Wishing You a "Mary" Christmas

The tenth chapter of Luke records the story of two sisters, Mary and Martha. These two sisters have very different temperaments. Mary is the more laid back of the two. She is content to sit, listen, and enjoy. Martha is a doer. She wants to get things taken care of, make sure responsibilities are covered, and wants the to-do list completed. These two contrasting temperaments collide one day when Jesus comes to town (Luke 10:38-42). Mary wants to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen while Martha wants to get the meal ready and the guests served.

Mary and Martha’s story reaches a climax when Martha has had enough of her lazy sister. She asks Jesus, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me” (v. 40). Jesus responds by saying, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (vs. 41-42). Simply put, Jesus gives Martha a bit of a reality check.

Christmas is upon us. I know that there are gifts to buy, parties to plan, and meals to prepare. Add to that the holiday baking that needs to take place and the cards that need mailed out and you have a full schedule. Beyond trying to get everything planned and done, there is the coordinating of schedules and numerous events to attend. If we are not careful, we will fall into Martha’s trap. We will be “anxious and troubled about many things.” This is not how our Lord would have us to spend Christmas.

Try and approach this Christmas season with a Mary-like attitude. Realize that it is o.k. to sit down, to listen, and to enjoy the presence of our Lord. Realize that many of the things we allow to stress us out simply do not matter or they will take care of themselves. Let’s make Christmas a time of reflection and refreshment. Let’s remind ourselves that this should be a season of joy, anticipation, and celebration. This is not a time to allow the circumstance to overrun us.

Not only do I want you to have a Merry Christmas, I want you to have a “Mary” Christmas.

Honored to be your pastor,

Darrell

A Night to Remember

The time is quickly approaching. November is flying by. Before long we will soon see lines at the doors of our church waiting to enter and see the latest installation of “The Majesty of Christmas.” Many of you know that I grew up not far from Victoria and also served as the pastor of First Baptist Churches in Louise and Ganado. I remember the days of coming to see these pageants and jealously wishing that the churches I served could make such a presentation related to Christmas.

One year in particular stands out in my memory. Kimberly invited a friend from work to attend the pageant with us. This friend brought her mother along. Her mother was elderly and had to use a walker to get around. We were standing in line, waiting patiently, when one of the greeters came to us and said for us to come to the front of the line since one of the members of our party had mobility issues. We moved up and I made some joke about bringing her with us in the future so I wouldn’t have to wait. The pageant that year was great and it opened the doors for some great conversations between Kimberly and her friend.

Why do I tell you that story? Because it happened over 15 years ago and I still remember. While “The Majesty of Christmas” may simply feel like something we do, it has the potential to make a lifetime of difference. I would encourage each of you to pray about what your role might be this year. Certainly, some of you are in the presentation. However, we still need friendly faces, greeters, and people to help out in a number of ways. While you may only think of it as a commitment of a few nights, know that people will remember those nights for years into the future.

Also, we need to pray for those who will be our guest. Pray that God will move in their hearts. Pray that they will hear the gospel clearly. Pray that they will respond as God speaks to their hearts. You never know just what God might do if we give Him the chance.

Honored to be your pastor,

Darrell

God, the Election, and How to Proceed

Next week we will go to the polls and elect the next President of the United States of America. There is no way to capture in words what a volatile election cycle this has been. Neither candidate exactly portrays what we would like a president to portray. Corruption, anger, distrust, and a general sense of vileness has been front and center for the last year or so. It is sad to think that we, as a nation, have come to this point.

In a very short and shockingly swift manner, America has moved from our Judeo-Christian roots to a very Humanistic society. The question is no longer a question of being a godly nation, but one of personal and social rights. The church has gone from central in our communities to a marginalized organization. So fast has this shift been that we are struggling to figure out what our response ought to be. While I would not begin to pretend for a minute that I can answer all of these questions, I would offer the following advice for the days ahead:

Remember that all authority is established by God. Romans 13:1 tells us, “For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” While we might not like who gets elected as President, we must accept that it is God’s will and that He is working according to His purposes. Rarely do we understand what God is doing in times like these, but we must proceed in faith.

Remember that God is Sovereign. Daniel 4:17 reminds us, “…the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.” While it is easy to look at the election as a game of chance or a simple competition, it is not so. God, by His sovereignty, establishes the leadership that He wants.

Pray Faithfully. While we may not be able to obtain the outcome we desire from the election, we can be faithful to pray for the one who wins. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 commands us, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” God can do more in a moment than we can in a lifetime. Prayer is not a passive waste of time. Prayer moves the very hand of God, breaks the heart of man, and brings about the will of God.

Dear Christian, do not lose heart. God is still in control and is not surprised in the slightest by what is going on these days. He is firmly seated on His throne and His position as ruler of the universe is as secure as it has ever been. These are days that Christians can truly show themselves to be a people of faith, trust, joy, and peace. Our God is not shaken.

Honored to be your pastor,

Darrell