Taking the Miracle to the World!

I hope you are experiencing an awakening as to the miracles that GOD is already at work in bringing to you and your family during this Advent season, the Christmas season, and beyond! We are fully engaged in our Be Part of the Christmas Miracle message series that Pastor John and I have led this month. As a reminder, this is the three-step approach that we are using to describe the miracle of Christmas: (1) GOD gives us His presence even when we do not deserve it; (2) GOD’s presence changes and transforms us; (3) GOD invites us to be part of the miracle by sharing the message of salvation for the transformation of the world.

This past Sunday, we discussed the Miracle of Generosity by exploring Acts 20:35. Luke records Paul saying, “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Paul admits that bearing the message of salvation can be hard and sacrificial work, but it is necessary for those who are capable to help others in need; then Paul mentioned the oft heard and used words of Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Considering generosity from a biblical point of view, we must recognize that it is doing something for another without expecting anything in return, as well as doing something for another who could never repay that act of generosity. We see that GOD in Christ did both of these simultaneously for each of us that we might be changed and enjoy the eternal blessings of heaven as part of GOD’s holy family. So when we view generosity this way, just like Ebenezer Scrooge learned in A Christmas Carol, we come to experience the fact that we are changed when we are generous…a total reorientation of life!

As I wrote last week, we are giving each individual and family an opportunity to Be Part of the Christmas Miracle by flexing our generosity muscles. We have set an ambitious goal of collecting $10,000 that will be given directly to missionaries and mission agencies to be part of GOD’s miracle of transformation by utilizing the global reach of the United Methodist Church. During worship on each Sunday remaining in 2012, as well as on Christmas Eve, we are collecting a special missions offering to help bring the miracle of GOD’s transforming love to people in places across the world that you and I would likely never be able to reach. We hope that you will strive to be part of the miracle of generosity and be generous to people all across the world without any expectation of reciprocity from those who could never repay your sacrificial act. We also encourage this to be something you do as a family, so everyone – young and old – has an opportunity to know that your sacrifice has helped to bring love and relief to someone in need. I guarantee that it will make a difference in the way you experience Christmas this year. In the spirit of Christmas, this is truly something to celebrate!

Speaking of celebration, this coming Sunday, Pastor John and I will explore the miracle of celebration as part of our Advent message series. GOD calls His people to times of celebration to help us move the focus off of self and onto others at times we might be inclined to be too self-centered. I hope you will make every effort to be in worship this Sunday as we strive to Be Part of the Christmas Miracle and share the glory of GOD’s transforming presence in our own lives as we dedicate our lives to joining GOD in the task of transforming the world! I pray you will come and celebrate with us!