Open Windows devotional | Winter 2012-2013 sample
WINTER 2012-13
Large Print
Southern Baptist Guide for Personal Devotions
Winter 2012-13 Volume 77 — Number 2
“his windows being open . . . toward Jerusalem.”—Daniel 6:10 Open Windows provides brief daily devotionals based on selected Scriptures for adults in Southern Baptist churches and others who choose to use them. Open Windows (Large Print) (ISSN 0162-4296, Item 005075106) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. For ordering or inquiries, visit www.lifeway. com, or write LifeWay Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For subscriptions or subscription address changes, e-mail subscribe@ lifeway.com, fax 615-251-5818, or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, e-mail orderentry@ lifeway.com, fax 615-251-5933 or write to the above address. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. The 2000 statement of The Baptist Faith and Message is our doctrinal guideline. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version. Printed in the United States of America Cover photo: istock
Production & Ministry Team __________________________________ Lynn Pryor Content Editor Laura Allison Production Editor Chandra Bennett Editorial Team Leader Alan Raughton Adult Ministry Specialist David Apple Adult Ministry Specialist
Management Personnel __________________________________ Faith Whatley Director, Adult Ministry Bill Craig Director, Adult Ministry Publishing Debbie Johnson, Ken Braddy Managers, Adult Ministry Publishing Send questions or comments to:
Editor, Open Windows, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175. Or make comments on the web at www.lifeway.com.
A GIFT FROM MY FATHER Lynn Pryor
By anyone else’s standards, it wasn’t much. An inexpensive gray binder. It was blank on the outside. But on the inside ... In 1987, my father experienced a job layoff, so with extra time on his hands he used his state-of-the-art Commodore 64 to write out his life story. On Christmas morning while my infant sons played in the mounds of discarded wrapping paper, I held the most unassuming, plain-looking binder. But its pages told me a story I had never fully heard. It’s now 25 years later, and I still consider this the best Christmas gift ever. It came from the heart of my father. The whole celebration of Christmas is because of a gift that came from the heart of a father. God the Father gave of Himself and sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth. The purpose of this gift was so that the baby would grow up sinless and perfect and willingly die for our sins. Jesus didn’t have to do it; it’s all part of the gift.
What gift would you like this Christmas? Peace of mind? Forgiveness? A second chance at life? A new beginning? A sense of purpose? All these—and more!— come with the gift of Christ. It’s there, waiting for you to receive it and unwrap it. How do you “unwrap” this gift? As with any gift, you simply accept it and receive it. If you see Jesus for who He is—the Son of God—and for what He did—died for your sin and rose again to give you new life—just acknowledge that belief and give your life to Him. You can do so by praying a prayer something like this: “Dear God, I know I am a sinner and have rebelled against you in many ways. I believe Jesus died for my sin, and only through faith in His death and resurrection can I be forgiven. I now turn from my sin and ask Jesus to come into my life as my Savior and Lord. From this day forward, I choose to follow Jesus.” If you’ve prayed a prayer like this and invited Christ into your life, tell someone. Talk to the pastor of your local church and follow Christ’s example, asking for baptism by immersion as a public expression of your faith. There’s no greater gift. After all, it came from the heart of a loving Father.
