Worship

Scripture

Christmas Day is here! Remember back with me to your first memories of Christmas. Here are a few of mine: roaring fire in the fireplace, gifts (more importantly the anticipation of receiving the gifts), decorative lights, Christmas trees, my mamaw’s famous rice dressing on Christmas Eve, and the annual Christmas musical our church used to put on. My list is longer but I won’t bore you any longer. 

I’d be willing to bet many of your memories would be similar-so many of them tied to your experiences as a child. While there is nothing wrong with these experiences, they can distract us from the real reason we celebrate this day.

I think the pageantry and commercialization of Christmas in our culture has taken the true meaning and watered it down. I often feel like Santa and Rudolph get more attention than the reason we truly celebrate-the birth of Jesus Christ. I’m not here to bad mouth Santa or any other Christmas traditions. I’m merely here to remind us today that among the gifts, good food, and joyous family gatherings we should celebrate with the birth of Christ at the forefront. He is the reason we give gifts, he has provided us with food and the blessings of family. His entry into this world led to eternal life for us. 

So enjoy the day with your families, eat good food, and open presents around the Christmas tree, but let us remember why we celebrate this day and be thankful for the gift of Jesus first and foremost!

Prayer

HONOR GOD

Psalm147:5

How great is our God! There’s absolutely nothing His power cannot accomplish, and He has infinite understanding of everything. 

Thank you Lord, that I don’t have to understand every aspect of my situations. You understand it all when I do not, and are able to do what I can not.

ASK GOD

2 Samuel 22:7

I called to the Lord in my distress; i called to my God. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for help reached his ears. 

God is listening and hears every desperate cry.

SUBMIT TO GOD

Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 

 I relinquish all control to you Lord. Your path for my life will always be better than anything that I could do on my own.

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord, thank you for your abundant, abounding grace. Thank you that we don’t have to earn a drop of the mighty river of grace that flows freely for us today. Thank you for the unexpected, unmerited favor you’ve showered on my life. Help me put myself in the path of your love and grace. Help me not neglect the disciplines I need to meet with you regularly and to drink from the water of life. Thank you for your rich love.  In Jesus Name, Amen.