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We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary in 2008. Our children helped us celebrate with an all expense paid all arranged vacation In Hawaii.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
(Adapted from an article in Charles Swindoll’s splendid book, The Finishing Touch)
Christmas comes each year to draw people in from the cold.
Like tiny frightened sparrows, shivering in the winter cold, many live their lives on the barren branches of heartbreak, disappointment, and loneliness, lost in thoughts of shame, self-pity, guilt, or failure.
We try to attract them into the warmth. Week after week Choirs sing. Preachers preach. Lighted churches send out their beacon. But nothing seems to bring in those who need warmth the most.
Then, as the year draws to a close, Christmas offers its wonderful message. Immanuel. God with us. Jesus willingly descended into our world. He felt our pain, knew our sorrows, and died for our sins. He didn’t come to frighten us, but to show us the way to warmth and safety.
For many, Christmas is the loneliest or most depressing time of the year. Single parents. The aged. The hospitalized. The dying and those ministering to them. Men and women in the military.
This Christmas season I pray that the warmth of the Savior’s love will spread itself over you as never before. And that whenever and however possible, you will keep reminding yourself that there are still tiny, shivering sparrows who are too terrified to come in from the cold. Maybe, just maybe, this Christmas, because of something you do or say…they will.
10 comments:
Hello
Wonderful encouraging words. Thanks for sharing them.
Charlotte
Hi Clif,
Great post and wonderful words of wisdom! Thank you for sharing them as a reminder to those of us who call ourselves Christian and to remember those who are lonely and less fortunate than ourselves. Christmas is a time of giving; may we all be more giving of our time and prayers this Christmas season.
Blessings,
Sandi
Oh my, this was a tear jerker! There are so many who need Christ, who need to come in out of the cold.
Thank you so much for this thought.
Blessings,
Cheryl
Just think...we wouldn't be running over people and killing them in our rush to get "stuff" if we all could feel the "warmth of the Savior's love." Too bad, isn't it?
Good posts, Clif, thanks.
Good reminder. Happy Spiritual Sundays!
I enjoyed your post once again. It is so true, it is so lonely for so many people. After my dad died at the age of 42 our family was kinda lost, no more family gatherings at Christmas. My heart goes out to people who are lonely and alone, and most of all who don't have the Lord.
God Bless you,
Ginger
Thank you for the reminder. I try to be the type that gives when approached by the needy on the street. But I do think of them a lot more during this time of year. I pray that we may all work together and that somehow everyone will be able to feel God's love this holiday season.
*hugs*
It is my prayer and hope
What a wonderful thought at the beginning of this holiday season!
Thank you for the information about the reviewing. I'm excited about it! God bless!
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