docNorth Broad
Baptist Church
Advent Devotions
2007-2008
North Broad Baptist Church
Located at 1309 North Broad Street
706-295-2100
Invites you to join us for worship during
the Advent Season
December 2nd: 10:50 am Are Your Bags Packed?
Romans 13: 11-14
December 9th: 10:50 am A Service of Lessons and Carols
December 15th-16th: 6:30-8:30 pm Live Nativity
December 16th: 10:50 am It’s a Wonderful Life
Isaiah 35: 1-10
December 23rd: 10:50 am The Angel Said What?
Matthew 1: 18-25
December 24th: 8:00 pm Christmas Eve Service
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Scripture: Luke 21: 36
Watch and Pray
Nearly 2,000 years have passed since Jesus spoke the following words...yet these truths still remain.
“Be always on the watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all things that happen and to stand before the Son of Man. “(Luke 21:36).
As a child, Christmas centered around the nativity-celebrating with awe and wonderment the host of heavenly angels watching and singing praises over this precious little child.
Becoming a mother brought a new and greater awareness of the manger scene. To think, I was chosen to be a mother, to bring new life into God’s world...a gift just too amazing. And if that wasn’t enough, a host of family and friends graced the coming of our sons by watching, praying, and being there with us and for us.
The past is a present reminder of the awesome privilege and responsibility of the precious gifts entrusted to us. We continue to journey, to be on guard, watching and praying, teaching our sons, so they too, may be able to stand before the Son of Man.
Life Question:
For whom do you watch and pray?
Prayer:
At the stable Lord, we find Hope. Hope that actively seeks you daily as we watch and pray for the coming of your son. Amen.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Scripture: Psalm 9:15, Isaiah 5:8-23,
1 Thess. 5:1-11, Luke 21:20-28
CELEBRATE THE LIGHT!
For we know not when He cometh,
So we wait from morn ‘til night.
As we serve the Lord with gladness,
We find honor in His right.
We celebrate. We celebrate. We celebrate the Light!
Sure the Gospels have foretold it.
So we celebrate the Light.
Deep within our hearts we hold it.
We are precious in His sight.
We celebrate. We celebrate. We celebrate the Light!
Jesus told us of His coming.
Now, we wonder at His might.
Out of darkness toward the morning,
Onward soldiers to the fight.
We celebrate. We celebrate. We celebrate the Light!
Life question:
Do we work harder crawling through darkness than walking in the light of God’s grace?
Prayer
Thank you for the brightness and joy of the season in which we
celebrate the light of new birth through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Scripture: Luke 1:47-55
My soul magnifies the Lord.
Let’s stop to ponder those words for just a moment. . .<span class="Normal--Char" style=" font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">my soul magnifies the Lord.
This passage of text brings to mind a couple of important points. One, Mary is giving thanks to God in the midst of terrifying circumstances. That brings us to the second important point…trust. Instead of worrying about what comes next, she puts her trust in the Lord. Forgetting everything
surrounding this overwhelming news that she is to be the mother of Christ she trusts God and magnifies him.
I don’t know about you, but it befuddles me. Could I do the same? Could you do the same?
God asks us to trust him in the midst of terrifying circumstances as well. Perhaps we should take a lesson from Mary. When the times of uncertainty come, do not worry, instead, stop and magnify the Lord.
Prayer:
God of infinite wisdom, grant that we might be more like Mary. Help us to see your glory in the midst of overwhelming circumstances. Give us the desire to take time in our daily lives to allow our souls to
magnify you. Amen.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Scripture: John 7:53-8:11, Isaiah 6-1-13
And Jesus said, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”
This phrase means different things to different people. During this Advent season we may want to view it from the perspective of Jesus and the woman being stoned. Jesus knows, just as he did in this story, that we all need
forgiveness. He offers this gift to us and encourages us to pass it on to
others. The stakes for the woman being stoned were very high, his life. Our forgiveness is rarely a matter of life or death but it is still something God encourages us to do.
Today, remember a time when you were wronged. It may have been
yesterday when a driver cut you off on the Interstate or it may have been years ago when a loved one forgot a promise they made to you that you were counting on. The person may not know of the offense or even deserve earthly forgiveness but forgive them anyway. Our Old Testament verse for today describes the Holiness of God and how the whole earth is full of his glory. One of the best ways we can add to that glory is through sharing
forgiveness with our fellow man. In this often overly material special
season take time to do something spiritual for yourself and for God.
Life Thought:
Forgive someone that you normally would not think of forgiving.
Prayer:
Dear God, help me to be more like your son and forgive just
because it is the right thing to do. Help me to realize that “casting the first stone” is not my place. My forgiveness should be given just as yours is, freely and without any expectations of return. Amen.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Scripture: Psalm 37
I know this person, who at about the age of eight cried himself to sleep every night. He had seen his mother beaten by his dad and had once stepped between them and took the beating for his mother. At that time, it was probably the
happiest he’d ever been; to save his mom from pain.
One night as he was crying, wanting to die from such unhappiness, God came to this little boy and filled him with such peace, love, and joy. From that night until today, that little boy has gone to bed every night with a smile on his face and peace and joy in his heart.
