- 38 Johnsons Mill Road
- Orrington
- ME
- 04474
(207) 825-3404
Email Us
DEVOTION:
Isaiah 11:1-10
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD— 3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips, he will slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. 6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. 7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. 9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. 10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.
THOUGHT:
Oftentimes, I am asked what my favourite verse is. To be honest, I don’t really know—because it changes almost daily, if not more than daily. But this passage from Isaiah is always among the ones that quietly pull me back to the God I serve and follow. Sometimes life feels like a field of stumps—places where something once strong has been cut down, leaving only the memory of what used to be. Israel knew that feeling well when Isaiah spoke these words. Their kingdom had fallen, their future felt uncertain, and hope seemed painfully small. But God doesn’t begin His greatest work with towering trees or spectacular scenes. He begins with a shoot—something tender, barely noticeable, yet full of promise. “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse.” It’s God’s gentle way of reminding us, “What looks finished is not finished. What feels lifeless is never beyond My restoring hand.” Jesus, the long-promised Branch, steps right into our weary places and begins to grow hope again—quietly, faithfully, beautifully.
Isaiah’s vision then opens into something almost too wonderful for a world like ours—a peace so deep that even natural enemies rest side by side, a kingdom shaped by justice, compassion, and the wisdom of Christ. And that peace doesn’t begin somewhere far off; it begins within us when we dare to believe that God is still at work in the cut-down places of our lives. So if you’re standing at the stump of something today—your strength, your patience, your joy—don’t overlook the small green shoots of grace. Look again. The Branch is growing. Hope is moving. Christ is restoring. The God who brings life out of what seems dead is already at work in you.
PRAYER:
Before the world stirs awake and before the noise of the day begins, we come to You in the quiet of this Sunday morning. The soft light reminds us that Your mercies are new again, and that every breath is a gift from Your hand. Thank You for meeting us here, for being the God who goes before us, walks beside us, and holds us steady even when our steps feel uncertain.
Father, we lift before You the Bishop family in their grief. Surround them with a tenderness that only You can give, comfort that goes beyond words, peace that holds them through the long nights, and strength for the moments that hurt the most. Let them feel the nearness of Your heart. Let them know they are not alone. I pray this for all people, including those I may call enemies.
We pray also for those within our church family who are struggling, carrying wounds, questions, disappointments, or burdens that are not always visible. Bring healing to their spirits, clarity to their minds, and rest to their weary hearts. Remind them that Your grace does not dismiss the struggle; it meets them inside it. Restore what feels broken. Steady what feels fragile. Renew what feels lost. As we look toward Christmas morning, Lord, prepare our hearts not just for the celebration, but for the meaning behind it. Help us to see the Manger with fresh eyes, God entering the world quietly, humbly, lovingly. May this season draw us deeper into worship, deeper into gratitude, and deeper into the wonder of Emmanuel, God with us.
We lift up our youth today—those learning who they are, and more importantly, whose they are. Protect their hearts, guide their decisions, and place within them a growing hunger for Your truth. Bless our Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, and every person who pours into their lives. And, Lord, we thank You for the quiet saints of this church—the behind-the-scenes leaders of “life in Christ”—those who pray faithfully, serve quietly, encourage gently, and keep the lamp of faith burning in small but powerful ways. Let them feel seen, valued, and strengthened today. Father, make this Sunday a day of renewal. Let Your Spirit breathe through our worship, our fellowship, our conversations, and our lives. Draw us close to You so that we may walk forward with grace, courage, and joy. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Isaiah 11:1-10
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD— 3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips, he will slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. 6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. 7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. 9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. 10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.
THOUGHT:
Oftentimes, I am asked what my favourite verse is. To be honest, I don’t really know—because it changes almost daily, if not more than daily. But this passage from Isaiah is always among the ones that quietly pull me back to the God I serve and follow. Sometimes life feels like a field of stumps—places where something once strong has been cut down, leaving only the memory of what used to be. Israel knew that feeling well when Isaiah spoke these words. Their kingdom had fallen, their future felt uncertain, and hope seemed painfully small. But God doesn’t begin His greatest work with towering trees or spectacular scenes. He begins with a shoot—something tender, barely noticeable, yet full of promise. “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse.” It’s God’s gentle way of reminding us, “What looks finished is not finished. What feels lifeless is never beyond My restoring hand.” Jesus, the long-promised Branch, steps right into our weary places and begins to grow hope again—quietly, faithfully, beautifully.
Isaiah’s vision then opens into something almost too wonderful for a world like ours—a peace so deep that even natural enemies rest side by side, a kingdom shaped by justice, compassion, and the wisdom of Christ. And that peace doesn’t begin somewhere far off; it begins within us when we dare to believe that God is still at work in the cut-down places of our lives. So if you’re standing at the stump of something today—your strength, your patience, your joy—don’t overlook the small green shoots of grace. Look again. The Branch is growing. Hope is moving. Christ is restoring. The God who brings life out of what seems dead is already at work in you.
PRAYER:
Before the world stirs awake and before the noise of the day begins, we come to You in the quiet of this Sunday morning. The soft light reminds us that Your mercies are new again, and that every breath is a gift from Your hand. Thank You for meeting us here, for being the God who goes before us, walks beside us, and holds us steady even when our steps feel uncertain.
Father, we lift before You the Bishop family in their grief. Surround them with a tenderness that only You can give, comfort that goes beyond words, peace that holds them through the long nights, and strength for the moments that hurt the most. Let them feel the nearness of Your heart. Let them know they are not alone. I pray this for all people, including those I may call enemies.
We pray also for those within our church family who are struggling, carrying wounds, questions, disappointments, or burdens that are not always visible. Bring healing to their spirits, clarity to their minds, and rest to their weary hearts. Remind them that Your grace does not dismiss the struggle; it meets them inside it. Restore what feels broken. Steady what feels fragile. Renew what feels lost. As we look toward Christmas morning, Lord, prepare our hearts not just for the celebration, but for the meaning behind it. Help us to see the Manger with fresh eyes, God entering the world quietly, humbly, lovingly. May this season draw us deeper into worship, deeper into gratitude, and deeper into the wonder of Emmanuel, God with us.
We lift up our youth today—those learning who they are, and more importantly, whose they are. Protect their hearts, guide their decisions, and place within them a growing hunger for Your truth. Bless our Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, and every person who pours into their lives. And, Lord, we thank You for the quiet saints of this church—the behind-the-scenes leaders of “life in Christ”—those who pray faithfully, serve quietly, encourage gently, and keep the lamp of faith burning in small but powerful ways. Let them feel seen, valued, and strengthened today. Father, make this Sunday a day of renewal. Let Your Spirit breathe through our worship, our fellowship, our conversations, and our lives. Draw us close to You so that we may walk forward with grace, courage, and joy. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.