My children are out of school for the Christmas holiday, so I’m going to take a couple of weeks off to spend as much time as possible with them and the rest of our extended family.
I pray that anyone who reads this will have a peaceful and meaningful Christmas. I pray that if you are not in a good place this year that you will remember that the truth and beauty of Christmas is not anything that we do here on earth, to celebrate, but about our God who loved us so very much that He willingly sent His son to become one of us. I pray that you will let that sink in. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, God sees you and loves you. Hold onto that life changing truth.
I pray for all of our soldiers overseas who can’t be home this year because they are fighting to keep us safe. I pray that you will say a prayer for them too.
I pray that our fellow countrymen will remember the true meaning of Christmas and return to God.
I pray for fellow Christians around the world who are suffering persecution simply because they believe in the truth of Christ.
I pray that you have a very Merry Christmas and I thank you for reading.
What lessons can we learn from Jesus’ earthly parents?
In an attempt to keep fresh in my mind what Christmas is truly about, I recently read through the Christmas story in Luke and Matthew. I really gave some thought to who Joseph and Mary were and what qualities they had as human beings that would allow God to choose them to raise His son.
God could have chosen any set of parents at any point in history. What did He see in them?
Mary, was a young girl who was engaged to be married. So, she had the same plans of other girls her age. She had remained pure. She was a virgin. She didn’t appear to be some highly gifted spiritual thinker. She was courageous. The scripture says she was troubled, not terrified at the news of her pregnancy and she asked the angel how it could be possible. But, after Gabriel explained it, she was obedient.
I can’t imagine what the conversation must have been like between Mary and her parents or between Mary and Joseph. “Umm, you’re not going to believe this, but and angel told me that I’m pregnant with God’s son.”
We don’t know if her parents believed her. We do know Joseph didn’t.
But, still, Joseph appeared to be a man of character and mercy. He could have had Mary stoned in the public square. He believed she had been with another man. If he were a prideful man or a vengeful man, he would have immediately had his justice. The law was on his side. But, I suspect he was a humble man and he was willing to extend mercy to Mary. While he wasn’t interested in raising another man’s child and he didn’t believe her story, he was going to divorce her quietly.
But, his plans changed when he too, was visited by an angel in a dream that confirmed Mary’s story. When he awoke, he did just as he was commanded and married her. Joseph, too, was obedient to God’s plan.
When I think about these two people who raised God’s son, I see some similar traits in both. They were both people of faith who believed in God and His plan. They were both willing to be obedient to His plan, even though I’m sure the neighbors were talking. After all, they went from planning a wedding shower to a baby shower in no time flat and the baby wasn’t even Joseph’s. Yet, Joseph and Mary were obedient, no matter the cost.
Joseph’s strong character, humility and his ability to show mercy were also strong traits in Jesus. I doubt that is simply coincidence.
As I think about God’s choice of earthly parents for Jesus, I wonder if we shouldn’t all try to follow their example. They were people of strong faith who were willing to believe what was humanly impossible was possible with God. They believed in God’s plan and were obedient to His calling, no matter the cost to them personally. That took courage. They were humble people who didn’t run around telling people they were raising the son of God. After all, they spent the early years of Jesus’ life hiding out in Egypt.
As we come towards the Advent, surely there’s a lesson for us from Mary and Joseph. After all, they were average people just like us, who were chosen to do something world-changing by God.
Perhaps it’s a good time for us to take a leap of faith of some kind and to remember the importance of humility, mercy and obedience. I’ve no doubt that God would like to use each one of us too.
Perhaps we need to find a way to share 365 days a year, and not just at Christmas.
My hubby and I did a little Christmas shopping yesterday. As we approached the entrance to one of the stores we visited, there was a bell ringer from the Salvation Army. My hubby asked me if I had a dollar. I quickly scrounged for one. I rarely carry cash these days. My teens make sure of it, but I found a dollar and happily gave it to the man who wished me a Merry Christmas and thanked me for my blessing.
His words took hold in my heart and I thought about what he said for the remainder of the afternoon. It was just a dollar, but it was a blessing to someone who was in need. I could have given more. I probably should have given more, but it was what I had at the moment and for that gentleman ringing the bell, it was enough.
My pastor pointed out in a sermon a few weeks back, that people tend to be more generous during the holidays. He preached from Mark, Chapter 10, about the blind beggar who yelled for Jesus because he heard he was nearby. The Jews were getting ready to celebrate Passover and apparently they were more generous to those who were less fortunate when they neared Passover.
The beggar, Bartimaeus, got way more than extra coins that day. Although the crowds tried to shush him, he continued to call out and Jesus healed him. Jesus said, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Mark 10:52a The rest of the verse says that he could instantly see and he followed Jesus down the road.