This person committed his life and heart to Jesus Christ as his Savior at the age of thirteen. He has trusted God to take care of him all his life.
We must learn to trust God with everything, all the time, like this person who, because of God’s love and mercy, overcame great sadness that was turned into peace that passes all understanding.
Life Question:
How can we trust God more?
Prayer
Lord, help us to trust you enough to do like Peter and step out of the boat and walk with you. Amen.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5
“…from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
How amazing it is to think that from the very beginning God chooses to do great things in our lives. A focus point in the margins of my bible reminds me that sometimes we talk about making a decision for Jesus Christ as if our decision initiated God’s presence in our lives. In these verses, the Thessalonians are
reminded that God hand-picked them for salvation from the very beginning and led them to Jesus through Paul’s preaching. God was at work in their lives, drawing them nearer, before they even knew of God’s wonderful love and grace.
There may have been times when God has graced you with gifts that drew you nearer to the Spirit before you even thought or knew to ask for them. God may have inspired you through a friend’s story or experience, a book or movie, a lesson in Sunday school, a family devotion, or an experience at work or school. God may have also drawn you closer through ways that are not as obvious, such as beautiful weather, a bird’s song, or a pet’s affection. Through countless means, God has been working in our lives from the very beginning, gracing our lives with gifts and bringing us closer to the Spirit. How grateful we are for God’s love in our lives!
“But we ought always to thank God…” 2 Thessalonians 2:13
“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.”
2 Thessalonians 3:5
Life question:
In what ways can you see God going before you, drawing you nearer in ways that at the time you may not have recognized as God at work in your life?
Prayer:
O Lord, you work in mysterious ways. Thank you for your constant loving and gracious presence in our lives. Amen.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Scripture: Luke 22: 31-38
Fearful and weak!
You knew me beneath my "cover",
But saw who I could become,
and loved me as no other.
Divine imagination,
Who sees the best in me,
Help me to imagine,
How to be like Thee.
Life Question:
Do you believe that God's ability to forgive exceeds any bad things that you have done?
Prayer:
Loving Father, thank you for seeing who we can be- rather then who we were. Amen
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11
Then…
Then…a four letter word meaning: after such and such occurs, something will happen. Too often we find ourselves skipping through the conditions and claiming the promises. We want the delicious part…the sweet part…the part that is after the word then. We simply overlook the conditions upon which then will occur.
Biblical promises are always conditional in the Hebrew Scriptures. If
someone does something, if something occurs….then…
Today’s verse invites us to “prepare the way of the Lord” and “make straight in the desert a highway for our God”. Once these things are done, then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.
Funny how a four letter word changes everything.
Questions:
How are you preparing the way of the Lord? Are you making a highway in your desert… (your chaos) for your God?
Prayer:
Wonderful and amazing God, we have barely begun the Advent Journey and now we find this word…then. It’s a word that demands we do something. Call forth in us the desire to do what is needed in our lives so that we are ready when your glory is revealed. Amen.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Scripture: Luke 22: 39-53
Every time I read Jesus’ prayer in the garden, I am reminded of a story told by Franz Kafka.
A man wanting to see Justice comes to a huge door guarded by a large,
ferocious, heavily armed man. He told the guard he needed to get by in order to see Justice. The guard told him that anyone who saw Justice had to get by him and, if he did, he must enter ten doors each guarded by a bigger and more ferocious guard.
Seeing a bench by the door, the man said he would just wait and wait he did! He waited while the days, months, and years rolled by until he finally was dying. Calling the guard over to him, he said, “I’m dying but I must know something. Why has no one else come to this door in all the years?”
“Because it was reserved only for you and since you won’t be using it, I’ll now close and lock it for good.”
Life Question:
Aren’t you glad our Savior didn’t “sit outside on a bench” instead of following God’s will?
Prayer:
God us give the courage to do what you want us to do even though the path may be hard and dangerous.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Scripture: Psalm 47
One of my favorite parts of Church is enjoying all of the lovely music and songs that we hear and sing. I love singing the lovely music from the hymnal, but sometimes we forget why we really do sing these songs. We do not sing these beautiful songs just to make noise. We sing these songs to rejoice that God is the King of all the Earth. We sing to him our praises to let him know we are thankful he is our God. Singing is a way of praising God, and this is the one way we show our God that he is King of all the Earth.
Next time you sing out of the hymnal, find out how you are rejoicing to God. You will be surprised that there is a sermon in the singing of a song. A song is like a verse from the Bible rejoicing our God, the King.
Life Question:
What is your favorite song to sing at church and how is it rejoicing our God the King?
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for being the King of all the Earth. Thanks for
giving us a voice to rejoice to you and celebrate your magnitude. Thank you. Amen.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-9
I grew up in a neighborhood that had lots of trees. Our yard was filled with
maples and assorted other smaller trees. It was also filled with tree roots, all of which seemed to be buried just under the topsoil. Flower gardens ringed the back yard and surrounded the house. And it was often my job to pull weeds. I remember trying to rid the flower gardens of those pesky shoots that were the remnants of trees long deceased. At least the weeds had the courtesy to come up (sometimes) still attached to their roots. These shoots often chose not to come out of the ground at all! And so, our gardens were littered with tomato paste cans that had been pounded into the ground over these shoots to keep them from appearing above ground.
