Daily Devotional - Advent Church Boca Raton, Palm Beach County

July 1, 2025

Posted on Jun 30, 2025 CATEGORIES: General

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” – 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV)

In the United States, we are blessed with the freedom to gather publicly, read Scripture, pray aloud, and speak the name of Jesus without fear. While we often take this for granted, many around the world risk persecution for the same liberties. This week, as we celebrate Independence Day, let’s pause to appreciate the rare and precious gift of religious freedom. It allows us to teach our children about God, attend church services, and live out our faith openly.

But beyond national rights, this verse reminds us that our deepest freedom is spiritual. Through Jesus Christ, we are set free from sin, shame, and the chains of this world. The Spirit of the Lord brings a freedom no government can grant and no enemy can take away. This freedom brings peace to our hearts and purpose to our lives.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for the freedom to worship You openly. Help me never to take it for granted. Let Your Spirit guide me in living freely for You each day, unashamed and unafraid. Thank You for the greater freedom You offer, freedom from sin, guilt, and fear. Teach me to walk boldly in that truth.

Partnering Together,

Shahna Clark

June 30, 2025

Posted on Jun 30, 2025 CATEGORIES: General

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” – 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV)

In the United States, we are blessed with the freedom to gather publicly, read Scripture, pray aloud, and speak the name of Jesus without fear. While we often take this for granted, many around the world risk persecution for the same liberties. This week, as we celebrate Independence Day, let’s pause to appreciate the rare and precious gift of religious freedom. It allows us to teach our children about God, attend church services, and live out our faith openly.

But beyond national rights, this verse reminds us that our deepest freedom is spiritual. Through Jesus Christ, we are set free from sin, shame, and the chains of this world. The Spirit of the Lord brings a freedom no government can grant and no enemy can take away. This freedom brings peace to our hearts and purpose to our lives.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for the freedom to worship You openly. Help me never to take it for granted. Let Your Spirit guide me in living freely for You each day, unashamed and unafraid. Thank You for the greater freedom You offer, freedom from sin, guilt, and fear. Teach me to walk boldly in that truth.

Partnering Together,

Shahna Clark

June 27, 2025

Posted on Jun 26, 2025 CATEGORIES: General

What a wonderful week celebrating the friendship of God. We have learned that God is a friend who is real; God is a friend who loves; God is a friend we can trust; and God is a friend forever. This is our final day of VBS and we are reminded that God is a friend for everyone!

After Jesus returned to heaven, his followers knew they couldn’t keep the amazing news of God’s Son to themselves! A man named Paul devoted himself to traveling throughout the Mediterranean and Asia to let everyone know about Jesus. Paul wanted the world to know that Jesus—God’s Son—had died, risen, and would give eternal life to all who believed. This good news meant life for Jews, non-Jews, people who believed in false gods—everyone!

During his first missionary journey, Paul met a group of women gathered near a river for prayer. These women believed in the one true God, but they hadn’t heard about Jesus. Paul’s words had a profound impact on one woman in particular, Lydia. This business woman insisted that she and her entire household get baptized! Because of Paul’s message, she became the first Christian in Europe, and her home became one of the first churches.

So much seems set out to divide us today. We tend to compartmentalize people by race, political party, church denomination, “pro” or “anti” this-and-that—the list is endless. As a result, we may view people in groups that we are (or aren’t) part of; and too often, people view Christians as exclusive, seeking to keep people out. Yet God loves everyone! Jesus died for everyone! A friendship with God is a possibility for everyone! No one is left out or excluded from a friendship with God! How freeing…and unifying!

Do you truly view ALL people in the world as those God dearly and desperately loves? Paul sailed to new lands to be sure everyone, including a business woman named Lydia, knew the good news of Jesus! NO ONE should be left out of God’s loving friendship. Who can you tell today?! God is a friend for everyone! Thanks, God!

Kimberly Jewell

June 26, 2025

Posted on Jun 26, 2025 CATEGORIES: General

I wish all of you could see the light bulbs go off when things of God click with kids! Yesterday was a day that all of the kids were able to give a fear to God and then say, “peace be still in Jesus’ name,” over that fear. Isn’t it awesome that Jesus can calm our storms?! Today, we are learning that God is a friend forever.

Betrayed by a friend, accused by religious leaders, and arrested by the Temple guards, Jesus’ future seemed grim. The religious leaders saw Jesus as a threat, a liar, and a blasphemer; and apparently the crowds demanding his crucifixion, agreed. His hurried trial ended in a death sentence—one usually reserved for criminals. Jesus died on a cross, under a sign mocking him as King of the Jews. His fearful friends scattered, leaving two men who’d followed Jesus from afar to prepare his body for burial. Jesus’ lifeless body lay in a borrowed tomb, sealed behind a heavy gravestone.

