A Christmas LOST?

Two weeks from today it will be Christmas, but for millions this celebration will not be what it usually is. Families in America these days tend to spread out, none more so than mine. My children are scattered from Florida to North Carolina to Alaska!  Pandemic concerns will keep us near our homes. 

I suppose I may be something of a old sentimental man, but I grow misty on hearing that Christmas song that was born during World War 2 when millions of GI’s were thousands of miles from family and home. “I'll be home for Christmas, you can plan on me. Please have snow and mistletoe and presents by the tree. I’ll be home … if only in my dreams.”  This need not be a Christmas lost, if we will seek joy.

I want to back up a moment and acknowledge the reality.  Millions will be longing for family and if you are sad you are not weird or unique. It may well be that you will not be able to travel to Mom’s, that your adult children will not make it home, that you will not stand in a church with others on Christmas Eve to sing “Silent Night.” 

Let’s remember that it’s normal and acceptable to grieve the real sense of loss.  So, go ahead and let yourself cry. Tell a trusted friend about your sadness. Buried emotions tend to be a lot like a splinter that gets dug in under our skin. If we don’t get it out, it festers and soon there is a red, swollen spot of infection that is sore.

Then, choose JOY!  
God wants those who love Him to trust Him completely, even with our disappointments. Paul was inspired to teach us that we should  "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NKJV)  That triad of actions will allow the Spirit to flow in our lives with His comfort. What does He ask?  Rejoice! Pray! Give thanks!   

 Think back over this year and call to mind the faithfulness of God to you.
How did He minister to your need?
Whom did He send your way with a word of hope?  
Thank Him.

With confidence that fills our prayers because of the invitation of Christ Jesus, ask Him to heal your sadness; then let Him.

A heart of faith can reach out to take His gift of peace that leads to joy, even when great sorrow comes our way. I know this personally and I live those words. I love the promise "You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy." (Psalm 30:11, NLT)  If we hang onto our sense of loss, if we focus exclusively on what was, or what might have been, living in the land of ‘if only,’ we will never be able to see His gifts for today.

And, then, don’t forget to share the gift of grace with others. 

Yesterday, I received a card in the mail from a pastor that I knew 40 years ago.  I sat for my written ordination test at Bob K.’s dining room table in 1979!  Somehow, he and his wife discovered my daily reflections and they have found encouragement in them.  Their note about the blessings they receive from my writing ministry caused me to experience joy.  Who can you thank? Who can you encourage?  It is a double blessing to share God’s gift of grace – for the giver and for the recipient.

Perhaps you can find a tangible way to share life with someone in difficulty.  Ask your neighbor how life is going and listen. Offer to help a friend in a practical way. Give to your local church’s fund for those in need. Pray for someone you know that has a broken heart.  There are so many simple ways to share care… and when we do … we find joy in the giving.

Our word from the Word is one of my favorite reminders that we are conduits of God’s goodness. Paul is writing to the Corinthians after he has been subjected to terrible persecution. It was so bad he thought death was imminent but God delivered him and he told them he felt like a man returned from death!  Then he says,  "All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NLT)

Let’s not make it a Christmas lost! Instead, though it may be different, less even, than we had hoped, let’s allow for the joy of the Lord to overtake the sorrow.

_____________

Living Hope

 How great the chasm that lay between us

How high the mountain I could not climb

In desperation I turned to heaven

And spoke Your name into the night

Then through the darkness Your loving-kindness

Tore through the shadows of my soul

The work is finished the end is written

Jesus Christ my living hope

 

Who could imagine so great a mercy

What heart could fathom such boundless grace

The God of ages stepped down from glory

To wear my sin and bear my shame

The cross has spoken I am forgiven

The King of kings calls me His own

Beautiful Savior I’m Yours forever

Jesus Christ my living hope

 

Hallelujah praise the One who set me free

Hallelujah death has lost its grip on me

You have broken every chain

There’s salvation in Your name

Jesus Christ my living hope

 

