Only at Christmas Time

Here are some lyrics from one of my favorite musicians, Sufjan Stevens. He will be on constantly from now through the Christmas Season.

Only at Christmas time

Only a tree to climb

Only at Christmas time

If you can read the sign

Only at Christmas time

Everything lost will find

Only at Christmas time

We remember that, 'cursed is anyone who hangs on a tree'. There is no Calvary without Bethlehem. I love how he puts the line - "only a tree to climb." I want to remember while I am shopping that not only is Jesus the 'reason for the season', or that he was 'born that man no more may die', but that he climbed the cross for me. This is a beautiful song mixed with beautiful and thought provoking lyrics. Merry Christmas.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a great Community Thanksgiving Service last night! Thank you for those who participated. Here are a few thoughts from John 13:

¹ It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. ² The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him...

¹² When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

As you gather around your table, how are you going to show the full extent of your love? Will you choose to serve rather than being served? Think about those around the table with Christ - Peter the denier, Judas the betrayer, the other deserting disciples. He has set for us an example. When we choose not to serve, we are saying that we are greater than the Master. Do you want God's blessings in your life this Thanksgiving? Serve. You will be blessed if you do these things. Happy Turkey Day.