they told us they would try but couldn’t promise that someone would come, our spirits tried to remain hopeful but, as Election Day progressed and no one knocked on the door, we almost lost heart. But God knew that three other people in that hospital besides Ken really wanted to vote. So, he cleared the way for two selfless volunteers to make the rounds at Mercy Hospital and make it happen. God is so good and so are daughters and volunteers!

Think of a situation in which you can’t do anything and give it to Jesus. Know He has it covered. Then sit back and watch the miracle unfold. Jeanette Levellie, Mornings with Jesus 2025

One of Ken’s biggest worries as he lay in that hospital bed going through test after test was that leaves were piling up in our yard. He even planned to get out into the yard the day after his discharge and do the work. Of course, his doctors didn’t OK that plan, so he worried. He takes great pride in keeping the yard looking just right. When he was home, all he could do was look out the window and shake his head in dismay at the sheer volume of leaves covering every inch of lawn. Then one day our neighbors were running their big cyclone mulcher, and the next thing we knew there was a loud noise approaching our house. You guessed it…one was blowing leaves into piles and the other was driving the cyclone. I went out with our blower to help and soon another neighbor joined the leaf removal party. As I glanced at the door, Ken had tears flowing down his cheeks in gratitude for this wonderful favor that came our way from caring neighbors. God knew just when to send these angels of mercy to someone who needed a hand. They did a repeat performance a few weeks later to remove the remainder of fall’s bounty of leaves. God is good and so are neighbors!

Many times as we’ve continued a medical journey that we hadn’t anticipated, we’ve become temporarily discouraged and it seems someone sends a text, an email, a card or makes a call and we are reminded that we are not in this alone. You’ll never know what those words have meant to us. Once again, God is so good and so is our church family!

Our kids were here for Thanksgiving and the guys worked on a faulty switch for our gas fireplace. A few days later, I flipped the switch, and it fell from the wall because the original installation had been

incorrect. Another worry for Ken because going to the store to buy what he needed and do the repair was still a little more than he was up to. When the kids came for Christmas, our son-in-law walked in the door with an extra gift, the new electrical box. Together they installed it, and another small miracle of good timing removed another worry. God is good and so are sons-in-law!

And one more thing that has been a constant for me personally is the presence of music. Whenever I feel a little down or can’t fall asleep in the middle of the night, my favorite songs come to mind and everything feels better. On Sunday morning, following a difficult week for us, our wonderful praise band sang two of those favorites and I sang with gusto from my recliner, wishing that I were there to worship with everyone, but all the while knowing that God heard my praise clearly. God is good and so are His singing angels!

Timing is everything and He, in His infinite wisdom, certainly does have everything under control. Sometimes I wonder why we can’t be totally confident in His ability to bring goodness into our lives—then I remember….it’s because we are human, we make mistakes. He is God and He is perfect. I’m trying to remember to trust His good timing…..always.

I cling to you; Your strong right hand holds me securely. Psalm 63:8 (And Your timing is perfect).

Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory. Ps 50:15

On a morning very similar to the ones we have experienced in recent days, I had a trip of some 10 or 12 miles to make on roads that had been thawing by day and refreezing overnight. I was much younger then—it  was just six weeks before I was to marry Ken—and I was accustomed to driving the roads in our Ozark hills. Even so, I exercised extreme caution as I headed out the gravel drive from my campground home in Lesterville, Mo on my way to Johnson’s Shut-ins State Park, where Ken was assigned, on what was supposed to be the first leg of a trip to St Louis. He would drive the longer leg of our journey.

Ken had been experiencing respiratory difficulties and eventually had lost his voice completely. He’d seen the local doctor who had no answers for the disappearance of Ken’s voice, thus the referral to an ENT that the doctor knew in the city hoping that an answer could be found quickly. Ken and I wanted our vows to be heard on that special day.

