December 25, 2018

The Birth of Jesus

Luke 2 

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

December 24, 2018

We Wait

“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

– Luke 1:76-79

The stores are finally closing. Traffic is slowing down. Take a deep breath. Christmas is almost here.

It was never supposed to be this way. The hustle and bustle. All the gifts for ourselves and others. Christmas was never about that. It was always about a child, a baby born to save us all.

John the Baptist knew his role from the very beginning. These verses are part of the prophecy Zechariah gave over his son. The words were a gift from the Holy Spirit.

Remember Zechariah had doubts when the angel Gabriel came to give him the news that Elizabeth would give birth to a son. For that reason, Zechariah remained silent, unable to speak, until after John was born.

Zechariah learned a few things on his journey. He learned never to question any message God sends through his angels. And he learned that sometimes the greatest among us are the ones who lead the way.

That was John’s job in life. He was to point others toward Jesus. Nothing more. Nothing less. He would come to say later in his life that he would decrease as Jesus increased. It was never about John and he knew that.

It’s not about us either. Do we know that? In the midst of this holiday do we understand that we are here to glorify God, to praise Him, to lead others to know Christ as Lord and Savior? Do we understand our purpose?

I’ve certainly got nothing against a beautiful tree surrounded by gifts. I love the gathering of family and friends. I enjoy the food a little more than I should. But the challenge comes when we get so involved in all those things that we miss the coming of the Lord.

Do we see the baby in the manger? Can we imagine his cries? He left heaven for this so that we might be free from the sins that doomed us to eternal death. He came out of love for us. Do we love Him in return? Do we understand in the silence of the night that our lives are meant to point others to Him?

Our church has a beautiful Christmas Eve service. There is lots of merriment and singing of Christmas carols. But the end really brings it back to what’s important. After communion, we pass the light around the dark room. Silence echoes as each person lights the candle held by the person next to him. It is in that moment that we remember. We wait quietly, expectantly, for the sound of a newborn crying in the night.

Jesus. Messiah. Savior. King. Lord. Emmanuel.

Come.

December 23, 2018

Love

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

For he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

For the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name. -- Luke 1:46-49

Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent. Love. That’s the candle we light today. It’s all about how much God loves us. How much God sacrificed for us.

Do we ever really think about that? In our busyness, in our rush to buy gifts and cook delicious food, and gather together, do we ever consider how much God loves us? Do we ever think about what that means in our lives?

What does love mean to you? We tend to put it into categories. There’s romantic love. There’s parental love. There’s friendly love and family love and, well, there’s all kinds of love. But the love God gives to us is so much more than that. The love He has for us is sacrificial love. He gave Jesus to die for us. How many of us would do the same for Him? Not many. How do I know that? Each day we are called to die to ourselves so that we might live for Him. How many of us really do that?

We have such a hard time with love. It hurts, even when it’s good. There’s betrayal and disappointment. There are expectations that can never be met by anyone but God. There’s death that comes too soon and children who are longed for but never come.

We also reject love as too confining, too controlling, too much about someone else. We push people away, so afraid they will consume us that we miss the love behind their actions. We are an independent sort but that only carries us so far.

We love others. We love our children and we call it sacrificial but is it really? Can we ever truly compare what we are willing to do for those we love with what God has done for us? How much would we give, who would we sacrifice, for the wayward children we love to come to accept His priceless gift?

Do we ever really see God for all that He is? Do we truly understand His magnificence? Can we even comprehend that the Creator of the universe chose us? Can we ever grasp how much He loves us?

Think about that today. Take a few minutes to bask in the glory of His love. Let His peace fill you up. Refocus on the child in the manger who came to set us free from the death our sins require.

This season is about so many things but, mostly, it’s about His love for us. Don’t ever lose sight of that.

December 21, 2018

Choose Happy

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. – Psalm 1:1-2

What does it mean to be blessed? We see that word in the Bible again and again, depending on your Bible translation. It’s a good word. Religious. But what does it mean for us?

Various dictionaries use words such as consecrate or holy, sacred or bringing good fortune. All those things are wonderful things and we long to be worthy. We want to be blessed in sorrow and pain (as Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount) just as we want to be blessed in mercy and peace.

