Well…the holidays have arrived haven’t they? As the song goes, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year…” It really is. The Advent season is a time of reflection about our lives. It is a time to see Jesus in all of His beauty and glory as He came to earth, being God in the flesh. He came to redeem lost mankind, to bring the Kingdom of God to us and to show us how to experience Heaven right here on earth. May I give you some advice for this Christmas season to perhaps make it more meaningful? Here we go.
- Take quiet moments alone to reflect on the meaning of Christmas. Rise up a little early in the mornings and begin reading the story of Christ’s birth into our world. Reflect on what it means to you. Take yourself back into history as you read and put yourself in the shoes of one of the characters of the story and try to imagine what it was like.
- Fill your home with the sounds of the season. Let the music of Christmas fill your home and listen to the messages Christmas in the songs. There are plenty of music stations on the radio you can find this music on. Let your heart and spirit lift in praise to God as you listen to the songs tell of the beauty and glory of Christmas.
- Send Christmas cards to your family and friends. Take the time to let them know you are thinking about them during this season and make a commitment to pray for them as you write them. Maybe there is someone you need to reach out to in this way that you haven’t seen or talked to in a long time. A friend from the past? A relative you have been at odds with? Pray about who God would place on your heart to minister to.
- Find some Christmas movies to watch. Some of my favorites are: “It’s a Wonderful Life”, “The Santa Clause”, “Christmas Vacation” and of course the movie that I never miss at Christmas, “White Christmas” with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. Gather your family and friends around and have a Christmas movie night. It promotes family time together.
- Reach out to your neighbors. Bring them some Christmas cookies or banana bread or other goodies and let them know you are thinking about them. Your heart will be warmed as you reach out to them with Christ’s love.
- Come to Church! Don’t miss all the things going on at our churches this Advent season. I am preaching this year at Advent a series called, “Seasoning the Season.” You won’t want to miss it.
It has been my privilege and honor to serve you as your pastor. From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of my family also, our prayer for you and yours is the happiest and most joyful of Christmases ever! God bless you richly. Jesus is the reason for the season! Amen!
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Rob