News

December 7, 2012 11:33am

A Most Wonderful Time of the Year?????

 

As the old Christmas song says…..or is it? Holidays can be difficult for many, and especially Christmas. Parents who have graduated to glory, children who have grown and left home, family members who are no longer around, and friends who are out of touch or out of reach….any or all of which make for emotional challenges. As we celebrate, it is important to be sensitive to those who may be struggling just to make it through the Christmas season.

 

The Apostle Paul was apparently aware of the hopelessness that can descend on our spirit, for he gave these words of comfort in 1Thessalonians 4:13 “…I do not want you…to grieve as others who have no hope…” and then went on to speak of the great reunion at the Lord’s return. In 1Timothy 1 he said “…as I remember your tears…I remind you that God gave us not a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind…” God is a God of great comfort, and often we who have been comforted in our grief are able to comfort others as Paul wrote to the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “….the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted of God.” God never wastes anything, even our grief.

 

So the challenge this Christmas season is to be looking for, praying with and being sensitive to others and their needs. Here at Thy Word Network we have seen a definite increase in the number of “cries for help” that we receive in the mail and on the phone. It is our privilege to pray with and for those needs of our listeners. Perhaps we could do so for you? Don’t hesitate to let us know, we pray daily for our radio family and their needs, and we would be glad to add your request to our list.

 

As we rest and trust in God’s mercy and grace, as we marvel that He sent His Son as the ultimate Love-gift, as we rejoice in His loving kindness toward us, and as we find opportunity to be His hands and arms reaching out to those in need during this Christmas season, it truly can be …a most wonderful time of the year.

 

Merry Christmas from all of us at Thy Word Network!

Floyd