Merry Christmas. I want to share a special Christmas story and a gift with you as we pray this week.
Right after Kevin and I married, we moved to China. We served there seven years as English teachers, but our primary desire to be there was to share Christ. Our first Christmas in China was also our first Christmas as a married couple. And as you can imagine it wasn’t a typical celebration.
At that time, 30+ years ago, China had no Christmas decorations, because they didn’t acknowledge the Christian holiday. So in an effort to decorate, Kevin purchased large pieces of colored paper, which they sold on bolts like fabric, and created a one-dimensional fireplace, mantel with a cheery fire along with a large Christmas tree that reached almost to the ceiling with decorations. The paper scene almost filled one wall of our living room. He did a great job! It made our home quite festive and was certainly a conversation starter!
When Christmas eve came we went to the home of some of our new Chinese friend’s. They had become Christians and wanted to celebrate Christmas with carols, the Christmas story, food and fellowship. By the time we left to return home it was late—between 10:30-11:00 p.m. Plus, it was about 25 degrees outside! We still had a 40 minute bike ride ahead of us to get home. Because of the late hour, the streets were empty and all was quiet. Something I never remember seeing again the entire time we lived there as it was a heavily populated city. We decided to cut through a large public park to save some time. It was a full moon that night and snow was on the ground. It was stunning as the moonlight made the snow glitter. We stopped and just took in the beauty of the quiet, and peaceful silence. It was truly our “silent night” reflecting on Christ’s birth.
It was a moment I will never forget. For we were half-way across the world from family, in a country that didn’t even celebrate our Savior and yet He was there in that moment. His peace and Presence descended there with us in that park as we stopped to acknowledge Him before finishing our ride home.
Whatever circumstances you find yourself in this Christmas, whether surrounded by family, or all alone, He is there. He is there in the feasting, the joy, the parties—and the silence and quiet. May we remember Christmas was His gift to us of His son and the launch of His rescue plan for the world.
Our nation…those around us…need rescue. So may this Christmas remind us, that He has always been the great Rescuer and His plan has never changed.
Father, we thank you that You are the mighty God, the King of kings and Lord of lords. We acknowledge Your majesty and thank you for sending Your only Son to us with a rescue plan so phenomenal, complex and yet at the same time simple for everyone. Thank you for the invitation you extend to all to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord.
We pray and declare over our families this Christmas that as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. That You will circumcise our heart and the heart of our descendents to love You with all our heart and soul. I declare that Your Spirit is upon us and Your words which You have put in my mouth will not depart from my mouth or from the mouth of my children and their children both now and forever.
I thank You that You said You will contend with those who contend with us and You will save our children and that they are all returning to You. May they all know You and love You as their Lord and Savior.
We continue to thank You for Your miraculous intervention to see turn around in our nation—even when we deserved judgment. We pray that the eyes of all will be opened to see and know that Your are the Lord of all. That You have a destiny—a plan and purpose for their lives that will drive them to seek You. We pray that the oppression, depression and rage that have been released over our nation will be extinguished as people turn to You and the veil is removed. That they will know the truth and the truth will set them free.
Thank You for Your Son who died so that we could live. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who is our Comforter, our Advocate, Helper, and Intercessor. We pray for an outpouring of Your Spirit on our nation and the world for all who will receive. And may all flesh know this day that You are the Lord, our Savior and our Redeemer, the mighty One!
Josh 24:15, Deut 30:6, Is 59:21, Is 49:25, Jer 29:11, 2 Cor 3:16, Jn 8:32, Jn 14:26, Is 49:26