Here's the message I shared at our first annual ladies' tea. I went off script a bit, but God helped me! We had 80 ladies in attendance, about half were guests!
It is wonderful to be here with all of you! To slow down and enjoy this special time with friends & family. Thanks to all of you who prepared the delicious food! I also want to thank the ladies on the planning team who made this event possible: Micki, Leslie, Barb, Lauren, could you please stand up? Thank you!!
I want to take a few minutes to reflect on the best Christmas gift of all.
Matthew explains in his gospel: "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet (Isaiah:) “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.”
Immanuel means “God is with us”. God Himself came wrapped up in a baby. He was not content to remain distant from us; He stooped down to live among us. He gave us Himself!
I've known about Him since my childhood, thanks to my devout parents and regular attendance at church. I knew He was real and was there, kind of like a neighbor I’d drive by and wave to. A comfortable distance. I took for granted His presence and promises, but I didn't really take them to heart.
I was a typical high school teenager- cheerleader and social butterfly. I went off to college and it was there that a couple of friends invited me to a bible study. I honestly wasn't interested, but they made great chocolate chip cookies and were so nice that I decided to attend. We studied the gospel of John. I got a bit uncomfortable when I read that Jesus said, "If you love me, you'll obey me." Oops! I really believed I loved God, but thought he'd understand that girls just want to have fun. I hadn't connected the dots that obedience is what proved my love to Him. I didn’t know that He took my sin so seriously.
I knew that I was a sinner-I'd lived long enough to figure that out! I realized that my sins actually separated me from this Holy God. But then there was the good news, that God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. He was showing me this Christmas gift, the Savior of the world, the Savior of me. I was beginning to take it personally. It’s like the most amazing gift exchange: Jesus taking my sin and dying on the cross to pay its penalty, then rising again and offering me forgiveness and reconciliation to God. The Holy Spirit was at work!
I had a choice. I could keep trying to figure out life on my own, going my own way, or give my life to Him. It dawned on me that he knew what was best for me and I didn't. The longer I waited, the more miserable I felt! The parties and boyfriend weren't satisfying this new longing in my heart for Jesus, in fact they were bringing me further away from His embrace. I wanted to please him but couldn't on my own. He was calling me to confess my sins, turn away from them and receive His mercy. I'm so glad I did!
Since that time, some 26 years ago, I've had plenty of ups and downs, many sins and failings, but thankfully salvation is a gift that was given to me and earned by Christ. His mercies are new every morning, and that's because I need them! Jesus is truly the best gift I've ever received. The more I get to know Him the more treasures I discover in Him!
He speaks to us through His Word. He hears and answers our prayers. He provides our needs. He keeps His promises to strengthen and guide us. His Presence brings comfort and peace through all the changes and uncertainties of this life. He never changes. The more we trust in Him, the more peace we have. He will never let go of us once we’ve given our heart to Him!
Rev. 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."
Matthew Henry, a pastor who lived a long time ago, wrote:
“ Christ is graciously pleased by his word and Spirit to come to the door of the heart of sinners; he draws near to them in a way of mercy, ready to make them a kind visit. [2.] He finds this door shut against him; the heart of man is by nature shut up against Christ by ignorance, unbelief, sinful prejudices. [3.] When he finds the heart shut, he does not immediately withdraw, but he waits to be gracious. [4.] He uses all proper means to awaken sinners, and to cause them to open to him: he calls by his word, he knocks by the impulses of his Spirit upon their conscience. [5.] Those who open to him shall enjoy his presence, to their great comfort and advantage. He will sup with them; he will give fresh supplies of graces and comforts, and thereby stir up fresh actings of faith, and love, and delight; and in all this Christ and his repenting people will enjoy pleasant communion with each other. Alas! what careless obstinate sinners lose by refusing to open the door of the heart to Christ!”
May we open our hearts to Him who gave His very life for us. He is always inviting us to spend time with him. Immanuel, God is with us! He has all the time in the world for us, ladies, do we have time for him?
The longer I live the more I understand that time is a precious gift. We live each day choosing how we will invest this gift. It's a challenge to redeem it and not waste it. Sometimes it takes a crisis of health to help us to stop and savor the gift of time..
That happened to me in 2002. We were blessed to move to Haverhill, near my whole family. My dad was very sick. He'd had a stroke and was diagnosed with Lewy Body disease, a dementia similar to Alzheimers. His life, which had been so full and strong came to a stand still. My mom, brothers and sister rallied around him, determined to keep him home We took turns caring for him. I remember he'd light up when I arrived, squeezing my hand, whispering my name and saying "I love you." He couldn't say much, but that was more enough for me!
That 3 1/2 years was so precious to me. The things that would’ve distracted me in ‘ordinary’ times just didn’t matter as much in that season. It was an honor and privilege to serve to the man who had given so much to me. There was also a satisfaction in knowing that Jesus said that whatever we do to the least of these, we do to Him.
I miss him so much but am comforted to know that he’s in heaven waiting for me.
God has not left us as orphans. Jesus said before ascending to heaven, " behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." He had explained to his disciples that it was better for them that he return there so that he could pour out the Holy Spirit upon His children.
The Holy Spirit is God’s Presence in us!! Christ in all believers, the hope of glory!!
He’s given to cheer and to guide us. To comfort us, teach us and to help us to fulfill our calling; empowering us to be His hands and feet in this world.. He is still Immanuel, God with us.
There was no room available for baby Jesus in Bethlehem that first Christmas. Business was booming for the inn keepers, but they missed the opportunity of hosting the birth of the King of Kings! God was whispering, ‘be still and know that I am God!’ but only a few heard. May He give us ears to hear and faith to receive him into our hearts.
In the hustle and bustle of this season and of this life, may we stop and enjoy this greatest gift: Immanuel, God with us!
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