Pastor's Devotions by Tim Harris

For this week’s Pastor’s Devotion, I’d like to share a story I wrote last year for the children at Promise International Fellowship. Maybe you’d like to share it with some of the children in your life this Christmas. Besides, we all like a story!   Here it is:    One day it was a little boy’s birthday. Let’s call him, “Sammy.”   He was turning 10 years old. He was so excited. He couldn’t wait for his birthday. He kept thinking about the cards he would receive in the mail, the birthday cake with ten candles on it, how he would blow them out as everyone sang to him. And, he was thinking that he would have all of his friends come over—and, that they would bring him birthday gifts.   He just couldn’t wait for his birthday!             Finally the day arrived. Sammy jumped out of bed expecting his family would say a great big “Happy Birthday” as he walked into the kitchen for breakfast. But, no one said ...

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been trying to get my Christmas shopping done.   Although it can be a bit of a hassle, I really don’t mind it too much. But what makes it really fun is trying to get the best price possible or finding that really great deal.   I don’t go out on Black Friday, but I have learned that many Christmas deals carry through the next week and that there are ways really make your dollar stretch.   For example, last week I saved 30% on my Amazon purchases because it was “CyberMonday Week!”   Kim and I went to Kohl’s with our 20% and 25% coupons in hand, getting our discounts on already discounted items bringing some items to 75% off the original price.   In one store, before purchasing the item I was going to buy, I found a 20% coupon on-line via my iPhone.   And in Toys-R-Us, I found the same toy I was buying on Amazon for $5 less and asked the cashier if they would match the price.   And, they did!   But, can you...

Christmas is now right around the corner.   Christmas trees are being decorated, gifts are being bought, and churches are preparing for special services.   The excitement is building as we have now entered what has been called, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!” and “The Season of Joy!”   Christmas is coming! Yet, I’ve recently been reminded that, just because Christmas is coming doesn’t mean that all is perfect with the world—or with our lives. These days it can be hard to watch the news as one bad news story follows another. Even harder can be dealing with the pain and tragedies that strike our own lives.   Even now in the midst of this “Season of Joy!” my family is once again facing some great challenges as my mother fell last week, broke her hip, and subsequently had surgery. She is now in the same nursing and rehabilitation facility she was in earlier this year (and in which my father passed away in May). It’s been a tough couple of weeks—and a tough ye...

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. Today it is snowing. Last night the last of our kids came home for the holiday—including Jonathan’s fiancée, Dani.   So, here we are with a full house, watching it snow, awaiting the start of our Thanksgiving celebrations.   Today, there will be some baking, maybe some board games played, and most likely some snow removed.   Earlier this morning I put on some extra coffee.   For lunch I think I made about a dozen quesadillas.   Tonight’s dinner will include a bit more pasta than Kim and I would normally make for just the two of us.   Oh, did I mention that tomorrow’s Thanksgiving Day? In the midst of all the busyness and excitement of our home and the holiday—and the snow—I want to be careful not to lose sight of the purpose of the day we are about to celebrate.   So, let me list a few things that come to mind as I reflect upon this past year.   1.     I am grateful for my wife Kim and my three chil...