Pastor's Heart
An Unforgettable Christmas Day
"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:
for he shall save his people from their sins." -- Matthew 1:21
The older I get, the more Christmas seasons I have lived through and the
more memories I have made. Observing the past years, some Christmas days
stand out brightly while others mesh together. As I think back to what
makes my Christmas most memorable, some sweet aspects come to mind.
Allow me to encourage you to make this Christmas day an unforgettable
one.
First, spend solitary time with the Lord. Before a gift is unwrapped or
food is prepared, give the Lord the first part of your day. Pray and ask
the Holy Spirit to guide you. Praise Him, worship Him, and revere Him.
Worship Him for He "is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger,
and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are
over all his works: (Psalm 145:8-9). Make a list of five ways you can
grow spiritually and give them to the Lord as a birthday present for
Him.
Read the Christmas story upon God's Word. A wonderful way to include the
entire family is to act out the Christmas story, or have each family
member read verses in Luke chapter two.
Sing songs of praise to the Lord. Sing with your relatives or in your
alone time with God. Joyfully sing "Oh Come Let Us Adore Him," "Hark the
Harold Angels Sing," or "Silent Night, Holy Night."
Be genuinely grateful for gifts. May your heart be filled with sincere
gratitude every time someone expresses their love with a gift. Show your
family and relatives true appreciation for their kindness as you open
presents around the Christmas tree.
Reach out. Call a distant loved one or friend. Encourage someone who has
helped you this past year with a phone call. You may even visit a
nursing home or a hospital with your family to spread the Christmas joy.
Take the Gospel to those hurting and share the good news on Christmas
day.
Remember! C.S. Lewis once wrote, "The son of God became a man to enable
men to become the sons of God." Remember the miracle that happened so
long ago. Remember the real reason of Christmas. Jesus Christ cam to
earth to save people from their sins! Remember the celebration of His
birth.
My prayer is that your Christmas Day is filled with joy and spiritual
replenishment.
Pastor Longo
