Without a doubt, this is the most wonderful time of the year!

I must confess that our grandkids talked us in to letting them start putting up Christmas decorations a week earlier than ever before. Truth is they did not have to “talk” too much, because I love Christmas. Even with the Christmas tree in place, I have reminded them that we must never overlook Thanksgiving.

There really is a trilogy of holidays in front of us: Thanksgiving is a time of humility in the presence of God where we are mindful of His grace, mercy, and blessings. This leads us into Christmas where we are made aware of God’s gift of salvation and forgiveness through Christ alone, and then we have New Year where we can “forget those things that are behind and press on to those things that are ahead. Therefore, until we have a good and proper understanding of gratitude we can never really understand the gift of Christmas and the potential of the New Year.

Each of us have so very much for which to be thankful. I hope we will find a way to verbalize our thankfulness to God for His presence, power, and provision in our lives.

As December brings the hustle and bustle of all that Christmas has become it is my prayer that we will embrace the season. Use your time in stores, malls, and other retail shops as opportunities to share the love of God with all those you encounter. Each worker needs to know that they are loved by God. When you see the red bucket and the ringing bell consider how you might be able to impact people you will never meet.

This is certainly the most wonderful time of the year! Embrace the opportunity to share with others. Now, until Jesus returns, I remain yours, in the fulfilling of the Great Commission,

Roy