But what about happiness? We can be stoic and tell ourselves to remain strong in the Lord as we suffer. We can bear our sorrows and tell ourselves we are blessed to walk with Christ during a difficult time. But do we ever have a chance to be happy? Does God want that for us?

Of course, He does! God didn’t create us to suffer through life. Sure, we’re going to experience pain and heartache but it’s doesn’t have to consume us. It doesn’t have to define who we are.

In her latest book, Lisa Harper digs back into the original Hebrew to discover what this psalm really says. Did you know that the Hebrew word used for blessed is asre, which can be translated into with “happy” or “blessed”?

Go back and reread the Psalm 1:1-2. Now substitute the word “happy” for the word “blessed.” Are you happy when you walk in the ways of the LORD? Are you happy when you meditate on His Word?

Let’s go back to the dictionary. What does “happy” mean? Contentment, pleasure, favored by luck or fortune, delighted, pleased, joyful. Do you associate those things with external enticements, such as new stuff, job, food? Or do you think about happy when it comes to God? That’s a question Lisa posed in her book, The Sacrament of Happy.

Are you happy that next week we’ll celebrate the birth of Christ? Or are you feeling the stress of preparations and gifts and company?

Are you happy that God loves you and me enough to send His Only Son into a broken world to save it? Or are you so focused on your present circumstances that you’ve missed the greatest gift ever given?

Are you happy to fill your heart with songs of joy and praise for the Messiah? Or are you so caught up in the trappings the world insists on that you miss the reason we celebrate Christmas?

Each of us has a choice to make: Are we going to choose to be happy with what’s truly important or are we going to choose stress and disappointment as we follow the world?

I choose happy. What about you?

December 3, 2018

Jesus Welcomed Everyone

When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” – Mark 2:16

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

– Revelation 3:20

There’s a parable in Luke 14 about the man who prepared a great banquet for many people. When all was ready, he sent his servants to tell them to come and enjoy the feast. The invited guests responded with excuses as to why they couldn’t come.

The man then sent his servants to the streets and alleys of the town to invite the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame. Then the servants went out to the roads and country lanes and invited more so that the man’s house would be full.

I love this parable because it’s a reminder than Jesus invites everyone to His table. He doesn’t exclude someone because they aren’t wealthy enough. He doesn’t exclude someone because they aren’t part of the “in” crowd. He doesn’t look at weight or dress or skin color. Everyone is invited.

Yesterday I heard a young woman talk about the support she’d received through a church-sponsored program that helps people gain the skills they need to succeed. She talked about being accepted and supported and how that makes all the difference when you’re struggling to succeed.

We tend to assume that everyone has a support system made up of family and friends. We just “know” that everyone knows how to craft a resume or dress for a job interview or balance a checkbook. But the reality is that so many people don’t have that support or those skills. This program is all about giving people both.

We are all about our little cliques. We don’t always see it that way. We’ve got our group of folks we sit with, eat with, socialize with. Certainly, there’s nothing wrong with that. But how often do we exclude someone who longs for a place to belong?

It’s probably not intentional, though adult Christians can certainly be mean and unwelcoming to those who look and dress differently than they do. It’s just that we get so caught up in our own lives and our own habits that we don’t see those lingering on the fringes on our world. We don’t want to see. We don’t want to spend the time to get to know someone else. We don’t want them to become our “problem.”

I’m so very thankful that Jesus never looked at anyone that way. I’m grateful that He invited me to His table. Because, honestly, I know what it’s like to sit alone. I know what it’s like to be excluded from the photographs, from the outing, from the conversation. Have you been there? Have you felt that stab of pain?

Because it hurts. We tell ourselves it doesn’t matter. We put up a strong façade. We hide behind the smile, the right words, the necessity of checking our phone right then. But Jesus sees the silent tears. He knows the pain of rejection.

This Christmas season we remember the birth of our Savior, the One who came to save us all. No exclusions. Everyone is invited to partake of His free gift of salvation.

What gift can we give to Jesus for all He has done and continues to do for each of us? Perhaps we can love those He has placed in our paths. Maybe we can notice the outcast, those on the fringes of our worlds. Surely we can invite them to our table, to sit beside us, to learn their names and their stories.

