Thursday’s Devotion: That Sneaky Sin

Matthew 26:41  “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

We have a new game in our house. I wrap presents and Daisy unwraps them.  So far I was lucky that she only took one present from under the tree and untied the ribbon.  Daisy is one sneaky dog.  She’s very affectionate and smart but when we’re away from home or not looking she takes tissues out of the waste cans and shreds them.  Or she pulls a placemat off the kitchen table (she’s tall for a Jack Russell).  Although she’s eight years old now she only started this in the past year.  She looks so innocent when we’re around and she holds our heart just like out other two dogs.  I think sin is a lot like Daisy.  It sneaks up and does things to get us in trouble when we’re not really paying attention and guarding against it.  It disguises itself in things that are attractive to us and that make us feel good like overspending or drinking or drugs or binge eating. All the presents are up on the counter or table now.  We’re on guard.  Hopefully we are all on guard against sin’s temptations.  Now to get rid of the fruitcake so I won’t eat two pieces at one sitting again……

Precious Lord, we admit we aren’t always on guard against sin.  Guide us please in paths of right living and protect us from the temptations of this world that aren’t good for us.  Instead draw us into your light and love.  We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wednesday’s Devotion: How to Cure a Pity Party

Luke 14:12-14. "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and repayment come to you. But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

I went home from the office last night and threw myself a small pity party.  It seems to happen every Christmas.  There’s just too much stuff to do.  I don’t seem to be able to really enjoy the season until all the tasks are out of the way – meaning shopping done, gifts wrapped and Christmas Cards mailed.  I have a unique cure for my pity parties.  I rarely have them but when I feel one coming on I pull a photo album out of my cabinet that I prepared to remind me of my many blessings.  It’s an album of photos taken on Appalachia Project mission trips.  It contains photos of really run down homes in need of repair; of children and their parents living in poverty.  Many of these homes in the coal mining districts of Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia lacked indoor plumbing or electricity or both.  It’s hard to think about people still living in those conditions. But it is heartwarming to be able to meet these warm-hearted, family-oriented folk and to be able to make a real difference in their lives just for the reason of doing so and not for anything we could receive from them in return except smiles, hugs and gratitude.  Being in a position that enables one to help others sometimes can lead to one wondering if people are being nice only because they need what you can offer. I never sensed that on these mission trips.  My favorite photo was taken on the ASP center porch one night after a tiring day of home repairs.  We’re sitting on rockers after having showered off the roofing tar, sheetrock mud and paint. Painted on a beam overhead are these words, “Be still and know.”  Maybe that’s what we need to do now in place of worrying about all the to-do lists.  “Be still and know that I am God,” scripture says.  Be still.

Dear Lord, help us to remember that Christ came not in the bustle of holiday shopping, parties and special church services.  Christ came in the still of the night under a sky filled with the stars of your creation.  Quiet our hearts and soul.  Help us to be still and receive the gift of your Son, the gift of your unfailing love and unearned grace. Amen.

Tuesday’s Devotion: Ignoring the Signs

Matthew 16:2-3  He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

Yesterday I attended the graveside memorial service for member Jeannette Huggins.  It was a small gathering of twenty or so family and friends.  The Rev. Charles Swaney who officiated was once in Mr. Huggins’ Boy Scout troop. It was the first service of this type that I’ve attended where a bagpiper (in kilts) piped before and after the service.
A couple standing behind me had two cute small children with them.  The little boy and girl were pretty quiet and well-behaved.  At the close they were sitting on the ground engrossed in some imaginary game. They paid no attention to the piper at all.  As I drove away I thought the children were representative of many people who ignore the signs around them.  Of course the signs of Christmas are pretty difficult to ignore, but the meaning behind Christmas is.  There are many people who are unaware of that meaning just like those children were unaware of the bagpiper.  Too bad that people get so engrossed in their own selves that they miss something so special. 

Gracious God, help us to reach out to those who don’t understand the importance of your Son. Help us to be witnesses to the light we have received.  We ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Monday’s Devotion: Letters to Santa

Matthew 11:25  At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

When we lived in Loganville I loved to read the children’s letters to Santa in the Walton Tribune.  Every year school teachers would have their class write letters and send them in to be published.  Some were funny, some were touching and some downright sad.  As the saying goes “Out of the mouths of babes….”  I typed some up one year to save and thought I’d share a couple with you this morning and in my Christmas sermons. 

