Letters to the Family of God
by Joe Franzone | December 21, 2022 | Pastor's Blog
December 21, 2022
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”
And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, goodwill to men!"
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevails,
With peace on earth, goodwill to men."
Christmas Bells by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Dear friends.
Christmas is a solid reminder God never has to have the circumstances just right to do His work. To all but the eyes of faith, there are very few moments in the Christmas story we read of in the Gospels that are ideal and orderly.
For many people, things seem bad in our world, really bad. Pick your crisis. But since the fall, crisis has always marked our broken world. However, circumstances, ideal, or not will never limit God’s power to save. God delights in building a church right at the gates of hell and plucking people off the path to that gate.
The Christmas story reminds us God will exercise His grace and power in the most difficult of places and towards all kinds of people so that His witness and name will become great. He never turns from His love, but because of His Son, He will turn from His wrath toward His people. (Romans 3:25; 8:1)
Therefore, well-loved Christian take heart. No one who trusts in Christ will ever be disappointed. (Romans 10:11) No amount of darkness can diminish His light.
May deep graces be given to you this Christmas and New Year. May we live with the end in mind. Live knowing Christ is our substitute, and He alone has accomplished everything needed to usher us into this life and safely into the forever one.
It has been an absolute privilege and pleasure serving you this year. God has been so merciful and gracious to us as a church, and we thank Him and praise His name together.
The Happiest and most joyous of Christmas and New Year to you.
Pastor Joe