No matter how you talk about tree shoots, the reality is not very dramatic. In fact, stumps and roots naturally produce such tree beginnings, as long as any life is left in the tree’s underground parts at all. And that is the common image that Isaiah’s text relies on in this passage. Life is still left in the “stump of Jesse,” no matter how dead and barren it might look. And the stump might lie dormant for many years, but a branch will shoot up from the stump to bear fruit once again. Here is an exciting word from God! Here is a word of hope in an otherwise dark and dreary reality. But the rest of Isaiah’s oracle takes reality a step further. This won’t be just any shoot, just any branch. This coming king will usher in an era where miracles are the norm. How else are we to interpret a world in which prey and predators coexist peacefully? The presence of the Messiah reverses the curse of Eden’s sin, and the world lives in peace and
harmony once again.
Jesus’ words in John 5 remind us that Isaiah’s prophecy came true in the birth of the Messiah. We read the words of Scripture and whisper words of hope; the birth and ministry of Jesus shouts those words of hope and proclaims a new kind of reality. The King has come! The King is coming again!
Pray for those you know whose lives need shouted words of hope and peace. Pray for a world that seems obsessed by violence and war. Ask the Prince of Peace to bring a new reality into your life and into our world once again.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12
Once again we read the story of John the Baptist, but this time, only as Matthew could tell it! Matthew focuses more on the law than mercy, works than grace. I was once told by a professor that if you want to see a clearer picture of Jesus and his day that you must be willing to take into consideration all of the gospels. It is true that most of us would prefer social ministry and love/grace as the message of the gospels. But we
cannot have a clear picture of grace without an understanding of sin and repentance.
John the Baptist warns those who presume that being from a religious family will save you, ala Abraham’s children. Salvation comes through a relationship with God through Christ as we recognize our sinfulness and repent. During this advent season we would do well to begin our day and end our day with a sense of humility as we confess our wrongdoings and shortcomings before God who is merciful and just.
Question:
What might be hindering your relationship with Christ?
Prayer:
As we prepare your way oh Lord, let us not overlook our own
sinfulness. May the confession of our hearts lead us to you. Amen.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Scripture: Matthew 11: 2 – 15
“’I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’”
How eager we are to know what will happen in every step of our lives! Often we ask others about a product or an experience before we purchase it or take advantage of it. Often we use the internet or Consumer Reports or some other publication to check out the reviews. We have a wonderful desire to be one of the first but rarely the first to do something. This makes us excellent and informed consumers. It also makes us very predictable. Over the course of human history, we have needed others to tell us what is on the road ahead; we have needed prophets. The Advent season reminds us that God told of his promise to send a savior and the various and sundry ways he used and uses to get our attention about that which is to come.
But as predictable as the Advent is and in spite of the efforts of the retail enterprise to bring us Christmas in October, there is still room for wonder and surprise.
Each of us can remember a time when we were able to surprise someone else with a gift. Often we conspire with others for the gift that a family member has been
longing for or assumed was just too much. We go to great lengths to find the right thing, to keep it a secret, to keep the element of surprise. We take great care to hide gifts, sometimes keeping them at someone else’s house to insure that it isn’t
discovered. Or we wrap a gift to keep away any temptation for someone to peak in advance of Christmas morning. But there are times we also drop hints because we can’t contain our own excitement about the surprise. We can’t help ourselves in wanting to be the messenger for that which is to come.
Ten days from today is Christmas! I know you’ll be prepared with the decorations, the food, the travel, and the gifts. You’ll be making many plans for the holiday
parties, our church events, your Christmas cards, and a hundred and one other details. I hope you’ll also be open to joy and awe as one of the many gifts of the season. Way making is not just about physical preparations but about the preparation for openness of our hearts as well.
Life question:
Who are the messengers in our life? Where are you a messenger?
Prayer:
Lord, give us willing ears to listen to your many messengers this season as we prepare for the true meaning of Christmas. Help us also to ignore the messages that don’t belong in this most blessed season. We look forward with anticipation to the wonder and awe that we know is ahead.
Amen.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Scripture: Psalm 55
As a small child, I lived with my grandmother. Yes, I loved my grandmother very much, but I felt like I was missing something that every single child around me seemed to have. I would look around and see children with their mother and father. I wanted a mother and father more than anything in the world. So every night I would secretly pray to God, I wanted a mother and father to love me too. Every night I prayed, I wondered if God was listening to me and if he would ever answer my prayer. Soon after a year of praying, God answered my prayer, and he gave me a mother and a father to love me.
This occurrence helped me realize that God does hear our prayers, and will answer them in time. God is always there to help you with any of your
problems and needs and he does listen.
Life Question:
When was the last time you prayed to God and he helped you out with your troubles or needs?
Prayer:
God, thank you for listening to our prayers and helping us with our problems and needs. I am glad to have someone to listen to me in my time of need. Amen.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Scripture: Philippians 4:4-7
“Rejoice in the Lord always.” That is easy to say but how do we do it? During the holiday times when we are running from social events to work to
shopping for presents and food for family gatherings, it is easy to lose sight of what is most important. Anxiety and stress creep in and can color our
perspective of life. We lose sight of the real meaning of Christmas when we spend more time worrying about presents and events than on the joy of living and fellowship with family, friends and God.
