There are lots of special Christmases I remember, usually because they were a first Christmas of some sort. For instance, I remember the first Christmas Marsha and I spent as a newly married couple. And then there were the special Christmases that we had after our daughter, Kelly, was born and after Paul was born. I remember our first Christmas after we came to Oklahoma; it was so special to become part of the St. Luke’s family of faith.
And this year will be another first Christmas. It will be the first Christmas as St. Luke’s Methodist Church. Technically, our church has had the name of “St. Luke’s Methodist Church” before, but in a different circumstance. This year our family of faith took a historic vote to leave a denominational structure in order to continue to be the church we feel God is calling us to be. The thing that makes “firsts” so memorable is that there typically is a small bit of fear inherent to each one. I had a tiny bit of fear that first Christmas with Marsha because I wanted to give her a gift that reflected my love and gratitude for her. The first Christmas with each of our children was full of love, but also the typical worries of any new parent.
Christmas itself is a season that reminds us that we are first in God’s heart. Jesus came into the world not as a grown man, but as a newborn baby experiencing His first breath on earth as every one of us does. Mary and Joseph would have had their own fears as new parents giving birth in a strange place. But the birth of Jesus would set us free from our fears.
This Christmas, spend the first moments of each day with Christ. Begin your day reading this collection of devotions and having a time of prayer. At the close of the day, take time to remember that our lives are bookended by the presence of God.
My prayer for you is that this Christmas reminds you of the new beginning you have in the gift of Jesus’ love.
Dr. Bob Long, Senior Pastor
