“Karen’s Notes!
Insights from a Glory-Bound Lady”

Selected Notes
Volume 3 Number 48 “A Big Encouragement at Christmas Time”
December 16, 2020

As we served together as pastor and wife for many years, we saw that the Christmas season evoked different emotions in the lives of our beloved church family. We smiled as we saw the exuberance of not only our own children but the dozens of boys and girls in our church. They were excited. Some of our adults were a little more joyous at this time of the year. But there were some of our folks who, while deeply appreciating the Lord Jesus and what He accomplished by coming to this earth as our Savior, had a note of sadness in their lives. They were amongst those who had experienced the Homegoing of a loved one and were feeling that part of their lives was missing at Christmas.

When she wrote these notes, Karen and I and our family were facing Christmas without our little Jeffrey. We knew it was painful not only for us but also for Jeff’s siblings, John, Jo-Ann, Jean, and Jeremy. It would be very different for us. Karen found sincere, honest help by especially focusing on two things. These encouraged her during this tender season.

Karen wrote: There are at least two things to keep in focus.

1. Christ’s return. “For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Are you watching and listening?

2. God’s approval. “His lord said unto him, well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler of many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21).

Michael’s observation: You don’t have to be going through a hard time to appreciate this. Regardless of your situation, keeping Christ’s return on your heart and mind as well as seeking Christ’s approval for your daily lives will be a tremendous encouragement to you. In the happy times as well as in the hard times, His return and approval are two great challenges as well as blessings!