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2004 Advent Daily Devotional Guide 

Anticipating Our Lord Through ...

 

Southeast Home Page  |  2004 Advent Introduction  | Children's Pictures  |  Acknowledgments

Advent I Advent II Advent III Advent IV Epiphany
Nov 28 - Dec 4 Dec 5-11 Dec 12-18 Dec 19-25 Dec 26 - Jan 1

 

Advent II - Peace Peace Shall Reign - Layman Cash
Sunday December 5 Jean Smith
Monday December 6 Janice Triplett
Tuesday December 7 Mary Rice
Wednesday December 8 Lizzie Compton
Thursday December 9 David Hannah
Friday December 10 Nimfa R Freeze
Saturday December 11 Annette Parsons
..

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PEACE  -  Sunday December  5, 2004

Isaiah 11:1-5

When you are in a time of trouble it is usually hard to just rest in the Lord.  These verses from Isaiah confirm for me that Jesus cares about what we are going through. 
We are told that He has the spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength and knowledge. 
When I think about His wisdom, I am reminded that He is all knowing.  He knows what is best for me, and He knows why I have to go through what I am currently dealing with.  He knows just how much I can deal with.
His understanding reminds me that He came to us as a human, so He really does understand how we feel.  I remind myself that what I am going through is nothing compared to what He went through while He was here on earth.  He understands my fears, my frustration, my pain, my despair.
His counsel assures me that He is there for me all the time. His words and His actions guide me in the ways that I should live my life.  They bring comfort, encouragement, and hope. 
His strength is available to me as I live in faith.  I am reminded in Philippians 4:13 that I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.  I am strongest when I surrender myself to Him. 
His knowledge is complete.  He knows all.  Psalm 139 tells me that He knew me before I was born.  He knows all of the days of my life.  How can I not trust Him when He has ALL of the answers!
In this passage, I am assured that He will judge with righteousness and fairness.  When I am being treated unfairly, I can be assured that He will be my advocate.
Faithfulness is a belt around His waist.  He is faithful.  He never waivers.  He is always the same.  Nothing else in my life is always the same.  Nothing else in my life is always faithful.  He is always there for me.
When I meditate on this passage, I can have peace - the peace that passes understanding.

Jean Smith

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PEACE  -  Monday  December 6, 2004

December, 1998
The mornings were cold, the skies gray, and the view from the window was bleak.  Even so, I welcomed each dawn, thankful another long night was over.  Duke Hospital had been home for Benny and me the past six weeks as he fought a fierce battle with leukemia.  My Bible lay open to Psalms 104; verse 29 was underlined;  "....when you take away their breath, they die."  I took comfort in this declaration of God's sovereignty.  "God is in control.  Hopefully we will be home for Christmas."  Such was my thinking those final days of 1998.
January, 1999
The mornings seemed colder, the skies grayer, and the view was nonexistent.......Benny had been transferred to the Intensive Care Unit.  "No hope.....further decline.....need to remove life support...."  Such were the words of the team of doctors to our family seated around the conference table.
Later that day I slipped into the hospital chapel where I often went to pray.  Instead of pleading for healing as I usually did,  I prayed, "Lord, I bow to your sovereign will.  If you are ready to come for him, I am ready to release him to you."  Almost immediately the Lord brought to my mind John's account of Jesus coming to the disciples during a storm, walking on water:

      ".....they were terrified.  But He said to them, 'It is I.  Don't be afraid; then they were
   willing to take Him  into the boat and immediately the boat reached the shore
   where they were  heading."  John 6: 20-21

Funny thing....until that moment, the "It is I" part had gone unnoticed by me.  A light bulb came on and suddenly it all seemed to come into focus.  I finally recognized this situation was from God (It is I); thus, I need not fear (Don't be afraid); at last I was willing to accept God's will (then they were willing to take him into the boat); "....and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading." (Benny reached that shore a short time later.) 
December, 2004
Are the mornings cold?  Sometimes.  Are the skies gray?  Sometimes.  Is the view bleak?  No, because Jesus is in the boat with me, involved in every storm I face, slowly, steadily, moving me through the waters toward the shore and a glorious reunion with my loved ones.  Such are my thoughts this holiday season.
This time of year, we think of Jesus as the baby in the manger, but he is also the Prince of Peace… Peace in stormy waters and peace in calm waters.  Don't be afraid to take him into your boat.

