ADVENT DEVOTION - DECEMBER 17 - By Pastor Dave Ive been looking forward to this day for a few weeks. In fact, I look forward to it every year. Tonight is Christmas Basket Ministry night. Its a time when, because of the generosity of Gods people, we have a chance to love and encourage some families who happen to be going through a really tough time right now. Here are examples of some real situations that folks in our community are facing this Christmas: M. is a single grandmother raising her 5 grandchildren (ages 9-16). She also has a grown son at home who is disabled that she cares for full time. G. is a single mom who is raising 3 teenagers. She also has stage 4 ovarian cancer. N. is the main caretaker / guardian of her 3 youngest grandchildren. The childrens Mom is trying to deal with and overcome some addictions right now. A. is a single mom raising 4 children, ages 8-16. This family was adopted by one of our HBC families who have been regularly ministering to them physically and spiritually. As Gods people have given generously, we have the opportunity to fill Christmas baskets with needed food items and wrap presents that have been given for 40 families and 100 children. Then those parents or guardians will be able to give the presents to their children or grandchildren so theyll have something for Christmas this year. Its a small way to say, Jesus loves you and so do we. We will love each family and share both physical and spiritual encouragement with them. Is this fixing all their problems? Of course not. But it is expressing the love of Christ in a tangible way and a reminder that theyre not facing this alone. And its a way to remind ourselves that Jesus said, Its more blessed to give than to receive. Because following Christ means to have a sincere heart that gives and loves. Because He first loved us--not just in word but in deed. The first recorded message of Jesus was in the synagogue in Nazareth, where He was brought up. He stood before the people gathered there and said, The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me...He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor and He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives... (Luke 4:18) Im thankful that many churches will be doing similar ministries for Christmas. And we must continue together to love and serve and pray for people who need to know the One Who can give them hope and forgiveness from sin and set them free forever. Imagine if, through food pantry ministries and free faith-based health clinics and many other ministries, the Body of Christ loved like this every day of the year? Will you join me in praying for these families and many more just like them? Will you ask the Lord to help you look around and see people through His eyes? For me, Christmas is a reminder that Jesus came here, in part, to help us see the big picture of eternity. About a God that loves us so much that He will willing to leave the throne room of Heaven and come here to this messed up place to love us and to lift us up by His mercy and grace. Lord, help us to love people and help those around us all year round. And may we share this Good News while theres time. In the words of missionary Amy Carmichael, We must hurry before sundown. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you took care of Me; I was in prison and you visited Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?’ “And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me. (Matthew 25:34-40) Share this post and share this Good News!
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 16:57:58 +0000
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