Pastor's Devotions by Tim Harris

Over the years, I’ve had people tell me they don’t really like the Christmas season for they find it too stressful. And I understand. It’s true that with all the planning, the shopping and decorating, baking and cooking, etc. the Christmas season can become quite stressful. There is the build up to that one day filled with, unfortunately, often unmet expectations. And there is the juggling of already busy schedules as we try to get everything done. Thus, I’m not surprised when I hear people complain about the stress of Christmas.  I fully understand. In spite of the fact that I really do love the excitement of Christmas—the  glow of the Christmas tree in our living room, the houses decorated in lights, Kim’s cookies and breads, the exchanging of gifts and the pouring out of the stockings, just to name a few things—I can get really stressed out by Christmas.  After all, I’m juggling the preparations for both our home and for the church at the same time. I’m thinking about ...

The changeover has taken place! It’s no longer about the big turkey dinner, decorations of  orange and brown, and cornucopia centerpieces. Now it’s about lights and trees, red and green, the gifts and cards, poinsettias, wreaths and carols. Thanksgiving has given way to Christmas!  If you ask me, it happened so fast. The day after Thanksgiving the ornaments were being set on the tree in the corner of our living room—and on the small one in our family room that is just for the grandchildren. A couple of days later the lights were on display in front of the house and the wreath put on the door. Before you knew it, our home had been fully given over to Christmas.  No more Thanksgiving decorations…it’s time for Christmas!  If you think about it, that’s the way it has always been with Christmas. After all, on the night Jesus was born a new period of time was inaugurated. History was divided. The old era was gone and a new one had come. For with the birth of Jesus, God’s g...