 |  |  | Before we get to today’s devotion . . .
Dear %firstname Friend%,
A while back, I was cleaning out and straightening up the office where I prepare my messages. It had gotten to be quite a mess. Books and papers stacked everywhere.
So I started sorting things and putting things away. I was almost done. I just had a couple of stacks of books left and a few papers to put away, when I said to myself, "I will get to it later."
Here at Harvest, we have some unfinished work to get done before the year ends. We need to have all of our outreach costs from the 2009 calendar year met in 2009.
We have adjusted our budget throughout the year to practice good stewardship and to stay within our means. We have trimmed our ministry and radio broadcasting expenses as closely as possible, while not disrupting our ministry to you.
There are just a few days left in 2009 to meet this final challenge to our ministry. Will you make a special year-end donation today to help us finish the work begun in 2009?
| | |  | Tuesday, December 22, 2009
The Essential Message of Christmas
| "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name 'Immanuel,' which is translated, 'God with us.' " | | — Matthew 1:23 |
At this time of the year, we say, "Merry Christmas." I prefer that to "Happy Holidays," but I don't get confrontational about it. Instead, I want to be gracious. After all, Christmas isn't always a happy time for everyone. For someone who has lost their job, this is not the most wonderful time of the year, because so much emphasis is placed on a merry Christmas being a materialistic one.
There are also those who have lost loved ones. I am one of those people, and things that once made me happy at this time of year now make me sad. Those things that once brought happiness are now things that bring sadness, because they evoke memories of times we spent together. Therefore, Christmas becomes a difficult time for some.
There are many who are in need of encouragement at this time of year. They don't need a Christmas present; they need His Christmas presence. They need to be reminded of what this season is all about. It is not about things. It is not about presents.
These things have their place, but we need to remember the essential message of Christmas, which is Immanuel—God is with us. And for the hurting person, the lonely person, the sorrowing person, this is the time of year to bring the gift of encouragement to them and say, "The message of Christmas is: God will be with you. God will help you. God will strengthen you."
So look for opportunities to share the love of God during this season, because it is a time when we seem to be more open to engaging in conversation with others. Now is a great opportunity for you to bring encouragement to someone who is struggling. Who needs your encouragement today?
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