Thank God For Jesus! 12-21-25

Welcome to the word for the week. This week we will celebrate the birth of Christ. It is easy to assume that it is a worldwide holiday but the unfortunate reality is that is not true. There are entire countries around the world who do not believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We live in America and there people here who do not either. But, for those of us who do it is because we really know who He is. We know that owe our entire beings to Him. We know that He has done countless miracles on our behalf. We know that He has given us countless chances when we were wrong. We know that He is the One who has kept us through it all. There is no doubt to us what that day means. No, it is not the actual birth date of Jesus but it is the one we recognize as such.

When you think back about the disciples telling Jesus who men said He was there was a question that He asked them. He asked them who do they say He is. In other words, in spite of all of the things others had said about Him the real question was who is He to them. What does Christ really mean to you? When you think about Him what do you think? Everything has not gone the way any of us wish it would have and yet He is still good. We have had moments that felt good and moments that made us cry and yet He is still good. It is easy to remind yourself of His goodness when you think about everything that went the way you hoped for. But when you can still call Him good in your sufferings that is entirely different. He is not just good to you at that point. He is great! He is your everything because it is in the storms of life that you truly discover who God is and your own identity.

When you praise God it is beyond confusing to the enemy. You have to remember that he is aware of all of the things that did not go well in your life. Some of those things he was the very one behind them. To see you still praising God after he has thrown his best punch at you is confusing. To those who know what you’ve gone through and still see your praise they may wonder how. They may wonder what is it that keeps you going back to God. Well, the answer for those of us that truly know is simple. Without God we are nothing! He has kept us through the storms. He has always been by our side even when we felt alone. He has protected from far more than we know. We are aware of what He has done but it is the things we do not know that are equally important. Without the birth of Christ who are we? Without Him giving us an example how would we really live? Without Him giving us hope that we can get back up how would we have the strength to believe? We are celebrating more than just His birth. We are celebrating His life and the life He gave us. Stay strong and stay encouraged because the best is yet to come!

May the Lord continue to bless and keep you in His grace,
Bishop Carlos J. Lennon