December 2021 Bible Study: Seeking the King

By Mistie Lamb
Intermountain Division

Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We know that Jesus wasn’t born on December 25th of course, but this is the time we set aside to celebrate His birth, his first physical appearance on earth. The miraculous birth of this small baby is the introduction to world of the one true King. His birth and the reaction of those we see in this bible passage are important reminders to us of how we should continue to seek Him even still. While there are many distractions especially in this special season, we are reminded in this passage of scripture that we can get back on track and that we will be rewarded by His very presence when we do. Let this season be an opportunity to seek Jesus, our King, above all else.

Matthew is the first of four gospels which opens the New Testament. Written by Matthew (Levi) shortly after Jesus walked the earth. Matthew was called by Jesus to be one of His disciples as he was busy collecting taxes (not the most honorable or favored career). Matthew wrote this account of Jesus’ time on earth in hopes of confirming to the Jewish Church that Jesus was, in fact, the Messiah by showing the fulfillment of many, though not all, of the Old Testament prophecies. Chapter one begins with the lineage of Jesus and ends with His birth. Our study, Chapter 2, verses 1 – 12 leads us into the visit of the Magi and King Herod’s plot to destroy Jesus. This portion of Scripture speaks to us about two kings. The earthy ruler of the time, Herod, and the King of Kings, Jesus. Let’s follow along as these men, seek their King.

Read Matthew Chapter 2:1-12

Verses 1-6
The Magi, or wise men, arrive in Jerusalem and inquire as to where they can find the Messiah since they saw His star, and followed it to worship Him. However, when King Herod hears this news, we see he is troubled and asks where he, too, can find the Messiah.

Many people seek the Messiah, but not everyone has good intentions. King Herod knows of the prophesy and understands that Jesus is the rightful ruler. He is undoubtedly concerned. The Bible says he is “troubled” at the birth of the Messiah, and he is sure that Jesus will one day want to take possession of the throne while either he himself sits on it or his offspring. However, we also see these three wise men, travel a long distance, from the east, to find the Messiah. They have come to worship Him. One looks to destroy the Messiah and the others look to worship Him.

  1. What is your motive in seeking the King?
  2. What is the benefit of checking our motive? (see Proverbs 21:2, 1 Corinthians 16:14)
  3. What are some ways we can help others to seek Him?

Verses 7-12
In the second half of our study, we see that Herod is determined to find the Messiah. He calls the Magi to him to get more information about when exactly they first saw the star, then he sends them to go find Jesus and then report back to him, under the guise that he, too, wants to worship the Messiah. After leaving Herod, the wise men continue to follow the star, which brings them to the exact spot where Jesus is. When they come into the house, they fall to the ground to worship the true King and offer their gifts. God then warns them in a dream not to return to Herod but to go home via a different route.

I’m struck in this last passage by the Magi’s interaction with King Herod. It was not in their plans to take this detour on the way to seek the Messiah, yet they find themselves rerouted. Distracted by this earthly king, whose motive we know is not actually to worship Jesus, but to destroy Him. Nonetheless, they get back on track and eventually make it to Jesus. Their journey to seek the King does indeed end successfully. How many times in our own journey have we been re-routed, distracted, or waylaid by the enemy?

I often find that when I intentionally set aside time to worship or study or seek Jesus, that the distractions are at their strongest. However, we can be encouraged by the steadiness of the Magi, that if we get back on track, despite the detours, that we, too, will have our time to worship. God is not hiding from us. He put a large, bright star in the night sky pointing the wise men straight to Jesus. The second half of Hebrews 11:6 tells us that he rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Just as the Magi were rewarded by being in the very presence of the Messiah so, too, can we find this same reward.