Jesus welcomed everyone. Shouldn’t we do the same?

December 2, 2018

Hope

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13

Today is the first Sunday in Advent. We are preparing the way in our hearts for Jesus. We are filled with hope because the Messiah has come.

It’s easy to forget what Christmas is all about. Oh, we know what to say. We understand that it’s really Jesus’ birthday. We know it’s not about presents and tables laden with food. But, well, our actions frequently tell a different story.

Would Jesus make lists of gifts? What would that list look like? Would He tell us to be compassionate with those who have failed? Would He remind us to love those we don’t particularly like? Would He encourage us to give beyond what we’re comfortable with?

We are quick to say we love Jesus and want to serve Him. It’s just that we want to do it on our terms, with little to no sacrificing on our part. We just don’t want to be bothered too much with the work that needs to be done.

But doesn’t everyone deserve to know the hope that rests deep inside our hearts? Do we really think Jesus would have us pick and choose who we want to go to heaven? God loves everyone equally. He wants everyone to be saved by the blood of Christ.

Three years ago a sweet friend lost her son to cancer. She clings to the hope, the belief, the certainty, that she’ll see him again one day. It’s what gets her through the hard days when her heart aches for a child who never really got to be a man.

Have you lost someone you love? Do you know that ache that rests deep inside, that longing for those you’ll never again see on this earth? But we have hope that we’ll spend eternity with them. Jesus is the reason for that hope.

I love Christmas. I do. I love the trees and ornaments. I love the gifts and the desserts and the joy and laughter. People seem happier at Christmas, even those who don’t know Jesus. It’s like the world somehow understands that a Savior was born to save us all from our sins.

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. – Romans 8:24-25

We long for what we haven’t yet seen, for a future that hasn’t yet unfolded for us. We strain toward the hope of Jesus, toward our eternal home, toward days without sorrow or tears.

Today is about hope. Share it with someone you know.

November 27, 2018

Rise Up and Reach Out

One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys. – Proverbs 18:9

And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

– 1 Thessalonians 5:14

Jesus never intended the church to be complacent. That was the message given to us last Sunday by our pastor. But, oh how we want to let someone else do the work.

We are quick to criticize. We rush to offer our opinion, usually negative, on everything anyone else might be doing. But we really don’t want to show up and do it ourselves. We don’t want to sacrifice time and money to be part of a solution. It’s way easier to stand back, criticize, and condemn those who do the work.

It’s all about us, after all. Really. It’s about what we want and how we want things done. We want to hear and sing the music of our choice. We want it to be the correct volume according to us. We want interesting sermons that keep us awake but don’t convict us of anything. We want programs and activities that we choose without having to sacrifice or pay for things that others deem worthy. We want only people like us to attend services and events. Does any of this sound familiar?

Pastor Ryan Martin talked about the in-between time in which we live. We live on the other side of Jesus’ resurrection but before the Second Coming. There is much work to be done but the laborers are few. We’d rather coast on through life than actually reach out to see and help others.

I know this is going to shock some of you but Jesus really didn’t come to grant you all your wishes. His life wasn’t about miracles and making everyone rich. It was about sacrificing Himself to reconcile us to the Father. Do we ever consider the cost?

Jesus’ birthday is less than one month away and we’re all caught up in the frenzy of gift buying and decorations. Christmas is the most commercial holiday we have. It’s become all about retail sales and gifts under the tree. We’ve forgotten to love the lost and care for the broken. We’re too focused on ourselves and our little world to remember anyone else.

Think a moment about your Christmas list. Who does it include?  What does it include? Probably lots of gifts and food and celebrations. How might your life and attitude change if you made a Christmas list not with things you want but a list of things you want to do for others?

I know. That turns our me-centered world on its head and makes us uncomfortable. We immediately defend ourselves while condemning those who might actually need a helping hand, a kind word, an outpouring of our love. It’s their fault, we insist. It’s not my problem, we explain.

Think a moment about who Jesus spent His time with. Was it the rulers? Was it the rich? Was it those who had their lives together? No. He loved on the outcasts, the widows, those who were sick. Why would we think He expects anything less from us?

