I would like to tell you the story, if you would indulge me. I once was lost but now I have been found. Yea, I know you have heard that before. But in my case it is really what happened! The puzzling thing is that for many years I didn’t know, and I had no idea that I was lost. I was like the proverbial pig in the pig pen who wallows happily in the mud not knowing being clean is even a possibility. I was happy to live as if God didn’t exist and didn’t love me. I was “happy” with my circle of friends who lived for sports and getting wasted on drugs and alcohol.
I knew of the story of Christmas but didn’t really think too much about it. I never stopped long enough to realize that Jesus Chrust voluntarily stepped out of heaven to become a baby and eventually die at the hands of those he had created. I was unaware of such humiliation and the love that motivated him to take such a step. I had never taken into consideration these words,
“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8)
Now when I celebrate Christmas I cannot but help think of these words. Jesus voluntarily left heaven to become the sacrifice for my sin! Those words continue to rock my world! Love came down to earth so that I could realize why God had placed me on the planet! I could only find purpose and significance in life through understanding the ramifications of Christmas.
Our celebration of the birth of Jesus is one of love. One of the well known verses of the Bible is John 3:16,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
You and I are loved more than we could ever imagine! My story is that once I discovered God’s love I have never been the same since. Oh, yes, there have been times that I have been tempted to turn my back on God’s love. But I have learned that there is nothing the world has that is worth as much as the freedom and joy God has gifted me when love came down! Absolutely nothing!
As you celebrate Christmas this year, yes please enjoy time with your family. By all means taste with delight the delicious food that you will partake of. Celebrate with your loved one the exchange of gifts! But please make Jesus the honoured guest, give him his rightful place at the head of the table and the rightful heir of the centre of your heart!
Thank you for taking the time to read! Please share if this has been helpful to you!
Pastor Bill Finch
As we move closer to the day of the celebration of the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the world is in a whole lot of turmoil. Personally, I am finding it difficult to turn on the television news because someone is coming out against this group or that policy, somebody is yelling at someone else! The only peace seems to be to ignore others and do your own thing, but someone will inevitably be against the thing you are doing!
We have some strange phrases in English that are often posted on bumper stickers or websites like: “The one with the most toys at the end wins.” “The survival of the fittest.” Or, how about this one: “My opinions are awesome”. What these all have in common is that people tend to think that he, or she, is always right, always to strongest and always finishes on top. We train our children to stand up for themselves and not take any “guff” from anyone.
The birth of Jesus in the manger at Bethlehem was the beginning of the fulfillment of God’s plan of redemption for the human race. Actually, God had been planning to send His one and only Son into the world on the ultimate rescue mission for all time. From the moment that Adam and Eve fell into sin by disobeying God, God had a plan. He was not caught by surprise nor was he unprepared. What is surprising from our human perspective are those to whom God committed his plan. 
In Times Like These 