Then came the morning that sealed the promise

Your buried body began to breathe

Out of the silence the Roaring Lion

Declared the grave has no claim on me

Jesus Yours is the victory whoa

 

Jesus Christ my living hope

Oh God You are my living hope

 

Brian Johnson | Phil Wickham

© 2017 Phil Wickham Music (Fair Trade Music Publishing

[c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC])

Sing My Songs (Fair Trade Music Publishing

CCLI License # 810055

The RIGHT GIft

I reached back to a CoffeeBreak reflection I thought worth sharing again.  Christmas is just two weeks away and I wonder, how are you doing with your gift list? There are many ways to ‘give.’  My Bev loved Christmas and was a great gift giver! She started thinking about Christmas gifts when the Summer sun was shining. She found joy in finding just the right thing for that person, something that would delight them and reflect their personality.  I mostly write checks like a lot of men.

But, let’s think about gifting today.  I promise that there will be a spiritual application before I close.

There is the CHEAP giver.

This giver has one goal - buying something, anything, that satisfies the imperative for gift giving - while spending as little money or energy as possible. My one question to this person is - "why bother?" This kind of giving misses the point entirely. Save yourself the effort because the person who receives your 'gift' will only be obligated to write an insincere 'thank you' note!

There is HURRIED giver.

“Click” the gift goes into the online cart, check!  In the store, she reaches quickly for something to fulfil the obligation of giving, the aim being checking off names on her list. Obligation, not love, is the primary drive behind the search.

There is the "PAY MY DEBTS" giver.

This person attempt to make up for a year’s worth of mistakes, neglect, or failures with one gift; usually too costly, often ostentatious. No gift can do this, and this giver is sadly set up for disappointment!

There is the "I'D SURE LIKE THAT" giver.

He buys gifts he would like to receive and presents them to others! His gifts are often nice, but don't 'fit.' Why? Because they are given from a place of Self, a revelation of that he is in love with himself. He cannot see what is going on outside of her own skin.

Hallelujah! There is the "BECAUSE I LOVE YOU" giver.

This is the heart of Christmas! This person thinks carefully about the person for whom he is getting a gift and, after a careful search, prepares a gift that he presents with no strings attached. It may be simple, cost next to nothing, and still have great value. 

This is how God gave to us.  John tells us that "God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NIV)

His Gift was rich,
prepared from eternity,
given to settle my debts,
based on my need, and
shaped by His love for me!

In your gift-giving, make LOVE the reason.

Having trouble finding a gift for someone on your list?  Relax and think about who they are, what they need, and how you can express love in a language they'll understand. It will come to you! Perhaps the gift will not be a ‘thing’ at all. Perhaps it will be the gift of your  listening ear, your concern, your prayer, an embrace, an encouraging word, or an expression of your confidence in that person.  This is always true: the best gifts are, like God's gift to us, a gift of ourselves.

Don't forget to offer your best gift to the One who is the Reason for the Season. Find time to worship, to serve, to give of yourself in His Name.  Let God love you, friend.  His love changes everything and those who are loved by God become the best gift-givers in the world for they learn to give richly, with purpose, to meet the need of the recipient, and with love - just like their heavenly Dad!

The word from the Word says It is a "surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:14-15, NIV)

____________

Mary Did You Know
(Carrie Underwood does a beautiful presentation of this Christmas favorite)

Mary did you know

That your baby boy

Would one day walk on water

Mary did you know

That your baby boy

Would save our sons and daughters

Did you know

That your baby boy

Has come to make you new

This Child that you delivered

Will soon deliver you

 

Mary did you know

That your baby boy

Would give sight to the blind man

Mary did you know

That your baby boy

Would calm a storm with His hand

Did you know

That your baby boy

Has walked where angels trod

And when you kiss your little baby

You've kissed the face of God

Oh Mary did you know

 

Ooh Mary did you know ooh ooh

 

The blind will see

The deaf will hear

The dead will live again

The lame will leap

The dumb will speak

The praises of the Lamb

 

Oh Mary did you know

That your baby boy

Is Lord of all creation

Mary did you know

That your baby boy

Will one day rule the nations

Did you know

That your baby boy

Is heaven's perfect Lamb

And the sleeping Child you're holding

Is the great I Am

Oh Mary oh

 

Buddy Greene | Mark Lowry

© 1991, 1993 Rufus Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Curb Word Music (Admin. by WC Music Corp.)

