Pastor's Post 12/31/2022

     As the presents were being distributed, the children were instructed, rather threatened to the point of being skinned alive, not to open gifts until ALL bounty had been doled out.  With restraint likened to a wood-fired boiler at the brink of explosion, the children sat poised to shred paper.  It was almost like a western when the cowboy says, “It’s quiet, too quiet”, just before the Indians attack.

      However, energy had to be expended in some way, so the children’s pressure relief valve was to count the number of gifts received by siblings and cousins.  Everything was apropos until one unusually large gift was presented to her just as he received a moderately small box.  It was more than his untrained juvenile system could contain.  The popoff valve exploded. 

     “Ahhh!  Look at how big her present is.  It’s huge!”

    She examined the beautifully wrapped box carefully. The sheepish grin on the las’ face was followed by, “Oh it really is very large.”  (I’m quite sure it was a totally innocent and unintentional remark). 

     His next statement was going to be, “It’s not fair.”  However, only half of the intended rebuttal made it through his lips.  You know, those words that spew out as we futilely try to recapture them.  We’ve all been there. 

     Immediately following the blurt from the young man, with blushed face and lowered eyebrows, his eyes made contact with his Dad’s.  Dad, with a look that emitted the sentiment of one being grounded for life (which might have been relatively short) simply called the young man’s name.  At which point, the little guy, feeling a new lease on life and a slight need for attitude adjustment peered at the little lady, held his hands out, and happily (almost theatrical) replied, “But that’s OK. Good job!  I’m happy for you.”  The entire room exploded with laughter.

Proverbs 25:11:  11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. KJV

     You see, what the child didn’t understand, and couldn’t know until the gift was unwrapped and the entire scene unfolded, is that the radio-controlled car in his small box was three times more expensive, and exponentially more exciting than the blanket in her large box.  Oh, by the way, the blanket fit her new baby doll perfectly.  

     Like those children, we often scan the proverbial, experiential room of life and complain because God’s blessings seem larger for some than for others.  Consequentially, those feelings of pride, jealousy, or self-pity frequently appear when we are idle. 

     God is constantly reminding me to appreciate and celebrate what He is doing for others.  I am also encouraged to unwrap the small things from my heavenly Father with anticipation.  They usually contain some of the greatest blessings.  I’m also learning to listen for the still, small voice. 

1 Kings 19:11-13:  And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"  NKJV

     I pray that all of you had a very Merry Christmas.  My prayer for our church in the new year is that we ignore the hoopla of the world and what it says we should be, and enjoy every gift from above, and glorify the Father from whence it came.        

God’s greatest blessings in life are rarely seen by the world. 

God bless you all,