The Downhill Slide!
Hey Friends,
Well, Thanksgiving is behind us and December will be here tomorrow. This is the downhill slide for me. 2009 will be gone before we know it. Next year I will turn 50 and it seems as though someone has turbo charged time and it is racing down the track. I know for many this is a very hard time of the year, but I love it. I love celebrating the advent of the Christ. I also love the fact that many people will attend church this month. I love the thrill of it all.
As leaders we must learn to leverage everything at our disposal for the cause of Christ – that means this Christmas season. People are more open to spiritual things at this time of year. Even Hollywood lets down its politically correct guard and allows some Christ in. Yes, let use the season for the advancement of the Savior.
Let me give you some helpful hints:
1. Lovingly say, “Merry Christmas!” to everyone – and mean it!
2. Don’t fall prey to the promotion of the secular side of Christmas.
3. Invite folks to church. At FPC we are calling our December teaching series, Christmas Classics. We will use a movie theme each weekend, starting with “A Christmas Carol.”
4. Give to others without waiting, or wanting, to receive.
5. If you decorate, use the manger scene or something that will cause people to ask questions. Use your decorations to witness to them.
6. Pray for God to use you to help some of the millions who are depressed during this season.
Remember what Scrooge said after his salvation: “I will keep Christmas in my heart and celebrate it every day of the year.”
I pray this December finds you in great spirits and you find many to share your joy with.
Merry Christmas!
Pastor
P.S. Leaders will find a way to use Christmas to spread the Kingdom of God. We use everything we can! Love ya!
3 Comments
Great list! I had to chuckle to myself as something on the list jogged my memory. I went to a spectacular Christmas light show (synchronized with music) at Smokies Stadium this weekend. The people who sponsor it are Christians, and one of the songs was a Christian comedian joking about how people say “Happy Holidays” at Christmas- the excuse being they don’t believe in Christ- yet no one would dare to say that at Valentine’s Day- because how weird would it be to say you don’t believe in love?
Anyway, I pledge to say “Merry Christmas” and NOT “Happy Holidays”!!
Thanks for the reminder to seek out opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ this season. I will do my part!
Love the transition into Christmas. I know my wife and I get caught up in the transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas by getting buried in decorations, cards and small gifts. But the challenge you mentioned was terrific: Pray God will use you to help the millions who will face depression this season. I think this is a great challenge.
Wonderful suggestions, a few I hadn’t thought of are listed and we can all try to incorporate them into our daily lives. What better time to convince the lost to accompany us to worship? So many are alone and this time of year hurts especially bad. We are so blessed in many ways and the celebration of the birth of our Lord can funnel directly into others that are lost if we witness to them at this time of year. Keep the faith!!