CCLI License # 810055

My King and My God

 

 While watching the news last night, I heard about more restrictions promised by government authorities. I know that these are well-intentioned attempts to control this pandemic and yet I found myself feeling suspicion. Like many people today,  I do not trust those who own the power in our institutions. One of the more difficult personal issues for me in this year has been wrestling with regulations that feel like an imposition on individual rights.

Do you trust government authorities, believe the best about those who hold high office?  History’s lessons confirm the assertion that “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” (Lord Acton, 1857) That’s why I hope that our American system of ‘checks and balances’ within government is preserved. Perhaps you’re shaking your head and saying, “Who knew that Jerry was such a cynic?”

There is One whose power I love and to Whom I submit without reservation because I know that He is perfect, that He loves me, and that He wills my  good.

He is my King. Jesus Christ, my Lord and King! 

Paul declares the power of Jesus - "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:17, NIV) That praise of God and His power comes at the end of Paul’s letter to a young pastor struggling with false teachers and his own fears.

The old apostle urges him to faith including a short testimony. "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." (1 Timothy 1:15-16, NIV)  Then, he breaks into this shout of worship - "Deep honor and bright glory to the King of All Time— One God, Immortal, Invisible, ever and always. Oh, yes! " (1 Timothy 1:17, The Message) 

I love Jesus, the Man,  I meet in the Gospels. God reveals Himself as “Immanuel” (God with us).  How wonderful it is to know that my Savior is not a deity far removed from my experience. In faith I receive His grace, trust Him to save me. And I know that the revelation of Jesus’ identity is not complete in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 

In Revelation, we meet the Christ, the King. The gentle Savior of the Gospels is the awesome Lord of Glory, the King, in those chapters. Do you know this Jesus? "They (the evil of the world) will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.” (Revelation 17:14, NIV) 

John ‘saw’ the culmination of the plan of God and assures that Jesus is triumphant.  "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean." (Revelation 19:11-14, NIV)

Humans given power may become despots or petty tyrants. But, my Lord is a King who loves me, who uses His power benevolently for me. He will not oppress me. He raises me up. He extends His power to protect me and promises to bring me into His kingdom, under His reign.

Is He YOUR King, too?  If He is only a ‘Babe in a manger’ in your faith, you will be subject to fear.  

As we celebrate Advent, worship Jesus, our Immanuel here, and do not forget to “Crown Him King!”  If we see Him all of His majesty, we are set free from fear and despair. As the song says, “He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love.”  (Joy to the World, Isaac Watts)

The word from the Word returns to the passage I quoted a moment ago. Make this amazing declaration your meditation this day. "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:17, NIV

__________

Lead On O King Eternal

 Lead on O King Eternal

The day of march has come

Henceforth in fields of conquest

Thy tents shall be our home

Thro' days of preparation

Thy grace has made us strong

And now O King eternal

We lift our battle song

 

Lead on O King Eternal

Till sin's fierce war shall cease

And holiness shall whisper

The sweet Amen of peace

For not with swords loud clashing

Nor roll of stirring drums

With deeds of love and mercy

The heav'nly kingdom comes

 

Lead on O King Eternal

We follow not with fears

For gladness breaks like morning

Where'er Thy face appears

Thy cross is lifted o'er us

We journey in its light

The crown awaits the conquest

Lead on O God of might

 

Ernest Warburton Shurtleff | Henry Thomas Smart | Ovid Young

© Words: Public Domain

How will you experience Christmas?