What is it that makes us more generous and charitable during Christmas? Is it because deep in our hearts we want to share some of the many gifts that God has given us? Perhaps there’s something deeper. Perhaps it has to do with the baby who was a gift for all of mankind. Perhaps deep in our DNA, we recognize that gift and feel a deeper need to share it during the Christmas season.
But, maybe we should ask ourselves if we need to do a better job at reaching out to help others, the other eleven months of the year. The gift of Christ isn’t meant to be seasonal. It’s meant to be everyday. People who don’t have food to eat or clothes to wear are just as needy in February as they were in December. Right?
How can Christians be a blessing to others year round? How can we make a daily difference? Perhaps these are the questions we should ponder during Advent as we ready our hearts to celebrate the greatest gift ever given. How can we share that gift with others?
Because sharing our faith with those who are blind is the gift that never ends. Keep in mind, when Jesus gave Bartimaeus his sight, Bartimaeus followed Jesus down the road.
Isn’t that what all Christians are striving to do? How can we be 365 days a year Christians, instead of holiday Christians? I’m going to spend some time praying about that. Maybe you would like to join me.
As we celebrate Advent, we remember that Immanuel means “God with us.” He is with us wherever we are.
Have you ever had one of those days where nothing particularly good happened? Have you had one of those days where nothing catastrophic happened, but as you sat down from a long day of being productive, you couldn’t think of much to be thankful for?
Yesterday was one of those days for me. I went to bed the night before with a stomach ache. I woke up with one too, yet I was scheduled to work for a teacher with a sick child, so I sucked it up and went. On my drive in, I prayed for strength to make it through the day and that I wouldn’t get sick once I got there.
My son wasn’t feeling well either. His stomach was hurting too. He texted me around 11:30 that he was feeling very sick. My hubby happened to have the day off, so he went and picked him up.
I did make it through the day. I stopped by Publix for stomach bug staples, like ginger ale, crackers, soup and Gatorade. I arrived safely home and wanted to do nothing more than crash on the couch that was already occupied by my ailing son.
I settled for the chair with a cup of ginger tea. I dozed off for a few minutes. My daughter arrived home from school all cheer and smiles which is often not the case. But, she aced a math test and exempted a final and all was right in her world.
I sat there in that chair after she bounced away, willing myself to move. What in the world could I write as words of encouragement for Wednesday’s post? I was exhausted and not feeling well. I pride myself in seeing God in daily life, in the good and the bad, but I was coming up empty. I prayed as I always do, that He would meet me at the keyboard.
I began to type and He began to whisper to my weary heart all the places He was in my not great day. I did have the strength to make it through the day. I didn’t get sick at school and I didn’t feel so drained until I got home. That means a lot when you are leading fourth graders all day. “Thank-you God.” I whispered.
I kept typing. The kids were surprisingly well-behaved all day even though we are perilously close to Christmas. I didn’t have to sign any cards or raise my voice. Even the kids who were notorious for misbehaving, were well-behaved. “Thank-you God.” I said again.
My hubby was available and willing to drive my son home. I have been blessed with a good father for my children. “Thank-you God.” I found myself repeating.
I had money to buy necessities at the grocery store. “Thank-you God.” I said a little louder.
My stressed out junior in high school got a good grade after working really hard. “Thank-you God.” I said smiling.
It seemed that the more I typed and the more I thought about my day, the more I could see Him. But, that’s the key, isn’t it? We have to look. We have to take the time to be quiet and still and open our hearts, if we want to see.
When I sought God, He reminded me He was with me every step. As we celebrate this season of Advent, may we all remember that Immanuel means in Hebrew- God with us, and so He is. Perhaps you needed reminding too.
When the path is uncertain, we always have the choice of whether to panic or pray.
Last weekend, my sixteen-year-old, attended a high school basketball game. It was at the opposing team’s school. Thanks to a Georgia law prohibiting teen drivers from transporting any passengers who are unrelated to them for the first six months of having their license, she had to drive alone.
Getting to the game was not a problem. She followed some friends. But, after the game, they headed their separate ways. She ended up making a wrong turn and found herself lost and alone in the dark.
Thankfully, she didn’t panic. She grabbed her cell phone and called her mama. She was frustrated, but not afraid, as she told me the road she was on and the street signs she was passing. Quite honestly, I could totally relate. I rarely travel on that side of our rural county and I’ve been turned around on those roads too.
I directed her the best way I knew how, and I thought we were home free. But, then she announced their was a giant detour sign and she had to turn around. At that point, she started to panic just a little. I reassured her that everything would be fine. If she would simply follow the signs, she would end up back on the right track.