  1. What are some distractions or detours that try to keep you from worshiping?
  2. What can you do to get quickly back on track after a distraction or detour, however long?
  3. What are the rewards of remaining faithful in our journey to seek the King? (See Matthew 6:31-33, Psalm 34:4)

There can be many distractions through the Christmas season. Parties to attend, gifts to buy and wrap, volunteering to be done, memories to be made, but we can see that even in the midst of distractions and detours, God is not hiding. In fact, we read in Luke 19:10 that Jesus came to seek and save the lost! Us!! So, as we go about celebrating this season of Jesus’ birth, let’s remember to be intentional seekers of Him. Let’s be reminded to check our motives as we do all the wonderful things that make this season so beautiful.

And finally, if we do find ourselves distracted, or re-routed, we can easily get back on track and find that our journey to seek Him will eventually lead to Him, and we can enjoy His goodness and presence.

Prayer
Lord, as we read these verses today, I ask that You speak to our hearts. Teach us the importance of seeking You and of doing so with a right heart. Help us to set aside the things that try to distract us and route us away from You and to focus on the true meaning of this season. We are so thankful, Jesus, that You willingly came as a baby and made the way for our redemption. We give You all the glory and honor as we worship You, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Download the printable version of this Bible study

Note: Check out this month’s craft, Wise Men Seashell Ornament and this month’s devotional, A Gift of Significance that coordinates with this Bible study.

December 2021 Devotional: A Gift of Significance

By Captain Betzy Hanson
Colorado Springs, CO Corps – Intermountain Division

Read Matthew 2:1-12

What the Wise Men Brought to Jesus
If you ever watched the movie, The Nativity Story, when it was released in 2006, then you would have witnessed the scene when the wise men brought their gifts to Jesus. As the wise men lay their gifts before Jesus they explain the significance of each gift. Here is the quote from the movie. “Gold for the King of kings, Frankincense for the Priest of priests, a gift of myrrh to honor thy sacrifice.” As I watched this scene I was overwhelmed with tears. The writer who developed this scene did a great job of explaining what each gift represents.

Here is a brief explanation of each gift that was given: First, Gold is a precious metal, but it is also a sign of wealth and royalty. Frankincense is an incense that was sprinkled on sacrifices offered to the Lord and was also used in the tabernacle (Leviticus 24:7). The last gift was Myrrh which was used for embalming and has some healing properties as well.

Now, let’s look at the significance of each gift. When we look at Solomon’s Temple in the Bible, we read that his goblets and household items were made of gold. This is because if it was anything less than gold it was considered unworthy for a king (2 Chronicles 9:20). Gold was given to Jesus because He is greater than Solomon. Gold is not a typical gift for a child unless he is a king. So, the wise men knew the child they were visiting was going to rule and shepherd Israel. They knew he was King.

Frankincense is a priestly fragrant oil used throughout the Old Testament for sacrifices. When Jesus was born, he became the High Priest. Hebrews 4:14 says, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.” Frankincense was not given by coincidence; it had a significant reason of why it was given to Jesus. Jesus was going to give His life as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Which brings me to the last gift . . .

Myrrh. Through this gift we see the humanity of Jesus. It is shown in this gift because we know that Jesus died on the cross. In the book of John, we read that a mixture of myrrh and aloe was put on him and then his body was wrapped in cloth (John 19:38-40). According to scripture these gifts were chosen through prophecy. “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel” (Micah 5:2-4). The wise men knew that Jesus’ birth was fulfilling prophecy so they prepared their gifts for the Ruler who was born to save the world. These wise men knew that hope was not lost for God’s people. They knew that Jesus’ birth was going to bring change. These three gifts were of great significance, because they show Jesus as King, High Priest, and man.

My Gift of Significance
My life completely changed when I found out I was pregnant with my second daughter, Adaline. Because of secondary infertility, and the loss of two babies, my husband and I were not able to grow our family like we wanted, but God had other plans. Adaline came to us as an unexpected but pleasant surprise. This pregnancy was truly a miracle from the Lord. Eden (my first born) was born in October 12, 2004 and Adaline was born on June 20, 2019. Yes, my girls are almost 15 years apart. When time came to get ready for the new baby, I realized I had nothing. I was starting all over.