 

I recently read that while most of us dream of a Christmas straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting, we actually live closer to the Griswold’s mess in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.  How true! We dream of family gathered to tell stories, of warm emotions, loved shared over perfect meals.  In real life, people argue, feelings get hurt, somebody doesn’t show up.  

 In 2020, it is going to require a stretch to reach for Christmas joy. Most of us will not travel to large family gatherings. Our feasts will be suppers with few. If we go to church, at all, we will meet in smaller groups. A cloud will hang over the holidays, and yet …

JOY is possible. Happiness surprises us, joy comes from our inner reality.  Give me a couple of moments to invite you to reflect on the life we have not the one we may dream about. How can we live joyfully this year at Christmas?

FOCUS on the people around you.

I’m going to miss my family this year. There is no question about that. We will talk on the phone, perhaps make some video calls, but those will be poor substitutes for the happy chaos of a full house on Christmas morning. Still, there are people all around me that I can care for, who need a friendly face, a helping hand, an open heart. We can live wisely with restrictions imposed by COVID and still care, still be hospitable. Think about someone who needs a call and pick up your phone.  Listen a little longer to that person who stops you in the grocery store. (Keep your mask on!)  Pray for family members and friends, one by one, by name, asking God’s blessings. Joy is born in a heart that loves others.

Include worship in your life!

“Keeping Christ in Christmas” is not just about where we go to church or if we say “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays.” (By the way, I always say, Merry Christmas.)  Use one of the many Advent devotionals to turn your thoughts to the things of the Lord each day.  Find time to get quiet with God, thanking Him for the gift of life in Christ Jesus.  I know you know the stories, but read them again --- from Matthew and Luke. "O come, let us adore Him... Christ, the Lord!"  needs to be our life attitude, not just a song we sing at church.

Give!

Paul reminds us that "Each person should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:7-8, NIV)  That text is often taught only in the context of church giving. The principle is much greater. Adopt an attitude of great-hearted generosity. Give forgiveness. Give love. Give time. Give away your expectations.

Recover wonder!

When you think about a Baby in a stable, a star in the sky – allow that story to speak to you about God's love. Jesus came for YOU.  Enjoy the music of the Season. Let the pseudo-sophisticates pretend to be bored by the holiday. Choose to be child-like in your wonder. See the lights. Sing the songs. Love the Gift God gave.

Here's a word from the Word -
"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)

So, how will you close this year, in true joy or lamenting life? You choose!

________________

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Come Thou long expected Jesus

Born to set Thy people free

From our fears and sins release us

Let us find our rest in Thee

Israel's strength and consolation

Hope of all the earth Thou art

Dear desire of every nation

Joy of every longing heart

 

Born Thy people to deliver

Born a child and yet a King

Born to reign in us forever

Now Thy gracious Kingdom bring

By Thine own eternal Spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone

By Thine all sufficient merit

Raise us to Thy glorious throne

 

Charles Wesley | Rowland Hugh Prichard

© Words: Public Domain

A Christmas gift for Dad?

When I was about 12 years old I really wanted to get my Dad a Christmas gift that would communicate my love for him! But, what do you get for the guy who already has what he needs?  Kids generally don’t have the kind of resources to go for that ‘big ticket’ item, so they wonder, “Do we just buy another shirt?”   

When I became a Dad it was clear to me that the greatest gift is love. Those handmade cards made by 10 year-olds who labor for hours to get it `just right' are priceless.  About 10 years ago my son, Sean, presented me with a beautiful book of memories, something he made with love, and that gift still evokes real and deep emotion in me when I hold it.  

Tragically, there are parents who somehow miss out on the basics of loving, who are incapable of the self-less love that is so critically important for the emotional and spiritual health of their child. Children are terribly damaged by a dysfunctional or selfish Dad who demands huge favors, who asks to be treated like a petty king, or one who cannot or will not engage with his progeny in warm and accepting affection.

