DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Park Cities Baptist Church

Wednesday, December 14
Thursday, December 15
One of my favorite Christmas events
was when the Orchestra played for the
sick children and their families at
Children’s Medical Center of Dallas.
We played symphonic arrangements
of traditional Christmas carols in the
beautiful Butterfly Atrium. I wish
you could have seen the radiant faces
of the children as we played. It was
such a privilege to bring a bright spot
to their lives during a difficult
Christmas season.
At the end of the concert, we chose a
child from the audience to conduct
the orchestra on “Sleigh Ride.” He
was terrified to stand in front of the
massive ensemble, but he finally gave
in to the encouraging cheers from the
crowd and orchestra and clenched the
baton. I helped him start the piece
and told him to keep moving his arm
until the music stopped. I slowly
backed away as he gained confidence.
He had no idea what he was doing,
but the orchestra was competent
enough to carry him through the
piece. It was such a meaningful
experience for the little boy that he
was talking about it days later.
The child’s helplessness in leading the
orchestra reminded me of our
helplessness before God, “like sheep
without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).
We are completely dependent upon
Christ to bear our sin and shame,
clothe us in His righteousness and
carry us through the Christian life.
“His grace is sufficient for us, and His
power is made perfect in weakness.”
(2 Corinthians 12:9).
Christ said, “I have come into the
world as a light, so that no one who
believes in me should stay in darkness”
(John 12:46). As Christians, we are
called to reflect the light of Christ.
How can you be a light for Christ in
our dark world this Christmas season
and throughout the year?
Johnny Fuller serves as the Associate
Minister of Music. He and his wife,
Heather, have three children, Hannah,
Isaac and Andrew, and live in Allen.
“
Dear friends, let us love one another,
for love comes from God. Everyone
who loves has been born of God and
knows God. Whoever does not love
does not know God, because God is
love. This is how God showed his love
among us: He sent his one and only
Son into the world that we might live
through him.” 1 John 4:7-9
It was a few days before Christmas and
my newly-turned one year-old daughter
was crying at the top of her lungs. No
reason: just…wailing. I offered to take
my daughter into her room and spent
the next hour pulling out every trick
in the book to try to make her happy.
Nothing worked.
Finally, I acted oblivious to the fact
she was crying, rocked her, held her
close, and sang. “Away in a Manger”
and got to the line in one version I’d
heard before:
“Raise, raise, your song on high, the
virgin sings a lullaby.
Joy, joy, for Love’s been born.
The babe.
The son of Mary.”
All of a sudden, the beauty of the
reminder that Love had come on
Christmas far outweighed the upset child
I was rocking in my arms. The crying
didn’t change, but my perspective did.
I was reminded in those brief moments,
that if I keep love as prominent – first
and foremost – I will not be far off
from the life that God desires for me.
Holding a child brought me back to
something simple in my life and
simple in my faith: That we are
ultimately about loving God and
others. Jesus was the epitome of love.
I suddenly became keenly aware that
the room was quiet, except for my
rather off-key singing.
My baby was asleep, and I was
exhausted, but uplifted, reminded of
the love of the Savior.
I put her down and kissed her little
head. And I knew, deep down, that I
had just learned a profound truth and
had a Christmas memory that I would
never forget.
For Discussion:
• Love is the dominant trait in the life
of Christ – is it in yours?
• What would those outside of the
church walls think of us if we grasped
the concept that Christ is love? If
we made that ultimate in our lives?
• How can you (and your family)
become someone with love as
central in their lives?
Jim Gribnitz is the Junior High Minister
and he and his wife, Nikki, have three
children, Hannah, Seth and Abigail.