GET TOGETHER- Christmas: A Time To Celebrate And a Time To Remember Jos 4:7 “Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” Lu 2:10,11 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
This past Saturday J.J. was at her Mom and Dad’s. And by the way we thank you for all your prayers for her Mom and Dad. So, I called her and told her that I would decorate the Christmas Tree this year. I got it done although there are a few spots in there that would keep us from winning this year’s the tree of the year award.
While I was getting it done, I really had a very worshipful time with the Lord. Rather than turning on a ballgame I decided to listen to Christian music while I was decorating. I had the music turned down a lot lower than I normally listen to it. And I really felt the Lord’s presence in the room with me.
Through the years J.J. has bought lots of ornaments with the different years on them. As I was hanging them on the tree, I saw the one that she bought in 1981. That was the first year that we were married. There were years that marked the years that our children were born. There were ones that marked the year that we gave our hearts to the Lord Jesus. Some of the ornaments were pictures of our children doing various activities at some point in our lives as a family together. There were years that marked the first year that we went into the Pastoral Ministry and that was also the Christmas that came just eleven days after my Daddy’s death.
There were other years that marked significant events in either our lives, friend’s lives, or the churches that we have had the blessing to be a part of. Some of those events were wonderful things. Some of the events were tough things such as someone in our congregation having a child leave this walk of life at an early age, or some other tragedy.
I must say that it was truly a worshipful time for me. No, I was not worshipping the tree. I only worship the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
When Joshua was leading Israel into the promise land, he stressed how important it was for them to put down twelve stones and to remember what God had done for them. When I looked at those ornaments, they reminded me of how God has been with us in some very awesome and wonderful times. They also reminded me of how in some of those years we were going through some tough times and that He was with us then as well.
The angel told the shepherds that night that they had some good news for them. It was good news that they could delight in. The New Living Translation says it like this in Luke 2:11 “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! The word Messiah means Rescuer, Deliverer, One who saves. Jesus is all of that.
This Christmas if you are a Christian take some time and thank Him for what He has saved you from. Take some time to thank Him for what He has done for you. Remember those twelve stone moments in your life.
Perhaps you are reading this, and you were like I was at one time. Christmas is a lonely time for you and you try to medicate it with drugs and alcohol. God has something better for you. He is ready to let 2018 be a year that you can buy an ornament and remember in the future that it was the year that you got saved from hell. My year was 1990. You can say this was the year that I met the Savior of the world. His name is Emmanuel. That means God is with us. When I looked at those ornaments, I knew that God had been, and was with us, and furthermore will always be with us. Let Him change your life this year. Then you will thank Him not just during the Christmas Season, but every day for the rest of your life.
Let Us Pray
Lord Jesus we thank You for coming to the earth to die for our sins. We remember the awesome things that you have done for us. We thank You that You allow us to celebrate Your birth in such a great and glorious way. For any reading this that have not accepted You as their Lord and Savior we pray that just as those shepherds went to see You in Bethlehem that these would seek You and find You as well.
In Jesus Name
Amen
I did have one little accident when the tree fell over. But the Lord sure did a good job from keeping those ornaments that were so special from breaking! God is good!
Your Friend/Kinfolk
Preston
