I can’t believe that Christmas is almost here. The time just seems to fly by this time of year with all the parties, special events, half days at school, shopping, eating, eating and more eating! Yummy stuff to be sure, but just a little too much of it. The holidays, with all of their rush and excitement, are one of my favorite times of year. But for some people the holidays represent stress more than anything else. And for some they are actually a sad time — a time of loneliness or a reminder of sad times gone by.
That’s why at this Celebration Women coming up on Friday night (!!!!!) I am so pumped to share the platform with some of my best friends who, themselves, have had their share of holidays that could use a little improvement. They will share their stories about how they learned to navigate the holidays successfully, how they’ve seen God move in their families, and how He has redeemed and made lovely even the wastelands of life.
I am confident that you will be encouraged and blessed, so I hope that you and your friends will make it out on Friday night. Love all of you — Kerri
Well turn me over and call me a sweet flapjack I can’t wait for Friday night, woohooooo! You’re awesome Kerri and we love you!
What a great gift this will be for the holidays! I can stock up on God’s word before traveling away from Jacksonville. This topic is so beneficial to me, especially for this year, my first Christmas without my husband. Thank you for thinking of the ones who are struggling through the holidays.
I am so looking forward to hearing how others get thru these times, when they are not what we expect them to be. That is where I found myself last year. I was so focused on myself and what I was going thru that, although I knew it is the celebration of Jesus’ birth, I put myself in the center of my thoughts instead of Him and others. This year, my circumstance, in the worldly thought are worse than last year; however, my focus is on my Lord and Savior and praying what He wants me to do. By helping others, I remind myself what Jesus is all about….love and grace. Thank you Lord for saving me and giving me gifts to reach out to others.
Dear Kerri-Merry Chritmas
I’s like to wish all of you readers a Merry Christmas and give you all “hope for your holiday season”….
I remember many Christmas seasons that we didn’t have presents under the tree.
Sometimes our family members were not in the same state to share Christmas together.
Sometimes family members were in strife or offened, and it ruined our Christmas.
But when Jesus became the center of our Christmas [Christ-mass]; we were able to put away our differences.
Keeping “Him” in the center of everything makes us “thankful” for what we have-[a God centered life and each other].
This Christmas will be the “best Christmas” that Ed and I have had in 15 or more years-[because of the blessings that God has provided for us]—beginning at Easter of 2008-[eight is God's number for "new beginnings"...
....here are our "new beginnings":
1. At Easter Ed -[my husband] who was not in church for 15 or so years] started coming to church with me-[one of those prayers that I had prayed for years and wondered if God would ever answer that prayer].
This showed me that God was doing something “new” in Ed’s life- “a restoration”.
By the month of June-he rededicated his life to the Lord and has been going to church ever since.
2. Our daughter-Crystal, son in law Chris-and 3 grandchildren have moved back to Jacksonville [after living in Georgia for the past 13 years. [We thought this would never happen].
3.Our grandchildren are 11 and 13-[but the Lord has blessed our daughter with a new grandson-"Cuyler" -his name means "Victory for God's people".
This Christmas will be the best of all because God gave me those three blessings in the year of 2008.
However I really believe that if they had "never" happened in my life time that I would still have my joy and be content-because "Jesus is in my heart and life" and he makes all things beautiful.....even if they never get better or ever change. He has to be the center of our attention; thoughts; our first love; and the reason that we live.
Christmas is a great time to be reminded of the birth of Christ. After all "Christ" is the first part of the word "Christmas".
He was sent into the world [not to condemn us but to forgive us of our sins.
He claimed to be the Son of God and died for declaring his "true identity".
Then he rose from the dead on the third day so that we would know that he was really God's Son.
Now he offers a brand "new life" to everyone who will believe that he is the Son of God and that he will forgive them of their sins.
For all of those who are "hurting" at Christmas; only "Jesus can heal the broken hearted" [and that is why God sent his only Son].
For those who are “sick in their body”- Jesus is “the Great Physican and Healer”.
For everyone who needs a prayer answered…”He is the God who hears and answers”-[we don't understand why he takes so long to answer our prayers -until after he has answered them].
For anyone who is “alone”-He is the friend who sticks closer than a brother-but for us to feel his nearness we need to “invite Him into our heart”.
Draw near the God this Christmas….He will draw near to you and “ease your pain -somethimes our pain is on the inside.
If your “marriage” is a mess; if you are “sad or depressed”; if “you don’t know how you are going to make it”- this year or in the “NEW YEAR” to come…. God knows what you need and “He” is your only “hope”.
We can find God”s Son this Christmas by getting hold of a Bible and beginning to read about Jesus in the New Testament.
You can come to Celebration Church and hear about him.
We can “ask Jesus to come into our own heart” and “forgive us of our sins” and “fill us with hes Spirit” and learn about “our true identity in Christ Jesus” and be “fulfilled” in this life.
When we die or our loved ones die-we can be gauranteed “eternal life” in heaven “WITH THE GOD WHO MADE US AND KNOWS WHAT WE NEED”.
Find a new relationship with God through his Son Jesus this Chrismas and let God show you “how much He loves you”.
God sent is only Son to “set the captives free”; heal the broken hearted; and “fulfill your life”.
Put Jesus at “the center of your life” because…..
Jesus is “the way” to God; “the truth” about God and “the life” you desire-from God.
“God is everything we need”….at Christmas and throughout the year.
I wish you all a fulfilled life this Christmas by making Jesus your Lord and your everything!!!!!!!!!!
x0 Patty