First Baptist Church St. Simons Island

Advent Devotion

Constant Hope

Romans 15:13

Merriam Webster Dictionary defines hope as “to want something to happen or be true and think that it could happen or be true.”

We have developed a close relationship with hope through our marriage. Last Christmas was very special for us. It was our first Christmas as parents. For many years we found ourselves hoping God would bless us with a child. We wanted children so badly and the holidays made their absence even more pronounced. We would decorate and discuss how much joy a child would bring to our home especially during the holiday season. We would watch parents enjoy their children climbing on Santa’s lap or picking out a Christmas tree and we would hope. We have often turned to scripture through our journey and one verse that has helped and continues to guide us is Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” This Christmas we are blessed with two beautiful children. We continue to feel hope, but now it is for their health, happiness, and future. We have learned that hope evolves with our lives.

The Christmas season brings hope for many whether you are a child hoping for a special toy, someone hoping a loved one will return home soon, or a couple hoping for the blessing of a child. Our personal hopes may change from Christmas to Christmas, but as Christians we are able to hold onto the constant hope of God’s gift to us, his son. The Christmas season is about celebrating the birth of Jesus and we have hope for his return.

A Drink of Living Water

A couple of summers ago, I was away on a business trip in Kentucky, and my heart was troubled for a friend who was in the midst of turmoil. Hoping to offer some comfort, I wrote my friend a letter, and during lunch, I rushed to the post office to buy stamps. I found a long line, and an elderly woman stood in front of me. We made casual conversation for a few minutes as she explained she was mailing a letter to her great-grandson who lived in Texas. She said that she didn’t get to see him often, but she wanted him to know that he was special and loved. I relayed my purpose in mailing my letter—my concern for this friend who was making really tough choices. We continued our chat until she reached the clerk’s window, where she turned to me and said: “I enjoyed talking to you. You know, when God gives us a drink of living water, we’d be foolish not to take it.” At first, I was taken aback by her remark, as we had not talked about spiritual matters, but as I made my way back to work, the ageing woman’s wisdom began to resonate with me.

How did she know that I needed a drink of “living water,” a reminder that God is in control and our cares are His cares? Our hope is in him, his words, his comfort; and the knowledge that we are his loved and special children should replenish us every day. That “living water” surrounds us on a daily basis; it’s the gentle reminder that our Savior is amidst our storms; it’s the people that we cross paths with who remind us that we serve a living, risen Savior who walks beside us. Do you need a drink?

Hope is Real

Mark 1:3
Jeremiah 23:5
Micah 5:2
Isaiah 9:6

Mark 1: 3, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’”

The easiest characters to miss in the Christmas story are the characters who are not physically there: the prophets. Although they all died centuries before Jesus’ birth, God still uses them to remind us that the story of Christmas is part of a larger story of God’s interaction with humanity. These prophets of old bring to us the basis for hope and the promises that make hope real.

Prophecies are found throughout the Old Testament. One theme that threads its way through many prophecies is the HOPE of a promised Messiah, an “Anointed One” who will redeem God’s people and restore all things. The promises of God through the prophets brought hope to God’s people in Old Testament days, and those promises concerning the Messiah bring increasing clarity of God’s promises to us today. Jeremiah 23:5 says the Messiah will be a descendent of David, and Micah 5:2 announced that he will be born in Bethlehem. The prophets from the Old Testament are still a part of the Christmas Story. From the wilderness, they gave God’s people the hope of a coming Messiah. Isaiah 9:6 says he would be called, “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” These prophecies provide us with confidence and hope that God fulfills every promise he makes.

One of the most important gifts we can give to another person this Christmas season is the gift of hope. We, as servants of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, are to share the good news of hope that we have found in Jesus, the Son of God. Make hope real to someone this Christmas season!

My prayer is that others will find that HOPE is REAL and that it comes from God. He has placed hope in our hearts, and it is ours for the taking and sharing with others. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Our Hope Does Not Disappoint

Isaiah 64:4-8
Hebrews 11:1

We say, “I hope” a lot, especially around the holidays. I hope all the family can get together this year. I hope I don’t overcook the turkey. I hope I can get everything done on my ‘To Do’ list. I hope I get that special gift I have been hinting about.

What we really mean is, “I wish.” ‘I wish’ is based on our desires, the ingenuity of ourselves or others motivated towards pleasing us, and maybe some luck or Jolly St. Nick involvement.