During this next week, slow down for a moment and consider how blessed you are. In the big scheme of things no one will remember how the house looks or what we eat or what we got for Christmas. I can’t even remember what I got last year for Christmas. I do remember all the times that I enjoyed being with friends and family. I do remember the Live Nativity and the
fellowship. I do remember singing Christmas Carols in worship and
ministering to shut-ins. I do remember shopping for a youth who needed clothes. When I stop long enough to realize how much I am loved and how much I have to offer humanity during this season, I am JOYFUL! Take this week and worship God, and share this week with others who need our time and our gentleness (love). You may discover the joy that you have been
missing.
Prayer:
O Lord, help me to stop long enough to live the real meaning of Christmas and discover the joy of Christmas this week.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Scripture: Philippians 4:4-7
“Rejoice in the Lord always.” That is easy to say but how do we do it? During the holiday times when we are running from social events to work to
shopping for presents and food for family gatherings, it is easy to lose sight of what is most important. Anxiety and stress creep in and can color our
perspective of life. We lose sight of the real meaning of Christmas when we spend more time worrying about presents and events than on the joy of living and fellowship with family, friends and God.
During this next week, slow down for a moment and consider how blessed you are. In the big scheme of things no one will remember how the house looks or what we eat or what we got for Christmas. I can’t even remember what I got last year for Christmas. I do remember all the times that I enjoyed being with friends and family. I do remember the Live Nativity and the
fellowship. I do remember singing Christmas Carols in worship and
ministering to shut-ins. I do remember shopping for a youth who needed clothes. When I stop long enough to realize how much I am loved and how much I have to offer humanity during this season, I am JOYFUL! Take this week and worship God, and share this week with others who need our time and our gentleness (love). You may discover the joy that you have been
missing.
Prayer:
O Lord, help me to stop long enough to live the real meaning of Christmas and discover the joy of Christmas this week.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Scripture: Luke 1:5-25
The standard opening for angels is always, “Do not be afraid,” and the
standard response for most of us would be to be very afraid. When we look at Zechariah’s response, we want to cut him some slack and say that he was either fearful, in awe, or so confused beyond rational thought that he
couldn’t formulate an appropriate response to Gabriel’s message. It seems that he only got the part of the message saying that his wife would bear a son. His response? “I’m too old, and so is my wife.”
John Shea, in his narrative poem, “The Man Who Was a Lamp,” says that Zechariah
“Stumbled mute from the Holy of Holies,
tongue tied by an angel who was peeved
by the old man’s stubborn allegiance to biological laws.
The priest was silenced in the temple
because he thought flesh could stop God.”**
Perhaps Gabriel was just having a bad day; or, perhaps since he explained that he was God’s messenger with God’s message, he expected Zechariah to pay closer attention to the mission of this child who would be called John, part of the greater plan to bring the Jews back to holiness in preparation to receive Jesus as the promised Messiah. Did Gabriel strike Zechariah mute because he questioned the limitations of the flesh? By the same token, are we often mute because we either don’t get the whole message, or are
limited in our belief that God can do the impossible?
**John Shea, “Starlight: Beholding the Christmas Miracle All Year Long” (New York: Crossroad) 175
Life Question:
How often do we impose the limitations of our flesh on what God is able to do?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, Thank you for the “impossible” miracle which we
celebrate and serve: Jesus Christ. Amen.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Scripture: Ephesians 2: 1-10
One of the most perplexing choices we make as Christians has to do with the value we place on worldly things. Our human nature leads us to seek things that in some cases are not approved for us to have. Either totally against God’s will or we would be more in his favor to use our resources to benefit those in need.
AS a child growing up during the “Depression”, I wasn’t forced to make many choices. During my mid teen years however, I came to know Jesus as my
savior. The problem of whether to buy things for me and my family or to use it for others became acute.
I had to take care of my wife and children and I made that choice, but I felt that I would have been happier in my soul if I could have made gifts to the Church instead. The peace and contentment I was missing was worth all that I gained, but I had no choice.
During the last six decades, I have been blessed by being able to make the right choices as to my expenditures. I see others at this time of the year as they
accept the worldly view of Christmas celebration. WE are told that true
happiness can be found by showering ourselves and loved ones with material presents. This is true in that for a short time, the urge to give is pleasant, but only if our duty to God is placed in the right order. We will be much happier this Christmas if we remember to worship our savior and thank him for the wonderful gift He is.
Life Question:
How can Christianity turn the customs around so that all can live in
harmony with God’s wishes?
Prayer:
Lord, help me to be among those who love to worship above the world’s gifts and gadgets. Amen.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Scripture: Luke 1:39-56
Holiday songs are a part of everyone’s memories of Christmas: carolers sharing glad tidings with neighbors, a Salvation Army band playing for
passer byes on busy streets, the singing Christmas tree at a local mall, a church’s combined choirs presenting their cantata, and the ever- present “Silver Bells” ringing through department stores. Almost everyone has a favorite Christmas song too; mine is “O Holy Night.” I remember Mr. Kline, the Minister of Music, exhorting the youth choir to put all the
wonder and awe of Christmas into that first “O!”