Thank God my family and friends gathered to throw me an amazing baby shower. Some gifts were typical gifts like clothes, a stroller, a car seat, diapers, and burp cloths. But as the party came to an end, I received a very significant gift. My grandmother slowly walked up to me near the end of the party, hugged me and then handed me a very small pair of pink shoes. As she handed them to me, I immediately recognized them. They were my fist born Eden’s, baby shoes. As I held these little baby shoes, I cried. I cried because I thought all hope of conceiving another child was gone. I cried because the significance of this gift meant that I was going to have a little baby to fill these shoes. I cried tears of joy, rejoicing over what God had done in my life.

Your Significant Gift
God doesn’t want only the gifts of time, money, or your service to others. God wants all that we are. He wants the hidden, the seen, the bad, the sad and the hurt. He wants it all. This may sound cliché, but this is what God wants, our complete life. What significant gift will you bring to Jesus today. Will you surrender all your life? He wants us to bow down and present our lives before him. Romans 12:1 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

Have you taken the time to prostrate yourself before God to give all your life to him? Sometimes in our busy life we see service to others as more valuable than laying all we are before God. We may not say it, but by our actions, and the way we spend our time to get the job done, we show it. God wants us to know him deeper, and the way we do this, is by spending time with Him. So today I encourage you to lay your gift of significance before Jesus. Take at least five minutes of your day, put some worship music on, and just soak in God’s presence. The wise men bowed down and worshiped Jesus. “Then they opened their treasures and presented him with their gift.” (Matthew 2:11). Let’s bow down and worship the King of kings, the Priest of priests and the hope of all the world that was born to save us so that we can have freedom and eternal life in Him.

Note: Check out this month’s craft, Wise Men Seashell Ornament, and this month’s Bible study, Seeking the King that coordinates with this devotional.

Thanksgiving Verses and Quotes

As we focus on the celebrating Thanksgiving, let’s remember that Thanksgiving isn’t just about one day where we join with family and friends for lots of delicious food, fellowship, and a good football game (or two). May these verses and quotes remind you about what true thanksgiving is.

“Be thankful. God has commanded it – for our good and His glory. God’s command to be thankful is not the threatening demand of a tyrant. Rather, it is the invitation of a lifetime – the opportunity to draw near to Him at any moment of the day.” Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2

“As a matter of fact, God isn’t asking you to be thankful. He’s asking you to give thanks. There’s a big difference. One response involves emotions, the other your choices, your decisions about a situation, your intent, your step of faith.” Joni Eareckson Tada

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 107:1

“The thankful heart sees the best part of every situation. It sees problems and weaknesses as opportunities, struggles as refining tools, and sinners as saints in progress.” Francis Frangipane

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“A spirit of thankfulness is one of the most distinctive marks of a Christian whose heart is attuned to the Lord. Thank God in the midst of trials and every persecution.” Billy Graham

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise him name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:4-5

“Grumbling and gratitude are, for the child of God, in conflict. Be grateful and you won’t grumble. Grumble and you won’t be grateful.” Billy Graham

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7

“It is one thing to be grateful. It’s another to give thanks. Gratitude is what you feel. Thanksgiving is what you do.” Tim Keller

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

“Genuine thankfulness is an act of the heart’s affections, not an act of the lips’ muscles.” John Piper

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1

“Thanksgiving with the mouth stirs up thankfulness in the heart.” Joh Piper

I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High. Psalm 7:17

“God doesn’t want us to just feel gratitude, but for us to show it by giving thanks to God with our lives.” R.C. Sproul

…Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19b-20

If there was ever a secret for unleashing God’s powerful peace in a situation, it’s developing a heart of true thanksgiving.” Lysa TerKeurst

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

November 2021 Bible Study: 10 Reasons to Praise the Lord

By Major Beth Desplancke
Territorial Women’s Ministries Program Secretary

Bible Study on 1 Chronicles 16:8-36

INTRODUCTION
It is November, and here in America we focus on the celebration of Thanksgiving, a time when we gather with family and friends and eat too much food and share what we are thankful for. The Bible tells us to be thankful, but it also tells us to praise God. What is the difference?

