Author Archives: Forrest Krummel

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Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for Advent, 2017

Reading for First Sunday of Advent: Mark 13: 24-37. Text: From the fig tree learn its lesson…. (During the season of Advent I will post a daily devotion based on one of the assigned Lectionary readings. I will do my best to publish them each morning.)

A few days ago someone asked if I thought we are in “the last days”. What she meant was, “Do I think that the world is about to come to an end?”

No, I don’t. Despite all of the chaos going on around us, I don’t think that the world is coming to an end. Why? Because people who take Jesus seriously have always faced chaos and destruction. When we minister to the least, the last and the lost, the world has always found fault.

In today’s lesson Jesus told His disciples that in times of uncertainty they need to reflect on the lesson of the fig tree. When its shoots are seen, know that something new is about to happen, a new season is dawning.

In this season of Advent, remember the lesson of the fig tree. Look for where God is in the midst of the chaos & uncertainty. After all, the One that brought order out of a sea of chaos, and the One who brought Light into the Darkness of the world before the luminaries in the sky existed in Genesis 1, continues to bring order and light into this world. So, be alert. Be awake. God is in our midst doing a new thing.

Lord, let me catch a glimpse of grace, a sense of Your movement that is coming into this world. Amen.

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Glimpses of Grace Devotion for November 28, 2017

Many serious followers of Jesus are entering a spiritual time called Advent. It is a season of serious soul-searching, spiritual reflection. But it is also a time of fun and celebration as we prepare for Christmas.

One of the traditions of my family is something called the “Advent Wreath.” My wife made one of cloth many years ago, and it has been used in our household for as long as I can remember. But this year we have a new Advent wreath to mark off the days before Christmas. It is a handmade wreath constructed by our oldest granddaughter. She is only 10 years old. She used her own money to buy buttons, yarn and an assortment of candy to use on the wreath. With an embroidery hoop and a piece of cloth she drew a Christmas tree, sewed on buttons, and tied candy to the wreath’s buttons with strands of yarn. I can only imagine the time that she spent on the project. When she gave it to us at Thanksgiving I saw not only a granddaughter’s work of art but the embodiment of pure Love.

I suspect that that is really what Advent is about; opening ourselves to receive a Holy Love; a Love so great that the Creator of All that Was and Is and Will be became one of us and with us, a visible manifestation of an invisible holy truth. The heart of this season is not condemnation but salvation. As John wrote in the gospel that bears his name, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through Him. (3:17)

Each morning I will be able to take a piece of candy from the wreath and be reminded of the sweetest love of all; a forgiving, redeeming, restoring holy love. And that is a glimpse of grace.

Lord God, in this time of Advent preparation let me be ever thankful for your love that will not let me go. Amen.

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Glimpses of Grace for a Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2017

In a few hours my family will gather around a table with this centerpiece and celebrate Thanksgiving. The cornucopia made by my wife from the herbs on our garden remind me of the bounty bestowed upon us. The 106th Psalm reminds us to give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

While today has largely become a forgotten “secular holiday” sandwiched between the marketing behemoths of Halloween and Christmas, it maintains its “holy” vestige. Some families will seem incomplete because of loved ones not present. But the separation is only physical. Those who we love and loved are never really far from us. They are as close as a memory or a twinge in the heart.

God’s infinite love and mercy envelops all of us; Past, Present and Future, Near and Far. Our live have been intricately woven together in a weave that can never be torn apart. We are one with each other.

Yes, today give thanks to the Lord for his mercy endures forever.

Lord, I bow before you with few words, only a thankful heart. Amen.

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Glimpses of Grace for November 21, 2017

When I came home, what should greet me but packages left outside the front door of my house. Two were early arrival Christmas gifts and the other was something that we intend to give later.

