Oak Grove United Methodist Church

12/31/2025

Devotional Reading for Wednesday, December 31, 2025

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under theheaven” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Looking back on the time I was raising my children I remember a conversa-tion with an older co-worker about dealing with my teenage children. She said, “Be patient. Grandkids are the reward for tolerating your teenagers.” At the time it didn’t mean much but now I understand this advice from someone with experience. I now have a grandson who will participate in the National Special Olympics next year as part of a basketball team representing North Carolina. I have a granddaughter who is a married police officer looking for-ward to starting a family of her own soon, and a granddaughter who is a senior in college with a passion for working with animals. I have enjoyed watching my children raise my grandkids and love seeing some of my teaching being used successfully.

Now that all are adults, I see the beginning of a new season where I can just sit back, watch and enjoy. I thank God for the amazing life He has given me and my family.

Gene Stephenson 2025

12/30/2025

Devotional Reading for Tuesday, December 30, 2025

“The true light that gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” John 1:9

Light gives us so much to be thankful for. Without it, the world would be very scary, dark, and lonely. It would be a scary, bad place to live. But with light, it is the opposite. With light, we can see the world and all that is in it. Because of the light, the world is much less scary. Another kind of light is family. Without family, I would be very lonely and scared. I’d have no company and no one to help me or play with me. But with family and friends, I have all of the things I need - company to keep me safe and happy and people to guide me.

Dear Lord, thank you for Light, Family, and Friends. And thank youfor everything else because otherwise, the world would bemuch worse than it is now.

Luke Summers 2023

pic by Luke Summers

12/29/2025

Devotional Reading for Monday, December 29, 2025

“2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people have rejoiced before you as they rejoice at harvest time and as they rejoicewhen dividing spoils.” Isaiah 9:2-3

The idea of good triumphing over evil appeals to us on a basic human level. Instead of darkness, instead of ignorance, God has given us the light and the truth.

As inspiring and hopeful as this message is, there is also the implication of something more sinister. By acknowledging the light, Isaiah is also acknowledging the darkness in the world. Sometimes, this darkness can seem too much to bear. We all face adversity in our lives. We all have days where we question how we will go forward. We have all come face to face with disease and great hardship and most painful of all, we have all lost loved ones that gave meaning to our lives. There is no doubt that the darkness can be a daunting opponent to face.

But as Isaiah reminds us, always, there is hope. God provides a light, even during the darkest days. This light helps us find our way, but it also shows us that even when we have lost something, we still have so many blessings for which we should be thankful.

This year, I became a father for a second (and third) time. And the joy of adding two new members to our family has been immeasurable. But this new light has not come without its share of darkness. As with many twins, ours were born a little early and this led to some very scary health complications for one of our daughters. During the worst of it, when things were at their darkest, I prayed that God help guide her through safely. Thankfully, our prayers were answered and they are both thriving now. I know that many families are not so lucky and I will forever be grateful for the many blessings I have been given.

It is easy to bow under the weight the world sometimes thrusts upon us. It can be easy to see the darkness and fail to also see the light. One of my favorite things about Christmas is the opportunity it affords to pause and reflect on the previous year and life in general. I am now and will be eternally thankful for the light - both as a tool for finding my way and family that makes the journey worth taking. Sometimes, it comes down to a simple choice: surrender to the darkness or follow the light. I hope I always have the courage and the faith to choose to follow the light.

Dear Lord, you have blessed us with many gifts, none greater than family. The ability to walk, grow, and love together in your light enriches every part of our lives and makes darkness, when we face it, easier to bear. For this, and so much more, we thank you.

Jeremy Summers 2023

12/28/2025

Devotional Reading for Sunday, December 28, 2025

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.Not as the world gives do I give to you.Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27

This time of year calls for pause, reflection and a perspective of gratitude. This year, I saw affirmation of God’s generosity and love when we had not one, but two baby girls join our family. I was immediately reminded that part of being a human and a parent is rooted in fear and control. When they are crying infants and you don’t know what’s wrong. When they fall and scrape their knee or have a bad day at school. As a mother, my root desire is to protect my children from any harm or feeling hurt. While it is part of life, you want to spare them whatever you can. Anytime I feel my family is hurt or in jeopardy, my instinct is to do everything possible to control the situation to help them. However, there can be no peace in fear and control.

I used to think peace was a feeling dependent on current circumstances. If there was something stressful going on, it wasn’t possible to have peace. The despair and hopelessness of medical problems with our 1-month-old baby certainly brought out my greatest fears. The only thing we could do was to trust God to provide a safe path forward. I constantly asked myself “why?” during these times, but it is through facing adversity that I gained a greater awareness of all the blessings I have to be thankful for. Just as John reminds us, despite our worldly circumstances, we have peace from our faith and we have faith over fear.

