PEA RIDGE — Christmas is a wonderful season in so many ways. I enjoy the lights, the times with family, watching children and so many of the traditional Christmas events. I enjoy listening to Christmas music and even a little shopping, although a little goes a long way. I love the ways that we take time to focus again on God’s gift to us. Through God’s gift we have the wonderful opportunity to have a living vital relationship with the God who created us. What a wonderful time to celebrate God’s goodness.
One of my great blessings this time of year is to witness so many people in our community with a giving spirit. As a pastor, I have the privilege to see the heart of so many people. Most of the time what I see is generosity, selflessness, gratefulness, a heart to serve and help others and a genuine desire to make a difference. I would like to list some examples that bless my heart.
This year we have watched the requests for assistance from our food pantry at church triple over 2008. But during that same period our folks increased their giving in this area to match the increased need.
It blesses me to watch generosity, especially during tight financial times.
Thank you FBC Pea Ridge for your heart and generosity! Thank you for seeing beyond yourselves to the needs of others.
The Pea Ridge Angel Tree that our Ministerial Alliance sponsors is always such a blessing. To watch so many people invest their time and money in helping someone they don’t even know. People who experience first hand that it is more blessed to give than receive. I always enjoy working with some of the other pastors and volunteers from our community.
There are several heroes involved in this process.
Those who adopt an angel and shop for children.
Community First Bank and Arvest Bank are gracious enough to allow us to place the angels in their lobbies. They go to the trouble to help people sign up for and adopt specific angels. The folks at City Hall have allowed us to place angels there for pickup and allowed gifts to be dropped off in their lobby.
The ladies from Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church who work so hard every year to make all of this possible.
For me the Angel Tree epitomizes the spirit of Pea Ridge. Thank you Pea Ridge for your heart!
One of our Sunday School classes at FBC decided a few months ago to make it part of their ministry to find ways to encourage their pastor. I have regularly found anonymous gifts, cards and expressions of appreciation and encouragement placed in the chair behind my desk (in the chair because you usually can’t find room on my desk). They provide words and acts of kindness for a pastor and his bride. Thank you for your heart!
These are three examples of many. I am blessed by the heart of people who want to make a difference and help. Granted there is another side of the heart of man that occasionally demonstrates something different, but most of what I see is good. As you celebrate Christmas, I pray that you see the heart of people wanting to makea difference. I pray that God helps you see needs around you that He might want you to help with. I pray that Christmas is a little brighter this year because you demonstrate and experience God at work through people who care for others.
Church, Pages 2 on 12/16/2009