Another Christmas Eve is coming to a close . . .
We held 9 services at our three RiverTree campuses. More than 5000 people heard the Good News of Jesus Christ. One of the highlights for me this year was when my nine year old daughter read the Christmas story from Luke 2 in our six services at the Portage Street campus. I don’t know that I could receive a better Christmas gift.
After the services we came home. A quiet remainder of the night. As per our tradition, we sat in front of the fireplace to read the Christmas story together. Tabs asked, “You mean the one I’ve been reading in the services?” “Yes, the same one.” Instead of reading the story, she offered to recite it from memory. (The Christmas story she read from Luke contains 14 verses.) We sat in front of the fire and she told us the story, word for word, from memory. There are moments that transcend . . .
Julie and I put Tabs to bed and then returned downstairs. I started the music to True Companion by Marc Cohn–our song. I asked Julie to dance. And we danced. Just like 15 years ago on Christmas Eve when I asked her to be my wife.
So now it’s off to bed. Big day tomorrow. Family. Gifts. Love. Jesus.
So, Merry Christmas to you all . . . and to all a very goodnight.
What a wonderful blog. My heart was filled with warmth seeing Tabitha up there reading the story on Monday afternoon. She did an outstanding job!
I feel more blessed this Christmas than I ever have before. I am not sure what brought my husband and I to Rivertree a few months ago, or rather why I finally answered what I now know was God calling me to Rivertree, but for the first time ever I truly understood Christmas for what it should be this year. As I sat during communion in silence I prayed silently and thanked God for all the wonderul things I had been blessed with this year. But most of all I thanked him for pulling my heart toward Rivertree and for the awesome things that the church has been doing in my life in the last few months. I have searched all my life for some sort of inner peace and never thought I would find it. Little did I know it was right in front of me all along at the tips of God’s outreached hands. All I needed was the wonderful people I have met at Rivertree to help me see that and accept His gift.
Thank you and God Bless you and your family.
Greg,
Great post! A little Sappy though for a tough guy (LOL!-Just kidding!)
I was just as touched by the anonymous entry above. It shows that Rivertree is rockin on. The other thing that blew me away was 9 services – Holy Cow Batman!
Have Blessed Year ahead my friend!
IHL,
Richie