Author Mark Alan Williams explains the difference between thanksgiving and praise (https://www.markalanwilliams.net/post/2018/11/19/the-subtle-but-significant-difference-between-thanksgiving-and-praise/). He explains that “thanksgiving focuses on benefits bestowed to us… Whatever we are thankful for, we are grateful because of the blessing brought to US. The focus is on US… Praise focuses on the character of God and our love for Him. While thanksgiving focuses on blessings bestowed on us, praise focuses on God. We praise Him for His character, His attributes and His abilities.” The command to praise God appears approximately 250 times in the Bible. Praise should be a significant part of the believer’s life.

“10,000 Reasons” is a song by Matt Redman, about blessing the Lord through praise. The premise of the song is that we have so many things to praise the Lord for we couldn’t even begin to count them. Begin your time of Bible study by singing this son or watching the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtwIT8JjddM

In 1 Chronicles 16, God’s people are celebrating because they had just safely brought the ark of God, which represents God’s presence with His people, back to its rightful place. In this chapter, let’s discover not 10,000 reasons but 10 reasons to praise God today and every day. (Note attributes are based on the New Living Translation of 1 Chronicles 16)

  1. Praise God because He is Great, v. 8, 25.
    Great meant you did something well, or fantastic. God is great because He does everything well. Everything He does is fantastic! Remember that: everything He does is great, including what He does and is doing in your life right now. It may not feel great now, but eventually God will make it great.

    Another way to think about great is in size. When we say God is great, we can say He is big, enormous. He is great over everything He created. When you think of the billions of people in this world it is a great big number, but God is bigger than that number. When you think about the size of the universe, God is greater than that. What that means is God is bigger than anything or anyone we face. Any problem we have, any struggle we go through, any addiction we have, God is greater.
  2. Praise God because He does wonderful things, v. 9, 24.
    What God does is glorious and amazing. God doesn’t do anything half-heartedly or mediocre. All that He does is wonderful. Just take a look at creation – all the beauty He made. Did He have to create so many varieties of flowers in so many colors? No! did He have to create the sunset or sunrise to be so beautiful? Of course not.
    Everything He does is wonderful, glorious and amazing. The same is true in how He works in our lives. He is doing something wonderful, glorious, and amazing to make you the man He wants you to be. By bringing you here He is doing something amazing and wonderful in your life – you’ve just got to allow Him to work because at times it doesn’t always feel or even appear amazing or wonderful.
  3. Praise God because He is holy, v. 10, 19, 35.
    God is holy means He is without sin. He is perfect and everything He does is perfect. Think of it – He isn’t going to make a mistake in how He works in our lives. For example, because He is without sin means He isn’t going to blow His top and lose His temper because of something we do. He isn’t going to hold a grudge because of something we did. He is holy and perfect, and therefore, not a subject to the whims of misjudgments that would be made in sin. That means everything He does is perfect – the way He is working in your life is perfect. He isn’t punishing you because you got drunk too many times. He isn’t paying you back for your life of sin. He is holy and perfect and works perfectly in our lives to make us like Him – holy.
  4. Praise God He is Strong, v. 11, 27-28.
    Remember the song, “He’s got the whole world in His hands?” God is organizing, governing, and watching over the entire world. V. 30 says the world stands firm and cannot be shaken. This is due to God’s strength. He holds the universe in His hand. God is strong and powerful; He is stronger than anything in this world.

