Psalm 127:3 reminds us that 鈥淐hildren are a heritage of the Lord.鈥� Children, we know, are indeed a divine gift. The bonds between children and parents are incredibly important, even if they are not always the easiest to maintain. I had a few official roles as president during Family Weekend, but mainly I had the pleasure and privilege to observe. Watching our students get recognized for academic achievements, watching our students excel on the fields of competition, and watching our students profess their Christian faith in front of their families gave me鈥ell, goosebumps. For those of us who have committed themselves to a life in higher education, there simply is little better than watching the faces of parents as they see their college student grow, mature, and flourish.

Family Weekend 2024 began on Friday with our Academic Recognition ceremony in historic Bost Gym. Success in the classroom is the core of the university enterprise, and we intentionally began the multiday festivities with a focus on scholastic performance. At that event, certificates of achievement were distributed to all students who had secured a place on the President鈥檚 List (GPA of 4.0) or on the Dean鈥檚 List (3.70 to 3.99 GPA). There was no shortage of smiles from parents capturing the moment with cell phone cameras. Bravo, Bulldog scholars!

The other bookend event of the weekend that made the greatest impression on me was our Sunday morning Worship at The Webb. With the elements outside conspiring鈥攗nsuccessfully鈥攁gainst a large crowd at Dover Chapel, we filled the pews to hear powerful personal testimony from GWU undergraduate Anna Sample. We had our spirits uplifted by the music of Tanner Hendricks and his accompanying worship band. And we heard a wonderful message from Neal Payne, Associate Minister to the University for Student Ministries. Neal鈥檚 focus that morning was straightforward鈥e delivered a message of encouragement. That encouragement transcended the negativity and divisiveness of other loud voices in our world, and we all needed to hear that. Recalling the best professional advice he鈥檇 ever received during his years in the ministry, Neal drew upon family鈥攈is father鈥攚ho had once emphasized to him 鈥淭o remember who you work for.鈥� What a great takeaway for all Christians鈥e should all remember that it鈥檚 our Heavenly Father for whom we ultimately work. Great message, great testimony, great music, great service.

I hope that everyone who came to campus to join us for Family Weekend enjoyed it as much as Kim and I did. Our own children have finished their university studies, married, and moved away. It was good for us to live vicariously through the glimpses of love and togetherness on display these three days at GWU. I say we do it again!

Dr. William M. Downs
President

The post Family Weekend:聽 Making New Memories at GWU appeared first on 澳门六合彩高手 University.

Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Samuel 1:1-18; Hebrews 9:1-14

Welcome Christmas! Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This is a day of joy and a day of majesty. It is our day to magnify His great and holy name. Glory to God!

As you conclude the 2023澳门六合彩高手 Advent devotional with this entry for December 25, I invite you to reflect on a few key themes that may get overlooked in the narrative of Jesus鈥檚 birth: power, position, and humility.

First, power. When we think of the lineage of the 鈥淜ing of Kings,鈥� we assume something akin to royal blood. Yet, Mary was anything but a powerful, wealthy, or ostentatious member of her community. She held no privileged station. There was no hubris in her. Instead, Mary professed, 鈥淢y spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me . . . he has scattered the proud . . . he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate鈥� (Luke 1:46-55). Mary marvels at the unexpected mercy God has shown her by choosing her to be the mother to Jesus.

Position, like power, means little to our God. His message about rich and poor, strong and weak, gluttonous and hungry reappears so many times in the Bible, including in the story of another baby鈥檚 birth. Remember Hannah who was the childless second wife of Elkanah, who was mocked by others for being barren? Pushed to tears and downhearted, Hannah poured out her soul in prayer: 鈥淟ord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant鈥檚 misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life鈥� (1 Samuel 1:11). Her prayer granted, Hannah gave birth to Samuel who would become a prophet. Hannah made good on her promise to hand over her son so that he might serve a merciful God.

To continue the theme, it makes little difference to our God whether we worship in ornate, grandiose structures or in the most modest of settings. After all, Jesus the Messiah was born under the stars and laid in a simple Bethlehem manger because there was no room for Mary in town. There could have been no humbler a setting for a birth that would change the course of human history. The physical sanctuaries in which we pray, the symbols we recognize, and the ceremonies we follow are no remedy to sin. Jesus, the baby born in Bethlehem, would ultimately enter 鈥渢he Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption鈥� (Hebrews 9:12). Indeed, he would teach us that the path to God鈥檚 plan follows 鈥渢he greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands鈥� (Hebrews 9:11).

澳门六合彩高手 family, celebrate this Christmas knowing that the circumstances of our Savior鈥檚 birth matter. Celebrate this Christmas knowing that our God favors the humble servant.

