In the meantime, I have been reading a book called In My Father’s House, by Corrie Ten Boom. I don’t know about you, but I always feel that God directs me to a book at a particular moment in time to teach me more of what he wants me to know. In this book this quote resonated with me: “When Jesus takes your hand, He keeps you tight. When Jesus keeps you tight, He leads you through your whole life. When Jesus leads you through your life, He brings you safely home.” I believe that the Lord is giving us a new tradition of more fervent prayer. I believe that he is asking us to return to him in these dark days, and to be thankful for his abundant love for us. In this continuing time of uncertainty, and of seeing our traditions change in so many ways, I have leaned more and more on reading my Bible and conversing with God. The seeds he has planted in my heart have built a confidence in him, not the world. He has drawn us closer to him, holding us steady, encouraging and meeting us in every moment and phase of the times we are living. It has taught us how precious hugging each other is, and that it is never to late to do something beautiful for the people around you. It has shown us that Jesus can be found in the lowest, darkest depths, and that all who find him are transported to the loftiest, brightest heights. It has made living and giving so much more meaningful. That even in these dark days God is still giving and always remembers us, even when we forget him.
The one thing I have seen in this time of pandemics and unkindness, is what Ann Voskamp says in her book The Broken Way: “We aren’t here to “one up” each other, but to help one another up. It let’s you know that God’s belief in you, is stronger than your belief in him. That like Jesus, when you sacrifice for what you love, you gain more of what you love. That success to God is based on a person’s heart. That when God’s enough, there is grace enough and that we can trust God in all our brokenness. God gives us just the right touch of mistletoe and holly. The truth of the Bible is that God doesn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and a sound mind, and that you can live, based on the Word of God!” Maybe this past year was meant to get us out of our bondage. Let us remember these words from the hymn "Jesus, I Come" that Corrie Ten Boom quoted in her book In My Father's House: “Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night, Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come; Into Thy freedom, gladness and light, Jesus, I come to Thee. Out of the depths of ruin untold, Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold, Ever thy glorious face to behold, Jesus, I come to thee.” May this year be filled with his peace, as he reminds you to return to him. And may you include him in all of your traditions.
About the Author | Pat Cirrincione No pandemic can keep College Church member Pat Cirrincione from enjoying her family and thinking up creative ways to carry on traditions, all with her trademark good cheer and sense of humor.
Restoring Hope in 2020: The Christmas Store Christmas joy spread quickly at the 26th annual Christmas Store at Outreach Community Center in Carol Stream. While this cherished annual event held on December 12th looked a quite different this year due to COVID-safety rules, the mission was the same: Provide local families with an affordable place to shop for Christmas gifts- 177 families shopped, representing 470 children. And shop they did as 1,330 gifts were purchased, thanks to the many gift drives, like the one provided by College Church and 18 local churches. One shopper shared how The Christmas Store made a difference for her family: “I started worrying about affording Christmas gifts for my daughPhoto courtesy of Rachael Watson Photography ter when I lost my job in July. I can’t tell you how much The Christmas Store means to me…after a difficult year, I’m feeling hopeful that it’s all going to be OK.” Thank you, College Church, for sharing the hope of Christ through the Christmas Store.
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