Luke 2:5-7 "He (Joseph) went there (Bethlehem) to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 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 guest room available for them." NIV
Lord, You are teaching me the most important reason for Christmas this year as You have done in the past. We have had so many unconventional, non-Hallmark Channel movie Christmases in our lives together, and when we have, the true meaning has been made clear to us. It is celebrating Your birth...nothing else.
Our plans are not Your plans. Our plans were to fly to family 2 days before Christmas to have Pre-Christmas "fun" with them. However; severe weather in the Southeast is preventing that. Two aborted flights later, Dick and I will be spending Christmas Eve, and possibly the whole Christmas holiday, alone here. Of course we are disappointed, but must yield to Your plan, not ours as we have no choice.
I do praise You, Lord for Your foresight keeping us out of that weather, and we pray for all those who suffered so much damage from tornadoes, flooding, and of course totally aborted Christmas plans for them and their families. We pray for all of those who are grieving because of loss of loved ones, the first responders and all those other Public works workers who will now work through their holiday doing the cleanup.
I pray, Lord, for all those who are serving our country in the military here and abroad who cannot spend this Christmas with loved ones, for the police, EMTs, Firemen, and all of the hospital workers who cannot have the time off with family and are dealing with tragedies over these days.
We are so blessed to have food, shelter, warmth, and utilities in our little home. You had none of that except a crude cave to be born in. We are safe and sound, and still have the hope we may be able to travel tomorrow. We have telephone service so we can call the family and share in their Christmas Eve times too. You and your earthly parents had none of that. I have my beloved here with me, and I thank You for that too. There are many widows and widowers out there who are alone.
Your gift to us is the most important reason to celebrate! I could allow disappointment to ruin the celebration and get depressed and miserable. But I personally choose to let go of my plans, celebrate as I can and rejoice in Your unsearchable gift of salvation and the hope we have because of it. After all, it is Your Birthday Celebration...not mine; even if You may have been born on a different day of the year...so Happy Birthday, Jesus, and thank You for being willing to be born as a human baby knowing full well that it meant Your human death years later as our perfect sacrifice for OUR sins, not Yours.
So, it is not about presents, special foods, or even being with the ones we love that makes Christmas wonderful. It's remembering and praising You!
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Monday, December 22, 2014
True Christmas LIGHT!
John 9:5; 8:12 "But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world." Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."
Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world--like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." NLT
Lord, As I sit at my kitchen table this morning with the three candles burning, the Christmas tree and the mantle lighted in the living room, I know that my favorite part of our Christmas celebration is not the gifts, busyness, baking, parties, etc.,it is the Christmas lights. It reminds me that You are the "light of the World" and that we are to be light to others.
It was very dark this morning when I awoke at 6 AM. It seemed cold and uncaring that I was up and would be getting ready for work. I plugged in the Christmas lights in the living room and immediately the mood changed. It was suddenly warm, friendly, and comforting. In the kitchen, instead of turning on the big light, I let the candles on the table. It transformed the "working" part of our home into a gentle resting place of peace with You.
The world outside is busy, hectic, and cold this time of year...but here in this "sanctuary" with You and the lights it is peaceful, warm, and wonderfully transformed. You came into the world to bring light to dis-spell the the darkness, peace in the storms of life, and comfort for the harried hurting souls.
Although there are other Christmas lights inside and outside most American homes at Christmas time, I fear they are not seeing the true Light. Towns, businesses are all "decked out", but the purpose is not to bring You and Your truth into their abodes, but something more human they call the "Spirit of Christmas". They hope it will bring in business and attempt to get people to act not so much like the sinners they are, but to be more loving and kind to each other. In all of that they miss YOU! the "Christmas" songs are all about snow, friends, and references to Santa Claus or sleigh rides.
All I have to do is to read the headlines in the morning paper to know that You are not yet the ruler of this dark world and it desperately needs Your LIGHT!
Lord, I am so unworthy that You came and shone Your Light into my dark and miserable soul, but am eternally grateful that You gave me grace, mercy, and forgiveness! That is the best year around Christmas gift of all. Thank You, Lord Jesus!
Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world--like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." NLT
Lord, As I sit at my kitchen table this morning with the three candles burning, the Christmas tree and the mantle lighted in the living room, I know that my favorite part of our Christmas celebration is not the gifts, busyness, baking, parties, etc.,it is the Christmas lights. It reminds me that You are the "light of the World" and that we are to be light to others.
It was very dark this morning when I awoke at 6 AM. It seemed cold and uncaring that I was up and would be getting ready for work. I plugged in the Christmas lights in the living room and immediately the mood changed. It was suddenly warm, friendly, and comforting. In the kitchen, instead of turning on the big light, I let the candles on the table. It transformed the "working" part of our home into a gentle resting place of peace with You.
The world outside is busy, hectic, and cold this time of year...but here in this "sanctuary" with You and the lights it is peaceful, warm, and wonderfully transformed. You came into the world to bring light to dis-spell the the darkness, peace in the storms of life, and comfort for the harried hurting souls.
Although there are other Christmas lights inside and outside most American homes at Christmas time, I fear they are not seeing the true Light. Towns, businesses are all "decked out", but the purpose is not to bring You and Your truth into their abodes, but something more human they call the "Spirit of Christmas". They hope it will bring in business and attempt to get people to act not so much like the sinners they are, but to be more loving and kind to each other. In all of that they miss YOU! the "Christmas" songs are all about snow, friends, and references to Santa Claus or sleigh rides.
All I have to do is to read the headlines in the morning paper to know that You are not yet the ruler of this dark world and it desperately needs Your LIGHT!
Lord, I am so unworthy that You came and shone Your Light into my dark and miserable soul, but am eternally grateful that You gave me grace, mercy, and forgiveness! That is the best year around Christmas gift of all. Thank You, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, December 20, 2014
First Announcement- Shepherds!
Luke 2:8-18, 20
"That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior--yes, the Messiah, the Lord--has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger." Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others--the armies of heaven--praising God and saying, "Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased."
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished, ... The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them."
Sweet Lord,
It seems nothing the Trinity plans makes sense to us lowly humans in our fleshly sinful state.
In our thinking, if the long awaited Messiah was born:
You knew what the reaction would be if You had it told to the heads of state (Herod), and the religious elite- jealousy and intent to eliminate You from the face of the earth because of their arrogance. 1Corinthians 1:27 KJV "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;"
This makes me think, Lord...would You have chosen me too that night, or would You have avoided me knowing I would keep the good news to myself in fear that others might think I was nuts? After all- angles appearing in the sky? A Messiah in a food troth in a cave outside the city?
It took me 26 years after I was born to really believe the story I had heard every Christmas of my life.
Precious Lord, may I be obedient still to tell the good news to those who need to hear!
"That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior--yes, the Messiah, the Lord--has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger." Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others--the armies of heaven--praising God and saying, "Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased."
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished, ... The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them."
Sweet Lord,
It seems nothing the Trinity plans makes sense to us lowly humans in our fleshly sinful state.
In our thinking, if the long awaited Messiah was born:
- He would not be born in a cave with animals around, but in a nice sterile environment to protect him and his mother.
- The first to be told of His birth would be heads of state and the religious elite, not the lowliest shepherds in a field. They stunk of sweat, sheep, and dirt and lived with the sheep outside the city for a reason!
You knew what the reaction would be if You had it told to the heads of state (Herod), and the religious elite- jealousy and intent to eliminate You from the face of the earth because of their arrogance. 1Corinthians 1:27 KJV "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;"
This makes me think, Lord...would You have chosen me too that night, or would You have avoided me knowing I would keep the good news to myself in fear that others might think I was nuts? After all- angles appearing in the sky? A Messiah in a food troth in a cave outside the city?
It took me 26 years after I was born to really believe the story I had heard every Christmas of my life.
Precious Lord, may I be obedient still to tell the good news to those who need to hear!
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