Weekly Devotions - Sowing Seeds of Faith

Article about Sowing Seeds of Faith and Internet Ministry

“Roof Repairs and Shepherds: Merry Christmas"

Just when you begin to accept your life the way it is: busy yet comfortable… God sends a messenger turning everything upside down forcing you to reexamine yourself, change directions and once again discover the awesome miracle of the Christ child. But, if you’re not watchful, you’ll miss everything.

A woman with a damaged roof and no money for repairs needed help. We had a group at our church that repaired houses for those in need. Her own church offered to help us. I made the arrangements with our church leaders expecting the work to be done Saturday… or so I thought. Early that morning I received a phone call: “We cannot find anyone to fix her roof,” said the person in charge of volunteers.

“That can’t be. I promised the woman and the other church that we would have the materials and a work crew there at 9:00 AM this morning.” I stammered, sensing trouble. “I am sorry,” she responded. “I’ve called everyone but the only one who can come is our supervisor, Frank.”

Frantically, I tried to call a few potential volunteers but no one was home. We had to help this woman today. What would I do now? Then, a thought: “Larry for a preacher, you can be pretty dumb. You go.”

“That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them…” (Luke 2:8-9)

“But Lord,” I replied. “I am pastor of a big church with a lot of responsibility! Preachers don’t do roofs! We pray for people who do roofs! What if I fall off and get hurt? What if they ask me to actually work?”

"Live the Light!

Five Weeks to a Life that Shines!"

Click Here

Do you ever wonder why God appeared to the shepherds? Why not the inn keeper? It was his property. Why not the local religious leaders? They were looking for a Messiah. Why not a few of the local visitors in town for the census? They didn’t have anything else to do. Why the shepherds?

Ø The inn keeper missed the birth of Christ because he was too busy. There were customers to care for, meals to prepare and rooms to get ready… Christmas can be a busy time.

Ø Religious leaders missed the event because they had their own version of the Messiah which didn’t include a baby born in a water trough… Christmas is often misunderstood.

Ø Townspeople missed the birth of Jesus because they were celebrating a census. There were parties to attend, dinners to enjoy and gifts to open… Christmas is more than a celebration.

God’s angels appeared before the shepherds because unlike everyone else in Bethlehem, they were ready and willing to respond. In other words, a lot of folks missed the miracle of seeing the Christ child.

“When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’” (2:15)

God occasionally offers “shepherd like” moments in the midst of everyday lives. My moment came on a Saturday morning just before Christmas. I drove to the house half-heartedly and resentful but I went. Then, I met the woman, toured her house and saw the damage. I knew this was where I needed to be.

“They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in a manger.” (16)

Only Frank, our supervisor knew how to repair a roof but somehow our motley group of volunteers managed to work without anyone getting hurt. Frank measured and rolled tar paper while others nailed it down. We were having so much fun swapping stories and making fun of our lack of carpentry skills that the morning flew by and the repairs were completed. As we came down, we were greeted with hot coffee and ham biscuits and a warm hug from a grateful woman who called us her “angels of mercy.”

“Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished…” (17-18)

Do you want to join us in prayer for others? Do you need prayer? Click Here.

Last modified December 17, 2002.

Would you like to receive your own weekly devotions? Be involved in our prayer chain?