It’s easy for me, at least, to get lost in the busyness of the holiday season. I’m so thankful for those moments when I choose to stop and reflect on the holiday. From Christmas to the celebration of a new year, there’s much to praise God for.
As much as I hate to admit it, sometimes I need others to make me stop and reflect on God’s goodness and His blessings on my life.
This Christmas, it wasn’t my little girl that woke me; it was a text from the team leader on one of our teams to East Asia.
Four came to the Father this morning at a special Christmas service.
I’ll be honest: I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up my phone. Is everyone ok? How is this text going to impact the rest of my day?
As I read the text, I paused and thanked God for His salvation and these students who had made professions of faith. I thanked Him for the hope that I have and the reason we celebrate Christmas.
Over the past couple of weeks as teams East Asia and New York have made it home, reports have trickled in. Here are two stories that stood out to me:
One student who served in Chinatown (New York City) writes: “I got to speak with one girl whose parents were Buddhist about what it means to be a Christian and got to share the Gospel with her. Every time we had free time, I would see her reading the Bible. She even asked me if she could take it home with her at the end of the week.”
A student who served in East Asia shared a picture of the emotions of their experience: “We had one girl hang out with us the entire trip. I was burdened for her and shared with her several times. She never accepted Christ, and I thought towards the end of the trip that she is just using us. She’s using us for English and getting to hang out with Americans. What I learned from her is that you don’t share the Gospel to make believers; you share because you want other people to know about the most wonderful gift ever, and we have been commanded to share. She saw Jesus and heard His name. That was my responsibility.”
I’ve also received news of two Troy and Auburn Montgomery Chinese students making professions of faith at holiday parties. God is at work in the nations and has given us the privilege of joining Him.
The holidays can be so busy. Yet, as we reflect on His goodness – the hope of Christmas and the new start of the New Year – may we praise Him for our new life in Him and the new lives of these to whom we have been given the honor of ministering.