    We are weak but God is strong. In any problem or difficulty we face, God is strong enough to handle it. We think we can handle some on our own, but God is much stronger than we ever can be, so what is a challenge to us is nothing to a great big God, who is strong enough to bring order to the universe.
  5. Praise God because He is faithful, v. 15-22, 34.
    God is a promise keeping God. He is going to be faithful to all His promises. What promises does He make to us? The Bible is full of them. Here are just a few promises God has made, and He will be faithful to keep: He promises salvation (Romans 10:9), He promises forgiveness (1 John 1:9), He promises His presence (Hebrews13:5) and He promises us that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39)
  6. Praise God He is our Savior, v. 23, 35.
    He saves us. This is good news. This is great news! God is holy and without sin and because of His holiness He can’t be around sin. We are sinners – all of us. We could never be in the presence of God because of our sin. God decided to solve our problem of sin for us. He sent His perfect Son – Jesus Christ – to die in our place for our sins.
  7. Praise God He reigns, v. 31.
    To say God reigns is to acknowledge that God is King and He is the Ruler. God is ruler over all the earth. He is in control. Nothing will knock Him off His throne. We can trust God to reign according to His nature, which we’ve already mentioned.

    In The Salvation Army Songbook (21016 edition) song #16 says, God is still on the throne, and He will remember His own; though trials may press us and burdens distress us, He will never leave us alone. God is still on the throne, and He remembers His own. His promise is true, He will not forget you; God is still on the throne.
  8. Praise God He is our coming judge, v. 33.
    This is a two-fold praise. We can praise God that His Son is returning someday to take His children up with Him to heaven. This is exciting because this world isn’t all there is. God hasn’t forgotten about us. He will come again, someday, we just don’t know when. We have something better to look forward to.

    But why is He coming? He is coming to judge. He is coming to judge the righteous and the wicked. But if we have received Christ as our personal Savior, we need not fear our judgment. Romans 8:1 tells us now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. If we belong to Christ, we won’t be condemned!
    For those who haven’t received Christ as their personal Savior, the should fear judgment. If your name isn’t written in the Lambs Book of Life, you will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15) – which is hell.

    All of the things we have thought unfair when the wicked seemed to get away with doing wrong, will finally get what they deserved. Read Psalm 37;1-2, 37-38 to see what happens to the wicked.
  9. Praise God He is good, v. 34.
    God is good – all the time. All the time – God is good! Everything God does is out of His goodness. It may not seem good at the time, but if we remember that God’s very nature is good, and He has our best good in mind, when those unpleasant things come our way, we will remember it is all good! It doesn’t mean it always feels good, but we can trust that God is working good in your life in even the most unpleasant of circumstances.
  10. Praise God He is eternal, v. 36.
    God is everlasting. He’s the same today as He was yesterday and He’ll be the same tomorrow. God forever will be how He is described in this passage of Scripture. I’m not going to wake up one day and discover God is no longer there – because He is eternal. He has always been and always will be. I’m not going to wake up one day and discover God is different, for He is everlasting and forever He will be who He is. Things come and go, leaders change, rules change, circumstances change, but God is eternal and remains the same every day.

    CONCLUSION
    In the devotional book, Be Still and Know (© 2016 by Broadstreet Publishing), the reading for August 17 is entitled, “Continual Praise” and it says this:

    What would it look like to be people who praise God from the time we awaken each morning until the time we fall asleep each night? Not only would it be pleasing God as we worship him constantly, but we would also effect an incredible change in our personal outlook.

    Intentional, continual praise can only naturally result in intentional, continual joy. When we choose to look at each moment as a moment in which to be thankful and worshipful, then we will find in each moment, beauty, joy and satisfaction.

What a challenge, to be women of continual praise. Can you come up with a top-ten list of what to praise God for? Close your Bible study time with the song “Great Are You Lord,” by All Sons & Daughters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHJuzehKt8s.

Download the printable version of this Bible study.

