DECEMBER 21
DAILY DEVOTIONS
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. In him was life, and the life was the light of all people." - John 1:1-4 (NRSV)
Johns' birth story of Jesus is contained in the first chapter of his gospel. John wrote his gospel years after Matthew, Mark, and Luke, were already written. He did not want to repeat what had already been stated by others so he concentrated on writing about matters that had not yet been recorded and on finding ways to explain the meaning and importance of Jesus. John's story of the Incarnation or "Birth of God" in the infant Jesus is written from the viewpoint of an Apostle who was well educated and expert in both Greek philosophy and the Greek language. John sees the incarnation of Christ as a historical reality that also brought the birth of God's Word (or logos in Greek) into the darkness of our lives and world. He sees Christ was present with God at creation and so integral a part of God that the two are one in many aspects.
Because Christ was a partner in creating life at the beginning, Jesus is also the source of true life now for all people and the only one who can bring God's healing light to us today. Jesus is not only the Source of life but the Creator of new life. When God created, he made something from nothing. Because we are created beings, we have no power apart from God. Realistically then, you exist only because God made you. Yet you also have very special gifts because God gave them to you. With Christ's life and light within, you are someone valuable and unique. Yet apart from Christ you remain in the darkness and can see nothing. From John's viewpoint, if you try to live without him the logos or Christ, you will be nullifying the purpose for which you were created. If you feel that your life is too complex for God to understand, remember God created the universe, and nothing is too difficult for him. God created you! He is still alive today. Rejoice this Advent! God's love and power through Christ is bigger than any problem you can face.
Prayer:
Jesus,
May your light shine in my darkness.
Amen.
Meditation For The Day:
Darkness can never remove God's light.
Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Fall Renewal
Paperback – August 23, 2017 by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author)
Used with permission of the family of the late Rev. Dr. Mary B. Johnson.
Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson, D.Min., (1942-2018)
Mary was Ordained in 1975.
She served both as a Parish Pastor and in multiple Specialized Ministry Settings.
She worked on the Clinical Staff of New England Memorial Hospital and Middleton Pastoral
Counseling Center in Massachusetts and was a Director of Green Pastures Counseling Centers in N.H.
She was a state Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor,
Nationally Board-Certified Counselor (N.C.C.), and Nationally Certified Pastoral Counselor (AAPC)
and held certification as a Clinical Member of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (A.C.P.E.).
She received a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Psychology and Clinical Studies
from Andover Newton in Newton, MA.
Dr. Johnson also founded Good News Specialized Ministries, Inc.
This unique ministry provided education and Clinical Christian Counseling to thousands of people over the decades and trained numerous Clinical Counselors and Counseling Ministers while offering weekly non-denominational worship services to the community for more than 20 years.
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I had the honor and privilege of working with Pastor Arnie Johnson
when I served as the pastor for the Richmond Community United Methodist Church in Richmond, NH from 2019 - 2022.
I personally have been deeply touched by Mary's writings. Her family has graciously allowed me to share them with you. - Pastor Sharon Sargent
"I always considered my ministry at Richmond as a shared ministry. Mary had the expertise that helped me function as well as I did. I received critiques on the way home after the services. I finally realized that I may have “arrived” when one day she was pleased with my performance with no critique! That took several years! So, I would love it if you would use the picture of the two of us and mention Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson as my spouse and partner in ministry, and she continued to be until the day she died, four days before the end of my appointment at Richmond." - Pastor Arnie Johnson
Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson is the author of eight other published books including:
"Activating The Power Of Pastoral Care: A Team Approach";
"Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter Renewal"(Vol.1-4);
"Flying Free: Transforming Grief and Loss into Renewal";
Following The Angel Trail: In The Steps Of Jesus";
"Love In Action: The Healing Heritage Of The Counseling Ministry Of The Church";
"Visions Of Hope: Voices Of Americana";
"Healing Streams: Journeys Of Healing".
She has also been published in the AAPC professional Journal "Journeys" and in the Keene Sentinel.