I had barely turned onto the highway from the gravel when my tires skidded. I had hit black ice. I remembered that the wisdom of the day said to turn into the skid, but I couldn’t. The car took on a life of its own and rested on the opposite side of the road in a matter of seconds, had made a complete 180° turn, and was prepared to proceed in the other direction. I, however, was not. I walked quickly back to my house and called Ken, whereupon he told me to sit tight and he would come for me. He felt sure we had plenty of time and he wanted company on the trip.

Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Psalm 37:7a

I took advantage of my wait by calling a friend to ask for a tow back to my house. He said it would be a little while but he’d have it back where it belonged well before I returned. The trip to St Louis was slippery and had its scary moments, but because we had allowed extra travel time, we arrived as planned for the appointment. We learned that the source of his problem was a nasty infection on the vocal cords and antibiotics were prescribed. The doctor’s words, however, were less than encouraging. He said Ken could regain his voice in a week, in a month, or maybe never. We traveled home with heavy thoughts on our minds but, at least, the weather had cleared and everything had melted. When we got back to my house, my car was in the driveway, none the worse for wear.

Fast forward a couple of years and I was headed to town from the park for groceries when I again hit black ice. I’d just rounded a sharp curve which led me to a shaded area. Fortunately, the curve had slowed me down considerably, but like before, I had no control. This time I spun a couple of times and landed atop a culvert with one wheel folded underneath the car. I was off the road so I left the car to walk up a long driveway to a neighbor’s home to make a much-dreaded call. Both these incidents were well before we had even heard of a cell phone so I had to find a landline. Ken arrived shortly to take me home and arrange for a tow to the repair shop. I haven’t ventured onto a snowy highway since.

I tell you these two tales because I want you to exercise extreme caution as you drive this winter but also because I want to remind you that even though we think we’re in control of our everyday lives, we aren’t. God has made a schedule for every moment that we breathe…every single moment. And regardless of how we believe things should happen, they’ll only materialize in His good time if He wants them to happen. Our plans are often interrupted by seemingly coincidental timing, but there’s nothing coincidental about it. He has His hand on everything we do. We can choose to accept His guidance or to go it on our own. But we can’t make Him go away, because He always waits nearby for us to realize we need Him. God had control of my car in both these instances and he steered it to a place of safety for me. I can only imagine my fate had He left me to my own skills. On those occasions when He invites me to choose which way I want to go, I hope that I will choose wisely the path that He would have chosen for me.

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him and he will help you. Psalm 37:5

You may be wondering if Ken was able to speak at our wedding. He was….just loud enough for the preacher and myself to hear. Our guests had to trust that all was said according to tradition or, more precisely, our own vows. Just one day before we were doubtful that the words would be spoken aloud, but God gave Ken a voice at just the right time….God’s good time. 

Not only does God have a plan for your life, but he has the perfect timing for each step of that wonderful plan. Joyce Meyer, Quiet Times with God

This could be the day God does something amazing! Joyce Meyer, Quiet Times with God

I awoke to thunder this morning….yes, it is the first Sunday in a brand new year but a thunderboomer was my alarm. And as I sit in my comfy recliner this afternoon, weather forecasters are still saying we will get some snow tonight. It appears we dodged a bullet regarding ice and I, for one, am very grateful for that….there were others inundated with ice and I hope they have a warm place to be. But what do you suppose is uppermost in my thoughts on this dreary afternoon as I await the white stuff? Spring! That’s right, my thoughts are filled with spring. That’s a good thing, you say? Well, I suppose it is. It means I’m looking forward, hoping for something new and fresh to appear. In only a few weeks I’ll walk my landscape perimeters in search of tiny green shoots. It never ceases to amaze me that all my beautiful perennials can die back with the first frost in fall and re-emerge in March through May re-energized and ready to deliver on their promise of a new season of foliage and colorful blooms. God is amazing, isn’t He?

Sometimes I forget that we humans need seasons to replenish ourselves as well. As much as I dislike the cold and especially the short days that are often nearly as dark as the nights that follow, we need that quiet time to lay back a bit, give our minds and bodies a chance to recharge. Of course, if you have kids who are involved in all kinds of activities and bringing home every nasty little bug that happens to be going around, you’re probably wondering what in the world I’m talking about. Take heart, your turn is coming. They won’t be kids forever and the time will come when you’ll wonder what happened to all those exciting times.