God teaches us about giving, about love, by giving us of His best! That well-known passage reminds us of the heart of Christmas. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NLT)  We were not noble, nor were we seeking Him, yet He loved! "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, NKJV)  Have you accepted His love, by faith, for yourself?  Do you come to Him with an open heart, not trying to manipulate Him, but content to love Him as He loves you?

Take a look at this Scripture that clues us in to the best way to love Him. It isn’t with some big gift that makes up for years of apathy or that spectacular moment designed to impress.

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"

Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?"

For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen." (Romans 11:33-36, NIV)

Does that make you catch your breath, give you a solid foundation to trust Him, to love Him, to receive His provisions for you?  

Immature Christians tend to make God too small, to miss the depth of His love, and to make their religion, their faith, into things done in the hope of somehow earning His favor.  IF we accept what our Father reveals about Himself in the Word, we turn that upside down.  We discover the amazing truth of the Gospel of Grace in Christ and learn to give him ourselves in love. 

Actually loving God is more difficult than giving Him an hour on Sunday or putting some money in the offering.  Loving God involves the whole of our lives, the pursuit of the Holy One. Let's not make the mistake of thinking we can buy His love. Let's not allow ourselves to enter the delusion that we have done something for Him that will make Him reciprocate. Instead, let's love extravagantly. That is what He desires from us.

Here's a word from the Word. May the Truth lift the weight of trying to ‘prove your love’ through religion. Believe, receive and pray for the release the joy of the Spirit in you.

"This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." (1 John 4:10, NLT)  
"We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in him. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we are like Christ here in this world. Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that his love has not been perfected in us." (1 John 4:16-18, NLT)

__________

Go Tell It On The Mountain
(Zac Williams will start your day right! Enjoy!)

Go tell it on the mountain

Over the hills and ev'rywhere

Go tell it on the mountain

That Jesus Christ is born

 

The shepherds feared and trembled

When lo above the earth

Rang out the angel chorus

That hailed the Savior's birth

Down in a lowly manger

The humble Christ was born

And God sent us salvation

That blessed Christmas morn

 

When I was a seeker

I sought both night and day

I asked the LORD to help me

He showed me the way

He made me a watchman

Upon the city wall

And if I am a Christian

I am the least of all

 

John W. Work Jr.

© Words: Public Domain

Speak of LOVE

Adore is a word that means -  "to worship."  from root words ad and orare, creating a compound word that means “to speak, to pray” – in short to open our mouth!  What does the overflow of your speech reveal about your heart’s affections?  I adored Bev, my late wife, not because I had to but because I truly loved her. I spoke often to her with tender words of affection. Words that spoke to her about how much she meant to me, the ways in which I found her delightful, were not kept in reserve. Words of adoration written in cards and shared in the course of everyday life were an important part of sustaining the affection in our marriage.

I adore Jesus, too.
I worship Him with my words, in song, in prayer, in daily speech. I hope that the overflow of my speech reveals a man devoted to His Lord and Savior beyond duty. As the song says I desire to have a “pure and holy passion” for Christ Jesus.

Can we honestly profess to adore Christ Jesus IF we never speak of Him or seldom speak to Him? I think not. We may be fond of Jesus without speaking of Him. We may trust Him as Savior without speaking of Him, but we cannot claim to adore Him and remain silent about Him.  IF we adore Him, we commune with Him.   "I will sing of the tender mercies of the Lord forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness. Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens." (Psalm 89:1-2, NLT)

Our love for the Lord must be cared for in much the same way that we nurture human love.  Relationships that were once full of love can die from simple neglect! Marriage can perish if another love is allowed to replace the primary one. In the same way our devotion to God will die if worship is not consistent, if we prioritize work or play over our worship, both corporate and personal.  

