Christmas is coming!

 

Saturday, November 28, 2020

Tell Me About the Christmas Baby:

An Advent Devotional Guide

Introduction

Written by Patience Fort

 

Many of my readers knew my mother, Patience Nave. When she was 50 years old, she graduated from Western Kentucky University with her Bachelor’s degree. She went on to earn her Masters in English and then taught in South America, China, and Florida. After serving for eight years on the Citrus County School Board in Homosassa, Florida, she began a short career as Education Coordinator/Minister in two churches: Homosassa First United Methodist Church and Rehobeth United Methodist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina (where, by the way, she celebrated her 80^th birthday).

As a minister in church education, mother did all kinds of things. She went to Haiti I-don’t-know-how-many times. She wrote the curriculum for and directed vacation Bible schools. She discipled many. And she taught countless Bible study classes.

Some of the things that I cherish from Mother’s years at her churches in Florida and North Carolina are the devotional guides she developed for Advent and Lent.  I have about six years of them. And now I enjoy reproducing them on my blog for all to read and enjoy. Feel free to share them with others.

This particular devotional guide is from December of 2010. She was still living in Florida and working at First United Methodist Church of Homosassa. Here is an excerpt from her introduction.

 

As I write, it’s a 94-degree July day; as you read I hope it’s cool, and your thoughts are moving toward the wonderful Christ before us.

 

This year, I’m broadening the audience for whom I am writing. In the past, I have written to the church family here at Homosassa United Methodist; however, over the years, you have told me you send our devotionals to friends. This year I hope to make each day’s thought relevant to our extended family, friends whom we love and welcome, with whom we want to share.

 

Does the name of our devotional seem inappropriate? I hope it won’t as you proceed through the pages. As you read, you’ll see that the Scriptures tell us of Jesus, not just as a baby, but as Creator, a Great Mystery, God Incarnate, our Redeemer, our Suffering Christ, and our Mediator/Advocate. So beginning at Genesis I have chosen scriptures that reveal who Christ Jesus is, why he came and what he did.

 

The Scripture references are very short. My prayer is that what I have chosen will whet your appetite, cause you to read in your own Bible the entire reference. I’ve taken a narrow view; you can put a wide lens on to see the whole picture. Read and find hope!

 

Remember, “Everything that has been written was written for our instruction, that through our perseverance and the revelation of the Holy Spirit, we might find hope.” Romans 15:4

As you prepare for Christmas 2020, my prayer is that this devotional guide will bless you beyond measure – that you will see our Lord in a whole new light – and that you will reflect His light to the people around you in the days to come.

 

Tell Me About the Christmas Baby:
An Advent Devotional Guide
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Winter 2010
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator