Post 2025 Advent Devotion: Day 13 Saturday, December 13 1 Samuel 2:1-8; Luke 3:1-18 Advent is a season of joyful preparation. All around us we see signs of getting ready. Trees are trimmed, lights are strung, gifts are wrapped, and cookies are baked. These preparations are good, beautiful, and nobly done. But if we limit ourselves to only outward preparations, we’re […] Gardner-Webb University | December 13, 2025
Post 2025 Advent Devotion: Day 12 Friday, December 12 Ruth 4:13-17; 2 Peter 3:11-18 The Advent season is a time of anticipation. Each candle we light on the Advent wreath and each carol we sing in worship reminds us of the wonder of Christ’s first coming in Bethlehem. The apostle Peter provides us with salient information related to Advent in 2 […] Gardner-Webb University | December 12, 2025
Post 2025 Advent Devotion: Day 11 Thursday, December 11 Psalm 146:5-10; Ruth 1:6-18; 2 Peter 3:1-10 It is time to take a deep breath. Inhale . . . and exhale. Just as God breathed out creation, we breathe in remembrance of our existence. God breathed in and God breathed out the stars that sat over the waters, and God watched how […] Gardner-Webb University | December 11, 2025
Post 2025 Advent Devotion: Day 10 Wednesday, December 10 Genesis 15:1-18; Matthew 12:33-37 This year, my wife and I celebrated 20 years of marriage. It feels like yesterday we were newlyweds, dreaming about the family we hoped to have: two children, boys or girls, it didn’t matter. Yet after years of medical appointments and treatments, we were no closer to holding […] Gardner-Webb University | December 10, 2025
Post 2025 Advent Devotion: Day 9 Tuesday, December 9 Isaiah 41:14-20; Romans 15:14-21 The flight from Korea to Prague was the “straw that broke my back.” We didn’t know my husband tore his meniscus on the way; he was in so much pain during that flight. At the same time, my son’s fever spiked with severe headaches. On my left, I […] Gardner-Webb University | December 9, 2025
Post 2025 Advent Devotion: Day 8 Monday, December 8 Psalm 21; Isaiah 24:1-16a; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 This year, my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary—a remarkable milestone in any couple’s life. In today’s world, it is rare to see two people reach such a mark, and I know my parents are deeply grateful for the many years they have shared, walking […] Gardner-Webb University | December 8, 2025
Post 2025 Advent Devotion: Day 7 Sunday, December 7 Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12 Isaiah, Romans, and Matthew prepare us wonderfully for Christmas 2025, even though they do so in rather different ways. Of course, for many Americans (at least those today who are historically minded), we cannot forget how ill-prepared we were for what happened on this day, December […] Gardner-Webb University | December 7, 2025
Post 2025 Advent Devotion: Day 6 Saturday, December 6 Isaiah 40:1-11; John 1:19-28 Isaiah and John the Baptist heralded the coming Messiah roughly 700 years apart. Isaiah prophesied a voice crying in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” That voice was John the Baptist, filled with the Holy Spirit […] Gardner-Webb University | December 6, 2025
Post 2025 Advent Devotion: Day 5 Friday, December 5 Isaiah 30:19-26; Acts 13:16-25 Seminarians have always been encouraged to have a “sermon in their pocket,” one ready to go as the occasion arises. Folk in some churches might ask for a sermon even on a day one anticipated a visit only! Being ready with something to say, then, is, wise. One […] Gardner-Webb University | December 5, 2025
Post 2025 Advent Devotion: Day 4 Thursday, December 4 Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Isaiah 4:2-6; Acts 1:12-17, 21-26 Positions of leadership come with great responsibility. Whether it is leading an entire nation or heading up one’s local PTO chapter, these roles are important and meaningful. Without leaders, we would probably live amongst constant chaos and turmoil. I attempted to look up a […] Gardner-Webb University | December 4, 2025