And yes, our devotion to Him can be replaced with other loves. So many temptations offer us pleasure and try to take His place at the center of life. In the book of the Revelation, Jesus laments the state of the Ephesian Christians. They broke His heart by allowing their fervent passion to cool.  They were dutifully religious, but without adoration! He says to them, "You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first." (Revelation 2:3-5, NIV)

When you hear that carol, "O Come, All Ye Faithful" I hope it will stir you to adoration! Open your mouth and give Him praise.  Sing and speak of His goodness. A word of caution is in order here. IF you don't adore Him, then don't try to convince yourself or someone else that you do with empty words or borrowed words!  Get the inside right before trying to appear to love and adore Him. 

Love is first and foremost a choice.  Yes, it is a feeling, an emotion, too.  There will be days of hurry, fatigue, or distraction when we will not feel much of a desire for God. In that moment, we remember that we have entered into a covenant of devotion and we guard our heart. The emotions will return. His love stirs our love. John says it this way – "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. … We love because he first loved us." (1 John 3:1, 4:19, NIV)

Meditate on this word from the Word.

“May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should,
how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.
May you experience the love of Christ,
though it is so great you will never fully understand it.
Then you will be filled with the fullness of life
and power that comes from God.”  
(Ephesians 3:17)

_________________

O Come, All Ye Faithful
(Martina McBride invites us to come to adore Him)

O come all ye faithful,
joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels.

O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Sing choirs of angels,  

Sing in exultation,
O sing all ye citizens of heav'n above.
Glory to God,
All glory in the highest.

 O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
born this happy morning;
Jesus to Thee be all glory giv'n.
Word of the Father now in flesh appearing.

O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!

 John Wade © Public Domain

Please find JOY

 

Finding Christmas’ joy is a lot harder in 2020 isn’t it?  Health authorities are urging us not to travel, not to gather. Families will be apart. Christmas Eve services will have far fewer in attendance. Feasts will turn into suppers. Many of the things we usually do around the ‘holy-day’ are not happening this year.

BUT, I am choosing JOY!  I put up my tree, decorated my house, and started to play Christian music before Thanksgiving – gasp!  I am determined to remember how to live with JOY, regardless of the circumstances.  Will you choose to enjoy the decorations and blinking lights?  Will you intentionally make the journey of Advent, joyfully? 

Christ Jesus came to a world that was far more sad, to people who lived in circumstances much more dire, than what we experience.  The Jews were oppressed by Roman occupation, taxed, and subject to tyranny. Life was, for many, short and hard. Poverty was everywhere. Children frequently died from disease. Work was grueling. Into that world God sent His Son with a gift – “life to the full.”  But, most of the world failed to receive the Gift. John tells us that "In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." (John 1:4-5, NIV)

The Gift is still offered to us. His salvation is still available, bringing us Light and life. Will we receive Him, find that promised joy?  

In this age of COVID and chaos we are at risk of seeing only the difficulties and missing the joy offered. That is why I encourage you to invest time each day in soul care, in worship.  If we attempt to find Christmas joy by making this month into a Santa-centered holiday extravaganza, we may enjoy some happy moments, but we will also come up spiritually empty on December 26.  Oh yes, I appreciate the "Santa Claus" idea that fuels much fun. However, he’s not ‘it.’ Christmas celebrates good news that is ancient yet new with each proclamation:  "Jesus, the Savior, is born!"

So how can we experience real JOY?  Here are some suggestions.

Engage with other people authentically.

If you cannot make the family gathering, make a phone call, send a note, connect on Messenger. Take time, when you’re out and behind that mask, to extend a simple greeting with those who pass you by. When you do have a real conversation, listen and look for ways to lift up not tear down.

Practice generosity.

This is a season of gift giving. Start with the gift of yourself. Set aside self-centeredness. Give forgiveness. Give love. Give grace. Oh how our world needs people who are great-hearted and generous.  It is a mistake to think that spending large amounts of money on an extravagant gift can buy love. But, giving of ourselves, including our resources, to those who cannot repay, feeds our soul. The Word reminds us that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Really, it is!

Listen to the Spirit.  