Writers This Quarter Lorie Looney Keene (Dec. 1-5) author; pastor’s wife and teacher, Highland Baptist Church, Tullahoma, Tennessee Harriet Michael (Dec. 6-10) freelance writer, speaker for women’s groups; elder’s wife, Franklin Street Baptist Church, Louisville, KY www.whatHehasdoneformysoul.blogspot.com Russ Rankin (Dec. 11-15) manager of editorial services, Communications Department, LifeWay; teacher, Conduit Church, Thompson’s Station, Tennessee Ron Brown (Dec. 16-26) managing director, LifeWay, retired; writer; teacher, Pleasant Heights Baptist Church, Columbia, Tennessee Keith Edwards (Dec. 27-31) retired medical missionary; deacon and teacher, Sweetwater Baptist Church, North August, South Carolina Joel Sutton (Jan. 1-10) strategic personnel consultant, International Mission Board; teacher and small group leader, Winn’s Baptist Church, Glen Allen, Virginia Diana Davis (Jan. 11-20) author, women’s ministry and deacon wives books; speaker; member of Hope Community Church, Brownsburg, Indiana www.keeponshining.com
Winter 2012 • Open Windows • 6
Writers This Quarter Mar vin Owen (Jan. 21-30) former editor, LifeWay; writer; senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Florence, Oregon Rhonda Edge Buescher (Jan. 31-Feb. 9) director, Media Business Development, LifeWay; former faculty member, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, Hannibal-LaGrange University, Hannibal, Missouri, and church staff member, South Carolina, Missouri, and Texas; member, Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood, Tennessee Kathy Howard (Feb. 10-14) author, speaker; blogger - kathyhoward.org; regular contributor to donotdepart. com and womensministry.net; member, First Baptist Church the Woodlands, Texas Chandra Bennett (Feb. 15-19) editorial team leader, former editor of You curriculum, LifeWay; member Greater Grace Temple Community Church, Nashville, Tennessee Gregor y T. Pouncey (Feb. 20-28) writer; senior pastor, First Baptist Tillman’s Corner, Mobile, Alabama
Saturday, December 1
God Reigns Over the Nations Devotional Passage: 1 Chronicles 16:28-33
Read the Bible Through: Daniel 5–6 2 Peter 3
Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth. 1 Chronicles 16:33
T
hroughout literary history, one may observe several examples of writers who have given humanlike qualities to inanimate objects such as trees. One such example is in the book, The Lord of the Rings. When faced with war, the forest comes to life and goes to the aid of those on the “good side.” Obviously, this will not occur in real life. Nature is amoral and neutral in the affairs of mankind. Nature can, however, aid in our worship of God by simply presenting to us an example of His might, power, and creativity. In this passage, nature is singing out at the presence of its maker. We are reminded that, like the trees in nature, all nations and people groups are the workmanship of God’s own hand. He alone will be our final judge. Which qualities of the Lord does nature most display to you? How does the knowledge of God’s ultimate control over all nations cause you to view His power of judgment? Father, open my eyes to see You more clearly through Your creation. Help me rest in Your wise judgment.
Winter 2012• Open Windows • 8
Large Print
Southern Baptist Guide for Personal Devotions
Winter 2012-13 Volume 77 — Number 2
“his windows being open . . . toward Jerusalem.”—Daniel 6:10 Open Windows provides brief daily devotionals based on selected Scriptures for adults in Southern Baptist churches and others who choose to use them. Open Windows (Large Print) (ISSN 0162-4296, Item 005075106) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. For ordering or inquiries, visit www.lifeway. com, or write LifeWay Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For subscriptions or subscription address changes, e-mail subscribe@ lifeway.com, fax 615-251-5818, or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, e-mail orderentry@ lifeway.com, fax 615-251-5933 or write to the above address. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. The 2000 statement of The Baptist Faith and Message is our doctrinal guideline. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version. Printed in the United States of America Cover photo: istock
Production & Ministry Team __________________________________ Lynn Pryor Content Editor Laura Allison Production Editor Chandra Bennett Editorial Team Leader Alan Raughton Adult Ministry Specialist David Apple Adult Ministry Specialist
Management Personnel __________________________________ Faith Whatley Director, Adult Ministry Bill Craig Director, Adult Ministry Publishing Debbie Johnson, Ken Braddy Managers, Adult Ministry Publishing Send questions or comments to:
Editor, Open Windows, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175. Or make comments on the web at www.lifeway.com.
A GIFT FROM MY FATHER Lynn Pryor
By anyone else’s standards, it wasn’t much. An inexpensive gray binder. It was blank on the outside. But on the inside ... In 1987, my father experienced a job layoff, so with extra time on his hands he used his state-of-the-art Commodore 64 to write out his life story. On Christmas morning while my infant sons played in the mounds of discarded wrapping paper, I held the most unassuming, plain-looking binder. But its pages told me a story I had never fully heard. It’s now 25 years later, and I still consider this the best Christmas gift ever. It came from the heart of my father. The whole celebration of Christmas is because of a gift that came from the heart of a father. God the Father gave of Himself and sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth. The purpose of this gift was so that the baby would grow up sinless and perfect and willingly die for our sins. Jesus didn’t have to do it; it’s all part of the gift.
