Good evening, Clayton Baptist family. I hope this snow day finds you resting and appreciating the beauty of this morning's snowfall. Since we didn’t meet together today, I want to share a simple thought to encourage you and guide you toward worship. This thought comes from a passage in Isaiah 1, verse 18.

“Come now, and let us reason together”, says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.”

Yesterday, my yard looked ugly. The wind blew many leaves, which I had raked to the curb, back into the flower beds and along the fence line. I didn’t get a chance to rake them again—in fact, I even refused to do so—but I still thought their presence was ugly.

Something happened overnight. The old, dead, brown, ugly leaves are buried beneath a blanket of white, hidden from my sight, making my backyard absolutely beautiful! And there’s something about the way the sunlight hits it. The ground glows with a beauty no landscaper can create.

You probably know where I’m going with this. Our God covered our ugliness too when His Son died on the cross. Our Lord Jesus not only covered our sins with His blood, but He washed them away. And now, as our Heavenly Father looks at us, He sees the beauty of His Son's righteousness. No ugliness. Just beauty. Sins forgiven and the promise of eternal life.

You know, when Isaiah wrote what he did in verse 18, he probably had no idea how God would fulfill His promise for everyone who comes to Him in faith. But here we are! God did it, and I hope the reminder of this snowfall moves your heart to thank Him and worship Him for the salvation He has provided.

Christmas is upon us. The celebration of ‘God with us’ will be here in just over a week. Prepare your heart and mind for worship. And tell someone why our Lord Jesus came.

Join us Next Sunday for a great church service together, and then next Sunday night for Christmas Caroling in Clayton. We will give out a small gift to each home we visit, along with an invitation to our Christmas Eve Eve service on December 23 at 7 PM.

Speaking of Christmas Eve Eve, we will be practicing this Thursday (12/18) at 7. Please plan to arrive on time if you are involved in any way (Worship Team, Choir, Hand Bells, Children).

And don’t forget to bake a batch of Christmas Cookies to share after the presentation on Christmas Eve Eve. We want to share them with our guests that night, along with Hot Chocolate in the gym.

Before I end this moment with you, I want to say “Thank you” to a few guys who came by this morning to clear the snow off the church driveway and sidewalks. I sincerely appreciate it. Many hands make light work.

Please be mindful that when it snows, we can use lots of strong backs and hearts to clear the snow off the property. I’ll even get you coffee and donuts!

May the Lord bless you and your family this week. I look forward to seeing you next Sunday.

Blessings,

Pastor Felix