Christmas Time
Sunday, December 24, 2006
I was thinking of a line in the Christmas Carol that says, "may your days be merry and bright" and it brought to my mind all of the people who are without their families this year.
In China, Chinese Christian Li Ying has been in prison more than 2000 days. She is serving a 15-year sentence for her role as editor of an underground-church magazine in China, yet she refuses to denounce Christ.
In Iraq, it isn't just American soldiers who are away from their families, we have many allies that we forget are also away from home. We also have our enemies who God tells us to pray for who are away from their families, who are fighting a fight that makes absolutely no sense to us, but in their minds they are fighting for what they believe in.
Then we have children who are in Foster care, group homes and state institutions. Our elderly parents or neighbors who live in Homes who are abandoned or ignored. Homeless people and families living on our streets.
Then there are families with Special needs kids or they are caregivers for their elderly parents, which can be draining sometimes emotionally and physically. We also have many children today whose parents are addicted to drugs or who are incarcerated. Our prisons are full of people of all different ages.
And what about the kids or adults who have disappeared and who are being held in slavery in brothels.
When I think about it, to me it is overwhelming. So many are hurting, angry and would give anything for someone to love them. I know one who does, his name is Jesus Christ. I pray I become more and more like Him. I pray I can reach out to many this Christmas and after Christmas, I pray I daily remember there are those around me who are lost or hurting. I pray I don't get so caught up with me and my family, that I ignore those around me. After all...We are our Brother's keeper.
God Bless Each of you and Merry Christmas!
In China, Chinese Christian Li Ying has been in prison more than 2000 days. She is serving a 15-year sentence for her role as editor of an underground-church magazine in China, yet she refuses to denounce Christ.
In Iraq, it isn't just American soldiers who are away from their families, we have many allies that we forget are also away from home. We also have our enemies who God tells us to pray for who are away from their families, who are fighting a fight that makes absolutely no sense to us, but in their minds they are fighting for what they believe in.
Then we have children who are in Foster care, group homes and state institutions. Our elderly parents or neighbors who live in Homes who are abandoned or ignored. Homeless people and families living on our streets.
Then there are families with Special needs kids or they are caregivers for their elderly parents, which can be draining sometimes emotionally and physically. We also have many children today whose parents are addicted to drugs or who are incarcerated. Our prisons are full of people of all different ages.
And what about the kids or adults who have disappeared and who are being held in slavery in brothels.
When I think about it, to me it is overwhelming. So many are hurting, angry and would give anything for someone to love them. I know one who does, his name is Jesus Christ. I pray I become more and more like Him. I pray I can reach out to many this Christmas and after Christmas, I pray I daily remember there are those around me who are lost or hurting. I pray I don't get so caught up with me and my family, that I ignore those around me. After all...We are our Brother's keeper.
God Bless Each of you and Merry Christmas!
posted by Live, Love, Laugh | 12:25 AM
9 Comments:
It's easy to have days that are merry and bright when you are blessed...but to remember those who don't know Jesus should always be in our prayers.
Merry Christmas and God bless you as you continually present that candle that is the love of Jesus to everyone you meet.
I'm gonna be the Scrooge here and say that usually when I read a post such as yours I can turn my thinking around and realize how good I actually have it. This year, well I just don't care. I'm depressed, lonely, and just can't make myself care about anything.
Bah Humbug
merry christmas
Merry Christmas, "Mom"!
amen.
Good reminders.
Merry Christmas to you and your friends and family.
May Peace Regin.
what you said is so true. the line that toches my heart in "o Holy Night" is "at His hand all oppression will cease....the slave is our brother"
of course, there is physical slavery but there are people all around us who are enslaved to all sorts of things..we can't literally see the chains but they are there
Merry Christmas !!
Merry Christmas and I pray you have a blessed New Year.
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