We are entering into a very busy and important season of the year during the months of November and December. Not only will our social and family calendars fill up with various activities, so will the pace of activities and ministries in the life of most local churches including Saloma Baptist Church. In addition to all the normal activities in which families are involved, we run into the holiday rush from mid-November forward into the Christmas and New Year holidays. Let me offer a few words of encouragement for you to prayerfully consider that may make a difference in simply “making it through” versus taking time to experience the depth of blessings that can be found in this season of the year. Take time to really enjoy this season of the year and don’t let the pressures of the secularization and commercialization of this period overwhelm you and steal the joy of the season.
During November, our focus is directed toward Thanksgiving. In many ways, this holiday is enjoyed more than Christmas for many because there is less commercialization and less pressure on families. There is more time to enjoy getting together with family and friends and experiencing the real joy of counting the many blessings that God has given us. Let me challenge you during November to take time on a regular basis to “count your many blessings, (and to) name them one by one…” Take time to spend with God and give thanks to Him for all that He has done for you and your family. Above all, give thanks to Him for the sending of “His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). We are truly a blessed people!
And then as we move into the month December and through the season of Advent, you are encouraged to daily take time to study the coming of Jesus Christ more than 2,000 years ago as the Babe of Bethlehem. We will have special Advent devotional guides for your use during December – and we will have plenty of extra copies that can be distributed to family and friends in the community as a form of witness and outreach. While we will be participating in several other mission and outreach projects during the Christmas season, one priority should be to spend time with God in personal Bible study, worship, and prayer as we consider once again the meaning of the first Advent of Jesus into the world and remember that there will be a second Advent – that is a second return some day. Are we prepared? Are we doing all we can to help others hear and respond to the Good News and to be prepared?
We are praying for you during this special season of the year. Please contact us if you have any questions, or if we may be of assistance to you. The coming of Jesus Christ into the world as the Babe of Bethlehem is a pivotal moment in history – as God became man – the incarnation – God becoming flesh! What a powerful and incredible story we have to tell!