Mary was the very first to experience that feeling of wonder and awe. After Gabriel’s announcement of her role in God’s plan to bring a Savior to the world, Mary sought out her cousin Elizabeth for advice and comfort.
Elizabeth’s immediate acknowledgment of Mary’s eminence among women surely quieted the apprehension in the young woman’s heart. Mary
responded by singing the first song of Christmas. She rejoiced in the mighty things that God had done and proclaimed his everlasting power and love in fulfilling his covenant to Abraham and his descendants.
As we celebrate the joys of Christmas, let us remember to sing of our own blessings from the Lord.
Life Question:
How can we proclaim God’s blessings during the Christmas season and throughout the year?
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for keeping your promise to send a Savior. Amen
Friday, December 21, 2007
Scripture: Psalm 148 and 150
These Psalms talk about praising God and how we are to praise God. We can do anything to worship and praise God, there are absolutely no limits. In the last week or so before Christmas, most people are caught up in last minute shopping , or preparing food or decorations. Sometimes, we lose sight of what Christmas is all about. Every Christmas tradition we have is from an event from the Bible, or a person long ago. In the Christmas
season we should praise God non-stop. Praise with singing, dancing,
playing, loving, creating gifts, anything! God’s son Jesus was given to save us, to show the world how to live and our Savior’s birth is surely something to praise God for.
Prayer
Father God, in this busy holiday season help us to praise you in all we do. Help us to give thanks and to realize that we have wonderful lives because of the one man that you sent to us. Help us to celebrate his birth by praising and honoring you God. Amen.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Scripture: Psalm 46
Be still, and know that I am in control.
I will relieve your job stress,
And put this discord behind you.
I will lead you where you should go.
Be still, and know that I will provide.
You do not need to worry about the shopping list.
You need not decorate for My coming.
Your house need not be spotless.
Be still, and know that time is Mine.
I am not ruled by the television schedule
Or by the telephone.
I have no calendar but My own.
Be still, and know that I will fill your life with blessings.
I give sweet, fresh air,
And still silences,
And the miracle of the Christ Child.
Be still, and know…
…the anticipation of the angelic announcement!
…the joy of worshiping with shepherds and kings!
…and know that I AM GOD!
Life Question:
Do you know how to be still?
Prayer:
Lord, in this hurried world in which we must live, grant us the
desire to be still and relax in the knowledge that You are with us. Amen.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Scripture: Micah 5:2-5a
Can you believe that Christmas Eve 2006 is here? If you are like most of us, we have all been caught up in the rush and hurry of buying and
wrapping gifts, going to parties, cooking, decorating, and all the other
hustle and bustle associated with Christmas. Now it is December 24. Most of these preparations have been done. Some of us are saying we will be glad when tomorrow is over. I, like many others, am guilty of being more
concerned about the secular and mundane aspects of Christmas. Hopefully, on this special day, in preparation for tomorrow, you can rest, relax and contemplate the true meaning of Christmas. I challenge you to prayerfully read this scripture and let it speak to you as you make last minute
preparations for the most glorious celebration of the entire year.
As I read this scripture for today, Micah 5:4a truly spoke to me as to Jesus' real purpose for coming into this world. It says: “He will stand and
shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God." As this verse aptly relates, Jesus is our shepherd whose fundamental goal is to guide and keep his flock safe from harm.
When I was in college, I lived in a Southern town in the Mississippi Delta. Like North Broad, our church always had a tradition of a live
Nativity several nights before Christmas. A highlight was to have a stable with live animals borrowed from farmers throughout the county. On this particular night church members were at the church early getting ready for the performance. As they gently placed a beautiful prize-winning sheep in the stable he jerked away and ran like greased-lightening away from the church. All the men quickly sprinted after him. They knocked on our door to ask my Dad, the Pastor, to help retrieve the sheep. Luckily, he was soon caught and brought back to the stable in good condition.
To me, these men can be compared to Jesus as he often brings us back to his foal. Even though we are Christians, we all often stray from his
watchful care. From this scripture, we know that Jesus is always waiting for us to return to his presence.
As we think of the shepherds on the hillside watching their sheep on
Christmas Eve, let each of us imagine Jesus waiting for us at this wonderful season to renew our relationship with him. Psalm 23 says:" The Lord is my Shepherd." As the shepherds came to worship the baby may we take time to bow in adoration of Jesus our Savior and Shepherd.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-13
My greatest fear is what could happen to me if I’m alone on the street or in the dark. When I go to the store by myself I’m very suspicious and scared because I don’t know what could happen. I guess you could say I’m afraid of the unknown because of all the stories and television shows I’ve seen or heard.
The birth of Jesus is the birth of Emmanuel – God with us. Knowing that God is always with me calms my nerves. When I’m in a frightful situation, I think of a hymn or I pray for safety because I am more aware of my
situation.
This Christmas, remember that God is always with you, keeping you safe. Remember that God will keep you untouched in the face of danger and God alone can save you.
Life Question:
In what frightening situations has God kept you safe?
