~ Good Morning!

Let’s take a few minutes and reflect on Hebrews‬ ‭10:23-25‬. The scriptures say:

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. (24)And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, (25)not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (ESV‬)

“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others.” — Bob Hope

A common tradition that people participate in during the final month of each year is sending out Christmas Cards.

The Christmas card began in the 1840s by Sir Henry Cole and was actually born out of his having too little time to respond to the correspondence that was stacking up in his house. He felt it inconsiderate not to respond to the people who wrote letters to him so he hired an artist to create the very first Christmas card for his family’s update. While some criticized him for this time-saving act, many others caught on and began sending their letters and cards out at Christmas time.

Christmas time! A time to love others! A time to reflect on relationships! A time to catch up with family, and old friends!

The writer of Hebrews, here, reminds us to …

✝️ Consider our own personal relationship with the Lord (v. 23).

✝️ Not only follow up, but “stir up” others, encourage others, in their personal walk with the Lord (v. 24).

✝️ Remind us that Christian’s need to meet together often, to encourage each other, and meet together even more often as the coming of the Lord draws nearer (v. 25).

Maria and I use to be really good at Christmas Cards, but honestly, now, because of our very busy holiday schedules, we don’t usually get those created and mailed out.

But I have an idea! Let’s take our scriptures, from today, and merge them with this Christmas Card idea. — What if we purposed to personally engage and encourage each other more often⁉️

We could be a personal “Christmas Card,” weekly, at Church‼️

We could be a personal “Christmas Card,” daily on social media‼️

This Christmas, and throughout forever, let’s catch up with, encourage, and offer hope, to friends, family, and old friends that maybe we haven’t spoke with in a long while‼️

Let’s encourage each other to continue serving, and being faithful to the Lord‼️

Let’s encourage each other not to give up, because of daily troubles, but to pray, to have hope and expect miracles‼️

I believe we can be a daily Christmas Card to, sincerely, let others know that we love them, that we really care for them and that we believe in them‼️

As a believer in Jesus, we’re suppose to be carriers of hope. Let’s offer hope to as many as we can this Christmas Season and at every other opportunity that we’re given.

You may not get a Christmas Card sent out, but you can be a personal reflection of the Reason for the Season.

The Lord bless you, and Merry Christmas 🎄 ‼️

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene