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NC Office 336-674-6538; FAX 336-676-0505 sebc@gosoutheast.org Home | Interactive Map |
December 6, 2000 Gloria and Justin Alston
December 7, 2000 Dave Dofflemoyer
December 8, 2000 Ahnabeth Tomlin
December 9, 2000 Julie McDaniel
Advent means "coming" or "arrival". For Christians, it refers to the coming or arrival of our Savior, Jesus Christ, as the baby in Bethlehem. Even more, it causes us to look ahead to the second coming of Christ so we can prepare ourselves as we live out our daily Christian lives.
Advent begins the fourth Sunday prior to Christmas. Throughout history, Christians have set aside the Advent season to focus on scripture reading and prayer to remind us to watch and wait upon the Lord.
The purpose of this devotional guide is to help you spend time each day this season reading scripture and praying. The writers have contributed their own experiences to help you focus on God’s goodness and love toward us.
This year, the pastor’s sermons for the four Sundays of Advent are based on hope, judgment, joy and grace. These weekly devotional guides are based on the theme of that week’s sermon. Our goal is for you to consider the week’s theme as you read the meditation for each day.
Robert Dixon
What are you hoping for this Christmas? I guess we hope for things we want but realize we have no power to control or influence. Kids are that way before Christmas. They hope to receive a particular present. But they have no power to control or influence someone else’s actions – they can only ask and hope.
After leaving the church I had been serving last year, I was hoping to be called to a new church. I had no power to control or influence what would happen next. I could only ask and hope. God caused to happen what I could not cause.
After having quadruple by-pass surgery in May, I was hoping for a successful procedure and recuperation. I had no power to control or influence what would happen next. I could only ask and hope. God caused to happen what I could not cause.
Today, I hope to become more like Christ - to change my nature - to transform myself to take on his nature. I have no power to control or influence what will happen next. I can only ask and hope. God will cause to happen what I cannot cause.
Just as God has brought me to a new church and healed me following my surgery, I trust him to be able to change me. Hope is a gift from God. It is presented as the Christ child and is opened as the risen Savior. This Christmas, celebrate hope in your life as you celebrate the birth of our Lord.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
Lord, this Christmas, help us to praise you as the God of Hope. May we celebrate your good gifts to us – faith, hope and love. Help us share these same gifts with those around us so they too may have faith in you, hope through you and love for you. Amen.
Fran Reece
CHRISTMAS IS MORE THAN
As Christmastime arrives
And relatives and friends draw near;
It’s a very special time
For all those things we hold dear.
For Christmas is more than
Just tinsel and lights;
It’s a star born in Bethlehem
To brighten up the night.
Christmas is more than
Snow and holly wreaths;
It’s the feeling of good will
That lies underneath.
Christmas is more than
Toy soldiers, dolls and trains;
It’s finding a way
To lessen another’s pain.
Christmas is more than
Cookies, candy and such;
It’s the love we convey to each other
In a smile or a gentle touch.
Christmas is more than
The hustle and bustle of shopping sprees,
And the trips to select gigantic Christmas trees-
It’s the goodness in others that we see..
Christmas is more than
Good times and parties gay;
It’s the kindness we show to others
Day after day.
Christmas is more than
A season of good cheer;
It’s the Savior born in Bethlehem-
A birthday to celebrate all year!
Gloria and Justin Alston
The Webster’s II New Riverside Desk Dictionary defines hope as, "To want or wish for, with a feeling of confident expectation." We believe that hope is a big part of being a Christian even though we may not always have hope. However, without hope we feel that we could not go on living each day to the fullest. To have hope, we feel like one must also have faith. Our hope and faith were definitely tested the last time that Justin was in the hospital. However, we both made it through thanks to God, and to all of your prayers.
When Justin was in the hospital July, August, and September 2000, I remember driving to the hospital and praying, "Dear Father in heaven, please help me to continue to have hope that Justin is going to get well." I would pray this prayer every day realizing in my heart that I did not always have the confidence that my prayers were being heard. I would be crying and saying, "Father, You know I love You and I have hope that You are listening to my prayer, but I do not know how much longer I can have hope without seeing results." At the time, little did I know that my prayers were being answered and He was continuing to give me hope.
We received hope each time that one of you would come and see us in the hospital or called or sent us cards. We would like to say "thank you" so much for your many prayers. It gives us great hope to know that we have a loving church family that cares for us the way you do. One final thought: Please do not ever give up hope on anything; I know that we will not. Remember that God is the one that gives us cause for hope.
Dave Dofflemoyer
Hope is a wonderful gift from God. It is defined as that which is desired or anticipated…. Twenty seven years ago I stood by my mother’s side as she was asked by doctors at the University of Virginia Hospital if she wanted them to abandon the life support system that was keeping my father alive. Dad had slipped into a coma after his heart stopped for some four or five minutes despite having had a pacemaker implanted just a few days prior. The doctors said he would certainly be in a vegetative state if he was ever to come out of the coma because his brain had been deprived of oxygen for so long. I will never forget mother’s answer. "No", she said, "where there’s life, there’s hope". In John 14:6 Jesus tells us that He is the way and the truth and the life. Truly, where there is life, (Jesus’ life), there is hope for eternity!
As we celebrate this special season, let us give thanks for the hope of the world, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Jeremiah 17:7 tells us "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is."
Perhaps the best present we could give someone this year would be to acquaint them with God and introduce them to Hope’s comfort. (Psalm 146:5) Let’s ask that neighbor, co-worker, or friend to join us for one of our Christmas celebrations. It could turn out to be a life changing event for him.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Romans 15:13
Thank you God for Hope’s comfort and encouragement. Amen.
Ahnabeth Tomlin
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
One day I was in my room thinking about having a brother or sister. Well, I prayed and prayed everyday. Then one Wednesday night, a miraculous thing happened. We learned that a family in our church knew someone with an infant that needed care. On the next Friday night, we picked up Emmah, the 3-month old baby and took her home. I was so, so happy!
I thank God for what he did for me and for making my family happy. Although we only got to keep Emmah for 3 months, I still thank God for that good 3 months. If any of you have experienced that, it is okay to cry and wish that child was still with you. But we need to thank God always, because he is the one that let you, me or anyone else have a child to care for. Hope helps me believe that God will do more good things.
The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, "The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!" The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. Amen. Lamentations 3:22-26
Julie McDaniel
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and go and pray to me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29: 11-13
A few years back I was going through a very difficult time. Aside from the personal and financial problems that I was facing, I had been severely injured in a car accident. I had suffered a compound fracture to my femur, which had caused nerve damage in my lower left leg. Because of this, I had a condition known as "Foot-Drop". I was not able to pull my foot up at all. I had to wear a brace in order to walk. This may not seem like much to some people, but to a 21 year old it was devastating. I couldn’t wear any of my favorite shoes!
At first the doctors told me that this was just a temporary condition. After a couple of months went by and still no movement, I was told that the condition was permanent and that I would have to wear the brace from then on. This crushed me. That day I asked God to heal me. I had hoped that God would heal me. It was hard at times, but I never gave up hope of being able to move my foot. I dreamed of it. I longed for it. But most of all . . . I prayed for it. God did answer my prayers.
The wreck happened in March of 1998 and in March of 1999 I walked without my brace for the first time. Since then, my foot has continued to strengthen and I have not had to wear the brace again.
Recovering from this wreck was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I was faced with the "impossible" but with a little hope and a lot of God I was made well.
Dear Lord, I love you. Thank you for being the always listening, always loving and always there Father that you are. May I never lose my hope.
updated 01/08/2011