Pastor Jim & Lori Bakker celebrate Christmas with the Staff and Volunteers of Morningside for Day 2 on The Jim Bakker Show.

Songs

Try A Little Kindness

My Gift of Worship

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Quotes

Our memories, even the bad ones, become the fabric of our lives. -Pastor Jim Bakker

I found everything when I lost everything. When you grab for stuff you lose it. -Pastor Jim Bakker

Narrative

Pastor Jim & Lori Bakker share some of their Christmas memories. Pastor Jim had just put up the family tree and remembers the different traditions through the years. This year, as he was decorating, Santa Clause arrived. His son, Ricky, came in dressed as Santa. He had found a Santa Suit while unpacking ornaments. They have no idea where the suit came from, but enjoyed great laughs while decorating with Santa present. Ricky wore the suit today on the broadcast and brought a festive mood to the set. Pastor Jim talks about how every ornament and every decoration has a special meaning and shares how special reliving the traditions are to him. Pastor Jim used to get mad about Santa Clause getting more attention than Jesus, but he now has a respect for the traditions of the season. Pastor Jim became emotional remembering times past, especially the Christmas where his children did not get any gifts, but rather gave to a family that was in need.

Christmas time is about giving to those who have less. Pastor Jim challenges everyone to find someone that is hungry and feed them. There is a short video that is shown of the dedication of the food for the homeless and hungry. The staff prayed over this food before they took it out to the masses. The ceremony was touching and left a divine purpose for a food ministry in the hearts of anyone who watches it. Jesus commands us to share all we have with those who have not.

Before Pastor Jim went on the air today he got notice that the emergency food supplies prices are going up as of January 1, 2012. The response to the 20 year shelf life food has been overwhelming. Those who call today will receive the current prices and the bonus items, but after the first of the year there can be no guarantees. After January 1st most of the bonus items will be dropped just to make it affordable for people to buy.

Kevin shares his Christmas memory from his childhood with his single mother. He is one of three boys who caused her a great deal of grief. His mom had to work 2-3 jobs just to make it. One Christmas Kevin remembers that he did not think  he was going to get anything. They had got up one Christmas and his mother had a great deal of fruits laid out and small plastic toys. That morning his grandmother came and she had used her money she tucked away and brought them several Christmas gifts. To Kevin, Christmas is about miracles.

Lori shares a memory from her Christmas past. She was in Master’s Commission and working seven days a week. Her mother, around Thanksgiving time, lost her job. They lived in a tiny two bedroom apartment but they had each other. That year there was no Christmas tree and no money for one. She heard a knock at the door and her friend had brought her a tree. They were so excited to put the tree up and managed to get a few small gifts for each other. To Lori, this was one of the best Christmas memories because it came from the heart. Christmas is a time of remembrances, but they become the fabric of our very being.

Doug, from the Maintenance Department, shares his memory of from when he was about 9 years old.  His parents had gotten him a sled for Christmas. He kept that sled til he was about 49 years old when he moved to Houston.

Pastor Jim shares that he never got Christmas toys, but rather always clothes. Because his birthday is so close to Christmas time his birthday often gets mingled with Christmas. However, he is so blessed to have a family to share with as others have nothing or no one. This holiday season the Bakkers want everyone to take a special moment and give to those who are in need.

Tamara, Jerry Crawford’s daughter, shares her Christmas memory. When the Crawford’s first moved to Missouri from California it was only the five of them. She shared that she was so happy when they first started celebrating Christmas with the Bakker Family because she was used to having tons of people around for Christmas because the Crawford family is so large.  One Christmas, she remembered, Lori had forgotten a present at their house that was for Tamara’s mom. Since they lived right next door, Lori sent Ricky over to get the present. A few minutes later, Ricky called the Crawford house and told Tamara to tell Lori that it was raining in the house. Some pipes had busted and the house was flooding.  Tamara shared how they spent that Christmas separating out the photos that had gotten wet to try and save them. Lori’s prize possession are her photos. Many of the pictures that are shown on the show come from Lori’s Camera. Pastor Jim shares that their adopted children have baby pictures only because Lori took photos of them.

Mark, Lori’s brother, shares his Christmas memory. He was unable to buy a Christmas tree one year and so they decorated a silk tree.  Tammy Sue and Doug came over and blessed them with a Christmas tree. Sometimes giving is not in the material thing. Giving can be an act of kindness one to another.

The show ends with the staff and volunteers of Morningside wishing all a Merry Christmas.

Scriptures

Proverbs 1:32 NCV Fools will die because they refuse to listen; they will be destroyed because they do not care.

Isaiah 58:10 NCV if you feed those who are hungry and take care of the needs of those who are troubled, then your light will shine in the darkness, and you will be bright like sunshine at noon.

Matthew 25:40 NCV “Then the King will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for me.’

Matthew 25:35 NCV I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house.

Matthew 25:37 NCV “Then the good people will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

Matthew 25:40 NCV “Then the King will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for me.’

Isaiah 9:6-7 NCV A child has been born to us; God has given a son to us. He will be responsible for leading the people. His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace. Power and peace will be in his kingdom and will continue to grow forever. He will rule as king on David’s throne and over David’s kingdom. He will make it strong by ruling with justice and goodness from now on and forever. The Lord All-Powerful will do this because of his strong love for his people.

Romans 8:28 NCV We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him.They are the people he called, because that was his plan.

Nehemiah 8:10 NLT And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”

Acts 13:52 KJV And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

Romans 12:15 KJV Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Proverbs 17:22 KJV A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Luke 6:21 KJV Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.