Faith over fear isn’t always easy, but we have been given free will and self-control, not the ability to control others or the world around us. The best we can do is as Christ taught us, to set a good example by how we live and choose to focus on all the good - to show grace and compassion.

Dear Lord, as we gather together this time of year, please continue to watch over us and keep us safe and help us to remember the true meaning of the season.

Megan Summers 2023

12/27/2025

Devotional Reading for Saturday, December 27, 2025

Listening to News Reports

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” Luke 1:1-14

Listening to news reports, with near-daily accounts of shootings, lost children, and natural calamities, I and many others cannot help but feel despair and a sense that things are spinning out of control. The world seems to be growing ever darker and more frightening. It can be hard to find our way in the gloom. But at this time of year, with sunset occurring earlier and earlier, leaving us longer in darkness, just in time the Advent season comes around and we read John’s gospel: “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” For me this is a reminder that even when sometimes we may be surrounded by madness and evil, the light remains undimmed and steadfast. We only need to seek it and see it to know who is in control, giving us hope and comfort.

Karen Summers 2018

12/26/2025

Devotional Reading for Friday, December 26, 2025

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:19

The verse above is part of the Christmas story, one of many peoples’ favorite part of the bible. Mary has given birth to Jesus, his birth was a miracle. A virgin birth, from a small town and a young mother. At any point something could have happened and we would have a different story today. But as we believe that God is in charge and his plans succeed everything worked out and we have the wonderful Christmas story today. But knowing humans it's no wonder that Mary pondered them in her heart. Nothing like this had happened before or since, there was no pattern, tradition or road map to follow, just trust in God's plan.

I experienced something similar when our grandson was born. Born on Christmas day, the first grandchild. After waiting months for the birth and then hours of labor, he arrived that evening. We were all excited, tired, happy, exhausted, hopeful, all the emotions. When things settled down I too, like Mary pondered them in my heart. What would his life be like, would he succeed, follow the Christian path? So many things to ponder.

Fast forward to today almost 18 years later and he has grown into a fine young man, graduating high school this spring and off to college next fall. And like Mary I still ponder in my heart and ask God's blessing and guidance for him.

Prayer: Lord, pour out your spirit on the families, especially those with newborns. Be with them and guide them as they grow strong. Amen.

Nancy Gibson 2018

12/25/2025

12/23/2025

Devotional Reading for Tuesday, December 23, 2025

A Christmas Eve MemoryAs a child raised up at the Mills Home (orphanage) from 1920-1934 my dad learned skills that enriched my life up until his death in 1995. There was never a hint of bitterness regarding the accidental shooting of his own father in 1920 - an event thoroughly covered in Graham history annals. As a Depression era child, he learned how to survive and even thrive without money. In adulthood, as a skilled plumber, he was a good provider even though he would not charge customers who could not afford to pay. One cold Christmas Eve in the late 1950's I heard a large truck backing down our next-door neighbor's driveway and my mom saying something like, "Mike, we're barely getting by and you're buying oil for our neighbors?" And his reply, "They have children and should not have to go to bed cold." That one act of kindness to a neighbor in need was a Christmas lesson and memory worth more than a sled or a bicycle or even a Johnny Ringo outfit.

Al Ray 2022

12/22/2025

Devotional Reading for Monday, December 22, 2025

Day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army,like the army of God I Chronicles 12:22

My father, Tom Carter, was a Prisoner of War in WWII. His plane was shot down on September 17, 1944 during Operation Market Garden, and he was taken prisoner by the Germans.

Not only did he spend his 20th birthday in solitary confinement, but he experienced Christmas that year during one of the coldest winters in twenty years. Stalag Luft IV was located in what is now Poland, not far from the Baltic Sea. There were 7,089 Americans in the camp. Below are some excerpts from his experience:

“The barracks were about 75 feet long and 40 feet wide with a latrine at the end. There were 10 rooms and a washroom. The latrine was only for night use, but when they turned out the lights it was dark in there. The buildings were built up on stilts so the dogs could roam around under there to see if we were trying to escape.

The room was supposed to house 14-16 men but, in the end, there were 20. When I got there, we had to sleep on the floor or on the table. I chose the floor because I was afraid I would roll off the table! Sleeping on the floor was rough as the floor was always cold and hard.

We had two thin German blankets, one army blanket, and only the clothes on our backs. We never changed clothes because we did not have any to change. It was too cold to take baths in cold water.