Prayer:
Lord, we understand that you alone can save us from evil. Thank you for keeping us safe and helping us face our fears. May we always seek you first in times of trouble. Amen.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Scripture: Luke 1: 31-33
Memories are some of our most prized possessions. We all probably can recall favorite scenes or events that give us pleasure. Most of these are moments when we have been able to view some of God’s most beautiful sights.
Some of my favorites are the reflection of the glacier in Lake Louise, another is the view of fall foliage in North Georgia. However, one that affords me the most lasting pleasure is an event rather than a place.
This event was a worship service that I attended at North Broad Baptist Church many years ago. It was a Christmas Eve service to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. I had been to many such services before that one and many since, but none has replaced that one for me.
The sanctuary had been decorated with flowers and wreaths and the program of music was given by the choir. The lighting was subdued and the fellowship of the congregation had an aura of closeness and devotion that was seldom felt. After the Lord’s Supper was observed, the service was ended by lighting the
candles of the individual worshiper from the flame of the Christ candle on the alter. We joined the procession of singers as we sang Silent Night on our way to the exit. All was quiet and peaceful. The street door was opened to the sight of soft falling snow flakes that was so filled with wonder and awe. It was if the Creator was giving his own blessing to our worship of his son on His birthday.
Life Question:
Why are we not able to feel the Love of God at every worship
service? Is it our attitude or is the world intruding our services?
Prayer:
Lord, give us thankful hearts for the wonderful gift of your son to lead us to our place in your kingdom.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Have you ever moved from one state to another where you knew no one, and no one knew anything about you? It's like starting over. Being given an all new slate. You get a brand new chance to start over again. It's like what God did when he sent Jesus to die on the cross for us. He made us a permanent new slate, that no matter what we did, as long as we turned to Him for forgiveness, He would erase whatever sin we had committed and grant us another new start. By turning to God to forgive all of our sins, we bring ourselves closer to Him.
Life Question:
What kind of new starts has God given you in your life?
Prayer:
Father God, thank you for this day, and thank you for all the blessings you have bestowed upon us. Please help us to turn to you for a clean slate, and for enough guidance not to need one as much as we have in the past. Be with me in all that I do, that it may reflect you. In your son's holy name, Amen.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-32
We live in an increasingly distracting world. There’s always someone
whispering in our ear, trying to get something from us. With all the bells and whistles drawing our attention, it’s easy to forget why we do what we do and simply fall in with the crowd. As long as everyone is patting each other on the back and giving the thumbs-up, many people are willing to overlook small
indiscretions.
Somewhere along the way, however, someone overlooked something important. Many Christians have quit asking “How can we help?” and instead want to know “Who should we hate?”
These people assume that they’re doing the right thing, because many others are also doing it. Real Christians, however, know that there’s someone watching them. Although our friends and family might lead us down the wrong path with only the best of intentions, we can look in our hearts and ask God for guidance at any time. Deep down, as individuals, we know whether what we’ve done was right or wrong.
Life Question:
Who do you answer to?
Prayer
Lord, provide us with the wisdom to know the difference between right and wrong. Protect our hearts and minds from being clouded by the world around us as we do your will. Amen.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Scripture: John 3: 1-8
We all know that we are born into this world from the warmth and protection of our mothers. In this passage Nicodemus acknowledges the fact that we come from our mother, but questions Jesus about how we can be reborn. The
question for us remains the same. How can we be reborn?
We are reborn when we accept Jesus as our Savior. We are “born for above” with the Spirit of God. Upon our descent into the baptismal waters, we are
buried to our past and reborn in order to acknowledge our commitment to God. We are publicly stating our intent to follow Jesus’ examples that he
demonstrated to his followers. Our final rebirth comes when we enter the
everlasting peace of Heaven.
In between these events, we have individual and varied rebirths; to me these are the everyday winds of change that are life. Life is a journey, and as with every journey there are plotted courses, detours, unexpected tragedies, and pleasures along the way. For me, it is the love of a parent, the birth of a child, the smell of fresh coffee and pastry, the beauty of a sunflower, the memories we carry in our hearts of loved ones, or the joy of a grandchild which joins the past and
present. All of these things release a feeling of renewal or rebirth.
Let us not get so involved with our hectic lives that we don’t savor the moments of joy and rebirth. Be open to the Spirit of God that becomes a living spirit.
Life Question:
How do you experience rebirth?
Prayer:
Lord give me the ability to gain renewal and strength from this journey of life. You are the living spirit we all seek. Amen.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Scripture: Luke 1:26-38This is a very interesting passage of scripture. Here we have Mary, who is betrothed to Joseph, and all of a sudden she finds out that is going to be pregnant! Here Mary is, a girl at the age of 12 or 13 about to be
pregnant. In the time at which this happens being pregnant out of
wedlock was cause enough to be stoned to death. On top of everything else an Angel came to visit her. I don’t know about you, but that would put a little bit of fear in me. The most wonderful thing happens next, Mary simply takes it all in stride and says, “…be it done according to your word.”
Try to put yourself into the shoes of Mary.
Would you react as calmly as she did?
Would you allow God to work through you as he did through her?
Through this holiday season will you allow yourself to be a tower of peace and strength?