Dr. William M. Downs
澳门六合彩高手 University President

The post 2023澳门六合彩高手 Advent Devotion: Day 23 appeared first on 澳门六合彩高手 University.

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Luke 1:26-38; Romans 16:25-27

During Advent our minds are oriented toward the past as we remember the birth of our Savior, and our minds are oriented toward the future as we eagerly anticipate His return. There is a rhythm of looking back and looking ahead in this season.

As we read the Bible in the present, we find that God鈥檚 people also had a historical rhythm to their lives.
They often looked back and looked ahead. Indeed, the story of the Bible itself has a distinct rhythm. In His story, we see God making promises and keeping promises. The promises within the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7) are particularly significant to the Israelites, and they are significant to us this Christmas season. God promises David that his kingdom will stand forever and his dynasty will be permanent (2 Samuel 7:16). God鈥檚 people longed for the day when that descendant would appear. They had a hopeful expectation in the arrival of the Messiah, descended from King David鈥檚 family line, the Son of David. The Son born to Mary and Joseph fully and perfectly fulfilled the promise made to David.

As you read the lectionary texts for today, you will find that Davidic Covenant. You will also read the promise from the angel Gabriel to Mary that Jesus will 鈥渂e given the throne of His father David鈥� (Luke 1:32). Furthermore, you will see the wisdom of God weaving this grand story together throughout human history (Romans 16:27).

Within these Scripture selections you鈥檒l find at least five rhythms that emerge:

1. God is active.
2. God is with us.
3. God saves us.
4. God keeps His promises.
5. God gives us relief.

God has made a provision for our sins in the Son of David, the Son of God, Jesus. Jesus was sent to save us from our greatest enemies, sin and death. From the beginning, humanity has needed rescue, and God has faithfully stepped in to save us. In fact, He has stepped toward us perfectly in Jesus. He is the 鈥渞oot and descendant of David鈥� (Revelation 22:16), and He provides the relief and salvation we so desperately need. As we sing the memorable hymns associated with this season, and as we collectively celebrate the birth of our Savior, perhaps we can commit another line to memory, one from James Montgomery鈥檚 hymn 鈥淗ail to the Lord鈥檚 Anointed鈥�: 鈥淗ail to the Lord鈥檚 Anointed, great David鈥檚 greater Son!鈥�

Josh Parrott
Vice President and University Chaplain for Christian Life and Service

The post 2023澳门六合彩高手 Advent Devotion: Day 22 appeared first on 澳门六合彩高手 University.

Judges 13:2-24; John 7:40-52

Advent is the time for all of us to reflect on how we can prepare our hearts and homes for Christ鈥檚 birth in today鈥檚 world. These two passages give us guidance on how to be prepared.

In the Judges passage, Samson, like Jesus, had the announcement of his birth come from a messenger from God. Manoah, Samson鈥檚 father, seemed skeptical when his wife told him she had been visited by an angel of the Lord and told that, even though she was barren, she was going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. Manoah was skeptical and prayed to the Lord: 鈥淧ardon your servant, Lord. I beg you to let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born鈥� (13:8). The angel returned and spoke to Manoah and his wife and told them, 鈥淵our wife must do all that I have told her. She must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, nor drink any wine or other fermented drink nor eat anything unclean. She must do everything I have commanded her鈥� (13:13-14).

Since Manoah鈥檚 wife prepared for Samson鈥檚 birth as instructed and honored God鈥檚 commandments after his birth, Samson grew to be a strong man who saved Israel from the Philistines. Like Jesus, his life had to be sacrificed to complete his mission.

In the John passage, Jesus is preaching to the crowd at the Festival of Tabernacles. The Jewish leaders order the temple guards to bring Jesus to them. While the guards are at the festival, they hear Jesus preaching and they hear members of the crowd saying, 鈥淗ow can the Messiah come from Galilee? Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David鈥檚 descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?鈥� Others, however, believed the scriptures and believed that Jesus was the Messiah.

The guards did not arrest Jesus and they returned to their leaders. The leaders were furious, but the guards said, 鈥淣o one ever spoke the way this man does.鈥� The leaders told the guards they had been deceived by Jesus, just like Jesus鈥� followers. But Nicodemus spoke up saying, 鈥淒oes our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?鈥� (7:51).

Both passages show us how easy it is to be skeptical. As we celebrate Advent with our families, let us remember the scriptures that tell us all that Jesus is coming soon.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you so much for all of the wonderful blessings that you have chosen to bestow upon us. Thank you for a strong faith that makes us faithful to you and to believe that Jesus Christ is our personal savior. Thank you for this Advent season and the anticipation that Jesus is coming soon. We love you, Lord. Amen.

