Is your holiday schedule filled with parties, outreach events, special services, visitations, and all of those extras that come along this time of the year?  Are you already experiencing the overwhelming swirl of events and activities?  Let me encourage you to do something that will forever change the lives of every person to whom you minister this season.

Pause for a moment, refocus your thoughts and listen to your spirit.  The voice of God’s Holy Spirit is speaking clearly to you as you begin rubbing shoulders with many families and guests during Christmastime.  God wants to minister His love into their lives through you.  He desires to minister to them through you more than by what you do.  (You may wish to read that last sentence once more.)

He is depending on you to sensitively minister His love, forgiveness, and compassion.  Look at this part of Ephesians 4:32 from the Amplified Bible.  It reads, “And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted).”  You are USEFUL and HELPFUL as you are LOVING-HEARTED, COMPASSIONATE, and UNDERSTANDING.

Changing lives and growing the Kingdom of God comes from the pure tenderhearted and compassionate believer, one sensitive to the Spirit’s leading.  Lives are changed as the Spirit of God draws the hearts of people around you.  It is amazing to ponder how God shares His Spirit through your spirit.  It is “the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead who lives in you!”  His Spirit revives you, awakens you, and instills in you words of comfort, understanding, compassion, and loving-heartedness for others.  The Holy Spirit will speak through you this season as you minister to people all around you.

In such a busy season, we can become so focused on the programs and activities that we may fail to hear the voice of the Spirit speaking.

The ‘bottom-line’ reality is that people do not need another musical, party, or fun-filled night to add to their schedule.  People need God’s love to become real, to be clearly lived out before them, to be powerfully ministered into their lives.

So, in the midst of all you do this season, be sure to ‘keep listening’ as the Holy Spirit leads you.  In one short moment, His words can help you change someone’s life forever!

— Pastor Gary R. Linn

PS – If you are still searching for some great Christmas lessons and games for your Kids’ ministry.  Check out CMT’s online downloads.

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Plus – Today there is a free BONUS gift lesson download available!