DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Park Cities Baptist Church

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Sunday, December 4 Monday, December 5 Each December the snow-capped hills of the dense Maine forest would beckon us as we prepared to embark on our annual family journey to find that picturesque Christmas tree. As a young boy the days of November seemed to pass by with the swiftness of a snail as we waited with intense anticipation for that beloved day in early December. Awakening with the sun, my brother Patrick and I would inhale a bit of breakfast and then knock on our parents’ door to boldly announce with joy that the awaited day was upon us. My mother would then layer us in wool and Gore-Tex until waves of heat were wafting from our bodies like wood stoves. With overwhelming layers to protect us from the frigid New England air, we would waddle through the sunglistened snow with the mobility of toy soldiers until we found the prized ornament of the year. My dad, amidst sips from a thermos of hot chocolate, would proclaim with glee, “This is the one!” We would scurry over to watch him prepare the tree. Soon the sweet aroma of dad’s hot chocolate mixing with the fresh cut tree was flooding the air. Today, I reflect on these Christmas memories with fondness. I can remember with great detail each tree and each story created, like the time I forgot to put on socks and snow began to fill my boots (not so smart). But what has profoundly impacted me and my family is the love, joy and unity that has stemmed from these incredible family interactions. There is something about those moments together as a family that brings unification. In Philippians 2:1-2, the Apostle Paul writes of a unity that only comes through Christ. Paul implores the believers of Philippi to bring him joy by being of the same mind and having the same love. May we pursue unity in our families not just for this season, but also for the days and years ahead. The sustainability of a unified family rests in the person of Jesus Christ alone. So may we fix our gaze upon Him. For Discussion: • How does Jesus bring unity? • What is your favorite Christmas tree adventure? Tim Bresnahan is a minister to the Young Married department. Tim and his wife Christen have been married for four years. “Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” Luke 2:8-12 One of my most vivid memories of a trip to Israel many years ago was standing on the hills where it was thought the shepherds heard the angels announce the birth of the Savior. I could just imagine the shepherds quietly watching as their sheep grazed. Then all of a sudden, an angel stood before them announcing the birth of the Savior and was joined by a “multitude of the heavenly host” gloriously praising God together! As I was growing up, we always read the story from Luke 2 every Christmas morning. Then years later, actually being able to stand on the hills where the shepherds were was a very moving experience for me. I love all the sights and sounds of Christmas! But one of my favorite times is late on Christmas Eve. As I drive home from a Christmas Eve service, there are very few cars on the road, and there’s just a quiet peacefulness in the air. I am reminded of that night on a quiet hillside where an angel announced the birth of our Savior and was joined by a choir of angels singing, “GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOODWILL TOWARD MEN!” This year, may we all take time for a quiet, peaceful moment to reflect on the singing of the angels as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Judy Johnston serves as Administrative Assistant for Properties & Services and Special Events. Judy lives in Dallas and in her spare time likes stitchery, reading and working in her yard.
Tuesday, December 6 Wednesday, December 7 Nothing compares to a white Christmas in West Texas. Years ago, when our boys were quite young, we woke up one wonderful Christmas morning to find 17 inches of snow!! Across the street from our house was a wide open field. The glistening snow was almost blinding. We bundled up our oldest son, Jonathan, and we ran out to play in the snow. It was glorious and wonderful. We scooped up the soft snow with our hands, but at 17 inches deep, it was as though we could not find the ground beneath. I will never forget that day. All I could say was, “Awesome!” I always think of the words of Isaiah 1:18: “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Coming to Christ in humble repentance brings the joy of coming out into a wide open space where there is only the pure white loveliness of forgiveness. Christ forgives sin. Awesome! For Discussion: • The Lord invites us to “settle the matter” of our sins. Have you done that today? • Once you have confessed your sin to God, and you believe you are forgiven, do you experience freedom from guilt and shame? Take time to thank God for his mercy and love in making you “white as snow.” Sam Silva is the Minister to Amigos de Dios at PCBC. He and his wife, Dee, have two sons, Jordan and Jonathan. I have always liked manger scenes. I have a number of them, from the little plastic Christmas ornament my 3rd grader teacher gave to me to the carved olive wood set from Bethlehem. My favorite, however, is the one my mother purchased when I was a child. It was not very expensive, nor impressive compared to most nativity scenes. It is a simple replica of a stable made out of cardboard, with finely shredded paper glued to the top (implying a thatched roof). Attached to its base are the brightly colored plastic characters of the birth. On the roof is a glitter-covered cardboard star. An orange bulb in the back gives the whole scene an evening glow. It was placed under the Christmas tree as a reminder of our greatest gift. I remember lying in front of that manger scene, wondering about that first Christmas. Every Christmas after that, the manger scene was set in place. It was just part of the decorations. A tradition. But it was more than that. That cardboard stable always took me back to Bethlehem. And as I grew up, I would lie in front of it every year and be reminded of that wonderful night all over again. Now, over 50 years later, the tattered cardboard is taped together and there’s less “grass” on the roof. The star has to be secured when it is displayed. But I still treasure it. And its images are fixed in my heart. How like Jesus, this manger scene, not flashy or expensive, limited to the sophisticated or rich, but simple and common, speaking to the simple. Not elevated for only a few to see, but placed where all could see, even a little boy lying on the floor. I think that this is what Christmas is all about: God wanting to make himself known to all, even to the least of these. Thank you, God, for making your love simple and putting it where I could see it. And, Mother, thank you for that manger scene. It has meant a lot to me. Jack Martin is Minister of Pastoral Care and is married to Melody. They live in Dallas.
Page 1 and 2: PCBC.ORG/CHRISTMAS 2011 DEVOTIONAL
Page 3 and 4: Monday, November 28 Tuesday, Novemb
Page 5: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2 SATURDAY, DECEMB
Page 9 and 10: Saturday, December 10 Sunday, Decem
Page 11 and 12: Wednesday, December 14 Thursday, De
Page 13 and 14: Sunday, December 18 Monday, Decembe
Page 15 and 16: Thursday, December 22 Friday, Decem

DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Park Cities Baptist Church

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?