December 2024
Another year is nearly gone. The year 2024 is now one for the history books and the year 2025 is just ahead. I guess the older we get, the more we want time to slow down a bit so we can enjoy it longer. As Pastor Rick says, “What ever happened to 1984?” Time, as we know it, just marches on at an incredible pace even if it seems we are always running to catch up with it.
At this time of year we like to remind you to take a look at your spiritual life. The following are the two questions we annually propose to you to help with spiritual evaluation.
1. Is Jesus and His Kingdom the absolute top priority in my life? This question forces us to evaluate whether anyone or any thing has taken the place of Jesus as the central focus of our daily lives or the life of our church. If we can pinpoint anything that has crept in to that #1 spot, determine to put Him back in first place.
2. Am I closer to God now than I was at this time last year? This year should have drawn us closer to God—we have needed to rely on Him more than ever. If we cannot honestly say that we are closer to God now than at the beginning of this year, some adjustments need to be made in our lives--immediately.
Back in July, Pastor Dwila was watching a Hallmark “Christmas in July” movie. The title of the movie is completely forgotten. However, one phrase from one of the characters in the movie has not been forgotten. A man and his wife were talking about the coming Christmas season and the woman made this statement, “This Christmas I intend to be fully present.” It sparked Dwila’s spirit and has never left. What does it really mean to “be present” at Christmas.
Of course we all know that there are various meanings for the word “present”. Just Google the word and you find just how many different ways the word can be used.
It can mean you are in a particular place—in attendance as in “present” for a class. It can mean “existing or occurring right now”—as in your present situation. It can mean “the period of time now occurring”—as in past, “present” and future. It can mean to give formally or ceremonially—as in to “present” an award. It can mean to formally introduce someone—as in “may I “present” the President. It can mean a gift, donation, handout, or offering—as in a Christmas “present”. On an on the list goes describing all the different ways the word “present” is used.
However, when you look at the word from the angle of “being present”, it takes on a whole different meaning. Google states:
“On the most basic level, “being present” means being focused on one thing—a conversation, a project, a task in hand—without distraction, without wanting to be somewhere else, without being in your head and lost in thought.”
Wow! Read that again. How often do we approach and “do” Christmas based on tradition, duty, or obligation? We get wrapped up in the madness of doing all “the stuff” but never allow ourselves to be fully “focused on one thing”—celebrating God sending Jesus to earth—without distraction or longing to be somewhere else or longing to do something else—without getting lost in our heads and overwhelmed thinking of all that should be done.
Please understand that the traditions, shopping, presents, decorations, parties, and food are all fine. However, if all that replaces “being present” and focused on the main thing, we have done ourselves and Jesus a disservice which is tragic..
Paul knew what it meant to “be present”—focused on the main thing:
(Phil 3:13-14 NLT) No, dear friends, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,
No matter how we have functioned in the past, this Christmas, let’s do what the character in that Christmas movie determined to do. In the midst of all the seasonal stuff, let’s “intend to be more present” —focused on the main thing—Jesus.
Looking forward to 2025!
