Christmas carols

Visiting Jesus This Christmas

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:40 ESV

“Kin you afford to lose this?” Alice said as she fingered the blue sweater that I had thrown over her shoulders as she sat shivering in her wheel chair. I smiled and nodded in assurance and then she began to tell her story. “I dun know how I ga heer! Awl I know is I wuz waitin’ fer the bus an’ I fell an now am heer.”

Alice’s story is so like that of a thousand others. She could remember clearly growing up in Ireland and often reminded me, “New one az soffered like the Irish people.” But Alice did not know that she was in a nursing home understand why she was there, or what had become of her family. This year as Christmas is approaching remember Alice’s story. It may take only a sweater, a plate of cookies of a few heart-felt Christmas carols to unlock the secrets of those who are especially precious to Jesus. Maybe He calls them brothers and sisters because like Him there has no room been found for them at the inn.

Why not ask God to help you share the love and message of Jesus Christ with them this year? It doesn’t matter whether we come with costly gifts like the wise men or with only praise like the shepherds. Jesus sits by their sides and He will counts it all as done for Him if we will simply choose to come! If you have been praying about it and just are not sure how to get started, I have included a short video that may help you put feet to your prayers.

One Christmas Faith

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments

One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all. Ephesians 4:5-6 KJV

It’s the Holiday season and everywhere you look there are elves, reindeer and the big guy in the red suit. But without any desire to offend anyone I need to get this off my chest:  I hate Hallmark movies! Okay maybe not all, but how is it possible to produce dozens of Christmas themed films without having a single one about the birth of Christ? I will admit that to their credit at least Hallmark keeps things family friendly for the holidays; but then the question needs to be asked: Just what are we celebrating?

It might feel uncomfortable to insist that Christmas is only about Jesus because it runs counter to our inclusive culture. But Paul makes it crystal clear that real faith is exclusive and unique. If people choose to celebrate Christmas while leaving out Jesus they are completely missing the point. There are not a thousand different ways to get to God: there is only one. We are lost and in need of a Savior and that is why God sent His Son. The verse from the Old Christmas Carol says –

No ear may hear His coming

But in this world of sin

Where meek souls will receive Him still

The dear Christ enters in*

Oh yes there is only one Christmas faith, but the good news is that no matter who we are, what we have done, or what others think of us; if we open our hearts to receive Him; the dear Christ still enters in!

*O Little Town of Bethlehem Lewis Redner 1868

Rose of Bethlehem

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

This is one of my favorite Christmas songs to sing as well as to listen to. Though I do not know much behind the composition of the song by Lowell Alexander, nobody I have heard sings the song like Nicol (Smith) Sponberg on the original release from Selah 2002.Christmas blessings to you as you listen!