It seemed like the end…but was it? Three days later, Jesus’ friends discovered the stone had been moved and the tomb was empty! Jesus’ body hadn’t been stolen or moved—Jesus appeared repeatedly to his followers! They saw him, felt his breath, and touched the wounds on his hands! Jesus turned the end into eternity!

Can you imagine how Jesus’ followers felt when they’d lost their closest friend forever? We have felt that too! Friends come and go. They move away, discover new interests, make new friends, or sometimes just abandon us. The idea of “forever” seems impossible. Yet God had something surprising in store! Jesus’ death wasn’t the end—it was just the beginning of a friendship that will last into eternity! God always has been and always will be – he is forever! And even better, his love for us is forever! Things like sadness, loneliness, and worry won’t last forever. Today, share the exciting news that a friendship with God is one that will never ever end! God is a friend forever! Thanks, God!

Kimberly Jewell

June 25, 2025

Posted on Jun 25, 2025 CATEGORIES: General

We are swimming into day 3 of our VBS week full of anticipation for how God is going to move in the hearts of our kiddos and staff! Today we are learning that God is a friend we can trust!

After a long day of teaching along the Sea of Galilee, Jesus gave his disciples instructions to cross to the other side of the water. They were experienced fishermen so this was a simple task, and they put their backs into rowing while Jesus rested. Suddenly, a storm with gale-force winds swooped upon the small vessel, causing fear and doubt within the heart of Jesus’ followers. What if the boat capsized? Yet, Jesus slept. How could he rest in a time like this?! In terror, the disciples wake him up and cry out for help.

“Peace, be still…” and the waves cease. Jesus commanded the wind and the waves to be silent, and IMMEDIATELY, they were calm.

What storms are you facing? Divorce…death…moving…food insecurity…gossip…loneliness…? We all have so many things going on in our lives that feel out of our control, but God! We may feel like the disciples, overwhelmed by a swell of fear and doubt. What a comfort to know that we have a trustworthy friend who is in ultimate control named Jesus! Today, bring peace into your hearts and minds by calling out to Jesus, the producer of calm in the midst of the storm. God is a friend we can trust. Thanks, God!

Kimberly Jewell

June 24, 2025

Posted on Jun 24, 2025 CATEGORIES: General

Today’s main Bible point is “God is a friend who loves.” As we continue to dive into our friendship with God, let’s look at the lesson of Jonah and Nineveh. When God told Johan to go to preach to the people of Nineveh, Jonah jumped on the first boat and went the opposite direction. He knew the reputation of how cruel these people were, and, in Jonah’s estimation, they were not worthy of God’s love.

God had other plans! He sent a big fish to swallow the reluctant prophet. Deep inside the fish’s belly, Jonah finally submitted to God’s will. God forgave Jonah then used him to deliver a warning to the people of Nineveh. As soon as the people heard this message, they stopped their evil deeds and asked God’s forgiveness. God lovingly forgave an undeserving people, demonstrating his heart of mercy for ALL.

Jonah seems to have viewed the Ninevites as unredeemable – so sinful that they were unworthy of God’s salvation. When do YOU first remember a feeling of shame or unworthiness? For many of us, the sense of being unlovable came as a child when we’d disobeyed, been caught in a lie, or disappointed an adult. Perhaps caring friends or family members demonstrated Christ-like forgiveness, modeling unconditional love, but there are plenty of people, even some of us, who have never experienced that genuine love, forgiveness and freedom. Today is a great day to get immersed in God’s overwhelming love for ALL people – that means you too! Joyfully share that love with those around you, especially those who we may deem unlovable, because – God is a friend who loves. Thanks God!

Kimberly Jewell

June 23, 2025

Posted on Jun 23, 2025 CATEGORIES: General

This week we are having a soft launch to begin the process of bringing back Vacation Bible School. In partnership with our summer camp, we are helping kids dive into a friendship with God. Today, they are learning that God is a friend who is real, and we are doing this through the life of Elijah.

A harsh drought plagued Israel for years due to the wicked deeds of idol-worshipping King Ahab. This king would not heed the warnings brought to him by Elijah; finally, Elijah challenged King Ahab and his prophets to a duel. One man against 450 prophets. Both sides built an altar and whichever god responded would be the one worthy of worship. The prophets of Baal built their altar, did their dances, slashed their bodies, and cried out for hours. Silence.