As I carried these harbingers of the Christmas season into the house I thought about the gifts found in the Christmas story. There are the obvious gifts of the Magi, those travelers from the East who followed the Star in search of the Promised King. But there are also lesser recognized gifts; the visitation of the angel Gabriel to Mary, Gabriel telling Mary to visit her kinswoman Elizabeth for confirmation of her own pregnancy. Gabriel’s visit to Zachariah reminiscent of the Strangers’ visit to Abraham generations earlier. Jospeh’s dream telling him not to be afraid and the Mary’s Child was the longed for Holy One. Later, a warning in a dream sending him to Egypt.

So many unexpected and largely unrecognized gifts, each a glimpse of grace. I believe that God still sends gifts our way, packages on our doorsteps. They always come as a surprise. All we do is bring them into our heart’s home and open them.

Lord, thank you for Your many unrecognized and too often unappreciated gifts that flood our lives Daily. Give us humble and thankful hearts. Amen.

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Glimpses of Grace for November 20, 2017

A cornucopia reminds us of “bounty”. This season of Thanksgiving is a good time to step back from the hustle and bustle life and reflect upon the blessings that enrich our lives.

Some of us were blessed with loving parents who loved us with no strong strings attached. Others have been touched by a mentor or two, who saw something in us that no one else recognized. They encouraged us and believed in us more than we believed in ourselves. Still others of us have children and even grandchildren who are themselves a blessing.

We live in a land, while not perfect, gives us a freedom that is the envy of the world. In a few days we may share a meal with family and friends, or maybe help feed those who have hit one of life’s rough spots. In any case, we can be thankful.

In his letter to the Thessalonians the apostle encouraged serious Jesus followers “to be thankful in all circumstances (5:18)

Over the next five days I challenge you to write down three different things for which you are thankful. Make it one of the first things you do in the morning. And at the end of each day, write down one thing that went extremely well.

If you take up this challenge I believe that you will see glimpses of Grace that you have never seen before.

Lord God, help me nurture a thankful heart so that I can see You more clearly and be a Glimpse of Grace to others. Amen.

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Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for November 16, 2017

Waiting for Your Child

Like many parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and older siblings, I waited on an early winter afternoon for “my child” to be dismissed from school. As I stood on the sidewalk buffeted by a North wind I remembered one of Jesus’ parables.

It was a parable about a father and his two sons. The younger son made the mistakes of youthfulness and eventually “hit bottom”. It was then that he “came to himself”, remembering who he was; who he really was. He was his father’s son. Returning home he saw his father waiting for him. The father had been there all along, waiting.

I believe that God waits for us to remember not only who we are but more importantly, Whose we are. In God’s patient waiting we see a glimpse of Grace.

Lord, thank you for Your patient dealings with us whereby You continually teach us Your Way–the way of Truth and real Life. Amen.

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Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for November 14,2017

” Whenever I come into this place I feel the Presence of God,” someone said to me a few years ago as she walked to a yoga class. Often she would quietly sit in the sanctuary after class.

We need a sense of Awe in our lives. Especially in times like now. We need a sense of the Holy to keep us grounded, to remind us that we are the creature not the Creator.

Sometimes this sense of the Holy, this sense of Awe comes at seemingly serendipitous times like the first time a new parent feels the breath of their child upon the cheek or when we see a loved one pass peacefully from this Existence into the next. One moment they are here and the next, they are somewhere where we have yet to go. Such moments are a glimpse of grace if only we had the eyes to see.

Lord, I am surrounded by Your grace. Awaken me to a sense of Wonder and Awe so that I can see the Holy in my midst. Amen.

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Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for November 12,2017

My 8 year old grandson recently asked if he could light one of our scented candles. As I went to get a lighter he stopped me. “I want to use a match.” “Have you ever used a match?” I asked. “No.” “Well you cannot light a candle or a match without some adult around.” “I know.” 

Remembering when I was 8 years old, I retrieved a book of matches. “You have to be careful because you can easily burn yourself. If you do, it’ll sting for a couple of days.” He nodded and tried to strike the match. On his fourth try and third match, success! As he brought the match to the candle wick he burnt his finger. He quickly blew out the match and set it down. A couple of seconds later I heard water running in a sink. I went to investigate what was happening and saw him holding his finger under the water. 

