It still feels weird that I’m “that guy” that is excited for the holidays, because his kids are all home. Those guys are old.
Its really important that we understand how God feels about the whole thing at Christmas. He sent his Son, so you can be a son. That’s how much he wants to have you home for Christmas. He feels just like I do when his house is full.
So please be praying for the services, starting tonight and all the way through Wednesday night (skipping Monday for the Bears game – you can pray for them on MondayJ).
As God’s children come home for Christmas, the Father will be so excited to see them. Many of them – thousands of them – will be home for the first time in months or years. Some of them for the first time, period. Pray that their hearts will be opened to coming home for good!
One woman wrote - When I was five, my biological father committed suicide. It left me feeling as though I'd done something wrong; that if I had been better somehow, maybe he'd have stayed around. My mother remarried shortly thereafter, and this man was my dad until I was nineteen. I called him Dad and used his name all through school. But, when he and my mother divorced, he just walked away. Once again, I wondered what was wrong with me that I couldn't keep a father. Mother remarried again, and Bob was a wonderful, kind man. I was twenty now and no longer living at home, but I felt a great love and attachment for him. A few years later my mother was diagnosed with cancer and was not given long to live. Shortly before she died, Bob came over to my house alone one day. We talked about a lot of things, and then he told me that he wanted me to know that he'd always be there for me, even after Mother was gone. Then he asked if he could adopt me. I could hardly believe my ears. Tears streamed down my face. He wanted me - me! This man had no obligation to me, but he was reaching out from his heart, and I accepted. During the adoption proceedings, the judge commented on all the undesirable duties of his profession and then with a tear in his eye, thanked us for brightening his day as he pronounced us father and daughter. I was twenty-five, but I was his little girl.
This is what they need to understand this Christmas. It’s what all of us need to understand.
Merry Christmas,
Tim
AMEN. Merry Christmas to All :)
Posted by: Paula | December 20, 2008 at 03:12 PM
Although not regular Parkview attenders, my family made the trek to experience your Christmas Eve service on Saturday night.
What an incredible message for my family! My parents passed away when I was young, so I was adopted by my maternal grandmother.
When I met my husband, his son was 2 yr old(now 10), I had the opportunity to pass that love on to him when I adopted him 5 1/2 years ago.
Your message on adoption into God's family reminded both of us that even though we don't have our biological parents around, God fills that void in our life like only he can! Amazing.
Posted by: Abbie | December 23, 2008 at 10:27 AM
My husband and I came to Christ years ago at Deer Creek Christian Church and have now been attending Parkview for about 2 months, but the Sunday Christmas service was the first time our 9 year old son was in the congretation at Parkview instead of in class. We watched him absorb every word you stated and sing out with every song but it wasn't until last night that I realized how deeply he has been listenning. My son led us in our dinner prayer and he stated..
Dear Heavenly father thank you so much for this meal to nourish us and for the beautiful snow and keeping us warm and for Christmas.... and oh happy birthday. Also thank you for sending us our savior and the bible. Amen
Thank you and Parkview for helping us continue to bring our family closer to Christ.
Posted by: Shelly | December 24, 2008 at 09:54 AM