Gary Smith
Chair, Board of Trustees

The post 2023澳门六合彩高手 Advent Devotion: Day 21 appeared first on 澳门六合彩高手 University.

2 Samuel 6:12-19; Hebrews 1:5-14

鈥淒avid, dressed in a linen priestly vest, danced with all his strength before the Lord. This is how David and the entire house of Israel brought up the Lord鈥檚 chest with shouts and trumpet blasts鈥� (2 Samuel 6:14-15 CEB).

For most people, the seasons of Advent and Christmas are joyous occasions. There is a palpable sense of excitement in the air as we decorate our homes, select the perfect gifts, bake special goodies, plan family visits, and more. In our homes and in our churches we are surrounded by symbols of the season that conjure memories that often only peek out during this season. Symbols are important to us, and that is precisely what we read about in 2 Samuel 6 as David accompanies the ark of the LORD into Jerusalem. The ark is a physical symbol or representation of God鈥檚 presence, revealed to Moses in the wilderness. In our Old Testament passage for today, the arrival of this important symbol is celebrated.

We find David and the whole house of Israel dancing, shouting, and sounding trumpets to acknowledge total devotion to God. The excitement was unmistakable. However, David鈥檚 public display of devotion was not popular with everyone. Verse 16 reveals that Michal, one of his wives, was ashamed of the way in which he was behaving.

How do you relate to this story? How do you respond to God鈥檚 presence in your life? While we do not confine our understanding of God鈥檚 presence to a box or chest as the Israelites did, we must confront the reality that our acknowledgment of God鈥檚 presence isn鈥檛 always on display. Do you celebrate God鈥檚 presence with joy like David, or do you stand back and mock those who celebrate God like Michal?

These verses only show a portion of the story, but it is the portion that gives honor to the joyous occurrence of God鈥檚 presence. Are you rejoicing in God鈥檚 presence with as much attention and devotion as you give to the expectations of the Christmas season? The sense of excitement that our seasonal symbols generate should mirror our joyous celebration of the birth of Christ. God鈥檚 presence was now in human form! As we move closer to Christmas Day, consider what measures you need to take to come before the presence of God with all your strength. Your joy should be evident to all. Give thanks and celebrate with all that you are and all that you have. As each verse of the Advent carol O Come, O Come, Emmanuel commands, 鈥淩ejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel has come to Thee, O Israel.鈥�

Kelly Settlemyre
School of Divinity Student

The post 2023澳门六合彩高手 Advent Devotion: Day 20 appeared first on 澳门六合彩高手 University.

Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26; 2 Samuel 6:1-11; Hebrews 1:1-4

I am a huge Star Wars fan. Though I will always prefer the originals, I am enjoying the serials on Disney+. My favorite, by far, is the Mandalorian. It chronicles the adventures of a Mandalorian bounty hunter, Din Djarin, and his relationship with the 鈥淐hild,鈥� who is of the same species as Jedi Master Yoda. As Din Djarin and the 鈥淐hild鈥� evade others seeking the youngling鈥檚 special abilities, they encounter others forging lives for themselves after the fall of the Galactic Empire.

One such character is named Kuiil, who belongs to the dwarf-like race called Ugnaughts. He tells Din that he was a slave to the Galactic Empire and worked hard for the opportunity to build a life after earning his freedom. He was a hard worker who spoke directly. He valued simplicity in speech. He wasted little time arguing. When he was ready to end the conversation, he did so emphatically with the words, 鈥淚 have spoken.鈥�

Like Kuill, the author of Hebrews wastes few words and little time at the outset of his magnificent sermon. I can hear the passion in the author鈥檚 voice as this masterpiece is proclaimed to a struggling congregation. I can feel the eyes of numerous congregants fixated on the proclaimer. God has spoken through a Son! Listen! Pay attention!

The author鈥檚 claim that God has spoken through a Son is truly a revolutionary one. It is one that draws attention to the Son over against the previous ways God has spoken. Yes, God has spoken through prophets. God has spoken throughout history. God has spoken in various ways. But 鈥渋n these last days,鈥� Jesus is the definitive word.

Why? As the beginning and ending of God鈥檚 story, this Son reveals God鈥檚 character. If we want to know who God is, we must look no further than Jesus.

When Jesus touches the outcast leper, we see God. When Jesus touched the widow of Nain鈥檚 son鈥檚 funeral bier, giving life to the dead, we see God. When Jesus ate with Levi the tax collector, we see God. When Jesus intervenes to save the woman caught in adultery, we see God. When Jesus proclaims parables of the Kingdom from a boat on the Sea of Galilee or instructions on how to pray from the mountainside, we see God. When we see Jesus dying on a Roman cross, we see God. And when we see the risen Lord meet Mary Magdalene in the garden, we see God.