They closed the shutters on the windows and locked the doors about 3:00 p.m. as it got dark about 4:00. We had one little light bulb that was turned off about 7:00. I would get my little “New Testament” and read it until they turned the one little light out. I said a lot of prayers and repeated the “Twenty-third Psalm” and “The Lord’s Prayer” a lot.

On Christmas Eve, the Germans let us stay out late so we could attend a Christmas play put on by the POWs.

”Mail service was almost nonexistent, medical attention lacking, and they were always hungry. They played lots of card games, but mostly sat around and talked. Still, they made the most of what they had.

This Christmas, remember those protecting our freedom both now and in the past.

Prayer: Gracious Father, please be with those serving our country in a multitude of ways this Christmas season. Please keep us ever mindful of their sacrifices, and keep us ever grateful. Amen.

Deborah Conrad 2022

12/21/2025

Devotional Reading for Sunday, December 21, 2025

I came from a large family of ten children. We lived on a farm in the country. Hard times came in the mid 30's and we didn't make even enough cotton to pay the mortgage on our farm and house, so we lost everything we had and had to move from a large 10 room house into a much smaller house. No problem!! We survived with God's help.

As to my memories of the Advent season, I really have none when I was young. When I was around 10 years old, I remember waiting on the road by the mailbox for my Uncle to take me to church. He was a fine Christian man and never missed going to church. In the Methodist Church we attended I never remember an Advent wreath or any celebration of the Advent season, I don't know why.

My first recollection of an Advent celebration was at Central Terrace. It was always very special to me. I even made a wreath for our home to use with our children. As they got older, they lost interest and we didn't use it any longer. Jimmy, my only son, told me a few years ago that he missed the Advent wreath at Christmas more than anything else. I asked why he didn't tell me earlier before they all got grown and I would have continued it.

As we look at the candles of the Advent Wreath, remember the birth of Christ gives us HOPE. Hebrews 6:19-20 "We have this HOPE as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner place behind the curtain whereJesus, who before us, has entered on our behalf.

"God also gives us PEACE. But we must get close to Jesus to maintain that security.

We may have troubles and problems, but our dependence on Jesus will give us JOY in the morning.

We learn thru Jesus that with LOVE the hard and best things can be done.

I do this as a way of worshiping Jesus and showing my love for Him.

Ruth Corn 2017

12/20/2025

Devotional Reading for Saturday, December 20, 2025

“7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:7-14 (KJV)

Every year on Christmas Eve our family would light a candle and read aloud from the Bible the Birth of Christ. Mom and Dad pulled my sister and me back from the excitement and anticipation of Santa to bring us to the real reason for the celebration – The Birth of Christ. To date, my family continues this tradition. From my daughter to my grandsons, we celebrate Christmas Eve in keeping Christ in our Christmas.

May this Advent season bring you peace, love, and the excitement of the Birth of our Savior.

Father God, Thank you for the many blessings you bestow upon us. Thank you for your Amazing Grace and especially for the Birth of our Savior and King. May Jesus light our way as the Star of Bethlehem did so many years ago and fill our hearts with peace, love, and joy. Amen.

Kathy Bunn 2017

12/19/2025

Devotional Reading for Friday, December 19, 2025

Thoughts of ChristmasI, like probably all who are reading this, have many thoughts and memories of Christmas and the Advent Season. I remember the excitement of Santa Claus and the presents like my first bicycle, which I had to grow into, and I did, and the baby dolls. Santa always brought a stocking full of fruit, nuts and candy during those early years. Do you remember the huge Christmas tree lights, the glass ornaments, the tinsel and always a live tree? Then there were the Christmas meals at my grandparents’ home. There sure were a lot of mouths to feed. A lot of preparation went into those feasts. Family was important! The most important part of all the memories, though, was our time in and centered around church. In Sunday School, beginning at an early age, we heard the Christmas Story. There was the yearly Christmas play, caroling and gift baskets for the shut-ins; church reminding us all who and why we celebrate. All of these memories meld into feelings of love and warmth.

So much has changed over the years. Maybe many family members and friends are no longer with us but maybe, too, we’ve added new family and friends. The stores begin bringing out Christmas items before Halloween now. We dearly miss the people and the good ole days, don’t we? However, for us as Christians, church is still our mainstay and our grounding system. Mainstay: A person or thing on which something else is based or depends. Grounding: appears to improve sleep, reduce pain and stress and more. Both of these things have never changed in regard to church and are the basis for our church and Jesus Christ, the Baby and the Man. They are the same every day and every year.

I have a lot of thoughts of Christmas, more than are written here. My best thoughts of Christmas, though, are the ones I grew up with involving church. They are the same every day and every year. I am so blessed to have been taught in such a way that my thoughts of Christmas led me to know Jesus Christ, the Baby and the Man.

Vicki Dimmette 2022