Note: Check out this month’s devotional, The PERFECT Thanksgiving, and this month’s craft, Edible Thanksgiving Turkeys that coordinate with this Bible study.

She Leads… With Humility

By Captain Deborah Breazeale
Albuquerque, NM Corps – Southwest Division

In Matthew 20: 25-27 Christ admonished his followers, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.”

This is hard for natural born leaders. We know how we want things done and sometimes it is just easier to do it ourselves or micro-manage those who work with us. This comes with unrealistic expectations of perfection, which no one can obtain. The result, feelings of frustration, failure and often a breakdown of relationships.

This is not leading with humility; this is not even good leadership. My interpretation of effective leadership is leading by example; to get right down there with your people, get your hands dirty, work alongside them, ask for their ideas, (they might just be better than your own!), and finish as a team.

Effective parents are those who understand the value of teamwork. Parents often assign their children chores to teach them responsibility. Cleaning their rooms, taking out the trash, feeding the dog. This can lead to anger, frustration, and tears when the children fail to follow through. However, if the parents come along side and say, “Lets get this done together!” and offer to pitch by helping to pick up books, toys, or to bag the trash and go with them to the dumpster, the kids join in the work and it becomes an opportunity to have a good time together. Showing the children that work can be fun.

The same goes for people we work with at the Corps. When we willingly pitch in to help, show that we are not asking them to do anything we ourselves are not willing to do, the project or work gets done quickly and we have a great time together.

The Albuquerque Corps has a Prayer Breakfast once a month and I used to fix the meal myself early on a Saturday morning, sometimes not with a happy heart. A couple of people started coming early asking if they could help and I would try to find things for them to do, (LOL!). One of the ladies asked if she could provide part of the breakfast one month. I hesitated, after all, that was my job! But I said okay.

Over the months she has picked up more and more of the task, providing and preparing the food and she has blossomed! She loves helping and doing and I have a new friend. Now, she askes me to scramble the eggs! I love it! We have such a great time together, serving the people of our Corps.

Here are three tips for cultivating humility:

  1. Embrace your humanness-accept your limitations; it’s okay to not be perfect all the time.
  2. Practice mindfulness and compassion.
  3. Express gratitude-gratitude can make us less self-focused and more focused on those around us-a hallmark of humble people.

“The key to humility might just be seeing life as a journey towards cultivating those qualities that bring out the best in others and we and make this world a better place.” Vicki Zakrzewski

Mick Ukleja, PhD, founder and president of LeadershipTraQ gives six attributes of healthy humility: (https://www.success.com/6-attributes-of-healthy-humility/)

  • They acknowledge they don’t have it al together.
  • They know the difference between self-confidence and pride.
  • They seek to add value to others.
  • They take responsibility for their actions.
  • They understand the shadow side of success.
  • They are filled with gratitude for what they have.

One additional attribute is LOVE -spend time listening to others.

A scripture I will leave you with is one I really love to read when I’m feeling indispensable, (not humble): Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. (Romans 12:3)

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November 2021 Craft: Edible Thanksgiving Turkeys

Submitted by the Southwest Division

Ingredients
1 cup of chocolate chips or premade chocolate frosting
30 candy corn candies
6 chocolate sandwich cookies
6 mini peanut butter cups
6 malt balls
1 cup of red frosting
6 chocolate sandwich cookies with top cookies removed
Red frosting in a piping bag

Directions:

  1. Place the chocolate chips in a medium stainless steel or glass bowl. Set the bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate has melted, about 4 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly. Or to make your life easier, simply use premade chocolate frosting.
  2. For each turkey, push 5 candy corn candies, tip side down, into the cream filling of a chocolate sandwich cookie to make the feathers for the turkey. Lay the cookie on a work surface.
  3. Dip the flat, larger end of a peanut butter cup in the melted chocolate allowing any excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl. Place malt ball above the peanut butter cup to make a head of the turkey.
  4. Dip the flat end of the white candy corn tip into the chocolate. Place on a malt ball, to make the turkey beak. Refrigerate until the chocolate has set, about 10 minutes.
  5. Place the red frosting in a piping bag. Using scissors, cut a small opening in the end of the popping bag. Pipe a small piece of frosting under the malt ball to make the turkey beard.
  6. Place a cookie (with top half removed) on a platter. Stand the turkey upright into the cream filling. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

Note: Check out this month’s Bible Study, 10 Reasons to Praise the Lord, and this month’s devotional, The PERFECT Thanksgiving, which coordinate with this craft.