Ask God to open your eyes to see the needs of others. Those was the words of our pastor. Christ’s work in this in-between time isn’t done. We are His laborers. There is no room for idleness, finger-pointing, or excuses. Rise up and work.

December 16, 2014

It’s All About Love

Who can tell me the story of Christmas? Don’t read it. Tell it from memory.

What is that story really about? The birth of Jesus. What else? What does Christmas mean to you? What’s important to you this time of year?

Why did Jesus come? To save us from our sins. But why? Because God so loved the world. Love. What did Jesus say about the importance of love.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” -- Mark 12:30-31

 How do you think we should react in the face of such love? With gratitude.

Gratitude. We’ve talked about this before. What exactly does it mean? A feeling of being thankful to somebody for doing something. (Dictionary lookup) What are you grateful for? Family. Friends. Health. Home. Food. Safety. Anybody want to add anything else?

　
Sometimes we show our gratitude by being generous to others, especially this time of year. We buy gifts for family and friends. We share cookies and meals. We give to others too. There’s the Angel Tree ministry here at our church. Some of us drop money in the Salvation Army kettles. We may give to other charities or adopt a family or remember the elderly widow down the street.

Did you all here about the story last week of the cop who bought a carton of eggs for a woman caught stealing? She was trying to steal five eggs to feed her family. That cop showed mercy. The store showed mercy. And the cop met her need. He bought her a carton of eggs. Something so small, so simple, and yet it made the news. Why? Because we aren’t a nation of mercy anymore. But let’s not go off on that just yet.

We give out of our abundance. What if giving meant a sacrifice on our part? Maybe -- if it’s someone we know and like. Someone we think is deserving of our generosity. Someone who will thank us the way we think they should.

Think about your life. What do you need? Before you answer, what is a need? Food. A place to live. Medication.

Now what do you want? A warm bed to sleep in. A television to watch Alabama football games. What are some other things?

Now let’s look at the excess. Yeah. We’ve all got excess. Lots and lots of excess. Things we’ll never use again. Things we’ll never wear again. Books we’ll never read again. What are some excesses in your life?

　
　
What would happen if we used some of that excess to bless someone who is lacking in the basics? What if we did it anonymously? What if we looked someone in the eye and told them you wanted them to have something of yours? Something nice, not something ready for the trash bin.

Let’s go a step further. How generous are you with compliments? When was the last time you wrote a note thanking someone for being who they are? In this world, we’re so quick to criticize. What would happen if we were just as quick to thank someone for laughter, kindness, courtesy?

I shared something on our Facebook page that came from a Catholic group.

It says:

Want to keep Christ in Christmas?

Feed the hungry,

Cloth the naked,

Forgive the guilty,

Welcome the stranger and the unwanted child,

Care for the ill,

Love you enemies.

You’ve got homework this week. Pick out something you own and give it away. That’s right. Give it away. Don’t simply take it to the mission or other charity. Look someone in the eye and give it away. Give from your abundance.

Then do something for someone anonymously. (gift card left in McFarland’s mailbox) You don’t have to spend money. It could be a note of appreciation sent through the mail.
　

This is a special season of hope and love and a special kind of beauty that came in the form of a baby in a manger. Remember that. Life isn’t about stuff. It’s about people. And sometimes we have to let go of our stuff to free ourselves to love the people God puts in our paths. Go and do likewise.

December 1, 2014

Christmas Isn't Our Party

 

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

-- Isaiah 9:6

I hate Christmas. Really. Truly. I do. Don't get me wrong. I love Jesus. I'm so grateful for His birth, His life, His death, His resurrection. Unfortunately, that's not what Christmas is about anymore. It's an escalating "holiday" of frenzied shopping, making retailers smile while everyone else racks up debt.

My family is blessed to have plenty. The flip side of that is that they are satisfied with nothing and whine over everything. Nothing is ever enough. The thought no longer counts. It's all about big dollars and glamorous packaging. I wonder how many other families face the same thing. Quite a few, I'd bet.

I have some sweet friends who struggle with this. They are trying to raise their girls with much less emphasis on Santa Claus and things and more on the actual birth of Christ. It is an upward fight. It's just so easy to get dragged in to the "must have" toys and the "good deals" that seem to be everywhere.