Question:
What keeps you from being a tower of peace and strength?
Prayer:
Most patient God thank you for the gift of your Son this advent season. Help me Lord to be a piller of strength to those who need to be reminded of your strength and peace. Amen.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Scripture: Psalm 148
The lines in today’s reading ring with praise. The rhythm, imagery and
cadence of the verses call to our soul. One is left breathless as the
poetry moves us.
The writer intended the psalm to be one of the community… a call to worship if you will. All of creation is invited to join in an anthem of praise to the LORD.
What an appropriate text for today. At midnight, we will ring in 2007. As yet unwritten 2007 stands to be humanity’s finest moment but it could also be its worst. I can’t help thinking that joining with all creation in an anthem of praise to the LORD of Lords is an outstanding way to bring in the new year.
May 2007 leave you breathless.
Question:
How will you bring in the new year?
Prayer:
Lord God, receive our praise as we join with all of creation in an
anthem dedicated to you. May you be pleased with our act of worship as we bring in 2007. Amen.
Monday, December 31, 2008
Scripture: John 15: 12 - 17
“You did not chose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go
and bear fruit – fruit that will last.”
Every year as the holidays come to a close, I long to find ways to keep the Christmas season with me. When the wrappings are gone and the relatives have gone home, the tree and other decoration will come down soon. And I’ve
always had just a little too much holiday – not enough sleep, too much to eat, too many tasks jammed into too few days.
Until we welcomed a cat into our family, I had an annual tradition. I would do my best to keep a poinsettia alive until Easter. The beautiful red or pink flowers of the Christmas season would brighten my home during the dreariness of
February and March. And I felt no small sense of victory when I succeeded! I liked having a reminder of the care and feeding that a Christmas gift needed in order to survive into the new year. It always seemed symbolic of the bigger issue about how I could keep alive those Christmas messages of hope, joy, and love.
I love this passage. “…I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.” In order to bear fruit that will last, the Christmas message must become part of who I am every day, not just the month of the Advent
season. It must be nurtured through all seasons and not put aside like a white elephant Christmas gift.
Just like many poinsettia plants in my past, I must feed and nurture the lessons of Christmas long after the season has ended. “Fruit that will last” requires me to be continually vigilant to the daily lessons of the Christian story. Now, that’s a New Year’s resolution I can live with!
Life Question:
How will you create “fruit that will last”? How will Christmas live on in your new year?
Prayer
Lord, on this first day of a new year, infuse us with the messages of Christmas – hope, joy, love. Keep us vigilant in finding ways to express your gifts every day of the new year. Amen.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Scripture: 2 Peter 1:3-11
In Pearlington, I grew in the Lord by feeling compassion for the families in that area. That trip took self-control, love, and devotion because the group gave up plumbing, clean water, and “healthy” food to build houses for the people impacted by Hurricane Katrina.
Since the trip was in July, it was already hot very early in the day. After working, my clothes would be soaked. It seems gross, but it was worth the sacrifice. Self-control and devotion was needed on the worksite to stay on the roof or continue working instead of sitting on a break all day. When some people – like me – lacked the experience to do the work at a quick enough pace, patience was needed and greatly appreciated.
Patience and love were the bonds that kept our group together. Each one of us grew in God that week because of the friendships we made. We helped each other. Helping the community or others by using love and devotion can help your spiritual development.
Life Question:
What do you do to help your spiritual growth by using love,
devotion, self-control, patience, goodness, understanding, or concern for
others?
Prayer:
Lord, Thank you for giving us traits like love, devotion, and
self-control. Please help us to use them to become closer to you. Amen.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-5
Have you ever felt like you were in exile? There have been times when all of us faced anxiety that kept us up at night and we were not sure if there were any answers. Perhaps we felt isolated and alone during those times. When we consider the context for the scripture passage today we discover a people who have been in exile from their homeland for many years. They seem lost and alone living in a foreign land, yearning for better times.
Today’s passage gave them new hope of better days when God would bless them if they would only spend time with Him. It is not their
bellies that need to be fed but their souls. In a day when people are searching for something more than material things, this "word" is still alive and active for any exile who longs for home, for those who
hunger and thirst for righteousness. The good news as one looks back on this passage from a Judeo-Christian perspective is that God has
established a new everlasting covenant that reminds us that we are not alone. As we move from celebrating the birth of Christ to the adult life of Christ, we are reminded of Jesus in the upper room with his disciples breaking bread and drinking from the cup that represents this new covenant.
As we live in this New Year, may each of us take time to rekindle our relationship with God each day and as we recite our own confession of faith each week, may we remember that “God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God.”
Prayer:
Lord, in those times when I feel isolated as though I am in exile, may your Word and presence bring hope and a reminder that I am never alone.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Scripture: Ezekiel 34: 25-31
I feel as if I spend most of my time worrying about meeting the basic needs of my family and myself. And, since I can’t raise the food, or build the house, or make the clothes we all need to survive, that usually translates into finding ways to make money and/or keep from spending money. The holiday season—with all of its spending and partying—doesn’t really distract me from my set of
worries. In fact, sometimes they get multiplied!