Hebrews 11:1 teaches us that real hope is brought about by faith, and FAITH is only as potent as the object of our faith. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1).

Being certain of God is the hope that sustains us in all times.

Five Christmases ago, I was facing the first of my major cancer surgeries, and, quite frankly, hoping to make it until the next Christmas season. I hoped to watch my little granddaughter, aged 1 ½ years, open gifts and hear the Baby Jesus story again and again. I was hoping in the ONE who can provide hope.

I am still asking God for more Christmases, and I am so very thankful that I am approaching this advent season with FIVE beautiful grandchildren. I am thankful for the God of whom Isaiah spoke: “From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him.” (Isaiah 64:4).

We hope in a God who loves us enough to send a savior, to meet us with grace at even the hardest places in our lives. He did it out of LOVE. The God of eternity entered in. He always does.

My hope goes beyond Christmas seasons to the ORIGIN of Christmas: The Christ child volunteered to go to the cross for you and me. Let us live our days in a way that says to Him, “Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8).

Faded Blue Jean Glory

“And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory…” (John 1:14).

The Christmas story is the story of God becoming flesh, of revealing his glory to all peoples. However, if I’m honest, I’m much more comfortable with the glory part and not so much the flesh part. One would think it would be the other way around. I am flesh and definitely not glory, except maybe when I landed that 18 inch Redfish in my secret fishing hole three weeks ago, but not really then either. My line tangled in a huge wad, almost fell out of the kayak twice, and then stepped up to my knees in marsh mud. So, I don’t really know too much about glory.

    But surprisingly, it’s easier to talk about his glory. Jesus’ glory and God’s glory revealed through him. In fact, most of the carols I sing, Christmas cards I send, and Christmas messages I hear are about that glory. The almost incomprehensible revelation of pure grace and truth offering salvation from sure death that came that night. And when we attempt to describe his glory that night, we sing and speak of golden angel wings, perfect swaddling clothes, and well-behaved donkeys, but I’m still trying to get the marsh mud out of my faded blue jeans.

    Maybe there is something to that flesh thing. I haven’t seen any angels yet. I’ve met some folks pretty close to it though. I have never met a well-behaved donkey, and most babies I know are never perfectly wrapped for long, especially on arrival. So maybe that flesh thing was really flesh. Maybe he did know something about tangled fishing lines and sticky mud up to one’s knees. For then, all of my life everyday has meaning every second. Maybe, that’s even the glory part. My wadded fishing reel and faded blue jeans are desperately hoping so.

Soak Yourself in the Spirit to Show the Light of Christ

Run finish your shopping, wrap the last gifts…hurry-up! Double check your to-do list to make sure you have everything done! This time of year is so busy. In reality, our lives in general are too busy. If you are like me, we rush from one thing to another trying to do what is demanded.

I want to get back to basics. De-clutter. Simplify. I want my life to have more of what really counts in the end. So often, some of the things demanding my time, aren’t really the most important things. With all of these demands, I realize that even the best made plans, the purest intentions and most organized to-do list will ultimately fail without Jesus.

As a child of God I have direct access to Him. He tells me I personally can come before His throne. Me…individually! (Hebrews 4: 14—16) How neat is it that our Creator gives us access to Him. The more time I spend with Him—in His presence, talking to Him, learning about Him, listening to Him—the more time I am going to want to spend with Him. I want to know what plans He has for me, I want to look in the mirror and see the person He sees in me. I want to taste His goodness, grace and mercy. I want His love to fill me to overflowing and penetrate to the very core of who I am. I want Him.

Soaked in Him, I hope that when others look at me all they see is the Light of Christ. I hope they see the work of Holy God. I hope they sense His love—because that is what really matters, that is what is really important.

And all of this made possible because He was willing to come as a baby, grow as a child and die as a man for our sins—just so we can come before Him freely. Happy Birthday Jesus! Thank you for coming for us.

Responding to the Call to Serve

When my son Grady was nine months old he had already been hospitalized several times for lung infections. In the midst of one of these hospitalizations we discovered that our apartment at the time was riddled with mold and the closet in Grady’s bedroom was the hidden reservoir deposit for a leak in the building’s roof. It became a necessity that we move on short notice with Grady still in the hospital. Though we had only attended two or three services at First Baptist Church St. Simons Island, a visit from a church member while Grady was in the hospital prompted an email which called several families to our home to help with the move. Though I know these families now as the Owen’s, Bryson’s and McFarland’s, at the time we were strangers to each other. If it had not been for the help of the church, several members of whom we had not even met at the time, the move out of our moldy apartment would not have been possible.