And though the words of the prophets and the messages of the angels continue to inspire, we must pay attention to Jesus. For Jesus is the one through whom God has spoken definitively. Through the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, God has revealed that he loves us, forgives us, and gives life, both eternal and abundant. We simply must pay attention and trust that in Jesus, God has truly spoken.

Timothy A. Marsh
School of Divinity Student

The post 2023澳门六合彩高手 Advent Devotion: Day 19 appeared first on 澳门六合彩高手 University.

Malachi 3:16-4:6; Mark 9:9-13

I believe that the prophet鈥檚 words in Malachi 3 can bring us a lot of comfort at this time of year when we celebrate God鈥檚 love for us that was so great and extensive that He sent His son Jesus to be God with us. In Malachi 3:16 we see that 鈥渢he Lord took notice and listened鈥� to those who feared Him and were speaking to each other. I am not sure what you have going on right now in the circumstances of your life, and I know this world is a broken and rebellious world, but I can take complete comfort and have complete peace and complete joy because I know that no matter what, God is taking notice and listening.

The text then says later in the same passage, talking about those who fear the Lord, that 鈥渢hey will be mine, my own possession on the day I am preparing.鈥� We can take comfort in the fact that we are His and we belong to Him and that He will take care of us now and in the future. Jesus Christ, as our bridegroom, is now preparing a place for us, getting it ready for the wedding feast and the consummation of His Kingdom, and because of that, no matter what is happening around us we can know that we belong to Him; we are in His family; we are His sons and daughters and He takes notice of us, listens to us, sees us, cares for us, and is preparing a place for us. He tells us that He will have compassion on us and so we can trust in Him as we walk through whatever life throws our way.

It is because of Him that we are made righteous, that we are justified, and that one day we will be glorified and saved on the day of the Lord. There is coming a day when the hearts of parents are turned to their children and the hearts of children are turned to their parents. There will be a day when there will be no more sin, no more sickness, no more sadness, no more brokenness, no more death, and a day when we will experience complete restoration of our relationship with God, humanity, and His creation. He sends us His Spirit to help us and guide us and lead us and comfort us in the present and as a guarantee of what is coming for us in the future. He is indeed Emmanuel, God with us, and will be until the very end of the age.

Matt Alley
School of Divinity Graduate

The post 2023澳门六合彩高手 Advent Devotion: Day 18 appeared first on 澳门六合彩高手 University.

2 Kings 2:9-22; Acts 3:17-4:4

鈥淐ome, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in thee.鈥� These words by the hymn writer Charles Wesley often ring in our ears and leap from our lips during the first few Sundays of Advent. The scriptures promise that the people of God who are redeemed and set free are given rest with the coming of the long-expected Christ. Christ who brings rest is the Prince of Peace referenced by Isaiah 9. The peace that Christ brings is one that supersedes darkness, political division, oppression, and war. The babe born in Bethlehem will supplant these things with joy, might, peace, and righteous rule forever. This glorious reign will not only be in place forever, but this transcendent peace will zealously be accomplished by the sovereign ruler of all.

As 21^st century followers of Jesus, our minds and hearts are often fraught with complex concerns and anxiety that are born out of the negative effects of the fall. Our world is filled with uncertainty and pain, and we struggle to reconcile the heartache of the world with the peace of the glorious kingdom. We experience a sense of longing, a longing for peaceful rest. That longing within us comes to fruition at the revelation of Christ. Wesley鈥檚 hymn text explains that we have been released from these fears and sins, ushering us into release and rest in the Prince of Peace. In Paul鈥檚 letter to the church in Rome, he reminds the followers, 鈥渟ince we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.鈥� This peace is one of right standing, no longer being at enmity with God because of our sin but at peace with God because of Christ. This peace means we no longer war against God as enemies, but we are restored.

During this Advent season, when we are preparing our hearts, minds, and spirits once again to celebrate the long-expected Jesus, I pray we will take stock of our position in Christ. We have been set free from our fears and sins; we鈥檝e been delivered from darkness and oppression, leading us to peaceful rest. Through the lens of Isaiah 9 and Romans 5, may we reflect on the peace offered to us because we have assumed the righteousness of Christ. Though all things around us are abuzz with activity and with the best of intentions we are working feverishly to provide the memorable Christmas for ourselves and family, Wesley encourages us to find rest in these days. As we move toward that Holy Night, may we seek to take every thought and moment captive, making them obedient unto Christ so that we can savor the peace and rest we have in the Prince of Peace, our long-expected Jesus.

