A quick one to wrap up the year.

Two sermons from a series titled “Christmas Gifts from Heaven” were the wrap up from the pastor.

The first gift was perspective and the call to recognize our suffering on earth pales if compared to the glory of our future in heaven. Suffering is normal to life on earth. We have not been singled out for more than our share. The first people sinned, and we are all paying for it. One phrase was, “there are always ants at the picnic.”

The second gift was a twofer with the gift being a dual understanding of frustration and anticipation. It aligns with the concepts of not knowing the light except for the darkness and not knowing good without knowing evil. In this context the discussion was how much better heaven will be when compared to earth.

The third gift was Hope. And not hope in something to come but hope in knowing something is coming. I do not recall the details, but my notes say, “The world is anxious, the answer is hope, Jesus is that hope.” The story was how the tune “I’ll be home for Christmas” became popular for not the being home for Christmas, but for the hope to be home for Christmas. Not the fulfillment, but the expectation.

The fourth gift was knowing God is for us.

The fifth gift, knowing God is with us.

The final gift, knowing God loves us.

It wrapped up with the fact that God’s love is unstoppable, constant, and unlimited.

The final bit was how God has given us lots of gifts and it is up to us to use them and not let them lie around unused like Christmas gift cards.

God’s love is greater than any created thing and we have only to use it to experience the benefits.  So have a Merry Christmas and use those gifts and gift cards.