From the Pastor’s Heart…
(December 19, 2010)

“For unto  you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:12

I read a quote this week where a man gave his children a big box of batteries for Christmas with a note that read, “toys not included.”

Christmas has become a ‘merchant’ holiday instead of what we who know Christ know it to be – the wonderful and eternal expression of love as God sent forth His Son to be born in a manger and die for the sins of the world. That truth makes every day a joyous day.

This season, Joyce and I not only have the privilege of thanking God for another year of service to His glory, but we also thank Him that we will participate in the wedding of our daughter, Jocinda, to Jared Rhinier. We will be taking the last week of our 2010 vacation time and the first week of our 2011 vacation time to journey with some of both families to share in a ‘destination wedding,’ something that Jocinda has talked about for years.

As I watched her open her shower gifts last Sunday through joyful tears, I was struck once again with the many precious gifts we have been given. Not under a tree… for those gifts will soon be forgotten. But the gifts of life and love and family and the leading of God.

And, of course, that most precious gift of all. As Max Lucado puts it:

“Late on a sleepy, star-spangled night, those angels peeled back the sky just like you would tear open a sparkling Christmas present. Then, with light and joy pouring out of Heaven like water through a broken dam, they began to shout and sing the message that baby Jesus had been born. The world had a Savior! The angels called it “Good News,” and it was. Off to one side sits a group of shepherds. They sit silently on the ground, perhaps perplexed, perhaps in awe, no doubt in amazement. Their night watch had been interrupted by an explosion of light from heaven and a symphony of angels. God goes to those who have time to hear him – and so on this cloudless night He went to simple shepherds.”

Do you have time to hear Him?

I have some simple gift suggestions for you:

To your enemy, forgiveness… To an opponent, equity… To a friend, your heart… To a customer, service… To all, charity… To every child, a Christ-like example… To yourself, truth… to God, glory.

Have a wonderful Christmas. It is a joy to be your pastor.