I honestly don't know how to get off the roller coaster. Here's the thing: I enjoy buying gifts for people I care about. I like gathering with friends and family to enjoy food, music, fellowship. I love cooking and sharing goodies with others. But that's not what Christmas is about and, increasingly, it all just seems wrong.

 Christmas is about a Savior, who gave up everything He knew in heaven to come down to save us from ourselves. It is about a couple who welcomed a child, following God's will even though they couldn't possibly have understood the path it would take. It is about God's plan to save His people, making us holy through Jesus' perfect sacrifice.

It's not my birthday. It's not yours either. It's Jesus' birthday. So shouldn't the gifts go to Him? Shouldn't our lives reflect His values, His desires? Shouldn't we show reverence for Him instead of living like it's a party for us?

Monday, December 26, 2011

Show Jesus To Others All Year

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

-- Hebrews 13:16

The day after is always a bit of a let down. The presents are all opened. Did you get what you wanted? Are you headed out shopping with your gift cards snuggly tucked in your wallet? Are you disappointed yet again?

Christmas brings such excitement in to our lives. We look forward to Jesus’ birthday, of course. But it’s so much more than that. Families travel to be together. Friends reach out to friends. And, what’s so much more important, strangers reach out to strangers with love and kindness.

Then the day after Christmas, it all seems to end. We forget to be generous and compassionate. We forget to be nice to our family and friends and, yes, to strangers. We forget to be jolly and bright. We misplace the wonder that fills our hearts when we recall that first joyous night.

Why? Christmas may just be one day but Jesus Christ remains alive each and every day of the year. If He lives within each and every one of us -- and I pray that He does -- then why only celebrate His birth and not His life? Why not live as He taught us to live each and every day that we walk this earth?

Maybe the letdown comes because during the weeks before Christmas we’re focused on other people and not ourselves so much. We’re trying to find the perfect gifts for those we care about. We’re donating our time and money to various charities. Maybe we’re even adding a few strangers to our dinner table, all in the name of good cheer and a small baby boy.

So as we stand on this first day after Christmas, let’s all decide to remember that it lasts all year long. Let’s remember to be kind to those around us, to see good and to give generously. We can smile a little brighter, sing a little louder, laugh a little longer. We can reach out to the friends we don’t yet know and welcome them into our hearts and our homes. We can remember that the family and friends we do have deserve our best. We can love with the heart of Jesus and show others that He lives within us every day of the year.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

^{The Birth of Jesus}

^{From the Book of Luke 2 (NIV)}

¹ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.
⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told..

Saturday, December 24, 2011

^{The Birth of Jesus Foretold}

^{From the Book of Luke 1 (NIV)}

²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
³⁴ “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called^[a] the Son of God. ³⁶ Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. ³⁷ For no word from God will ever fail.”
³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³ But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Mary’s Song

⁴⁶ And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Sunday, December 11. 2011

Fill Your Hearts With Joy

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news of great joy for everyone!” -- Luke 2:9-10

A number of years ago I had the opportunity to attend the Christmas program at the Crystal Cathedral. It was an amazing production filled with “angels” flying through the air and real camels coming down the aisles. It brought what we know as the Christmas story to life.

It’s so easy to read the words and kind of slide past the enormity of what happened that night while those shepherds were simply going about their business. Think about it. You’re just hanging out with your coworkers one night and suddenly an angel of the Lord appears. We all want to think we would be amazed and awed and thrilled. And probably we would. But it also would likely be quite frightening.

It wasn’t until the angel spoke and told them about the Savior who had been born that night that the shepherds understood the magnificence that was before them. How inspiring to be chosen to receive such great news!

The Christmas season is filled with so many things that have nothing to do with Jesus’ birth. It’s about shopping and gifts, eating and parties. Sometimes it’s just plain exhausting. And while many of us have a wonderful time visiting with family and friends, it can all seem overwhelming and not at all joyful.

Maybe that’s because we’ve lost focus of what Christmas really means to all of us. A baby was born. God’s Son in human flesh. He came to grow into a man and save us all from an eternity separated from God. But on that night so long ago, the skies were filled with joy.

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.” -- Luke 2:14

The chorus of angels praised God as the shepherds looked on. Imagine the joy that filled the shepherds’ hearts as they realized what they had witnessed. Priorities shifted. They left their sheep. They left their jobs. They left their lives to seek a baby who was a Savior.

