The early 20th century pastor and author Henry Ironside once found himself involved in a prayer meeting at the financially struggling Dallas Theological Seminary. During the course of the meeting Ironside prayed the following prayer: “Lord, you own the cattle on a thousand hills. Please sell some of those cattle to help us meet this need.” (source)  Shortly after that prayer it was announced that a check had been delivered to the school for a rather sizable sum. The one who provided the donation let it be known that the source of the money was the recent sale of cattle. The Lord provided for His work.

As is our custom at Patee Park Baptist we held our annual budget planning meeting in late November. At the beginning of the meeting we took a look back at giving over the past several months and determined what our average monthly giving has been. We then turned our attention to preparing the budget for 2010 with no attention to what the sum total of the budget was going to be. We simply went line by line stopping at each point and considering what was the appropriate amount to be budgeted for that item. It wasn't until we made it all the way through that we added it all up. Remarkably the amount needed on a monthly basis to support our newly planned budget was incredibly close to the giving pattern we observed at the beginning of our meeting. Once again the Lord provided for His work.

And now, just this week, the Lord has done it again. We're coming to the end of a year in which the International Mission Board announced they were in danger of having to scale back their missions efforts due to economic conditions. Many churches around the country took up a special missions offering earlier in the year to help ease the strain felt by our missionaries. Our local Chamber of Commerce sponsors a contest each year during the Christmas shopping season. The winner receives a $10,000 cash prize. This year's winner chose to anonymously donate the entire amount to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering at his church to support the work of the IMB. Yet again the Lord has provided for His work.

My hat goes off to this anonymous giver, what you have done very few would even have thought of. Your selfless act demonstrates a firm commitment to Christ and to His work of seeking and saving the lost. It's also a testimony to the heart and ministry of your pastor. Anyone who knows Pastor Micah knows that he has a heart for missions and leads his church to give sacrificially. Not because God would be unable to do it without our help, but because He offers us the blessing of taking part in His work. As we become the path through which He channels his blessings we receive a blessing of our own.

Now THAT is in keeping with the spirit of Christmas!

Don’t forget we have one more week left in our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering emphasis! Believers in places like India, Iran and Afghanistan risk much to be faithful to the calling of Christ. Will you do YOUR part to help them?

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

These words have been sung since 1847 and I’ve been singing them myself for 32 years (well, a few less than that, anyway). While singing them at the church Christmas party a couple weeks ago one phrase stuck out to me that never had before.

“Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth”

The birth of Jesus sends an undeniable message about the love that God has for us. Knowing that Jesus gave up the comforts and privileges of heaven to come to earth speaks multitudes about our Heavenly Father. It tells the story of worth and value. To Him we mean so much that He gave us everything for us. The story of His coming really does remind us of our worth to HIM! Now that’s worthy of worship!