November 2021 Devotional: The PERFECT Thanksgiving

Southwest Division

For most Americans, Thanksgiving is a joyous time of celebration. It is a time when we gather around a table that is overflowing with turkey, stuffing, potatoes, pies, and all sorts of delicious foods. It is a time for football, parades, and all-around mirth. As Christians, Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and give thanks to God for abounding love and faithfulness to us.

For many, however, Thanksgiving brings about vastly different emotions. It is a time of stress, anxiety, and depression. It reminds them of their failure and imperfections. Thanksgiving is not a thankful holiday for these people. Why is that? What is it about this holiday or this time of year that causes these emotions?

I often think about these questions as I mentally prepare myself for the stress of Thanksgiving, and the main answer I come back to is societal expectations. When I consider the holidays and what society has told me they look like, it is overwhelming. The perfectly set tables brimming with food. The lavish decorations, and perfectly cleaned house. The children with perfect manners, and the husband who is watching the perfect game in his perfect recliner. The expectations are crushing.

These expectations are not anything new either. I often look back at the story of Mary and Martha. Read Luke 10:38-42.

Two sisters seeking to enjoy being in the presence of Jesus. Enter the expectations. Mary casts aside the expectations of a host and simply sits at Jesus feet. Martha, however, seeks to be a good host while also wanting to be a part of the festivities. In most teaching and sermons, Martha is portrayed as a busybody and complainer. However, I believe that what she is experiencing is very real. She wants to live up to what society has said is a good host. She wants that PERFECT Thanksgiving.

I think that when Jesus tells her that Mary has chosen what is better, he is inviting her to forget the expectations and simply be with him. HE isn’t telling her that she is wrong or that she is worse than Mary. He is telling her that it is okay if the dishes wait, it is okay if the turkey is dry.

Thanksgiving is a time to simply be reminded that Jesus loves us. We give thanks to God, not because of the food, decorations, or visiting guests, but simply because he loves us.

Questions to Ponder:

  • What are some of the stresses that you experience during Thanksgiving?
  • How do you deal with your stress during the holidays?

Challenge:

Starting on Thanksgiving Day, try to keep a gratitude journal. Each day write anywhere between a sentence and a paragraph of the things that you are thankful for that day. Don’t overthink it, you are the only one looking in this journal.

Note: Check out this month’s Bible Study, 10 Reasons to Praise the Lord, and this month’s craft, Edible Thanksgiving Turkeys, that coordinates with this devotional.

October 2021 Inspire Newsletter

It is a new program year in The Salvation Army and this year’s theme is “Hope for the World.” How fitting of a theme for such a time as this.

Each issue of the Inspire Newsletter is going to focus on one symbol of hope. Did you know that red, orange and yellow are considered hopeful colors? This edition is all about the beautiful fall leaves that a lot of places get to enjoy. Included are some fall leaf craft ideas and a new feature of our newsletter, Bible trivia, and this month it is all about leaves.

The focus verse for this month is Romans 15:13 which says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Need previous issues of the INSPIRE Newsletter?  They can be found at the following links: September 2021August 2021July 2021June 2021May 2021, April 2021March 2021February 2021, January 2021 December 2020November 2020October 2020September 2020August 2020July 2020June 2020May 2020April 2020March 2020February 2020January 2020December 2019November 2019October 2019October 2018-September 2019