She complained mightily that they were working on the road at night. “Why would they work on the road at night?” she grumbled.
I explained to her that the least amount of traffic was on the road at that time. That made sense to her. And then, just like that, she came to a place where the road was familiar. She knew where she was and we hung up. She arrived home safely very soon after.
I thought about our conversation throughout the weekend. I thought about how easy it is to get lost and turned around along life’s journey. I thought about how easily my own child was comforted by my voice and instructions. I thought about how easily we can be comforted by God’s voice and instructions when we get lost or detoured, if we have the wisdom to reach out to Him.
We can’t pick up the cell phone and call Him, but we can go to Him in prayer and just like I was able to calm my own child, He is more than willing to calm and comfort us. We are after all, His children.
One thing is sure, we will get turned around from time to time, and there will definitely be detours, whether we like it or not. Life is rarely a straight shot from earth to Heaven. The question for us, is how do we respond?
We can certainly panic and make circles in the dark. We can complain about how unfair and inconvenient the detours are. We can stay lost, frustrated, and frightened indefinitely, or we can bow our heads, get on our knees and reach out for guidance. We can listen for His voice.
If we are still and patient, we will get directions and answers because God will never abandon His children. Eventually, we may even learn that the detours are actually blessings and were part of His plan all along. Perhaps, the key is learning to listen.
We are all invited to participate in the Christmas story.
Yesterday, our church choir performed a Christmas Cantata. It was complete with readings that told the story of Jesus’ birth. A narrator would read about an event like Mary’s visit from the angel Gabriel, and then the choir would sing a song about it.
I didn’t really love the music selection this year for the cantata. It was very difficult to learn for someone who doesn’t read music and required a ton of practices which often ran past 9:00 at night. Yet, when it all came together, with the small orchestra that the choir director assembled, and the readings, that our pastor tweaked, it was a beautiful telling of the Christmas story.
The songs that I had come to dread singing, over and over, came to life somehow and there were times that I couldn’t help, but move to the beat as I sang. One of the male choir members told me it was the same way for him afterwards. I suppose when you prayerfully, come together, with open hearts, to remember and celebrate the birth of Christ, the Holy Spirit gets involved.
When the Holy Spirit gets involved, the results are never disappointing. Hearts get opened and lives get changed.
Next Sunday evening, we are doing a family improv Christmas pageant. We have a Joseph and a Mary, a couple of angels, a couple of shepherds and two wise men at this point. We will have narrators read the Christmas story from the Bible and members of the audience, are invited to join in the procession to the manger, in whatever part they choose, to participate in the telling of the Christmas story.
Adults are joining in with children. My hubby has built a manger. People have been asked to bring whatever they can find from home, to wear as costumes. My daughter is playing her guitar along with another church member. We will sing the Christmas carols everyone knows, like “Hark the Herald Angels Sings” and “Silent Night.”
It will be in the fellowship hall and we are expecting a certain amount of chaos. But, as I think about old and young coming together in mismatched costumes, not rehearsing, but simply listening to the Scripture to guide us where to go, I can’t imagine Jesus being much happier with a production, even one that was practiced for months in advance with hundreds of dollars spent on costumes.
There’s something about participating in the Christmas story, whether it’s in song, or in a pageant, or in any other way, that stirs the heart. I suppose it’s because the birth of Jesus, was the official invitation for all of mankind to participate in the kingdom of God. The angels’ message to the shepherds was one for every man, woman, and child, with no expiration date. The message was and is, timeless.
Our actual participation in telling of the story of the birth of our Savior, seems to somehow open our hearts to experience just a glimpse of the joy that the earth felt over two thousand years ago. We are all invited to participate.
Every time we say a prayer, every time we attend church service, every time we wish someone a Merry Christmas, every time we invite someone to church, every time we sing a Christmas carol, and every time we tell the Christmas story to our children or grandchildren, we are participating.
And when we participate, I believe Heaven participates with us. So, come and join in the chorus.
There’s a time for everything under the sun. What are you being called to do?
Yesterday, I subbed in a PE class. It was a PE/Music class combo. The third and fourth classes were to take the period and choreograph a dance sequence to be performed for the other students in their grade. They could pick their own groups. Their steps could be as simple or as intricate as they chose. The only stipulation was that they had to last the entire song.
The song played in a loop, the entire class period. Yesterday, was day two of this little creative project, and they would perform on Friday. The students were told that dances usually work in two counts of eight and the other three teachers and I, even made up our own to demonstrate. Then, we let them run with it.