 Dear Jesus, we praise you as the Prince of Peace.  Help us to recognize you in every situation and invite you to perform a miracle for us just as you did for the disciples when you "came to them walking on the water".   Amen

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you."  John 14:27

 Janice Triplett

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PEACE  -  Tuesday December 7, 2004

         "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts since  as members of one
body you were called to peace and be thankful." - Colossians 4:18

 Father, I praise you for peace that surpasses all understanding and I thank you for the scripture on the word peace . You have made it clear Lord that if we "seek ye first the kingdom of heaven, all these things shall be added."  Father for sure I know that one of the things Is the perfect peace you give us when we go through troubled waters. I pray that each heart will be touched by my words, your words. Father I give you the glory. Amen
Our lives are so busy and the normal day is filled with so many problems. My prayer for everyone reading this is that they will learn to pace themselves so that the lord will be first in their life.
I have known peace since I re-dedicated my life to Christ. I started Out with the scripture Matthew 6:33. "but seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well". I truly want to do His will in my life and I think on Him constantly. I know this pleases Him. I spend time with Him and read His word and  pray. In the morning time I have my devotion with Him and I worship In music. He is so wonderful!
Many times I would be consumed with problems of others and pray.  And I determined in my own heart, Lord, whenever I have a serious problem I just want to glorify You, no matter what the problem. I cannot convey to You the peace I felt all around me in the doctors office when I was told of my cancer. I could hardly believe it, But I knew it was the peace of God. The peace He had promised me thru Jesus Christ.

          "Peace I leave with you my peace I give you. I do not
          give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be
          troubled and do not be afraid." -  John 14:27

I wasn't afraid. He was there thru it all. Please understand my Heart. Everyone was saying to me how great I was doing and what Joy they saw, but it wasn't me. It was the peace of the Lord, I truly believe He honored my prayer and He wants to bless every life. 
Christmas time is so wonderful. We sing all our Christmas music and celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

  "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts since as members of one body you were called to peace and be thankful." -  Colossians 4:18.

Mary Rice

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PEACE  -  Wednesday  December 8, 2004

Peace is something that is sought by many and found by few.  Everyday there are people all over the world who pray for peace.  There are children who have grown up amidst the sounds of bombs and gunshots, and are scared to leave their homes.  There are also those who are searching for peace inside themselves.  They face daily struggles in their lives and try and make sense of their problems. 
About a year ago my brother had two unexplainable seizures and I could not stop thinking about him afterwards.  I was so worried and scared that he was going to have another seizure that would lead to more severe health problems.  I can't imagine being 17 years old and all of a sudden being asked to put your life on hold because of this unexpected and unexplainable problem that is plaguing you.  I remember talking to Clay about it and expressing my concern for him.  He looked me right in the eyes and said, "If I'm going to have another seizure, it's just going to happen.  There's nothing either of us can do about it."  This seemed so simple to me when he first said it, but it was perfect.  He was at peace with the fact that God had a plan for his life.  No worrying or any measures taken to "protect" him would prevent another seizure.  Those simple words Clay spoke to me gave me an enormous amount of peace.  I still think of him often, but when I do I know God will continue to take care of him. 
Through my twenty years of living and learning I have figured out that even when we are unsure of God's plan, He isn't.  "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11.  I thank God everyday for the peace He has given me in my life, and I pray that you too will find the peace God so desires for you to have in your life.
"May the Lord bless you and protect you; may the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you; may the Lord show you His favor and give you peace."  Numbers 6:24-26

In his service and love,

Lizzie Compton

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PEACE  -  Thursday December  9, 2004