“Using cold water?” I asked. He nodded. “Let me see your finger.” No mark or redness but I could tell that he wanted to cry. “It’s okay to cry, you know. If something hurts you can cry.” And he did. 

In his first letter to the Thessalonians Paul wrote to a grieving community of faith, “We would not have you ignorant, brothers and sister, lest you should grieve for your loved ones who have died as those who have no hope…” Paul did not tell the community not to grieve. If something hurts, it’s okay to cry. But our tears are not those of hopelessness for Death cannot have the last word for we who take Jesus seriously. We are an Easter people! 

“Tears may tarry for the night,” the Psalmist wrote, “but joy comes in the morning.” In your night of tears may you look forward to the morning and see a glimpse of grace. 

Lord God, sometime life simply hurts. Bless my tears and the tears of those who weep, no matter what the cause. Give us a vision that sees beyond this world of sight and sound so that we can catch glimpses of the eternal. Amen. 

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Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for November 12,2017

My 8 year old grandson recently asked if he could light one of our scented candles. As I went to get a lighter he stopped me. “I want to use a match.” “Have you ever used a match?” I asked. “No.” “Well you cannot light a candle or a match without some adult around.” “I know.” 

Remembering when I was 8 years old, I retrieved a book of matches. “You have to be careful because you can easily burn yourself. If you do, it’ll sting for a couple of days.” He nodded and tried to strike the match. On his fourth try and third match, success! As he brought the match to the candle wick he burnt his finger. He quickly blew out the match and set it down. A couple of seconds later I heard water running in a sink. I went to investigate what was happening and saw him holding his finger under the water. 

“Using cold water?” I asked. He nodded. “Let me see your finger.” No mark or redness but I could tell that he wanted to cry. “It’s okay to cry, you know. If something hurts you can cry.” And he did. 

In his first letter to the Thessalonians Paul wrote to a grieving community of faith, “We would not have you ignorant, brothers and sister, lest you should grieve for your loved ones who have died as those who have no hope…” Paul did not tell the community not to grieve. If something hurts, it’s okay to cry. But our tears are not those of hopelessness for Death cannot have the last word for we who take Jesus seriously. We are an Easter people! 

“Tears may tarry for the night,” the Psalmist wrote, “but joy comes in the morning.” In your night of tears may you look forward to the morning and see a glimpse of grace. 

Lord God, sometime life simply hurts. Bless my tears and the tears of those who weep, no matter what the cause. Give us a vision that sees beyond this world of sight and sound so that we can catch glimpses of the eternal. Amen. 

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Glimpses of Grace Daily Devotion for November 11, 2017

A World War One Monument in a Church of Scotland churchyard, Melrose, Scotland. 

11.11.11

For one generation those numbers are as memorable as 11.22.63 for another and 9.11 are to still new generations. 

11.11.11 stands for the 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month; the time when an armistice ended “the war to end all wars”.  Unfortunately that hope was not realized as lessons from the past we’re not taken to heart and new generations had to learn again for themselves. 

On a recent trip to Scotland I was struck by the silent monuments that rose from the earth in nearly every church yard and town square, silent remembrances of those who died in The Great War. It is said that a whole generation was lost.  The world was forever changed as humanity began to see, really see, the depth of humanity’s inhumanity. 

When I was a school-child November 11th was still called “Armistice Day”, marking the end of that great conflict. That is no longer the case. Poppies are still worn, but with new generations the date has slowly morphed into “Veterans’ Day”. There are still parades, but they are much smaller now. 

Today I will remember not only the veterans who served with honor as well as the active duty military personnel and their families. But I will also prayerfully read and reflect upon the vision of the ancient prophet Isaiah.

And God shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Isaiah 2:4). Amen. 

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