And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women” Luke 1:28(NKJV).
Before my recent operations, I had limited mobility. It was hard to do common daily tasks without terrible pain. It was hard to walk, and I admit that when I did, I dreaded it.
In the past, I always enjoyed visiting Dollywood. We hadn’t made the trip in about six years because I couldn’t walk long distances in the park. This year, my mom gave us an early Christmas present in the form of passes to Dollywood. The park is exciting any time of the year, but especially around Christmas. I am a “Christmas man.” I love Christmas! I enjoy taking walks in the park, and I was excited about going because this time I felt capable of walking. There are tastes of the season, over six million lights, and shows are just some of the things one can enjoy. One of the shows that has been on for close to 20 years is “Christmas in the Smokies.” I will never forget the first time I saw it and how it blessed my heart. It is about family and friends all convening at a cozy little cabin deep in the heart of the mountains. The musical is very lively with old-time familiar songs and sights. My favorite part is where the grandmother is talking to her granddaughter about the truth of God’s Word and how Isaiah foretold His coming. The one particular scene begins with Gabriel delivering the news of Jesus’ birth to Mary. You watch the annunciation unfold right before your eyes. Then, in the next verse of the song, Joseph comes forth and shares about his dream and how the Lord’s message came to him. The song is entitled “The Lord is with You.” I admit I know that I have seen this musical over 15 times through the years, and yes, my eyes leak every time. Not only do I sob, but my heart gets so full, I can’t sit still. The Holy Spirit stirs deep within my soul. I am in a theme park, and a cast member is presenting the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Some families may have just been thinking, “We are here for the day to play games and ride the rides,” but in the midst of it all, they will hear the Good News about Jesus’ birth and why He came to this earth.
I know I have gotten a little ahead of the seasons by sharing this. My mother-in-law always says, “We skip to Christmas and the pilgrims don’t have a chance.”
In this approaching season of thankfulness, give Him praise for all the Lord has done for you. Thank Him for providing your daily bread, the Bread of Life at Bethlehem, and for Jesus giving His life on Calvary’s cross. I told the congregation on Sunday, “Don’t get too busy this year and miss the greatest gift of all: Christ, the Son of God.”
Jeremy Dykes – CBC Executive Board