Dear Santa,
How are you doing? I bet it’s a realy hard making toys cause it so cold. Are the elves working hard? If they’re not fire them! Is Mrs. Claus doing good? How about Rudolph? I hope his nose is still glowing. Ill right, here’s what I want for Christmas….From, Zack

Dear Santa,
I bet it will be cold when you are passing out presents. But when you get to Hawaii, you might need to take some clothes off! I would want some Hellies, a Playstation 2. You gave my favorite present on my first Christmas a great family. Have a great Christmas. Love, your friend Austin.

Dear Santa
I know I haven’t been doing good in school but can you give me one more chance to be good? If I’m going to be good can I at least get an e-box 360 and games for it?  Love Eli

Dear Santa,
I have been very good ask my teacher and not my mom.

Dear Santa,
I am ready for you at my house. And I got a song for you. Jingle bells batman smells and I want football stuff. Love, Matthew

Dear Santa,
I want a remot control car for Christmas. Mama had srgre. Please bring her a present to. Love Raekwon

Let’s continue to pray for babies as I mentioned recently and this week would you say special prayers for children?  I am especially concerned about the many children who find themselves homeless at Christmas.  While we gather with family around our groaning tables and trees surrounded by gifts, let’s remember those who won’t be doing that.

Friday’s Devotion: The light shines!

Isaiah 9:2  The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
John 1:5  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Last night Joe took a picture of some poinsettias and candles on the hearth to post on Facebook.  We lit the candles but the light of the flames overshadowed the flowers and the picture did not turn out well.  We had to extinguish the candles to get a good picture.  Maybe it was just because we were using an iPhone camera instead of one of our better cameras.  It did make me think thought that the light of Christ can overshadow so much in our lives if we allow it to. When I came to accept Christ as Lord and Savior, certain elements of my lifestyle became less important.  Church, right living and love of others became more important.  My need for a relationship with Christ became more important than some of my previous priorities.  I didn’t suddenly begin to have a dull life either.  God changed my priorities but brought me new interests and joys and much excitement.  If nothing else, living life in God’s will is exciting. I hope the light of Christ will shine in your hearts and overshadow all your concerns and heartaches this season.

Lord of light and life, we bow to your wonder and will.  Shine your life on our lives and lead us to follow the greatest light of all, your Son in whose name we pray. Amen.

2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Thursday’s Devotion: Praying for Babies

Thursday’s Devotion: Praying for Babies

Luke 2:12  And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

The manger under the Chrisman tree at Hapeville First is empty.  I must remember to ask about a baby to put into it for Christmas day!  We do want to see the baby, after all.  I’ve been thinking about babies a lot recently.  Infants are cute and innocent.  What could be more beautiful than a sleeping baby?  My pondering though has been about what happens to the babies.  Every day I see some criminal or suspected criminal on the news and of late, I’ve reflected that this person was once, too an innocent, beautiful baby.  I wonder what happened between cradle and crime.  I wonder what could have happened differently that would have prevented this baby from growing up to do horrendous things to other people.  And so I’ve started to pray for babies, not just ones I know but all babies.  I pray that they will grow up in a loving environment and that they will get the care and nurture they need.  Maybe if enough people do that, those prayers will be answered more and more. The baby born at Bethlehem changed the world. Today’s babies hold the future of the world in their hands. Will you pray for babies with me?

O Lord, scripture tells us that you knew us before we were even formed; that you knew us in our Mother’s wombs.  We pray for babies everywhere that you will continue to work in their lives and that they will all come to know you through your Son in whose name we pray. Amen.

Wednesday’s Devotion: Where Service is the Norm

James 2:26  As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Joe and I attended the Hapeville Exchange Club Christmas banquet last evening.  I looked around the room and saw so many good people who willingly give of their time to better their community and to help people.  They have given years of unselfish service. I am not involved in the Exchange Club as I thought it would be good for Joe to have something he did without me.  Instead I joined the Hapeville Service League. Yet I noticed that I knew many people at the banquet not from their Exchange Club work but from other town involvement – from seeing them at City Council or organizing and attending functions and events or at Service League meetings.  They serve not only through the Exchange Club but in so many different ways.  I was most grateful that I knew many of them because they attend HFUMC.  Our church was represented by the Man of the Year, the Golden Deeds award winner and the Lifetime Achievement award winner.  These people truly do combine faith with good deeds. I am privileged to know each and every one of them.

Gracious God, we pray that you will encourage us to think more about serving than being served.  Guide us in ways in which we might help others. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.