What Christ did for us

             In Colossians 1:13-14 the Bible says,  

 

“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” 

 

Today, take a moment and think about what Jesus has done for you and just pause and worship. 

 

These verses share clearly what Christ did for us on the cross. 

 

So, as celebrate this holiday season, I want to urge you to remember and focus on what the cross means to me, to you, to a world far from God. 

 

Let these words wash over your heart as you go about the activities of this week, as you think about all the blessing in this past year.  

Think about the greatest blessing of all as a follower of Christ.  Our greatest reason to give thanks!  

A Savior

 A Savior 

 

 

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). 

The purpose for the songs, the worship services, the parties, the gifts, the tree, and the ornaments are to celebrate the announcement the angel made in this verse. 

A Savior is born for you and for me. God the creator of all things became a human being. God came to us. He came to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. 

 

This Christmas we celebrate: 

His virgin birth 

His perfect and sinless life 

His death on the cross 

His resurrection from the dead 

His ascension to the right hand of the Father 

His return as conquering king 

 

Good news! A Savior is born! 

Merry Christmas! 

I will sing

 I will sing 

I often tell people when I get to heaven, I want to be on the praise team. I love music and I love to sing. I just do not have a singing voice or know how to play an instrument. If I could sing, this would be my song today: 

“I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations” (Psalm 89:1). 

Today, I chose to sing that song. I want to give thanks to the Lord for his steadfast love and his faithfulness. During grief, while suffering illness, in pain, through separation from loved ones, in good times and bad. This is the song I will sing! 

“I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations” (Psalm 89:1). 

 

Tony

 Tony 

 

I met Tony in the early 1980’s at Baptist College at Charleston, now Charleston Southern University. I could have never imagined the impact of our friendship over the span of those years to now 2021.  

Our families became intertwined. Tony’s mom and dad took me in as one of their own. Tony’s dad who is with Jesus was a wonderful Christian man who did a marvelous job raising Tony and his sister Tina. Tony’s mom is a wonderful Christian lady whose love for Jesus comes across if you spend even a moment with her. She is currently battling dementia, Tony and Tina do such a wonderful job of caring for their mom. 

My children call Tony, “Uncle Tony.”  He has been a big part of their life from as long as they can remember. I have told my boys often, “If you have one friend like Uncle Tony in your life you will be very blessed.” 

From the earliest days at BCC in the 1980’s until today, Tony’s focus has always been my good. He has been there in good times and tough times. We have shared many a struggle and joy during those years. He has encouraged me during times of great challenge and has rejoiced with in times of immense joy. To say he is one of the best friends in the world to me is an understatement.  

 My life has been truly blessed through his friendship and I am so grateful for the impact he has made and is making on my life.

 

God is not finished with me yet

 Philippians 1:6 

God is not finished with me yet 

 

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to    completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6, ESV). 

This verse makes me want to shout with Thankfulness today.

 

It gives me something to rejoice about. It gives me something to be thankful about. It gives you something to be thankful about. God is not finished with you yet. He is not finished with me yet.  

 

This verse reminds us that it is all about God. 

• He began the work 

• He will bring it to completion 

You and I will be complete, mature, like him totally when he comes again or when we finish our race. 

 

Give thanks today: 

• God is not finished with me 

• God is not finished with you 

• God is not finished with His Church. 

 

It is all about what God has done, is doing, will do.