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun. Do you not see it? Isaiah 43:19a

The thing is…we all do need that time to set a course, determine our focus. So even if you’re meeting yourself coming and going, winter is the time to find a few moments now and then to align your priorities for this new year of opportunity that lies ahead. And if your kids have reached that age that doesn’t require so much of your direct attention, maybe this is the year to take on a new project, start a new course of study, find a rewarding volunteer position.

The sidelines aren’t a place for you anymore. Take a risk. Be bold and courageous.

Bob Goff, Live in Grace, Walk in Love

Aldersgate offers so many ways to serve, to learn, to pray for others who really need some intercession. And whether or not you choose to believe it, every single one of us has been given a unique skill that was intended to equip us to accomplish our very unique role in the script of life. If you haven’t yet discovered that gift, this may be the year it happens, so open your mind and heart and soul to opportunities. And whatever role you play, do it to the best of your ability, just as if you were doing it for God, because you are!

Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3

Just looked out the window and the snow has begun, a heavy shower of big, fluffy flakes! A blanket of white will soon cover my perennials to protect them from the cold and help prepare them for their spring appearance. Thank you, Lord, for this season of dreaming and recharging.

Vessel….a person whom God calls and who is receptive to that call.

I think the comment I heard most often this Christmas season was how quickly it seemed to arrive. It surely was linked to the late observance of Thanksgiving and possibly that it seemed lost in the middle of the week. So many of us count on that long weekend to complete all our travel plans. And I know that as we age, time seems to pass in a whisper. But I heard lots of younger people say that it just seemed to land on them without proper warning.

Sunday morning Pastor Dennis, at the close of our combined worship service, said that we only have so many words in a year and he thought he’d used his all up. I can certainly understand that feeling when I consider how many regular and special services our church staff worked so hard to present perfectly to everyone who came, church family or strangers. I, too, am at the end of a year, for as I write it is yet 2024. And I, too, wonder if I can find words to express whatever God wants me to say to you on what will be the first day of a new year filled with promise, with hopes and dreams, and surely with challenges as well.

For Ken and I, the hope we hold onto is the answer to health problems that have been a part of our lives for the past six months. We know that God is orchestrating our lives and His answers will come in His good timing, but sometimes our patience comes up a little short.

And this leads me to the message I feel in my heart today. We need to visit Mary one more time before we lay aside this year’s celebration and turn toward our future year. Mary was given a task, a very unexpected task that would alter the course of her life forever. She was asked to be a vessel to cradle the unborn Christ Child until he was ready for birth. I wonder at the awe she must have experienced at this seemingly impossible request and I wonder how often we view a task before us as being impossible. I wonder how many times we miss an opportunity to carry the Light to someone who needs it desperately. Mary became a vessel to carry the Light of the world physically, but we are asked to be vessels to carry the Light to every corner of the world. To people who may seem unworthy according to our human standards but whom God regards as His special children.

For all of us who have carried a child, the weight of it becomes quite burdensome, especially toward the end when we feel our body just won’t stretch any farther. Our patience runs thin as Mary’s must have as well. And yet, everything we know about her suggests that the awe overcame all the doubts and shortfalls. She was the perfect vessel to carry this precious cargo.

Just as the Magi, in Jesus’ day, traveled long and far to lay their eyes on the Messiah, so must we be seekers of the truth and the Light, so that we will be prepared to illuminate our world with the love of Jesus, the one who willingly gave everything for us. That is the true gift of Christmas.

God doesn’t expect us to have all the answers…in fact, He loves the seekers. Be a seeker and go light the world!

The stories of Christmas are famous for how they ask people to make room for Jesus. The innkeeper is asked to find a place for Mary and Joseph to stay. Joseph is asked to make room for someone else’s child and Mary is asked to make space for Jesus to gestate and grow inside her—she also made space in her heart…..

