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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Trinity Church Family!
As I write this on the day after Christmas, I am sitting in my comfy chair drinking a good cup of coffee and looking at the Christmas tree that just 24 hours ago had lots of presents underneath but this morning is bare. My thoughts have bounced back and forth between asking myself “Was this a good Christmas? Did I do everything I could to squeeze as much Christmas out of Christmas that I could? Did I make sure my wife and kids had a good Christmas?” (What makes a Christmas a “good” Christmas anyway?) And how much needs to get done in Trinity in 2025. The more I reflected the more I realized that the questions I was asking were filled with pressure, activity, and maybe just a dash of control issues. (Don has control issues, shocker!) I needed to remember why Jesus was born in the first place.
I don’t have to make Christmas more Christmasy any more than I have to make the sky blue. (Or cloudy as it is this morning.) And I need to work hard for Trinity, but that is about all I can do. Work hard and trust Jesus to take care of his church. The rest is out of my control. AND THAT IS GOOD NEWS!
Jesus is in control. Because of Jesus we are free. We are unburdened from fear and the need to control everything. Because of Jesus we can breathe. Jesus is responsible for his church. Jesus will love my wife and children and you and Trinity in the exact perfect way we need to be loved every moment of every day.
As we head into the new year there will be pressure to do things. To make yourself better. To improve yourself. Some of that can be good but we must not go too far and begin to think that things depend on us. Just a few days ago I heard a pastor say, “Is it possible that you have confused what belongs to God and what your role is and isn’t in what belongs to God?” In other words, I need to remember that it is my role to worship and serve and trust in God and love my neighbor. It is not my role to keep the world spinning, make my teenaged children happy, make Trinity a perfect church, or make 2025 the best year I have ever head. I cannot control enough to make any of that happen and if I try, I will only lose my joy. I hope you have the best year ever in 2025. I hope you enjoy your family and friends in 2025. I hope that you see God’s grace and blessing in powerful new ways in 2025. I truly believe that we will see God do amazing things in Trinity in 2025. But most of that is beyond our control, isn’t it? The best way you and I can make 2025 great is to trust God, draw close to him every day, and love each other.
My prayer is not only that we have a great 2025, but that we have a godly, love filled, joy empowered Christ honoring 2025. May God bless us for his glory, for other’s good, and for you blessing in 2025.
Pastor Don
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