So slow down a little these next weeks. Take it all in. Listen to the choirs sing God’s praises. Hear the story with fresh ears and a heart open to absorb its truth. A baby is born to save the world. Jesus the Messiah. Shout aloud with great joy. A Savior has come for you and for me.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Seek Jesus, Then Tell

"So then they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." -- Luke 2:16-20

The shepherds heard the angels and sought Jesus. Then they told everyone. Go and do likewise.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Happy Birthday Jesus!    

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

     And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

     Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

     When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." -- Luke 2:6-15

May everyone see the star and find the Son.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Welcome The Weary Traveler

"So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child."

-- Luke 2:4-5

It seems like half the country has somewhere to go for Christmas. They're going cross-country to their parents' home, or across town to their sibling's house, or to the mountains for a family holiday. Some are even heading to their church for a community dinner.

I always enjoyed being the person who stayed home and cooked. I loved to gather people together, mostly orphans by circumstances and location, and celebrate. An old friend sent a note recently, reminiscing about the Christmas parties I used to host. Those were good times. Now, I'm just a guest who shows up and, maybe, does the dishes or takes out the garbage. Life changes.

I love the group that gathers at church. It is open to anyone. The church provides meat and beverages and everyone else brings a covered dish to share. It's a church family gathering. Many people don't want any part of such a gathering. They only have select family members with maybe a few close friends thrown into the mix. Christmas is a day for closeness and love. No strangers need apply.

I wonder if we, too, would have turned away Mary and Joseph and the baby who would be born this night. Would we have said no and wished them well, rationalizing that we didn't have room or enough food for strangers? Just like we close the doors, and our hearts, to those who are alone in our midst.

Close your eyes and imagine the scene. Mary, deep in labor, with Joseph attending her. The stable filled with animals who kept watch over the virgin and her fiance as the baby's birth neared. Do you smell the manure and sweat and hay? Gather the dirty clothes and prepare for the birth of our King.

On the Christmas Eve, be mindful of the weary traveler. Open the door and welcome the stranger. Let your heart reach out to the widow down the street and the singles from work. Christmas isn't about exclusion. On the contrary, Jesus came so that everyone could be saved. So take a chance. Smile. Offer a kind word. Show people that Jesus still lives.

Thursday, December 22, 2010

Love Those Who Are Hurting

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come."

-- Matthew 24:42

The anguished post was short and to the point. Her daddy was dying, the family was standing watch, and they really needed prayer. Numerous people, myself included, quickly sent notes and asked God to comfort this family during this heartbreaking journey.

It's Christmas and joy is all around us. But joy isn't something that anyone can assume. For some, like the woman I mentioned, sadness overwhelms everything else. I know. There's something especially awful about losing someone you love during this season of hope.

For others, it is a season of firsts. Another friend sent a special photo in her Christmas card. She lost her daddy earlier in the year. The photo is of my friend and the great-grandbaby her daddy never got to meet. She called it the circle of life. And it is. Life gives way to death and death to new birth. The Christmas story reminds us of this. A baby came to live and then die for us, only to rise three days later so that we who believe have new life.

Other people are filled with memories and realities that collide. Maybe most people really do have that storybook holiday I see on TV. I don't know. Mine is filled with heartache and feelings of inadequacy. I smile. I laugh. And every year I die a little more inside. I don't think I'm alone. It's just not something we talk about in this season of joy.

Last week three teenagers headed to school. Two met Jesus a short time later. We never know. I doubt either friend I mentioned earlier started the year thinking last Christmas would be the last with their dads. I know the families of those two teens never expected to attend their funerals. We assume a tomorrow that may never be. The Bible warns against that.

I don't mean to sound so depressing. Celebrating Jesus' birthday is a joyous time. It's just that we shouldn't assume that those around us are happy. We should be aware of the heartbreak and heartache. We should remember that Christmas is more than presents and parties. Jesus came to show us how to care for one another. So take a minute and spread a kind word. Offer a hug and say a prayer. Include the rejected and lonely in your plans. Jesus came out of love so show people you know Him by the love in your heart -- especially to those who are hurting.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Christmas Is About Jesus

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

-- John 1:1

As I started out the door, my Dad inquired as to where I was headed so early in the morning. "Bible study," I replied. He shook his head. "This week? I'd have thought they'd have canceled it." Yes, well, that's the view of most people it seems.

