The First Step

“The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country…’” (Genesis 12:1)

The following was a devotional from the Upper Room Devotional Guide that I am passing on as a reminder of the importance of letting God guide us in all “new” things in life, whether it be a new year, a new job, new relationship, or something else….

“’Watch that first step!’ my friend cautioned as I approached the stairway.  ‘It’s taller than the rest.’  First steps are often the hardest -- whether it’s starting a new school, tackling an overdue project, or beginning something God nudges us to do.  Fortunately, the Bible is filled with numerous examples of people who stepped out in faith and accomplished great things for God.  Abram walked away from his homeland for a new country and become the father of many nations (Genesis 12:1-4).  Ruth journeyed with Naomi and became an ancestor of the Savior (Ruth 1:16-17).  Jesus traveled a path that led first to death but ultimately to resurrection (Matthew 28:1-7).

What first step are you facing? Is it giving up an old habit?  Looking for a new job?  Finding new friends?  Reconciling with a family member?  Accepting God’s call to serve in the church?  As we approach any first step, we can find courage in remembering that we don’t take it alone.  God strengthens and supports us as we continue the journey, step by step!     
[--Phyllis Wezeman, writing for The Upper Room devotional magazine, Nov. 2, 2002]

As we begin a new year, my prayer is that you will remember the power and presence of God in all the “first steps” you may be taking!  And always remember that God loves you and I do, too! 

'Twas The Week Before Christmas

“A child has been born for us, a son given to us…” (Isaiah 9:6)

“‘Twas the week before Christmas when all through the town,
Men, women and children were running around,
Giving left signals and then turning right,
Shopping and spending much money all night.

Elbowing in at the counter of toys,
Buying up gifts for their girls and their boys.
The meaning of Christmas is clear in our city:
Mail carriers and clerks never get any pity.

Father is groaning; his checkbook turns red,
While visions of bankruptcy churn in his head.
Mother is baking cake after pie, saying
“If I see one more pastry, I think I will die.”

Only for children it can’t come too soon.
They’ll talk about next year on Christmas at noon.
With all of the holes in our nerves and our shoes,
The meaning of Christmas we almost will lose.

But then comes the strains of that music so light
And soon we are humming the tune ‘Silent Night’.
Our minds take us back twenty centuries past,
And the meaning of Christmas comes through to us at last.

No hurry, no bustle, no trees with their lights,
No honking, no hustle, no toys gleaming bright.
But Jesus our Savior, in Bethlehem born,
Becomes the true meaning of our Christmas morn.”
       [--Author Unknown, cited from an old Fayetteville (GA) First United Methodist Church newsletter]

How do you and your family experience Christmas? I pray that on you and they will make the difficult but rewarding choice to remove yourself from the stress and strain and rush of the holiday long enough both to remember and actually experience the true meaning of the season.

As part of that choice, I hope you'll join myself and your fellow church family to celebrate Jesus, "the reason for the season." at one of our Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion services, available December 24^th either online from our church’s website HERE any time after 9:30am – please have bread and juice ready for Communion; OR outdoors in our church parking lot at 5:00pm – please wear your mask if you intend to sit in a chair outside, or you can listen from your car radio at 88.1 FM.  Merry Christmas, and always remember that God loves you and I do, too! 

Wanted: The Peace of Advent

 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." (Matthew 5:9)

In the midst of all the various challenges and crises of this year, there has been a lot of frustration and discontent in our world lately over a variety of different things... all of which have sparked more and more vitriol, hatred, and division all around us.

If there's ever a time when our world needs the peace of "Advent" (the Christian season the four weeks leading up to Christmas day), it's today!  The word “Advent” itself is actually derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming", and references the three "comings" of Jesus in and throughout history:

            1) IN THE PAST ...as a babe in Bethlehem.  We listen to the words of Old Testament prophets who promise a coming Messiah.

            2) IN THE PRESENT ...as the one who comes and meets us in our hearts and lives today,

            3) IN THE FUTURE ...as the one who will come again one day to make all things new and to establish His kingdom of peace and justice upon the earth once and for all.

Since Jesus came as the "prince of peace," then more than ever, Advent is a time for each of us to encourage and promote the kind of peace that is described in the words of Matthew 5:9 (above).  Peace doesn't mean we have to agree with everyone around us, but it means that we seek to listen to each other, to give grace and space to each other when we make mistakes, and (at the very least) to make it our practice not to do harm to others either through our actions or our words.  It means we seek BE the peace that we want to see enacted in our world.  It means that instead of complaining about and pointing out what others are NOT doing to promote peace, we need to first ask ourselves if we are doing things that discourage it, and ask what things we need to start doing to better encourage it.

In other words, Advent is a time for those of us who claim the name "Christian" to live by our own Master's command first to BE peacemakers ourselves. As the old hymn says, “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”

So this season of Advent (at least), rather than give in to the frustration and pessimism of our world's lack of peace, I pray that you will join me in seeking to be a person of peace yourself.  Always remember that God loves you and I do, too!