Focus and then re-focus on the story of God becoming Flesh,  a baby born in a manger who brought the Word to us. Most of us have heard the story about a couple traveling to Bethlehem, not finding a room, their Baby born in a manger, angels singing an announcement to shepherds so many times that we are tempted to nod along all the while missing the wonder of it all. "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” What a gift!

Joy is available to us, God’s gift. Will we live in it in 2020?

The word from the Word says "The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:9-14, NIV)

________________________

Angels We Have Heard on High
(Josh Groban sings this carol beautifully!)

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?

Say what may the tidings be;

Which inspire your heav'nly song?

 

Come to Bethlehem and see,

Him whose birth the angels sing;

Come adore on bended knee,

Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

 

See within a manger laid,

Jesus, Lord of heav'n and earth;

Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,

With us sing our Savior's birth.

 

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

 

© Public Domain

Light it up!

A little tree in my backyard is covered with Christmas lights that blink on and off and that gives me joy. I suppose that is the child in me.  Christmas lights are the best part of seasonal decorations, for me! Some people like those multi-colored strands of bright reds, greens, blues; but they are not my style. I think that the clear white ones are the only way to go.

It is the symbolism of the lights that I Iove the most. As the long darkness of winter settles over us, we protest by putting up the lights that make our homes bright.  In so doing, we remember the One who came to a darkened world to be the Light of Life.

“Lighting” sets a mood, doesn’t it? A room with poor lighting may be beautifully decorated but who can enjoy what is hidden by shadows?  Glaring fluorescent lighting screams “industrial” and “cold.”  Lighting can enhance a sense of intimacy, set off a focal point. Then, too, who is not happier on those days flooded with brilliant sunshine?  Such is the power of light.

Jesus changes our lives by bringing Light to us. Of the Incarnation, John said, "Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." (John 1:4-5, NLT)  Isaiah spoke of the coming Messiah as Light. "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." (Isaiah 9:2, NIV)  Because of the coming of the LIGHT, we need no longer stumble through life, tripped up by sin, confused by the lies of that are told by the prince of darkness.  Jesus comes at the Revealer, the Truthful One, the Way;  the Light of Life.

And…  Christians are called to live in the Light and to be light-bearers. "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, NIV)  

Disciple, are you living in the Light?  We give ourselves to Him prayerfully inviting His Light to shine into our lives. What a powerful metaphor that is for us. When light is introduced to a room, darkness is dispelled. Darkness is a void; light fills that ‘empty’ place.  The glorious Truth is that when we respond in faith to Him, He gives us Light and dispels the darkness. To rid ourselves of the ugliness  and hopelessness of sin is a futile task. But, when Jesus Christ enters our lives, He does in us, what we cannot do for ourselves. Believe and simply receive!

This wonderful time of the year I hope that those Christmas lights strung around your home, along the streets, and in the stores cause you to rejoice; remembering that you are a child of God, called to live ‘in the Light.’  “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you." (Isaiah 60:1-2, NIV)

The word from the Word for today is a prayer.
In these opening days of Advent, make it your prayer.

"Send forth your light and your truth,
let them guide me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell.
Then will I go to the altar of God,
to God, my joy and my delight.

I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.
Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God." (Psalm 43:3-5, NIV)

_________________________

I Saw the Light
(Hank Williams sings a classic)

 

I wandered so aimless,

Life filled with sin.

I wouldn't let my dear Savior in.

Then Jesus came

Like a stranger in the night.

Praise the Lord! I saw the light!

 

I saw the light,

I saw the light.

No more in darkness,

No more in night!

Now I'm so happy,

No sorrow in sight.

Praise the Lord!

I saw the light!

 

Just like a blind man

I wandered along,

Worries and fears
I claimed for my own.

Then like the blind man

That God gave back his sight,

Praise the Lord!

I saw the light.

 

I was a fool

To wander and stray;

Straight is the gate

And narrow the way.

Now I have traded

The wrong for the right;

Praise the Lord! I saw the light!