I have to say that it was fascinating to watch them create. For a total of four classes, I observed them in action and I found some similarities among every group of children.
There were of course, some natural dancers, who took over some of the groups. There was some arguing about not being allowed to join and complaining about ideas not being listened to.
Does this sound like this could have been a bunch of adults? It always amazes me how similar children’s issues are to those of adults.
Surprisingly, there were groups of boys, who gleefully accepted the challenge and added lots of sliding and jumping into their routines. There were groups who borrowed moves from the Whip and the Cupid Shuffle. I even saw the Macarena.
Some of the groups wanted the adults to watch them. They couldn’t wait to perform. Some planned on dressing alike the next day. Some were planning on bringing props from home. Most of them had fun with it, even if it was reluctantly.
But, then there were those who flat out refused to participate. Some kids gave excuses that they simply could not perform without props. There were a few who refused to be part of any group, although there were groups who welcomed them with open arms.
Then there were those who would not dance. It didn’t matter how simple the moves were, they refused to participate. They actually chose to write a paper rather than to participate with their friends in a dance. There were even some tears.
What were they so afraid of? As the day moved on and we went on to different tasks for the fifth grade classes, I found myself mulling it over in my mind.
There are adults who act just like those few kids. Why are some people so terrified to put themselves out there? Why are people afraid to try something new or different? I certainly don’t have the answers, but perhaps it comes from fear of some kind, fear of making a mistake, fear of being laughed at or simple fear of looking stupid.
The Bible tells us that we are not to live in fear. “I sought the Lord and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4 and “When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” Psalm 56:3-4 are just a few verses that deal with fear. When God is with us, we are not to walk in fear.
The Bible also tells us that there’s a “time to dance.”
So the question for us is, if we are being called to dance, or speak publicly, or share our testimony or our resources, or to do anything outside our comfort zone, is fear causing us to hesitate?
If God is with us, then who can be against us? What’s holding you back?
Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he? -Clarence
It’s Christmas time and tis the season for Christmas movies and specials. Thanks to cable, you can see everything from Rudolph in claymation, to Frosty the Snowman in animation, to Christmas Vacation, all in one evening. Last weekend, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” was on and due to some type of Christmas miracle, my sixteen-year-old, was not only home on a Saturday night, but willing to watch a movie in black and white, made in 1946.
It had been a long time since I watched it, and she and I stayed up and watched it together. Suffice it to say, they really don’t make movies like that anymore. Like almost everyone else who has seen it, the line I remembered most is, “Teacher says, ‘every time a bell rings, and angel gets its wings.” It’s an iconic line and central to the plot, but there was so much more that jumped out at me this time.
There’s a little of George Bailey, the leading character, in all of us..
George Bailey knew what he wanted to do from a very young age and he worked hard to get it. He wanted to get as far away from his tiny hometown as soon possible and see the world. He saved up every nickel for college and a degree that would make it happen. Yet, circumstance after circumstance occurred, to keep him planted right where he was.
Have you ever been there, wanting something so desperately, but is always seems to be just out of your reach?
Time and time again, he put the happiness and welfare of others above his own. But, he was not alone. God sent him a woman to love and support him and together they made a family and changed the little town around them with their selflessness and generosity.
But, bad things happened anyway, like they do at times, for all of us. There was a dark force, named Mr. Potter, in town that wanted George gone and due to a simple accident, which had nothing to do with George, $8,000 went missing. Potter took out a warrant for George’s arrest and he thought he had at last won.
George prayed for God to help him and right after praying, he was punched in the mouth. He assumed God wasn’t listening or didn’t care about him. Have you ever been there?
But, God, who is always faithful, was listening and at George’s lowest point, where he was thinking of killing himself, God sent him an angel. The angel wasn’t what George expected, but then God rarely acts in ways that we expect.
The angel, Clarence, gave George the opportunity to see what his world would have been like if he hadn’t been born, if he hadn’t been there to perform all of the selfless acts of kindness. His little home town would have been dark and bleak without his influence. He was so moved by what he saw that he begged to be born.
And he was. He was so thrilled to be alive that he didn’t care if he went to prison. Meanwhile his wife had called on the hundreds of people he had helped over the years and they came in droves to help him. It was a tearjerker.
George Bailey reminded me that we have no idea how many people we have helped and can help along our journey. We have no idea what kind of difference we can make or have made in people’s lives. George Bailey is a reminder that God is always working, always present, and always listening.
God loves us and He wants to use us to change our world in big and small ways. There’s a little George Bailey in all of us. Perhaps you needed reminding today.