Steve Sellers
School of Divinity Student

The post 2023澳门六合彩高手 Advent Devotion: Day 17 appeared first on 澳门六合彩高手 University.

1 Kings 18:1-18; Psalm 125; Ephesians 6:10-17

We recognize the season of Advent as being a season of anticipation and preparation for what God is doing and the miraculous event that is the birth of Jesus. So, we prepare. We clean and decorate our homes for guests; we attend special advent services at church; we shop, and we do everything we can to fit everything into our schedule. In this preparation, we often prepare for the singular event of Christmas or a specific gathering, because we’ve been told over and over that this season is for preparation. But as we get everything ready, we often prepare for the wrong things. In preparing for one day, we do not truly prepare for what lies ahead. Advent is the beginning of our entire liturgical calendar, the start of a new year of possibilities. We must prepare for more than a day or a singular celebration; we ought
to prepare for everything that lies ahead.

In 1 Kings, Obadiah was actively working for God and God’s people, preparing for what they needed to be protected. In Ephesians, the people of God are instructed to prepare by putting on the whole armor of God, encasing themselves in the Lord, allowing God to be their preparedness and security. The Psalm reminds us that we need to prepare to trust in the Lord because the Lord surrounds His people but the wicked cannot remain. In these scriptures and throughout the biblical text, we find repeatedly that God reminds the people of their safety and protection, that they are set to do God’s work and that all they must do is trust and prepare.

I find the feeling of warmth and being surrounded frequently during Advent. I find in working with children that watching them experience the traditions of the season for the first few times allows me to remember the comfort and the warmth of many traditions. As we light candles on Christmas Eve, I find myself looking around at the children of our church and noticing them surrounded by warmth and light. It serves as a reminder of the community that we carry that often feels closer during the Advent season. These simple moments when we are reminded of community mean more than preparing the cleanest house, the best gifts, or the busiest schedules.

This season, and throughout this year, rather than worshiping the false gods of busyness and perfection, resist the urge to be all that you think you must be and instead worship the God who can guide you into who He intends you to be. Allow God to surround you as he has surrounded his people throughout history. Allow the Holy Spirit to be within you, becoming a vessel preparing for the complex and holy work ahead. Trust that the Lord goes before you and will keep and guide you. Just as we anticipate the birth of the Christ child, may we anticipate the continued work of God and wonder what beautiful plans may lie ahead.

Kristina Kyles
School of Divinity Student

The post 2023澳门六合彩高手 Advent Devotion: Day 16 appeared first on 澳门六合彩高手 University.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Isaiah speaks about making right that which is not good, about turning negative into positive, and about creating that good that can repair much. It is about comfort and joy and the promise 鈥渢o comfort all who mourn鈥� (61:2).

It brings to mind an incident that has stuck with me. When I was in graduate school in my 20s, I found
myself traveling overnight by Amtrak from Chicago to Mississippi. My car wasn鈥檛 reliable, and I couldn鈥檛 afford an airline ticket. I was sitting next to an older woman. We said hello, asked how far we were going, and then I nodded off to sleep. Sometime in the night I felt her touching my shoulder to wake me up. She pointed out the window at the bright lights of the Memphis bridge over the Mississippi River and the Christmas decorations we were passing. 鈥淟ook at that,鈥� she said. I looked out in silence at the beauty of the lights shining in the dark night. I was immediately struck by the kindness this stranger was showing me, to make sure I didn鈥檛 miss seeing something that she found beautiful. It was a spectacular sight on a long ride through darkness. She wanted to share that joyful moment with me, a person she didn鈥檛 know or would ever see again. John speaks of bringing good news, 鈥渂earing witness of . . . light鈥� (1:8) that we 鈥渕ight believe鈥� (1:7).

I have always remembered that moment of small kindness. It speaks to the little things we do that unbeknownst to us are needed by someone else in that moment. It speaks to our desire to see others partake in joy. And it reminds me that we never know how our actions will affect others.

The Advent season is a time we often strive to bring joy to others, through homecooked meals, visits to family, giving of presents, or serving community. We can build good, bring comfort and joy, even in the most difficult times. We don鈥檛 need to look far to see the many problems of the world. These scriptures remind me how I can bear witness to the good that is also all around us and strive to bring that joy to others in this season and always.

This stranger on the train would likely be surprised that I still think of her and her kind action of caring. Merry Christmas! I wish you all joy in the many ways we share our kindness.

Karen Aubrey
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

The post 2023澳门六合彩高手 Advent Devotion: Day 15 appeared first on 澳门六合彩高手 University.