Abby Ball, Contemplating Christmas  

It is the holiest of all nights. The Son of God is poised to enter a world of human discontent, clothed in human skin, and totally dependent on a young, inexperienced couple to provide the necessities of life. Mary and Joseph have reached this day with joy and awe that such a miracle would be delivered through them while at the same time must have had lingering questions about how their future would actually play out. Their welcome to Bethlehem was an ungracious line about there being no more room for them to lay their weary heads.

At the same moment in time, on a quiet hillside just outside of town, a band of motley shepherds was awakened from sleep by angels whose sounds of heavenly music filled the sky and their bright light illuminated the darkness. These shepherds were a curious lot who took off toward Bethlehem as soon as the angels had delivered their message about a very special baby sleeping in a manger.

Also at the same time, scholars, likely astronomers and other scientific minded men, traveled toward a star that hung over Bethlehem pointing the way to a child whom they believed to be a Savior. And they had been instructed by King Herod to point him toward this child so that he also might worship.

These are the people who took note of what was happening that night. All others were oblivious, living life, going about their chores. Now, of course we know that Herod’s motive was not innocent…his intent was to eliminate the threat of that child taking over his throne.

Sometimes I find it hard to be joyful when contemplating the birth because history informs me of all that comes after. I know that Bethlehem was the first stop on Jesus’ earthly journey to a cross on Calvary. I can see Him on the ground in Gethsemane pouring out his own fears and asking God to take this terrible ordeal from him but only if it was His Father’s will. And, of course, it wasn’t. That moment also had been a part of the plan from the beginning.

There were prophecies that shared all the details of Jesus’ birth, life, and death. But man just didn’t want to know. And isn’t it still the case? Scientists today argue that none of the story could be factual because scientific evidence concludes the impossibility of it. And yet faith insists that it is real.

…but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” Luke 2:10-11

And so, on this night of nights, I will join the singing, find wonder in the star, and mentally visit the Baby in the manger. I will celebrate the birth of my Savior and treasure the moments. Easter will follow all too quickly, but for now, I feel joy beyond expression, and I know that I can reside with Him forever in peace and gratitude because I know the rest of the story. I’ve made a space for Him in my heart that can never be taken from me.

What a delightful promise he makes! We make room for Him in our hearts, and He makes room for us in His house!

Max Lucado, When Christ Comes

He came for me, and He came for you….

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. Luke 2:6

Mary is becoming round as can be. Her ankles are swollen, she can’t see her feet beyond the baby bump in front of her. She struggles to stand after sitting for a while. She can’t sleep for all that kicking inside her, the Lord ready to escape the confines of her womb and find out what this earthly world is really all about. And Joseph tells her they have to travel some 90 miles to Bethlehem for a census. “Are you kidding?” she must have asked. “I have to walk or ride a donkey for how long?”

We can’t be exactly sure how long the pair was on the road from Nazareth to Bethlehem, but in Mary’s condition, there was little enjoyment in that trip. Many of us have been exactly where Mary was at that time, ripe with pregnancy, ready to have the pain of birth behind us and to see the face of that tiny child for whom we have waited all those months. And most of us would have been older, more seasoned to the ways of womanhood.

Yet here was Mary, a woman by the standards of her day but a child to our way of thinking, ready to depart with Joseph on a journey that would lead to the greatest story ever told, a birth that would stand above all others as the dividing line in human history. The stage is set. God’s plan for our redemption, a plan that was formulated before time began, has been set in motion. Nothing or no one can stop it.

But there’s even more challenge in His plan than the couple can possibly know. Would they ever have thought that every boarding house in the city would be filled and that not a single innkeeper would try and make room for two more weary travelers, one so heavily burdened that birth was obviously imminent? Who could possibly imagine such a thing happening to the Son of God.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and we will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

But that’s the thing…even though the prophets had foretold of a birth that would change the world as they knew it, everyone expected that it would happen with the full honor and dignity afforded a king. A royal birth attended by the best care available at the time. A child clothed in the softest and best fabric in the city. A child admired by all the important people of the day.