What gift would you like this Christmas? Peace of mind? Forgiveness? A second chance at life? A new beginning? A sense of purpose? All these—and more!— come with the gift of Christ. It’s there, waiting for you to receive it and unwrap it. How do you “unwrap” this gift? As with any gift, you simply accept it and receive it. If you see Jesus for who He is—the Son of God—and for what He did—died for your sin and rose again to give you new life—just acknowledge that belief and give your life to Him. You can do so by praying a prayer something like this: “Dear God, I know I am a sinner and have rebelled against you in many ways. I believe Jesus died for my sin, and only through faith in His death and resurrection can I be forgiven. I now turn from my sin and ask Jesus to come into my life as my Savior and Lord. From this day forward, I choose to follow Jesus.” If you’ve prayed a prayer like this and invited Christ into your life, tell someone. Talk to the pastor of your local church and follow Christ’s example, asking for baptism by immersion as a public expression of your faith. There’s no greater gift. After all, it came from the heart of a loving Father.
Writers This Quarter Lorie Looney Keene (Dec. 1-5) author; pastor’s wife and teacher, Highland Baptist Church, Tullahoma, Tennessee Harriet Michael (Dec. 6-10) freelance writer, speaker for women’s groups; elder’s wife, Franklin Street Baptist Church, Louisville, KY www.whatHehasdoneformysoul.blogspot.com Russ Rankin (Dec. 11-15) manager of editorial services, Communications Department, LifeWay; teacher, Conduit Church, Thompson’s Station, Tennessee Ron Brown (Dec. 16-26) managing director, LifeWay, retired; writer; teacher, Pleasant Heights Baptist Church, Columbia, Tennessee Keith Edwards (Dec. 27-31) retired medical missionary; deacon and teacher, Sweetwater Baptist Church, North August, South Carolina Joel Sutton (Jan. 1-10) strategic personnel consultant, International Mission Board; teacher and small group leader, Winn’s Baptist Church, Glen Allen, Virginia Diana Davis (Jan. 11-20) author, women’s ministry and deacon wives books; speaker; member of Hope Community Church, Brownsburg, Indiana www.keeponshining.com
Winter 2012 • Open Windows • 6
Writers This Quarter Mar vin Owen (Jan. 21-30) former editor, LifeWay; writer; senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Florence, Oregon Rhonda Edge Buescher (Jan. 31-Feb. 9) director, Media Business Development, LifeWay; former faculty member, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, Hannibal-LaGrange University, Hannibal, Missouri, and church staff member, South Carolina, Missouri, and Texas; member, Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood, Tennessee Kathy Howard (Feb. 10-14) author, speaker; blogger - kathyhoward.org; regular contributor to donotdepart. com and womensministry.net; member, First Baptist Church the Woodlands, Texas Chandra Bennett (Feb. 15-19) editorial team leader, former editor of You curriculum, LifeWay; member Greater Grace Temple Community Church, Nashville, Tennessee Gregor y T. Pouncey (Feb. 20-28) writer; senior pastor, First Baptist Tillman’s Corner, Mobile, Alabama
Saturday, December 1
God Reigns Over the Nations Devotional Passage: 1 Chronicles 16:28-33
Read the Bible Through: Daniel 5–6 2 Peter 3
Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth. 1 Chronicles 16:33
T
hroughout literary history, one may observe several examples of writers who have given humanlike qualities to inanimate objects such as trees. One such example is in the book, The Lord of the Rings. When faced with war, the forest comes to life and goes to the aid of those on the “good side.” Obviously, this will not occur in real life. Nature is amoral and neutral in the affairs of mankind. Nature can, however, aid in our worship of God by simply presenting to us an example of His might, power, and creativity. In this passage, nature is singing out at the presence of its maker. We are reminded that, like the trees in nature, all nations and people groups are the workmanship of God’s own hand. He alone will be our final judge. Which qualities of the Lord does nature most display to you? How does the knowledge of God’s ultimate control over all nations cause you to view His power of judgment? Father, open my eyes to see You more clearly through Your creation. Help me rest in Your wise judgment.
Winter 2012• Open Windows • 8
