Come, Running!

Come, running!

Think you're unworthy of worshipping this Christmas? Is today one tinged with shades of shame? Has another demeaned or criticized you, their words stuck like a thorn deep in your mind? Jesus is no respecter of persons. The story we celebrate at Christmas includes men that many considered to be the lowest. They had no status but God sent angels to invite them to the party! Shepherds lived apart from society, tending Bethlehem's sheep. It was a menial job. The men were rough, their work hard. They were thought irreligious because their work kept them from the synagogue service and from observing Jewish rituals. Pharisees sniffed that shepherds were all sinners.

But God chose to bring them into the scene. "And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people." (Luke 2:9-10, NKJV) "So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger." (Luke 2:15-16, NKJV)

I love that phrase - "they came with haste." After the angels left them, there was a short discussion, and then these men who normally avoided town, who were obligated to make sure their flocks were safe, took off running to find Jesus!

Have you been pushed aside, told that you're not worthy of God or His goodness?

Have you concluded that you are beyond the reach of grace, because you're too bad, good, sinful, old, young , rich, poor? People have lots of reasons (excuses) for not hearing God's call. You're not "too anything" to be beyond God's love. Jesus Christ is ' good news of great joy that will be for all the people.' His coming opened the way to reconciliation with the Lord, to discovery of eternal life. He invites to "Come, follow Me." Interestingly, that particular offer was made to another group of very ordinary men, outside of the social or religious elite. He invited the fishermen of Galilee to discipleship. They, too, dropped what they were doing. "At once they left their nets and followed him." (Matthew 4:20, NIV)

Some are reluctant disciples (an oxymoron really) and others are eager to follow. Some come pushed by fear, some drawn by love. Some are looking for escape from the troubles of life, others to find the entry to life abundant. There is a form of Christianity shaped by satisfying holy obligations in order to 'earn' the favor of God. Then, there are those who love the Lord, His work, and His presence.

To those who come running, there is this promise. "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David." (Isaiah 55:1-3, NIV) "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near." (Isaiah 55:6, NIV)

Come to Bethlehem. Yes, come running!

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Angels We Have Heard On High (Gloria)

Angels we have heard on high,

Sweetly singing o'er the plains.

And the mountains in reply,

Echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds why this jubilee?

Why your joyous strains prolong?

What the gladsome tidings be,

Which inspire your heavenly song?

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Come to Bethlehem and see,

Christ whose birth the angels sing!

Come adore on bended knee,

Christ the Lord the newborn King!

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Edward Shippen Barnes | James Chadwick

© Words: Public Domain

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CoffeeBreak will be back next week.  Merry Christmas!
(if you live near Washington, NJ - join us at Faith Discovery Church
tonight at 7 PM for our Candlelight Communion Service - www.FaithDiscovery.com)

How to enjoy Christmas

This email arrived in my inbox yesterday. “I have to say that this Christmas season has been great this year. I look forward to Tony’s (name changed) email.  I would like to mentor him in his career, I think he has the potential to do much better … I hope to spend some time with him in 2014 … Our plans are to see you on Christmas Eve and then chat about what we can do in 2014. Thanks for EVERYTHING!!”  Sam and Susan (yes, not real names) came to see me in November with a request. “Would you connect us with a family who needs some help this Christmas?  We have everything we need and want and we want invest in others this year.”  I made the connection, they helped out a family who struggles, and you can read the resulting joy in Sam’s email to me!

Some people groan, “It’s not even Christmas day and I’m already exhausted.” Others complain about the bills that will come due in January. Others are dreading a party or a visit with family.  If you will make a couple of important choices, you will turn this week into one of the best ones in 2013!

First of all, make people your priority!  The holiday is about people, not programs! Resist the pressures to rush, to be hurried, to 'get the program' completed. Truly take time to enjoy the opportunity to be with friends and family. Focus less on perfect decorations and more on the state of your heart. A dinner cooked to perfection, a home full of beautiful holiday decor will be soon forgotten, but an evening of meaningful conversation creates an unforgettable memory.

Second, include worship! Where will you spend more time during the holidays – at the mall or in God’s Presence?  Our use of time and money says much more about who is God than  our words. “Keeping Christ in Christmas” isn't about putting up a crèche on the lawn at City Hall. It's honoring the One whose life is the cause for the celebration. If you will set aside 30 minutes a day for meditation, prayer, and to read the stories of Jesus' nativity from Matthew and Luke each day this week; it will make a difference. "O come, let us adore Him... Christ, the Lord!" is more than a carol; it’s an invitation to worship.

Third, give yourself away! In Acts 20:35 (The Message) we read, "I have demonstrated to you how necessary it is to work on behalf of the weak and not exploit them. You'll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, `You're far happier giving than getting.' " It's not just stuff that is given at Christmas. Give forgiveness. Give love. Give time. Give away your expectations.

Lastly, recover wonder! Read the Christmas story and instead of asking, "How could this be?" let story speak to you about the depth of God's love. Instead of complaining about that same music on the radio, just enjoy it. Instead of grousing about all the stuff you have to do, thank God for what you get to do. Let the pseudo-sophisticates pretend to be bored by the holiday. Choose to be child-like (not childish!) in your wonder.

With these choices, you will come to New Year's Day, with a renewed heart! You may be tired in body, but you will have received Christ Jesus anew.  In His coming to us He brings life. Here's a word from the Word to take with you as you begin this Christmas week- "The Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. ...We have all benefited from the rich blessings he brought to us—one gracious blessing after another." (John 1:14, 16, NLT)
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Joy to the world,
The Lord is come.
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heav’n and nature sing,
And Heav’n and nature sing,
And Heav’n, and Heav’n, and nature sing!