First Baptist Church (Montgomery, Alabama)
Thursday, May 17, 2012
 
 
 
"Listen, Israel: The Lord Our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your
God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These
words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your
children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the
road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand
and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your
house and your gates.”  —  Deuteronomy 6:4-9
 
 
LOVE…What a small, short little word, but what a powerful word! Christmas is a joyous time full of festivities, but what greater time to reflect on God’s ultimate act of love. He gave us His only son knowing He would one day die for our sins. There is no greater act of love. The Bible says in I John 4:16 that God is Love. There are many ways we choose to show love each day through our words and actions. The Bible instructs us to share God’s love with our family, friends, neighbors, strangers…everyone.

We all get in a hurry and feel the need to “out-do” the Jones with our parties and decorating and shopping. We want to encourage you to keep it simple this year. To slow down and look for folks that need God’s love shared. We are here to do God’s work and love is the center thread that runs through it. Slow down and enjoy the season and enjoy loving God’s creatures. Reach out to those in need and to those family members that you have not contacted in a while. Love covers all…a multitude of sins. We are all sinners and we all need God’s love. It is an honor to be used by God so SHARE THE LOVE! God sent His only son for us as the ultimate act of love! By doing His will and work showing love to others we are loving God and showing Him how much He means to us. Merry Christmas!

Read Proverbs 10:12 and Leviticus 19:18 as a family..
 
 
Activity:
 
Minute-to-Win-It Love: Each family member has one minute to find something in the house that reminds them of something they love about each of their family members. (For example, someone might retrieve a ball, napkin and band aid for their family members. The ball is for how someone loves the way someone else makes the holidays and vacations fun for everyone (let’s have a ball!). The napkin is for how someone loves the way someone is polite and thankful. And the band aid is for how someone may love someone’s sense of humor and always keeps people in stitches!)
 
 

Have Fun Sharing God's Love!
Jeff, Donna, Aaron and Emily Haney