I usually begin to relax after Christmas is over. Christmas never fails to remind me just how blessed our lives are and how well we are cared for. And this
passage in Ezekiel paints a wonderful picture of how I feel during the Christmas holidays and how I long to feel at other times during the year. For Ezekiel saw a time when the overwhelming presence of God would protect and provide for God’s people, like a shepherd protecting and providing for his flock of sheep. No matter where they went or what they did, the grass would always be green and plenteous, the water would always flow clean and clear, and predators would always be remote and powerless. In God’s presence—in those latter days—life will be like Eden of old...and worrying will be just a not-so-fond memory.
Life Question:
Can you think of a better reason to worry less than God’s gift of Jesus as our Savior?! Can we find resources in this Christmas season that will help us let go of some of our stress and worry?
Prayer:
O Jesus, shepherd of us all, guide and protect us and keep us from worry. Grant us your grace and your peace, we pray. Amen.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Scripture: Romans 8
What can separate us from the love of Christ?
Hardship?
Lord, sometimes life is hard.
Distress?
Lord, sometimes distress is the word for the day.
Persecution?
Lord, sometimes it is hard standing for what is right.
Famine?
Lord, sometimes the way is dry
Nakedness?
Lord, sometimes revealing who we really are is tough.
Peril?
Lord, sometimes tumbling into the abyss isn’t a
comforting thought.
Sword?
Lord, sometimes my enemies seem to run rampant.
No! Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. For in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Selah!
Question:
What are the things in life that seem to separate you from God?
Prayer
Eternal and amazing God may the knowledge that nothing
separates us from you inspire us to become the ones you have called us to be. Amen.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-10
“College is an experience in which everything you thought to be true will be
questioned. Your beliefs and faith should be challenged, but that is not
necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes you need to be broken to be re-built in a new and improved way.”
That is one of the first things I can recall hearing a professor state as I began
attending Samford University. Now that I am well into my sophomore year, I can definitely say that he was correct. While at times it is trying to reconcile the new things I am learning with my old ways of thinking, this passage from 1 Peter
reminds me that the Christian life is about the ongoing process of being built into a spiritual house. It is not about getting everything figured out or arriving at a destination. It’s more about being in tune with the Spirit along the journey.
At this point in my own journey, God is teaching me that my life has value
because it is His. I have indeed tasted that the Lord is good. He has called me out of darkness into His marvelous light. Now, it is my privilege to accept his mercy and help make this world a place that He and His kingdom could come to.
My prayer is that God would give us all the strength to be rid of those things that cause us to stumble, that He would give us the grace to live with an undivided attention to Him, and that He would help us to long, not for understanding, but for Himself. May we all continue to grow into our salvation-body, mind, soul, and spirit so that we can truly be the hands and feet of Jesus in this world.
Life Question:
What can you do to help bring the Kingdom to the earth?
Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, for your mercy and for being our light along the
journey. Open the eyes of our hearts and enlighten us for kingdom work. Amen.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12
You have all heard me complain—jokingly—that I always get the difficult
passages when Tony and Katrina (and even previous pastors) are gone during the holidays! It seems that the lectionary texts for the Sundays after Christmas are usually about slaughtering innocent children or escaping to Egypt.
This year I got lucky! For I love the thought of upper-class magi (wise men,
astrologers) understanding that the new star they had seen in the night sky
signaled the birth of a Jewish prince. Even more intriguing is speculating about their journey from Babylon to Judea and why they felt compelled to travel so far
bearing gifts for a prince in a relatively unimportant country. Read this passage and imagine how perplexed Herod was to hear of a royal birth when he knew quite well that none of his wives had recently presented him with a son. Imagine how nervous the priests and scribes were when they realized that they knew what the Scriptures foretold about the birth of a Messiah, but they hadn’t known that the prophecies had come true!
Finally, though, imagine how overjoyed the wise men were to see the star
reappear after their long journey to Jerusalem and lead them the last few miles to Bethlehem and the holy family. They must have been worried that perhaps they had misread the celestial signs back home in Babylon; the presence of the star was a tangible sign that they had made the right decisions. It was also a sign that they hadn’t come all this way by mistake!
When we think of the wise men and their journey, we usually think of their
physical gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But their presence in that tiny Judean town may have been their greatest gift!
Life Question:
We don’t really know if any of the magi came to what we might call a “saving faith” in Jesus. We do know, however, that they were willing to commit to years of difficult travel, just to bring gifts to the Messiah and pay him honor. How much more should we who profess faith in this Messiah be willing to
commit our years to bring Jesus the gifts of love and honor?
Prayer:
O living Lord, grant us the wisdom to understand where you would lead us and the courage to follow that leading...even without a star. Amen.
Contributing Writers:
Katrina Brooks
Tony Brooks
Nolan Clark
Beth Cox
Janie Cromer
Amanda Dees
Julie Dees
Gwen Dellinger
Andrew Dodd
Julia Dodd
Nancy Echols
Sherry Gatlin
Tia Hawkins
Debbie Heida
Laura Heida
Mary Heida
Steve Heida
Jean Knighton
Charley Jean Moyers
Bibb Reynolds
Kristen Sheeley
Mary Sheeley
Steve Sheeley
Brittany Steele
Don Worley
