Pastor's Blog

The days after Christmas, especially for children, are all about the gifts. Exploring new toys, trying to figure out new technology, playing new games, trying on new clothes, etc. Much shopping is done in the days after Christmas, too, spending gift cards and returning gifts for whatever reason. Soon, however, the gloss will come off and “regular” life will return. Often a gift that is enjoyed for a few days following Christmas will find its way into a closet never to be seen again. The same is true for our focus on the things of God. During the Christmas season we celebrate God’s love and the gifts we’ve received, but soon afterward daily life tends to distract us. Before this happens, let’s determine to handle our gifts well.

• Gifts to cherish – The Christmas season is a time when we focus on love; God’s love for us, our love for friends and family, and showing love to those in need. This focus is a gift that we need to continue to cherish throughout the year. We can’t afford to put it away with the decorations. Especially our focus on those in need. Jesus said that giving to others is a blessing for us. Don’t let the return to every day life diminish your focus on the priority of love.
  
• Gift cards to spend – As we look forward to 2010 remember that the time and resources God has given us are a great gift, but they are gifts that we control. We can make the most of them or squander them, it’s our choice. The Apostle Paul challenges us to make the most of ever opportunity we’ve been given, because the need for the good news of God’s Kingdom is so great.
  
• Gifts to return – 2009 has left us with gifts as well, but they may not be welcome gifts. Failures, regrets, grudges, and excuses are all “gifts” of the past that we are tempted to carry into the future. Make sure to return these gifts to the year gone past and not to drag them into 2010. Start the new year with a clean slate, committed to throwing off anything that hinders you from being who God created you to be.
  
• Gifts to re-gift – God’s Christmas gifts to us are all meant to be re-gifted. God does not give us His Son, the Holy Spirit, and all the fruit of the Spirit simply for our benefit. He gives these things to us so that we can share them with others and so build the Kingdom of God. The wonderful truth about God’s gifts is that no matter how much we give them away, we still get to enjoy them fully ourselves.

Soon, life will get back to “normal” for most of us. Back to work, back to school, back to everyday life. Christmas is such a high point of the year, especially for Christians, that a bit of a let down is inevitable. Can you imagine the let down for Mary and Joseph; going from visitations of angels, shepherds, and magi…back to their everyday life? It couldn’t have been easy. Just like Mary, we must determine to treasure in our hearts all the gifts of Christmas and keep our focus on the Kingdom of God all year round.