Elijah built the altar, had servants dig a trench around it, then soaked it with 12 huge containers of water. The sacrifice was wet…the firewood was wet…the stones were wet…the trench was filled to the brim with water. He didn’t dance. He didn’t scream. He didn’t slash his body. He prayed: “O Lord, answer me…so that these people will know that YOU, O Lord, are God.” INSTANTLY fire came down from heaven and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the soil of the trench.

From there, faith turned to fear as Elijah was hunted by Queen Jezebel. The prophet hid in the wilderness and fell into despair, hunger and depression. God still appeared! This time it was in a gentle whisper. The one true God answered again.

Like Elijah, we swim in a culture increasingly resistant to any one source of truth. The integrity of the Bible is doubted, church is often replaced with other sources of entertainment, and many of us grab onto “own your truth,” instead of “own THE truth.” Elijah stood up for truth, fought for truth, went against the cultural norms, and God rewarded that faith by showing up! He showed up to prove himself and he showed up to sustain the prophet. Believing in one true God grounds us, providing stability and firm footing through life’s ups and downs. Who do you choose today? I choose the God who is a friend that is real! Thanks God!

Kimberly Jewell

June 20, 2025

Posted on Jun 23, 2025 CATEGORIES: General

Dear Advent Family,

Today is the final day of our Intimacy devotions. It’s been so good to walk with you during this week. I hope you have been blessed and growing in your walk with Jesus.

Clinging to the One Who Holds You

Psalm 63:8 – “I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.”

This is the beautiful paradox of intimacy: even as we cling to God, it’s He who holds us. I remember when gloria was baby and I would pick her up she would wrap her arms around my neck and not let go. Se would cling to me but I was holding her up to my self. A beautiful picture of this verse here. He has us even though we think we are the ones holding on to Him.

When you feel weak, dry, or distant—He has not let go. His grip is stronger than yours. Intimacy isn’t about perfection, but persistence. Keep clinging. Let’s pray together, Heavenly Father, we cling to You not because we strong, but because You are. Thank You for holding us fast even when we waver. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Remember, Jesus loves you and so do I.

Pastor Will

June 19, 2025

Posted on Jun 19, 2025 CATEGORIES: General

Dear Advent Family,

I pray that you have been growing closer in your walk with the Lord through spending intimate time with him. We continue to look at Psalm 63 to learn from David.

The Secret Place

Psalm 63:6–7 – “On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.”

Nighttime, when distractions fade, is often when our thoughts speak loudest. Where the failures of our past and our short coming of the present come to haunt our souls. When we are all by ourselves with our thoughts and our selves, David shows what we should be focusing on, The Lord,. His faithfulness, His goodness, His forgiveness, His love and grace, His mercies which are new every morning. David chooses not anxiety, but remembrance. He reflects on God’s faithfulness. It in theses quite times, when we may be alone, that God can be closest to us.

Intimacy with God is cultivated in the secret place, in the desolate places, in the places where it’s you and God alone. It’s at these moments, when no one is watching, and all distraction is put aside that we can come to God and seek him with all our hearts, and He will come near to us. Whether it’s morning silence or midnight prayers, these times are times of intimacy with God that can help us to form deeper roots of trust and develop a holy hunger for Him.

Let’s pray together, Heavenly Father, in the quiet moments, help me remember You. Let Your presence guard my thoughts and restore my soul. Help me to rest in your presence like a child sleeping in their mother’s arms may we know your peace and tranquility and protection the more intimate we become with you. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Remember Jesus loves you and so do I.

Pastor Will

June 18, 2025

Posted on Jun 18, 2025 CATEGORIES: General

Hey Advent family,

Today we continue our intimacy devotion series.

Worship in the Wilderness
Psalm 63:4–5 – “I will praise you as long as I live… I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

Even in a dry place, David chooses worship. Why? Because worship fuels intimacy. It lifts our eyes off circumstances and puts them on the One who satisfies. Have you ever been in the middle of situation, a difficulty, or a problem and just start praising and worshiping then Lord? It changes the atmosphere, changes our perspective and how we see things.

When we worship, especially when we don’t feel like it, we affirm that God is our portion. Intimacy doesn’t grow only on mountaintops—it deepens in valleys. Let’s pray together Heavenly Father, teach us to worship in every season. Let our lips sing even in the wilderness. You are still worthy—and still with us. In Jesus Name Amen !

And Remember Jesus loves you and so do I.

Pastor Will

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