Isaiah 11 tells us of the time on earth when peace will totally rule.  The wolf will live with the Lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.
This is the life we, as Christians, look forward to when Christ returns.  In the meantime we find ourselves in a world of conflict.  Wars and rumors of wars are the rule rather than the exception.  All levels of interactions between men are filled with conflict at every turn and it is difficult for us to have peace.
In examining my own life, I'm convicted of the many times I have willfully pursued what I considered to be my own best interest.  It's my nature to "fight rather than switch" as the saying goes.  For a Christian to live this way is certainly not pleasing to God.  Despite our circumstances the Lord has promised us peace.  In John 14:27 Jesus tells us  "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and be not afraid."
I can think of at least six times in my life when I thought there might be a good chance the Lord was calling me home.  I can also truthfully testify that during those periods I had the peace that passes all understanding.
We as Christians should live confident lives and not be caught up in the worries of life.  Our Lord and Savior has sent us a Comforter to provide us with all the guidance, support and love we need to lead lives that reflect well on our Lord.

Proverbs 3:5-6 tell us to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." I do know the Lord has never failed me in any way.

  My prayer is that, as in the old hymn, He gives me the grace to trust him more.

David Hannah

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PEACE--Friday December 10, 2004 

"Sleep, my child, and PEACE attend thee, All through the night; Guardian angels GOD will lend thee, All through the night; Soft the drowsy hours are creeping, hill and dale in slumber sleeping, Love alone his watch is keeping. All through the night."
I guess every individual in this world wants to have peace and harmony in their lives, and I believe the only way to have it is to be near GOD, our Prince of Peace.
Many days a couple of months ago, when I was talking to my mother on the phone and she said , Nimfa every one of us has its own time and your father was just ahead of us, he died peacefully into your brother's arm, so be strong because you're far away from me.  Remember, you have your husband that needs you.  I cried and cried, because I cannot see or touch him no more; I cannot hear his voice singing while I was lying on his arm until I fell asleep when I was a child. It is so painful because I can't hug my father whom I owe my life to him.  But then God was so good, He gave me a very supportive husband. I can depend on him anytime especially in times of my distress, embracing me with his loving arms.  When I asked for a friend, God granted me; when I needed a family, He chose Southeast Baptist Church people as my family, who pray, care, and love me and Wayne.
As we celebrate the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, let us ask for forgiveness of our sins and obey His commands.

"The Lord gives strength to his people, the Lord blesses his people with peace." - Psalm 29:11

 Merciful and loving God, thank you for all the blessings, make us an instrument of your peace, give us the courage and perseverance as we wait for your coming. Amen

Nimfa R Freeze

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PEACE  -  Saturday December 11, 2004


God's Peace

         In my life I have had many moments of God's peace. When I was a child of eight and my sister only two, our Mother went to be with the Lord. As I said my nightly prayers, I asked the Lord" 'Why did You need my Mom?" God gave me peace.
        When I was a very young bride and my husband was gravely ill, I prayed "God what will happen to me and our little baby if something happens to my husband?" God gave me peace.
       When my youngest child was lost in the world and my prayers were said hourly, daily for her protection, God gave me peace.
       In Isaiah 11 God says the wolf and the lamb will lie together in peace. If that is in God's plan, how much more He desires His children to know His peace.
      Peace is a precious gift from God. When you think you cannot bear another day, ask God and He will grant you peace.
      Prayer is just one of the ways God granted me moments of peace.  A few years ago we had a prayer room at our church. I would go there at around noon and just experience that quiet time with the Lord and the church chimes would always be ringing at the time I finished my prayer time .It was a blessing to feel the joy of that special  time.

       Heavenly Father, I need to know your peace as I walk this earth with my daily trials. I lift my eyes and heart to You, a mighty God who can part the seas and make enemies rally together under the same flag. You have dominion over me and any thing that takes that peace. I pray your blessing and Peace In Christ's name Amen

Annette Parsons 

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Southeast Home Page  |  2004 Advent Introduction  | Children's Pictures  |  Acknowledgments

Advent I Advent II Advent III Advent IV Epiphany
Nov 28 - Dec 4 Dec 5-11 Dec 12-18 Dec 19-25 Dec 26 - Jan 1