A
few years ago, my wife and I had a chance to see in concert Amy Grant and Vince
Gill at the Cabarrus Arena in Concord. It
was a great show, particularly so for those that love the music of that husband
and wife duo. One of the songs that Amy
Grant sang that evening was a hit she had a few years ago titled “My Grown Up
Christmas List.”
I
am at an age where my tangible wants in life are minimal. I have been blessed with so much. I recall when I was young asking my
grandmother what she wanted for Christmas, and it was hard to get any hints
from her. And here I am, a senior
citizen doing much the same thing to my wife, children, and other
relatives. Yet, that song by Amy Grant
rings true for me because it is a list of things that you can not buy in a
store. With apologies to my friends in
the retail business, the best things in my life cannot bought in a store. As another Christmas approaches for this
husband, father, grandfather, pastor, and follower of Jesus I share my own
Christmas list as follows:
To
have all my children, grandchildren, and son in laws together in one place with
Ann and I at least once in 2024
That
God will guide each of my grandchildren
in their path and that may see Christ
Jesus through the person that I am
That
God will give me the strength and wisdom to lead the Church in these
challenging days as I come in 2024 to the 50th anniversary of becoming
a pastor in the local church
That
God will give my wife Ann and I the health to have many more years together
because I cannot bear the thought of living without her
That
the Church of Jesus Christ will spend more time sharing the love of Christ
Jesus and less time putting other people and churches down
That
the leaders of our state, nation, and world will strive to help others more
than they strive to be re-elected
That
each person might know and feel the truth that they are made in the image of
God who has wonderfully made them
Those
are the 7 things on my Christmas list this year. Sorry, Ann, children, and grandchildren as
I do not think they are much help in
your Christmas shopping for me.
However, I do know this: they are
all possible when we allow the greatest gift ever, Jesus Christ, dwell in each
and everyone of us. Merry Christmas
everyone! - Pastor Randy Wall
PRAYER
-- O God, thank you
for the greatest gift, your son and our Savior Christ Jesus. Help me to allow Him to live and dwell in
me; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
