Devotions with Pastor Bill Ritchey

With Christmas close at hand, I’ve been thinking about the reason for this season. For a long time I avoided Christmas as much as possible; I had way too much anxiety associated with it. But GOD . . .

I love it whenever I come across “but GOD” in Scripture, because I know something special may be coming next. Jen Oshman (in an on-line blog about “But GOD: The Bible’s Best Words”) shared that “the word ‘but’ in Scripture often introduces the message of the gracious and compassionate intervention of GOD. This simple term captures the nature of our GOD. He redeems, resurrects, and makes all things new. All seems lost and then we hear, ‘but GOD.’ He intervenes.”

​Romans 5:6-8 “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but GOD shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

This is why we celebrate Christmas. Father GOD gave us His only unique Son so the broken relationship between Him and mankind could be healed. My anxieties around Christmas past had to do with a lot of things, but primarily that I and my family didn’t focus on Immanuel, GOD with us. But GOD…

As a new Christian, my time was spent in church whenever the doors were open. I can only describe that first Christmas as a magical experience, and my anxiety around the holiday began to lift. It was a long process and is still incomplete, but GOD…

When the time was right, He brought Nell into my life. I don’t know of anyone who loves Christmas more than her, which made our first year as husband and wife very challenging because that Christmas-related anxiety was still with me. Through the years she has been very therapeutic in my life in many ways, but especially about Christmas. I still don’t share the fullness of her excitement, but GOD . . . He’s not done with me.

Merry Christmas, one and all!
Pastor Bill