No one would have believed that a king would spring from a virgin teen, be wrapped in stable rags, and laid in a feed trough as animals and a surrogate dad stood by.

God really does work in mysterious ways. I wonder what the innkeeper thought when he realized what had happened that night in his stable or if he ever knew. Oh sure, the shepherds were proclaiming all over town that a special baby had been born to save the world, but who believes a band of dirty, raggedy old shepherds. Bystanders likely chalked their claims up to an abundance of wine around the campfire. And angels surely don’t light up the sky to visit shepherds. Or do they?

Jesus didn’t leave His home in the heavens to coddle the wealthy, he came to heal each of us of the ills we try to carry on our own shoulders. He spent most of His time with the poor, the unwashed, the sick. Every one of us is His brother or sister but only a few will acknowledge that relationship and accept the gift He offers. Most of the population was then and is now too busy to even notice.

Was Mary ready for all that lay ahead? Probably not, but she never waivered from her commitment to God. She delivered the hope of the world that improbable night so long ago. In the company of smelly animals and equally smelly shepherds, she birthed, fed, and lovingly wrapped her newborn baby boy who looked just like us, because He was human, just like us. But time would reveal that He was so much more. The journey was just beginning…..

When all the plans were in place and the world was finally ready, the clock struck Christmas, and Jesus was born.

Emily E Ryan, Walking with Jesus Devotions for Advent and Christmas 2024.

Is life getting a little more hectic than usual around your house? Are you looking for just the right place to set up your tree? Perhaps spaceor tradition dictates the spot or maybe you appreciate a different look each year. Have you retrieved all the decorations from their eleven-month hiding spots and hung greenery in all the right places? How about the shopping? Are your gifts all hidden away until the big day? Have you finished the wrapping? Do you have a special menu planned and dishes assigned to various family members or friends? Have you baked cookies for everyone at the office? Have the kids made all their wishes known to Santa and had their pictures taken at the mall?

And can you tell me, please, what does all this have to do with a little baby being born in a stable over two thousand years ago? How have all our traditions associated with this very special holiday celebration become so beautifully wrapped in colorful paper topped with shiny ribbons?

I’m neither a Scrooge nor the Grinch. I love Christmas and all the family time that goes with it…the food, the gifts, the music. It’s a beautiful time of year. However, the older I get, the more aware I become of the disconnect between our time-honored, faith-filled traditions and the picture painted by the secular world we live in. Advent can make a real difference in the way we view Christmas if we approach it wisely and set aside quiet moments to focus on Jesus. It’s important to remember that Christ occupies six of the letter spaces in the name of the holiday we celebrate, CHRIST-mas. That’s two-thirds of the letters. How much time are we devoting to Him as we celebrate? Can we lay aside the hype of the season long enough to examine the message of Christmas?

The white space between Bible verses is fertile soil for questions.

One can hardly read scripture without whispering, “I wonder….”

Max Lucado, He Still Moves Stones

None of us can really imagine the questions and fears that might lay heavy upon our hearts if we were a young teenage girl who just encountered an angel. An angel who brought a message that she would bear a son. She knew it was impossible and yet the angel convinced her that it was true. The Holy Spirit had created a boy child within her, and she was to call him Jesus. She accepted the task set before her because she was a faith-filled girl, but how many questions ran through her mind, the first being how to tell Joseph. He would be so disappointed in her and how could he possibly believe that she hadn’t been with another man? Yet when he was told, he accepted her explanation even before the angel came to him with confirmation of her unbelievable story.

How would her community behave toward her? Would they try to influence Joseph against her? Would they suggest punishments appropriate to the beliefs of the time? Would they shun her? We know that she went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, but that’s just about all we really know. Surely she went because of family ties and wanting to spend some quality time with this relative who also carried a special child, but could she have wanted to separate herself for a while from the members of her community who might not be kind or understanding toward her? Who are we kidding? Her life could have actually been in danger. Those early months of her pregnancy must have been filled with wonder and awe at having been chosen to carry the Son of God within her but also colored by doubts, questions, and fears about this great mystery and the reactions from those around her.