When I think about the light of Christ shining to give glory to God, this is the one event that stands out amongst all others in my mind – this sentinel event is the reason my family are members of First Baptist Church St. Simons Island. Though I know I have told this story before in other contexts, I tell it here to demonstrate how being the light of Christ often means a blind response to opportunity. There are those times in life where we receive a phone call, email, or text asking us to act or give and our response needs to be “Yes” simply because God has given us the opportunity to be the light of Christ to others. Are there any opportunities in your life to be the light of Christ to which you simply need to say “Yes?”

The Holy Spirit is Always With Us in Our Hour of Need

Optional Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-16 (lectionary text)

I am certain that I am in the majority when I count myself as among those who find themselves closest to God when the hour of greatest need arrives.  For those of us who have made a career in the Combat Arms, that vocation has placed us in needful circumstances all too often.  When you are in mortal danger with no succor in sight, tired beyond description, hungry, parched, and filthy, with the support of your loved ones thousands of miles away, I can testify from personal experience that your most desperate wish is for God and his Son to be your companions. I testify that he answered my calls.  Many of the finest warriors I have known are dedicated Christians.  Combat soldiers aren’t joking when they say there are no atheists in foxholes — and it is not called the Service by accident.  In sum, I believe that we must embrace our tribulations with thanksgiving letting our light shine before others as we celebrate the presence of the Holy Spirit who is always with us in our hour of need.  

Let Others See Jesus In You

Optional Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16 (theme selected text)

Jesus said “You are the light of the world…..let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven”. (Matthew 5:14-16). A children’s sermon that I once taught was “let others see Jesus in you.” I held up a huge mirror and asked the children to describe what they noticed about themselves. I heard “ponytail, glasses, braces, etc”. After they named all the physical attributes that they saw, I told each child one thing that I saw in them that reflected Jesus. For instance, one child always helped smaller children and was kind to them. Another child smiled all the time and never seemed unhappy. The children were delighted that I could name these great things about them and yet they were almost amazed that someone had taken note of these small actions. I wanted to show all of these children how important even the smallest good deeds are and how people really do notice. How wonderful to be able to lead someone to Christ through something as simple as a handwritten note or a gesture of friendship!

My daughter, Cammie, once insisted that I turn around on the interstate and help a homeless man with a small dog. I protested that I did not have any cash. Cammie volunteered her own money. When I asked her if she really wanted to give up her money, she simply stated that it was hot and the man and his dog needed water. At that moment, I was reminded of a bible verse, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40) She thought nothing more of it, but I will remember that day forever.

Prove Them Wrong, O Lord

Optional Scripture: Psalm 4:6 (theme selected text)

Many say that God will never help us. Prove them wrong, O lord, by letting the light of your face shine down upon us.

In 1997 Lee and son James traveled to Kenya to meet their Compassion sponsor child. While there we met a Compassion social worker who was visiting in Nairobi. Her husband had recently died leaving her with six children and barely enough money to pay her rent. We got permission to sponsor one of her daughters, and so the auntie rode the bus from their village into Nairobi bringing the younger children so that we could meet them. We met Sebby, a shy 9 year old girl. She and her sister sang for us in their village language because they did not know English. That year she learned English in school and wrote us beautiful letters. She always included inspirational scripture and reminded us that she was praying for us. Our family went through some difficult struggles during those years, and we were comforted by her family’s prayers and encouragement. 10 years later she was chosen for the Leadership Development Program because of her strong Christian leadership and her high academic success. Sebby attended medical training, and in 2011 we went to her graduation. How wonderful to hear that she was seeing patients in a clinic and delivering babies!

That day we heard her story. In her testimony at LDP graduation she shared that when her father died everyone told her she was destined to be a child of the streets. She believed she had no future; she felt hopeless and cried in bed every night. Then she heard she had a sponsor. Because of the Compassion program, she received a social worker and a pastor to encourage and mentor her. Today she shares the gospel with everyone she sees in the clinic! How beautiful it is to see the light of God passed from person to person.