Don’t forget that this Sunday is “Christmas Carol Sunday” when we will be singing some of your favorite Christmas carols in our service. There will be lots of music as we anticipate the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
The poem below is from OC International (One Challenge), an international mission agency that connects with the global church to empower local ministry so they can impact nations (https://onechallenge.org).
I thought I would share it with the LCPC family as we prepare to celebrate Christmas and the birth of Jesus. Enjoy Advent and your Christmas preparations.
Celebrating Christmas
We are
Fooled and foolish
Deceived and deceitful
Enslaved and enslavers
Maligned and malicious
But God
Loves us anyway
Loves us actively
Loves us lavishly3
So, He gave
First and freely
Fully and sacrificially4
We deserve nothing, but
We celebrate.
Scripture References:
1 Titus 3
2 1 Thessalonians 4:13, Luke 15, Ephesians 2:1-3
3 John 3:16, 17
4 1 John 4:19, Romans 8:32
“I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come?”
“My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth…
He who keeps Israel will neither
slumber nor sleep”
(Ps 121:1-4 NRSV)
David’s words in this Psalm remind us that in all of life’s circumstances, God is with us. He neither slumbers nor sleeps. The God of creation, the One who created the world, and you and me, is the One that we can turn to in times of need. He is also the one that we give thanks to when life is good. In all things, we give thanks.
So, this week, as you gather with family and friends, go around the table and ask each person to share one thing for which they are thankful and then give thanks to God, who sustains us and provides for us in all of life’s circumstances.