DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Park Cities Baptist Church

Friday, December 16 Saturday, December 17
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
Christmas! I have such fond memories
of Christmas from my youth. Preparing
for the holidays meant decorating the
house inside and out, baking homemade
cookies, shopping for and wrapping
gifts, enjoying the church events and
more. It also meant that my father
would be on the hunt for the “perfect”
Christmas tree. Every season, we would
pile in the car and that’s where the
adventure began. Dad had an image
in his mind of what the perfect tree
looked like and he didn’t stop until
we found it.
My cousins and our family would
gather to celebrate Christmas at my
grandparents’ home. I still can smell
the aroma of the turkey, hear the
crackling of the fire in the fireplace
and remember the joyful voices of the
family members throughout the house.
When it was time for Christmas
dinner we sat at the proverbial “adult
table” and a “cousin’s table” which
just happened to be right by the
Christmas tree. Throughout dinner
the kids would gaze at the glittering
Christmas tree and discuss with great
anticipation what might be inside of
the beautifully wrapped presents.
These are all wonderful memories
from my childhood which I keep in
my heart.
As I grew older, married and had
children of my own, our family has
developed our own traditions.
Hopefully, my children will look back
on their lives with fond memories
and, when they are grown, continue
to make their own traditions. As a
parent you try to foster the best in
your children’s lives. It’s similar to
what Christ tries to do for us. He’s
there for us when we stumble and fall,
through our joys and sadness. He’s a
God of grace and forgiveness. “So
that, having been justified by his
grace, we might become heirs having
the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:6-8
For Discussion:
• Start a family tradition of your
own! Gather the family and discuss
what you would like your tradition
to be.
• Do something for someone else this
season – rake your neighbors’ leaves
or volunteer at a shelter. You will
be blessed!
Julie Punjak is the Director of
Communications. She and her
husband, Marc, have two children,
Hunter and Maribeth, and live
in Dallas.
The early ‘90s were full of great
things; from Michael Jordan’s Bulls,
fanny packs, to the Macarena. But for
me, as a young boy, it was about two
great brothers, The Super Mario
Brothers! The second edition of this
game was released when I was about
12 years old, and the craze was high,
especially since Christmas was just
around the corner. I knew it wasn’t
worth even asking for; it was an
impossibility, pigs would fly and the
Saints would win the Super Bowl
before a poor kid like me would get
the prized possession.
So there I was, Christmas Eve night,
digging into all of the presents: socks,
a truck, and even flannel pajamas.
Little did I know my mom* had
saved the best for last. She handed
me one last gift to open, and as I did,
my eyes lit up as I tore the paper.
Much to my surprise, I held in my
hands the greatest game ever made;
“Super Mario Bro 2.” I can still
remember the great joy and smile on
my mom’s face as she watched me
celebrate my new treasure.
Our heavenly Father is like this. He
gets great pleasure in giving us what
we need. He gives us Himself. The
image that comes to mind during
Christmas for me is the heavenly
babe, born in the lowliest of places.
He was born to be a gift for you and
me. Can’t you just see the Father’s
face with pure joy and happiness
when we accept the greatest
Christmas gift ever given?
Ephesians 4:7-8 states, But grace was
given to each one of us according to
the measure of Christ’s gift.
Therefore it says, “When he ascended
on high he led a host of captives, and
he gave gifts to men.”
For Discussion:
• When a good gift is given, who
tends to receive more joy, the gift
giver or the recipient? Why?
• What are some of the greatest gifts
God has given you?
• What can you do this holiday
season to show God’s love to others?
David Huey is the Minister to
Students, he is married to Amy and
they have one son, Eli
*written in memory of my mom who
passed away in 1996.