Emmanuel Lutheran Church

December 22

Brothers and Sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 1 Corinthians 1:26-27

I am chosen?

Me?

I was born in Missouri, for Pete's sake! I know God knows this. I am the biggest worrier ever! I worry about tomorrow. I worry about today. I worry about yesterday. I even find myself worrying about last week, which I have already worried about. And did I happen to mention next month's worries? (Right now, for instance, I am worrying about this devotion.)

I worry about this whole "chosen" thing—a lot.

I am not in any way prepared to be chosen. To be chosen means you aren't volunteering.  I don't have a say in God's plan. I must hang on for this ride and trust his plan for me. I must trust in his will completely, without hesitation. I know this in my heart, but not so much in my mind. At these times, and there are a lot of times, I remember what I was, who I am.

Then God does something extraordinary: he reminds me of what he has made me in Christ.

"This is my daughter, whom I love; with her I am well pleased." He has worked it all out for me according to his will.  (Ephesians 1:11) He has set his course before me to follow. My God and Savior said that I am his chosen instrument to proclaim his name.  (Acts 9:15) As my days on this earth dwindle, I am blessed to be a wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend, an aunt.  All these roles allow me to serve him, to further his kingdom. My life will never be without worries, because I am presently of this earth. But God has chosen this Lutheran chick, born in Missouri, to shame the wise and strong. So I bow my head and heart at his manger, praising his holy name and saying: "Not my will, but yours."

Prayer:   He never shall forsake His flock,
                  His chosen generation;
                  He is their refuge and their rock,
                  Their peace and their salvation.
                  As with a mother's tender hand,
                  He leads His own, His chosen band:
                  To God all praise and glory!
                            (Sing Praise to God the Highest Good, LSB 819:4)

Contributed by Sonya Eggold

 The Yule Log

In 2011, the winter solstice occurs on December 22—today. At one time, winter solstice and Christmas customs always included the burning of the yule log. The flames of the log symbolized the sun's return as they brought warmth and cheer to homes. Yule log rituals were elaborate and strictly observed.

A proper log was to come from one's own land or a neighbor's. It was to be decorated with greens and taken inside amid great ceremony on Christmas Eve.

The first step in lighting the yule log was fetching a piece of last year's log, which had been preserved to protect the house from lightning and fire. This was now used to light the new log. Once lit, the log had to burn for 12 hours. As it burned, people told stories, drank cider, and watched the flickering shadows for signs of what the future might hold.