Yesterday, I subbed in a gifted classroom. My first two classes of the day were fourth graders. Their task for the first fifteen minutes of class was to make a drawing of their own using these squiggly lines. They could draw anything they liked, but they were supposed to include lots of details and give it a title. They could add color if time permitted and when they were finished, we would go around the classroom and share their creation.
Most of them dove into the little art project. I ended up with lots of cloud themes, including dragons, rainbows and unicorns. It was fourth grade, no surprise there.
Then one little girl turned her paper upside down and created an angel.
Angels in the Bible, often had messages that turned everything upside down.
I marveled at her creativity and was reminded that I had just written a post about how angels in the Bible, often appeared with messages that turned life upside down.
I continued to go around the room and had everyone share. They were all different. Each child saw something different in the squiggly lines. Then I came to this one.
She apologized for not finishing with her coloring before her time ran out.
I was so surprised. When I asked her to share with the class how she came up with her idea, see said matter-of-factly, that the squiggly lines looked like a cloud and Jesus was coming back on a cloud. There’s nothing like the faith of children.
We finished sharing everyone’s drawings and moved on to our next task, but I marveled at the little girl’s picture and how she saw Jesus in those squiggly lines.
The next class arrived and I gave them the same instructions. They too, all drew something different, most of them having something to do with clouds, but my last table group, surprised me again.
One little boy said that the squiggly lines reminded him of sheep and the shepherds who went to see the baby Jesus.
One little boy said the lines reminded him of sheep.
Two of the other children a the table came up with something entirely different, but the last child to share, once again, had me close to speechless.
One little boy created a church.
He created a scene of a church that made me think of Heaven, complete with a cross and a Bible. He named it the, “Stairway to Church.”
These two classes were at the very beginning of my day and each drawing activity only took around fifteen minutes, but they had a lasting impact on me.
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3
I prayed on my way to school, that God would show me His face and give me enough wisdom to see it. He sent me children who looked at squiggly lines and saw an angel, shepherds, church and how it helps us ascend towards Heaven, and the promise of Christ’s return.
Oh yes, He’s everywhere. Look at the lines. What do you see?
Christians are called to prepare our hearts both for the celebration of Jesus’ birth and His return.
The season of Advent is a time when we are supposed to prepare our hearts for the birth of Jesus. The prophet Isaiah often gets quoted during this season. “A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:3
Those words appear in our Christmas Cantata this year and they were in last year’s cantata as well. When we think about preparing for Jesus’ birth, the story is not really complete without thinking about the birth of John the Baptist as well. It too, was surrounded by the supernatural.
John’s father Zechariah, was a priest, an old priest. The priests of the day, were chosen to burn incense in the temple of God, by lot. That simply means it was totally by chance. But, of course, we know that there is never coincidence where God is concerned. This situation would be no exception.
Zechariah went into the temple to burn incense and an angel of the Lord, Gabriel appeared, standing at the right side of the altar. The text says he was “startled and gripped with fear.” Luke 1:12
I’ve noticed that humans are often terrified when they see angels. Angels often tell them, “Do not be afraid.” That’s what Gabriel told Zechariah. I always thought he was afraid because Gabriel was huge and glowing and scary looking. Maybe he was. But, last Sunday, our pastor put a different spin on Zechariah’s fear that has fascinated me.
Our pastor pointed out that Zechariah was an elderly priest, a man of God, why would seeing an angel frighten him? His take was perhaps that Zechariah wasn’t frightened by the actual physical appearance of Gabriel, but by what Gabriel represented.
My pastor said that when angels appeared, the waters got stirred. He would have known the Old Testament stories by heart. When an angel appeared to Abraham, he and his 90-year-old wife, had a baby. When an angel appeared to Jacob, he wrestled with it all night long, got his name changed to Israel, and walked with a limp for the rest of his life.
Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were old and had no children. They had likely made peace with that fact. My pastor thinks that the appearance of that angel signified that life was about to change.
We often don’t like change. Even if we aren’t particularly happy or fulfilled, we humans like to stick with what we know. The unknown tends to frighten us.
Perhaps Zechariah was no different. He was right. Gabriel told him that Elizabeth would have a son and he would bring many of the people of Israel back to God. John the Baptist did just that.
God hasn’t changed since He sent Gabriel to Zechariah all those years ago. He’s rarely satisfied with the status quo and doesn’t expect us to be either. He invites us to celebrate the birth of Christ as well as to prepare the way for the second coming of Jesus.
Both simply require us to open our hearts, to pray, to listen, be obedient and to share the good news with others. That can sometimes upset the status quo.
Yet, that is what Christians are called to do and when we do, as the Bible shows us repeatedly, the miraculous can happen.
