The New Year

Christmas Season is a time when many gifts given in great sincerity will be exchanged, returned, or forgotten. I’m always amazed how many items get to Goodwill with the tags still on. Nothing sadder to know the gift you gave was not utilized. Now I’m all in favor of allowing the recipient the opportunity to exchange for right style, color or size - my gift giving improved hundred fold when gift cards were developed. Yet I’ve heard there are billions of dollars of unused cards lost or set on a shelf.

When God saw the need in humanity, God picked out the best gift; by giving Himself and His Love and Mercy and Forgiveness all wrapped up as a person. A God person, but a one in human form no less. By Jesus’ birth and resurrection, we are all offered gift of Kingdom Living Today and Forever. How sad God must be to know that not all have received His gift.

When God saw the need for His continued presence and encouragement and direction and power to have our lives transformed into what God needs us be, He gifted Himself one more time in the person of the Holy Spirit. How sad God must be to know not all have received His gift. And then we are left to wonder why our lives seem so forlorn, lost, and we are less than we had hoped and for sure less than what God would desire.

This Christmas look around - have you asked for and received all the gifts the Lord has for you? We can find so many of God’s gifts within our church family. We have such a giving and talented group of people here at Covenant. You are such a gift to me and to each other and to this community. May this year be filled with such amazing experiences, once we allow God’s gifts of His Son, His Spirit and His Family to change us all for this lifetime and beyond.

Hope to see you each and every week in worship.