I'm thankful I attend a church that doesn't cancel Bible study the week we also celebrate Jesus' birthday. I am appalled at how Christmas has increasingly become a retail extravaganza rather than the religious celebration it really is. We're so busy enjoying Santa Claus that we've forgotten that the real star of the day is Jesus Christ.

I'm guilty, too. I love to buy gifts and bake and do all those celebration things. It's only in recent years that I've determined to attend church -- no matter the distractions or guests -- on Christmas Eve. It's just important. It helps focus my mind on what Christmas is all about.

It's about a baby that came to save you and me and to reconcile us with God. He lived a perfect life as He grew, taught and, then, died a cruel death as He bore your sins and mine. Then He rose three days later, defeating death forever. It's an amazing story of love. How can we overlook that?

So, yes, I went to Bible study today. And then I went to a holiday luncheon. And later I wrapped presents. I recently did a painting that showed baby Jesus underneath the Christmas tree. God's gift to us, all wrapped in a manger scene. The first Christmas gift. Emmanuel. God with us. Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Retail Sales Don't Celebrate Jesus

"I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God."

-- Luke 12:4

The traffic was backed up and barely moving. Crowds filled the stores. People swiped cards and pulled out cash, toting bags of goodies to their cars. It was Christmas as we know it.

I don't think this is what Jesus had in mind for His birthday.

When did we all get so commercialized? And I do mean "we." The stores didn't do it to us. We did it to ourselves. We're so focused on getting the perfect gift and having the best holiday ever that we've lost the reason we're celebrating. Don't blame it on the government or the democrats or anyone else besides the person you see in the mirror each day. Because you are just as responsible as I am.

We not only buy in to the tree with all the lights and brightly wrapped gifts underneath, we enjoy it. We do. We want to give presents and we want to get presents in return. We want to eat until we can't move because we finally have an excuse. His name is Jesus. Except we aren't doing any of it for Him.

What would Jesus really want for Christmas? More people to invite Him into their hearts, for sure. But what would He want you or I to do for His birthday? Maybe spend that money on the homeless, the working poor or a sick child rather than people who already have too much stuff anyway. He'd probably suggest we visit a few people who are homebound and invite a few more people to church. He'd expect us to be kind and compassionate to those around us, sharing all our blessings with others. Doesn't sound too much like the kind of Christmas we're actually planning, does it?

We've let the world convince us that Christmas is about retail sales when it's really about a baby that came to save the world. When did we forget His focus on the poor and those who are alone? When did we become so obsessed with ourselves and our possessions that we stopped caring about those around us?

We're quick to tell people "Merry Christmas" and to loudly announce we want the world to "Keep Christ in Christmas." But our actions speak something else. No wonder the world ignores us and keeps right on ringing up those sales.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

We Cling To Hope

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." -- Psalm 23:4

Words of comfort. Preachers quote them often at funerals. We are comforted by God's presence, by the presence of family and friends who hold us up through unbearable grief.

Death is never easy but it just seems especially horrid as Christmas nears. Death strikes brutally, ripping our hearts open, leaving us fragile and clinging to a hope we cannot see for the darkness that remains. My Grandmother died December 17, 1976. It is always there with every holiday season. Amidst the bustle of presents and baking and family gatherings, is the sadness of loss.

Wednesday a 14-year-old girl died in a tragic accident. She was the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of friends. How will her family find the strength to make it through the days that are to come? How will they cope with the emptiness that comes with presents that will never be opened by a child who will never come home?

God. That's the only way to cope. I can't imagine their grief. I can't comprehend their sorrow. But I do know that when your life is torn apart by the unexpected loss of someone you love, God is all that remains. He is your rock, your fortress, your hidden strength. He doesn't make the grief go away but He carries you through it.

Jesus defeated death. We know that. As believers, we know that we'll see our loved ones again one day. Christmas reminds us of the hope that came with the birth of a baby who came to save us all. In the midst of unspeakable tragedy we cling to that.