Tis the Season...

"Tis the season to be jolly..." Or Is It?

Just because we sing those words, doesn't mean "it's the most wonderful time of the year" for everyone. In fact, it is well documented that more people suffer from depression between Thanksgiving and Christmas than any other time of the year. No doubt, many of you are

But if the message of Christmas doesn't speak hope and joy into our gloom at this time of year, it is hardly of value the rest of the year either. It was the angels who said on that first Christmas night, "I bring you glad tidings of great joywhich will be for all the people."

You have to remember, that when those shepherds heard the message from the angel as they tended their flocks by night (and were "sore afraid") it was the "good news" for which they had waited a lifetime. In fact, God's people had been awaiting their Deliverer for generations, since the prophet Isaiah had foretold His birth in a time of bondage and exile: "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light," he wrote.

In the least expected of ways, God the Father sent the long-expected Jesus into the world in a feeding trough in a Bethlehem stable. But the Light of the world had come, and He was--and is--"Emmanuel, God with us." That good news still sheds a different kind of light on us all, even 20 centuries later. Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

The problem for many of us is, we tend to look for our joy in places that have a long history of disappointing us. This time of year, we think that the source of our joy will be the latest techno-toy, or a new Salad Shooter, or Uncle Si doll, or camo Snuggie, or whatever else may be on your Christmas list this year. Those things may bring temporary happiness--"oh, you shouldn't have!"--but they don't bring genuine and lasting joy.

However, eeach of us, whatever our lot, can experience the joy of Christmas when we stop and reflect, recognize the presence of Jesus, Emmanuel, and live in the light of His presence, even in the midst of a dark world. I hope and pray you'll know that inside-out joy this Christmas season.

I count it such a privilege to be your pastor, and can't wait to see each of you this Sunday at Shelby Crossings--morning and evening--as we "repeat the sounding joy" of the gospel of Christmas.

--Pastor Ken

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