UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATERS!

 What is the ugliest Christmas sweater you have ever owned? First, I want to be clear, I have never owned an ugly Christmas Sweater (that I am aware of). When I was teaching we always had "Ugly Christmas Sweater Day" and I am happy to say I did not own one. And as a side note I do not own any Hawaiian Shirts either. That was another day we always had that I was NOT participating. I don't intentionally buy stuff that I won't wear. I know, at this point some people will be saying, "Bah humbug!" The jacket above  was labeled the BEST UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER (I don't even think it is a sweater!) It is both GOOD and BAD at the same time.

When I was reading Malachi 4 this morning I was struck by the phrase, "great and dreadful day of the Lord." It reminded me of UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATERS. These Christmas garments are somehow GREAT and DREADFUL all at the same time. It is just like me and HAWAIIAN SHIRTS (Sorry Jack Danner!) They are always bright and colorful and somehow in my eyes they are also way to bright and colorful. They are BOTH GREAT AND DREADFUL. 

Here is the scripture I was reading;'

"Look I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse." (Malachi 4:5-6, NLT)

Christmas is both a day of CELEBRATION and a DAY OF DREAD. It is a celebration because we welcome JESUS, our wonderful savior, to earth to live with us. The celebration at Christmas marks a glorious day in history. But, for those who reject JESUS and who refuse to join His Kingdom, it is a dreadful day, because it signals JUDGMENT. None of us will escape the judgment. We all will face Jesus and be judged for our sins. But, for those who have given their lives to HIM, Jesus will step in. He has agreed to take our punishment. He went to the cross to die, that we might be set free from the final judgment. FOR his FOLLOWERS we will escape the dreadful day and only experience the GREAT DAY OF THE LORD. 

Even in the midst of darkness, God provided a way to restore our hope. John the Baptist heralded the coming Messiah, the judgment day that was coming. We ALL have the chance to escape JUDGMENT, but we have to choose to let JESUS be the LORD of OUR LIFE. Turning to Jesus makes that GREAT and DREADFUL DAY OF THE LORD, only GREAT!

Thank you Lord, for saving my from the death I deserve. Thank you for loving me so much that you came to earth to take my punishment. Thank you for taking the dread out of the day of judgment and giving me hope for a bright future. I pray that anyone who reads this will make that same decision. I pray they will acknowledge the saving grace you offered on the cross and commit to drawing closer to you all through the rest of their lives. I can tell them first hand how great that NEW LIFE truly is. There is ONLY GREAT and NO DREAD in that kind of life. AMEN!

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If you haven't repented of your sin, accepted what Jesus did for you on the cross, dying for your sins, or if you have not committed your life to Jesus, TODAY could be that day. give your life to the Lord. 

"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." (Romans 10:9-10, ESV)

If you gave your life to Jesus today, text the word "faith" to (765)-896-4302 and we will follow up with material for you and join you in your walk of faith!