LOOKING BACKWARD - LOOKING INWARD - LOOKING FORWARD
I grew up believing in Jesus. I knew the story of the virgin birth, I even knew about the flight into Egypt, taxation, registration, Bethlehem, and unusual looking wise men from the East coming later. I think the gifts they brought to the new King, must have captured the attention of my young mind. My mother was, early on, a nominal believer. That would all change when I was 6 years old. I don't know how, but I remember it very well. It is as if God Himself stamped it in my mind and on my spirit. What happened in my family became a part of my life forever. Amazing, when you stop to think about it. I was only six. Christmas was never the same after my mother really came to Christ. Our family’s life had a new center, and it revolved around Him. LOOKING BACK-WARD, I HAVE A LOT OF WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF CHRISTMAS IN MY CHILD-HOOD
LOOKING INWARD, it is wonderful to know that I grew up thinking of Jesus as a family friend whom they had all known from His birth. The personal relation-ship my Mother and her sister and brothers had with Jesus made it real to me. They talked about him every time we were all together. Family gatherings would never have been the same without Him. Therefore, LOOKING INWARD it is not hard for me to pray when I have a need because I personally saw and benefited from their prayers being answered. They talked to Jesus like He was in the room. As it think about it, it was like they grew up with Him from their New Birth, and they grew up in Him. I am SOOOOOOOO CHRISTMAS BECAUSE CHRIST LIVES IN AND REIGNS IN ME. He is my closest friend and my peace in life. His name is still EMANUEL GOD WITH US.
LOOKING FORWARD is the most exciting part of WHY I AM SO CHRISTMAS. You see, the greatest gift God could give was His Son. That is exactly what He, with-out hesitation, did for us - and why? Because He loved us, He gave Jesus to those who receive Him in order to save us FROM OUR SIN. The wonderful truth is we don't just receive Him in the now. He comes with a promise of benefits and blessing in the present and for the future. That is WHY I AM SOOOOOOOO CHRISTMAS, because I am living in the promises of God’s ordained blessings and privileges with an anticipation of what He has for us in the here and now, as well as the here after.
I BELIEVE IN CHRISTMAS - I BELIEVE IN YOU!
Your loving pastors,
Cleddie & GayNell