Monday, July 24, 2017

Christmas in July?

Yesterday, we celebrated Christmas in July in our congregation. Some people may wonder why we did. The answer is simple--God's abiding love came down at the birth of Jesus, but it is STILL here! God's abiding love should be evident in our lives every day, not just during the season of Advent and Christmas. Even one of the Names of Jesus (Emmanuel) means "God with us." God IS with us. yesterday, today and forever. In the good times and in the troubled times. God's love is with us--guiding us, helping us, healing us. One of the poems that has always meant so much to me is "Footprints in the Sand" by Mary Stevenson. One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there were one set of footprints. This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints. So I said to the Lord, "You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?" The Lord replied, "The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, is when I carried you." God's abiding love is with us always. Share it with someone today!