If you’re a mom, what were your thoughts and concerns about the child you carried? You were likely confident the birth would happen in a sterile hospital environment. Mary was not. And even though she didn’t know God’s plan for her to deliver in a common stable far from home, she likely believed her child would be welcomed into the world among family. You probably spent time shopping or making the necessities for your baby’s first months of life but Mary spent a great deal of her time traveling and fending off verbal abuse and may have, at times, feared for her safety. We’ll never know exactly what Mary experienced. We have only cultural conjecture to guide us.

I think God intentionally left gaps in all the stories of the Bible because he wanted us to fill them with our own faith-filled concepts. He wanted to offer all His children an opportunity to trust in His good timing for everything in our lives. He wants us to trust in Him but He gave us the opportunity to ask questions, to develop an ongoing dialog with Him. How close do you want Him to be?

The Virgin Birth is much more than a Christmas story; it is a picture of how close Christ will

come to you. The first stop on his itinerary was a womb…..He issues a Mary-level

invitation to all his children. “If you’ll let me, I’ll move in!”

Max Lucado, Next Door Savior

Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Luke 1:28

Our family returned to their home, our home is quiet once again. Thanksgiving is in the rearview mirror and it’s time to think about Christmas. It’s been a tradition for many years to transform our home and decorate our tree on Thanksgiving weekend. I get a little slower every year and find myself taking the time to savor all the memories packed into our tree decorations. They represent ornaments gifted to us by loved ones no longer with us, new marriages, births, gifts from friends and family, and wonderful trips we have taken. I love to quietly recall each one and to share the memories with Ken. Sometimes my daughter and granddaughter like to hear the stories too.

I’ve been deeply blessed by the people who’ve shared my day-to-day living and those who’ve touched my life peripherally. I’ve seen things and been to places that many don’t have the opportunity to experience. Oh yes, there are lots of places I haven’t been, but I’ve made a good effort to learn about them and I suppose one would say I’ve lived life rather fully. In living life, I’ve made a multitude of mistakes, some that have affected not only my own world but the worlds of those around me…those who loved me.

So, I ask myself why was I given the gift of words. Why was I chosen to bring the hope and promise of Jesus to others through my writing? I am such an imperfect vessel and I no longer enjoy the freshness of youth. I have no theological training. The most I’ve done is lead a Sunday School class or teach kids at VBS. I’m not equipped to do this task with which I’ve been entrusted. So, why me, Lord? I can come to only one conclusion, God isn’t finished with me yet. I have much to learn and a shorter time in which to learn it. I’ve often said the messages I write are quite often directed straight at me. I can see myself in each one.

“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.” Luke 1:30

As I ponder the reasoning for my being where I am right now, I can’t help but ask myself what was going through Mary’s mind when the angel approached her with the news that she would bear a child. Her first incredulous reaction was, “How can that be? I haven’t been with a man.” Mary’s body was pure, unstained. She was a virgin. She probably made her own share of blunders growing up but she had not been touched by a man. She was betrothed, but she and Joseph had not broken the time-honored traditions of their people. And yet, for a moment, she questioned the credibility of the message this angel had brought. She must have wondered how she would explain this anomaly to Joseph. He would be hurt and perhaps a little angry. Would he leave her to face this pregnancy alone and what would become of her if he did? Where would she go and how would she support herself and her child? And what if she actually was stoned by her own people because they judged her to be immoral? That was a very real possibility in those times. But the angel encouraged her and promised that the Holy Spirit would be with her.

In her heart, she knew that she must accept this circumstance the Lord had placed upon her. And she did so willingly. I can’t imagine that there wouldn’t still be questions regarding all the details and logistics of the coming months of her life, but Mary accepted her role whatever that might entail and she grew in faith.

I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” Luke 1:38

This is the season of Advent, a time of wonder and anticipation, a time to ponder the miracle and mystery of Christ’s birth.

Daily Guideposts: 25 Devotions for Advent