Dear First Pres,
A week from right now we'll be celebrating one of my favorite nights of the year, Christmas Eve. It's going to be a wonderful celebration of the incredible gift that God has given us in Christ. And while we give glory to Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit is going to be working in us to transform us into Christ's image. Hallelujah! So, I encourage you to be preparing the way in your own heart to experience the transformational love of Christ this Christmas. How? Spend time every day this week in prayer, or reflecting on the Christmas texts in Matthew and Luke, or writing down all that you are grateful for, or listening to your favorite Christmas hymns, or serving someone else in need.
And, I hope you are praying about who you can invite to be part of that celebration with us. Ask the Lord to show you who He would like you to invite to one of our Christmas Eve services. Listen carefully, it could be someone you know well and long, or it could be a person you are encountering for the first time. Don't be afraid to make the invitation; trust that God will use it as He wills. If you need a helpful reminder, grab one of the many available invitation cards on Sunday.
Remember, God is with us. God the Son took on flesh and dwelled among us. It was a mission of redemption that was motivated by His incredible love for us. After Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension, He sent the Holy Spirit to empower us for that same mission. Dude, God is with us! He has made us a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. So, don't let the pressure of the year's end squeeze out the joy of what God has done. Don't let the stress of shopping sap your energy to give Him praise. Don't let your pain from loss blur the reality of God's goodness and love. Don't let the frenzy of festivity cause you to forget the incredible truth of Christmas: God is with us! Hallelujah! Amen!
Blessings,
PS If you're confused by "Dude, God is with us," please listen to Sunday's Sermon.
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