Hello Aspen
Grove Church Family,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Aspen Grove church family!
Wow! Can you believe it 2026! Last year flown bye in a hurry! One of my
favorite Christmas movies is “The Miracle on 34th Street.” Using
that movie as a backdrop to our Christmas series titled, “The Miracle of
Christmas.” On December 7th, we preached a message our first Miracle
titled, “The Miracle of the Moment,” coming from the Book of Galatians 4:4-5.
Have you ever stopped to consider how important timing is to everything that
exists? Do you plant tomato plants in November? Do you paint the outside of
your house in January? Do you go swimming in the pond during February? No? Why
not? It's not the right time! But one thing that was right on time was
this: Jesus came at the right moment.
The Bible says, "When the time came to completion, God sent His Son…
" The reality is, most people missed the miracle of the moment, because
people did not recognize the significance of Christ's birth at the time. His
coming was part of GOD's divine plan established before the foundation of the
world. The Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah were
completed… and at just the right time… GOD sent His Son! GOD provided at the
right moment what the world truly needed… a Savior! One moment in time can
determine your eternal destiny. Will you recognize the moment for what the
Birth of Jesus truly is - a miracle?
On December 14, we preached the second part of our series and
this time we came out of the Book of Hebrews 1:1-4, with a message titled, “The
Miracle of the Message.” God has been trying to communicate His message to us;
we aren't getting it. But rather than give up in frustration, God loves us so
much that He desperately wants to reveal Himself to us in ways that we can
understand. So, He sends His very own Son to communicate His message in a way
that we can understand. God was speaking all throughout history in a variety of
ways. For example, God spoke his message through a donkey, a burning bush, and
through smoke and fire on the mountain. God has been speaking His message
through visions and dreams, through angels, natural events, and many other
means. Prior to the coming of Christ there had been 400 years of silence, and
still mankind didn’t understand GOD’s message to us. So, what did GOD do to
speak to us? God sent His Son to bring His message to us! It is true that God
revealed Himself through the words spoken by Jesus, through His message, but He
did more than that. Jesus
Christ is the living, divine Son of God. He did more than just proclaim God's
message - He is God's message! The miracle of the message is not just in the
fact that God speaks to us today through His Son, but that the message has the
power to transform our lives. Christmas is the celebration of the greatest
message ever proclaimed. God is with us. God came near so that we could draw
near to Him. Because He wanted us to know how much He loves us. He wanted us to
know that He created us for a reason - that we might know and love Him. He came
to proclaim the message that we have been set free. We don't have to live as
prisoners to guilt and regret. Some of you have received messages this past
year that have certainly changed your life. But, in the midst of all, there is
another message. "Nothing whatsoever can ever separate you from my
love." He speaks, "Trust in Me with all your heart and lean not on
your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge me, and I will direct your
paths." Amid life's betrayals and bitter messages, He whispers,
"Forgive those who mistreat you." In the midst of life's messages of
joy and celebration He shouts, "Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad!"
The miracle of Christmas is the miracle of the message - God loves you and me!
Are you listening?
On December 21, we preached a message titled, “The Miracle of
the Manger” John 1:1-5; 9-14. In the Miracle of 34th Street, Kris
Kringle is on trial trying to prove who he is, and that’s a big question ain’t
it? So, how does the Miracle on 34th Street relate to the Christmas
Story? The big question to be answered in this movie is also the big question
as we consider the birth and life of Jesus Christ. It is a question of
identity. Who exactly is this child we find in the manger in Bethlehem? I mean
let’s take a look at the astonishing claim of Jesus. Could He be who He claims
to be? Into the humblest of circumstances Jesus is born. His mother is just an
ordinary, young girl named Mary. His birthplace is a stable, a barn in a small,
obscure little town called Bethlehem. Yet, Jesus came making astonishing claims
that centered on His identity. He claimed to be sent from God, the Son of God,
and even One with God. The angel announced to shepherds that this baby was
Christ the Lord. C.S. Lewis explained that Jesus did not leave us the option of
just respecting Him as a good, noble teacher. When it comes to the astonishing
claims made by Jesus, there are only three conclusions that we can choose from:
He is the LORD, a liar, or a lunatic. He cannot be just a nice man with a
beard. A second point to this is the staggering implications of the claims on
Jesus. What if He is who He claims to be? What if there is Someone who knows
your name, who knows when you are sleeping, and knows when you're awake? And
yes, He knows when you've been bad or good, and yet, He loves you and longs for
you to know and love Him. If this Jesus really is who He claims to be then you
and I have a decision to make. It is a
matter of eternal significance for each one of us. Do you believe? We must all
consider the question and answer for ourselves. No one can decide for us when
it comes to this miracle of the manger. The Miracle of the Manger is God became
flesh and lived among us. He came not so He could send us to eternal punishment
but to set us free. God became man so that we could become children of God. If
you will open your heart to Christ and trust Him to be exactly who He claimed
to be, you will not be disappointed.
We wrapped up our Miracle of Christmas series with a message
titled, “The Miracle of Christmas,” from the Book of Luke 2:8-14 on December
28, 2025. Christmas… the most wonderful time of the year. Families come
together and share food, exchange gifts, and basically love on one another. I
am reminded of the Charlie Brown Christmas special. Lucy came to Charlie and
stated, Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown. 'Tis the season of peace on earth &
good will toward men. Therefore, I suggest we forget all our differences &
love one another." Charlie Brown, whose face lights up at this, says,
"That's wonderful, Lucy. I'm so glad you said that. But tell me, do we
have to love each other only at this season? Why can't we love each other all
year long?" Lucy retorts, "What are you, a fanatic or
something?" But is it really too much to ask? To love on everyone every
day, all day? Wouldn’t that be an awesome gift to the world? That is what this
season is about: GOD giving the world the best gift ever! Praise GOD because
there were some folks who were excited to receive the Perfect Gift: The Wiseman
and the Shepherds! When they got wind of Jesus’s birth, the made a b-line to go
and worship Him! I’m reminded of the Song, “Heaven came down and glory filled
my soul; when at the Cross, the Savior made me whole. My sins are washed away, and my night was
turned to day; Heaven came down and glory filled my soul.” When GOD gave Jesus
to us, He gave us three other gifts that came with Him: An Opportunity for the
Forgiveness of Our Sins, Help in our present situations, and He gave us Hope
for the future! This Christmas season, receive the greatest Christmas present
ever offered… Jesus Christ, the only Begotten Son of God. Have a great New Year
and we’ll see you in the wonderful year of 2026! I love each and everyone of
you. I pray this upcoming year that we all grow closer to GOD and each other!
Have a great day and remember, GOD loves you!
Pastor Sonny R Williams, Jr
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