Word for Today, Tue, 13 Dec 2005: The Reason for the Season
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
My friend Larry Davies writes many thought provoking stories and
devotional messages. Larry is currently the Senior Pastor of
Timberlake United Methodist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia.
This time, Larry weaves the story of Christ with the real stories of
people in need, and the responses that have been sent in to his
ministry.
Do you have a need? I do, and I recognize it. My need is constant.
I cannot save myself. Fortunately, I know the child in the story, and
He has saved me.
Last year at this time, we were one of those families in desperate
need. This year, we have a very good income, though we are still
recovering from the trauma of more than four years without a job
suitable for supporting a family of five.
We don't have a lot of extra income, but we have already resolved to
help out several people in our community, including one family whose
wife works with my wife. We have invited them to share Christmas with
us. I pray for the opportunity to somehow share Christ with them or
invite them to church.
Will you find some way to bring hope to someone else? Find someone in
your area in need. Help Sowing Seeds of Faith help others if you
can. Share the hope you have in Christ with someone you know. To me,
that is the reason for the season.
Yours in Christ,
Brian
_____________________________________________________________
Sowing Seeds of Faith...
To read parts 1 through 3 Click here:
http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/Christmas.Child.Fund.htm
Part Four: "And the Real Reason for the Season
Is...?" Larry Davies
Recently, I shared a plea from a family asking for help.
Christmas can be a visible reminder of who receives generously
and who gets little or nothing! Christmas was never meant to be
that way. Last week we shared a few ideas on how to keep Christ
in Christmas. We began a "Christmas Child" fund which enabled
Sowing Seeds Ministry subscribers to provide Christmas for four
families in need.
That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village,
guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord
appeared among them and the radiance of the Lord's glory
surrounded them. They were terribly frightened but the angel
reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good
news of great joy for everyone! The Savior -- yes, the Messiah,
the Lord -- has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of
David! And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a
baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!" (Luke
2:8-12)
* "There were times when I got caught up with the madness of
Christmas, the lights, presents, getting into debt, trying to buy
everybody a gift. But I have gotten older and the true meaning of
Christmas has changed. I don't worry about not having a gift to
buy. With so much uncertainly today, we should concentrate more
on giving, and less on receiving." -- Cynthia
* "I grew up in a rather large and famous church around here.
So, I called their office and asked if there was a family that
could use some help and fellowship. They had no idea what I was
talking about but connected me with the pastor in charge of "that
type of thing" and his office didn't know of one single family,
student, or elderly person that fit the bill either. Something is
wrong with that picture. I know there are companies working their
employees one week on and then a week off. That makes for tight
times. I know others have lost their job completely and still
others have health problems, or are widows... I still can't
believe that a church the size of mine could not help. Have we
forgotten how hard the holidays can be on folks?" -- Rebecca
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others -- the
armies of heaven -- praising God: "Glory to God in the highest
heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors." (13-14)
* "We do food baskets at our church and get toys for children
and give them to the needy in our area. I am frequently reminding
folks that 'Jesus is the Reason for the Season.'" Margaret
* "We sponsor a family each year and buy gifts for the
children. We want to help." Buz
When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each
other, "Come on, let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this wonderful
thing that happened, which the Lord told us about." They ran to
the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby,
lying in the manger. (15-16)
* One church met with community leaders several years ago and
organized "Christmas Parents" which honors "special" parents as
examples, then receives donations and presents from others
throughout the county providing Christmas for over 500 children
every year.
* Another church solicits names of needy children from area
elementary schools then matches, those names with families from
their congregation who include those children as part of their
Christmas shopping. This church provides Christmas to many needy
children every year.
Then the shepherds told everyone what happened and what the angel
said about this child. All who heard the shepherds' story were
astonished but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart
and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their
fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the
angels told them and because they had seen the child, just as the
angel said. (17-20)
* A family from Virginia read our devotion several weeks ago
about a family asking for help and is now in the process of
providing Christmas for both the children and parents.
* A man from United Arab Emirates sent a donation to "Sowing
Seeds Ministry" which we used to help two families. You also can
contribute to the "Christmas Child" fund established to provide
help for families in need during the holiday season.
The third verse from the hymn, "Away in a Manger" says it best:
"Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay, close by me forever,
and love me, I pray; bless all the dear children in thy tender
care, and fit us for heaven to live with thee there." What better
way to put Christ in your Christmas this year then by helping a
child in need? God will bless you for it. Have a Merry Christmas.
We set up a fund on our web site shopping cart named "Christmas
Child" so you may contribute toward providing Christmas for a
family in need. Our family from last week's message is receiving
help but we have several families who would benefit from your
contribution. Click here:
sowingseedsoffaith.com/s-cart/form.phtml?g_intCatID=1 or
you can mail a contribution to "Christmas Child Fund" care of
Sowing Seeds Ministry, 47 Greenwell Ct., Lynchburg, VA 24502.
To read parts 1 through 3 Click here:
http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/Christmas.Child.Fund.htm
Read Sowing Seeds of Faith... everyday! Click here:
http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/Devotions.htm
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Ministry partner. Click here:
http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/ministry_partner.htm
Jesus said: "You are the light of the world -- like a city on a
mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your
light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine
for all." (Matthew 5:14-15)
"Breaking the Peanut Butter Habit: Following God's Recipe for a
Better Life" now on sale only through our website.
http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/peanbutt.htm
--
Brian Masinick
mailto:masinick@yahoo.com