SERMON NOTES:

Prayer Requests
Y Please help all those who desire new beginnings. Y All who grieve the passing of Ama Houdjagos father. He passed way this week in Togo. Ama will be flying there. Y Pray for Nancy Clunis sister-in-law Sam that she can be recognized for the great work she is doing. Y For Peder Gustafson, whose parents are both living with chronic illnesses in the later stages of life. Y For Bob Jenson (Ruthann Coburns neighbor) who suffers from seizures and a fall, and is being treated at Unity Hospital. Y Pray for Jennifers neighbor, Julie Fjeld, who continues to receive treatment for her cancer. Y For Amy Moores mom, JoAnn, who had a diverticulitis attack and was in the hospital. Y For Bobbie Pearson whose recovering from pneumonia and fighting weakness and cancer. Y Pray that Hildy Peterson finds full-time employment. Y Pray for Beverly Dols, John Ivers sister, who suffers from lung cancer. Y Pray for Diana Zile-Young, friend of Ivers, who suffers from liver failure. Y Pray for Ryan Tates mom who found abnormal cells on her thyroid. Please pray that everything will be okay. Y Pray for healing for Candi (Heathers friend) who has cancer. Y Pray for Elaine Slotty, friend of Jennifer, who is receiving chemo for her cancer. Y Pray for Arlene Benson, Dianne Blacks sister, who is in the hospital for depression and anxiety. Y Pray for Addie Norby-Oberg, a young child who lives two houses down from Paul & Amy, who has and will have multiple surgeries on her skull.

Y Pray for Dave Schwartz and Mary Olson (friends of George & Dianne Black) who are both going through cancer. Y Pray for Bea Bullard (friend of Dianne Black) who fell and broke her hip. Y Pray for Ward Sessing, member of the Presbyterian Church of the Way, who is recovering from surgery. Y Pray for Donna McCullen, wife of Ken McCullen. Y Pray for Alan Shingledecker who is suffering from past injuries. Pray the lawsuit ends so he can have surgery and get off pain killers.

DEVOTION
Monday, December 10 Read Luke 1:5-23 For Zechariah to go into the Temple and share an incense offering was a once-in-alifetime opportunity. Zechariah could never have dreamed that he would come into the presence of the angel, Gabriel. We can understand Zechariahs hesitancy to accept what the angel told him. That he and his wife, Elizabeth, would conceive a son in his old age seemed impossible to comprehend. That the son would have the spirit and power of Elijah and turn people to God also was hard to believe. This promise was a miracle. God is in the business of miracles, really of New Beginnings. Often we get so focused on our tasks that we cant see the New Beginnings around us. As you go through your day today, talk to God about what the New Beginnings in your life. Ask God that you would be able to see and appreciate themeven if they are as farfetched as what Gabriel shared with Zechariah!

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Prayer Dont let us be like Zechariah. You share a miracle with him, but he couldnt comprehend you. Give us the imagination and insight to see the New Beginnings that you are already doing in my life. Tuesday, December 11 Read Isaiah 7:10-17 God was very willing to do a new beginning for Ahaz, who was the king of Israel. In these verses God was pleading with Ahaz to ask for a sign from God about this new beginning. This is not the order that we usually think of when it comes to a new beginning. Usually we think its us who has to ask God for a new beginning. When Ahaz refused to ask for a sign God told the prophet Isaiah about the new beginning. It was a new beginning that you and I will celebrate on December 25. God is always doing something new. Sadly we often respond like Ahaz. Prayer Gracious God, you so desperately want to communicate with us that you are doing something new in our lives. Too often we are like Ahaz. We refuse to ask for a sign from you. Dont let us be timid!! May we have confidence in you and what you are doing in our lives! Wednesday, December 5 Read Judges 13:2-23 This story is not well known, but it illustrates how God works to create a New Beginning. God sent an angel to Manoah and his wife to share that Manoahs wife

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would bear a son. This was significant news as Manoahs wife was barren. The rest of the story about Manoah and his wife coming to terms with what God was doing. The two were willing to accept what God was doing. Its just they were so surprised at what was happening. God often wants to surprise us, but we close ourselves off to these surprises. Most of the time God wont overpower us with this New Beginningits up to us to be open to what God is doing. Manoah and his wife did conceive a child. His name was Samsona great prophet in the history of Israel. The start of his life was a great surprise! Prayer Surprising God, keep us open to the New Beginnings that you are doing in our life. Help us accept the surprises that you have in store for us. Give us the type of spirit where we want to be surprised by what you are doing. Thursday, December 6 Read Isaiah 48:6-8 God shared these words with the people of Judah as they were in exile. The people had been forcefully removed from their country. Their nation had been destroyed along with the Temple. It was a terrible time. Even amidst this suffering God was doing something new. He shared this New Beginnings with the people. Its as if God was telling the people not to give up something new was happeningeven if they could not see it.

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You probably know of someone who is going through a difficult time right now. These words of Isaiah might be comforting for them. Prayer You especially do something new when people are suffering. Thank you for your tender care and mercies. Thank you for doing something new with the people of Judah when they were in exile. Today I pray for _____ who is suffering. May ____ see all that you are doing which is new in their life. Friday, December 7 Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 These verses from the Apostle Paul could be a personal mission statement. Because God has done something new each of us is a new creation. We have a New Beginning. Because of this we dont look at people from a human point of view. As disciples we view people differentlythrough the lens of how God views people. These verses could be the biblical justification for the Core Values of Chain of Lakes. Read these verses through slowly a few times. Reflect on how these verses relate to our Core Values of Hospitality, Gods Church, Relevance, Acceptance, Outward Focus, Investing in Future Generations, Healthy Disagreement, and Joyful Love. Prayer Your New Beginning allows us to look at the world differently. May these verses from Corinthians sink into our hearts. May they change our eye sight!! Help us at Chain of Lakes Church to embody this

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perspective with everyone whom we meet! Saturday, December 8 Read Psalm 51:11-13 This Psalm was shared by David with God. It was like a confession of sin that David shared about his affair with Bathsheba. David knew he needed a new spirit and a clean heart. He so longed to be restored to God. David most likely shared this prayer after he was confronted by the prophet Nathan. The story is in 2 Samuel 12. When the child of Bathshebas that David fathered became gravely ill, David probably shared this prayer with God. We might feel a long ways from God right now. These verses might be our verses. We might know of someone who is a long ways from God. We could substitute this persons name in these verses and offer them as a prayer to God. Fill in the blanks of the following verses today. Prayer Create in ____ a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within _____. Do not cast ____ from your presence and do not take your holy spirit from ______. Restore to ____ the joy of your salvation and sustain in _____ a willing spirit.