 

Williams, Hank

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Talk to Him

 

My granddaughter, Selah, who is 9 years of age, visited last week. Being with her you get a kind of stream of consciousness in her communication which I found delightful. Words bubble over from her that are refreshingly honest, observations about what she sees, how she feels, what she thinks. She does not seek to be profound. She just shares herself with her words.

What a model for our relationship with our Father in Heaven. He invites us to keep an open line of communication with Him.  "Be joyful always; pray continually!" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17, NIV)

I am so thankful for the privilege of conversational prayer! Before I got up today, I prayed for a friend facing jury duty, for another who is dealing with health issues, for several situations in which I desire the wisdom of the Spirit. My prayers were not carefully shaped, not even complete sentences. They were my heart talking with Abba.  Sometimes my prayers are just words of thanks or praise or wonder! Sometimes I pray in the language of the Spirit as I drive to a pastoral call with someone in crisis. 

Believe it or not, I seldom pray by getting down on my knees, clasping my hands, and turning my head towards the sky in prayer! He is not much impressed with long monologues addressed to the “One who filleth our lives with blessed beneficence, Whose Majesty we implore to rest mightily upon us.”  In our daily life, He invites us to talk with Him, our Father, Who loves us! 

Jesus taught us about praying without giving us formulas that ‘guarantee results’ as I’ve heard some preachers do.  He never suggested that we should attempt to pray in such a way that you ‘get what you want from God.’  He showed us that prayer flows out of a relationship. In fact, Jesus specifically warned about making prayer into a show. “And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?" (Matthew 6:5, The Message) 

He also cautioned us about turning prayer into recitation or empty ritual. “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again." (Matthew 6:7, NLT)  It is worth noting that Jesus also said that our relationships with other people have a direct bearing on our prayer life! If we are hateful or unforgiving, we sever the connection that lets us pray from our hearts. He reminds us of the importance of letting go of the offenses of others which frees us to approach God without the weight of hate!

When we pray we should expect God to answer in the same way a beloved child expects the care of a parent. "For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him." (Matthew 7:8-11, NLT) 

Please do not make that into the legal language of a contract. It is the promise of our loving Father.  He doesn’t promise that if we use the right words, adopt the right attitude, or find the right time or place, that our prayers will produce every result we desire! That would be disastrous, given our short-sightedness, selfishness, and frequently foolish prayers!  He invites us to be aligned with His heart, to ask freely and accept faithfully all that He provides.

Prayer involves mystery and faith.
God is God, I am not.
He is infinite, I am not.
He is all-wise, I am not.
He asks only that I stay in right relationship with Him by being obedient to His Word and Spirit, living with a deep faith that trusts Him implicitly. 

2020, with all the crisis and confusion, invites us to learn to pray- not longer, not more eloquent prayers but rather those that are like Selah’s conversations with me, the unguarded overflow of our heart, an authentic expression of who we are – not childish, but child-like! I hope that we will really converse with the Lord – crying with Him when our hearts are broken, pouring out our praise to Him when life is working for us, presenting our needs and requests to Him at His invitation, and most of all; resting in His promise to love us through it all!

The word from the Word says "I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him.”  (Ephesians 1:16-19, NLT)  

"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.  Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:16-21, NLT)

____________

Lord I Need You

 

Lord I come I confess

Bowing here I find my rest

And without You I fall apart

You're the one that guides my heart

 

Lord I need You oh I need You

Ev'ry hour I need You

My one defense my righteousness

Oh God how I need You

 

Where sin runs deep Your grace is more

Where grace is found is where You are

And where You are Lord I am free

Holiness is Christ in me

Where You are Lord I am free

Holiness is Christ in me

 

So teach my song to rise to You

When temptation comes my way

And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You

Jesus You're my hope and stay

And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You

Jesus You're my hope and stay

 

Lord I need You oh I need You

Ev'ry hour I need You

My one defense my righteousness

Oh God how I need You

My one defense my righteousness

Oh God how I need You

 

Christy Nockels | Daniel Carson | Jesse Reeves | Kristian Stanfill | Matt Maher

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