In the midst of the madness, I find myself almost fighting to get back to the simplicity of the Christmas narrative, found in the gospels.
The simplicity of God's love, which compelled Him to send His son.
The simplicity of Mary and Joseph's profound faith...and their willingness to say 'yes' to God, despite great personal sacrifice.
The simplicity of the manger--no headlines, no world leaders to welcome Him...just a smelly, lonely manger and animals to welcome the Son of God to this world.
The simplicity of the shepherds...outcasts, loners, nothing special...
YET, the angels appeared to THEM!
"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 that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, 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 heaven,
and on earth peace to those 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.”
So 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." (Luke 2:8-18)
Angels announced the birth of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords...to shepherds.
Simple. Un-fancy. Profound.
"Gloria in Excelsis Deo"--"Glory to God in the Highest", and Peace to His people on earth.
Christmas--the birth of the baby...the entrance of God's Son, was to bring God glory and Peace to those who would believe--the shepherds first, but others too--leading all the way up to US!
This Christmas, clear out the clutter. Take some time to get back to the simple message of Jesus' birth.
Listen, sing along, and respond, as Mary, Joseph, and the Shepherds did--respond in FAITH!
Blessed Christmas,
DAve
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
The Baby Changes EVERYTHING!
The Baby Jesus...the Christ Child. We love this story.
It's nice that this baby was born, cattle were lowing, sheep were keeping Him warm...but the reality behind it was much more than a story, and THIS baby changed EVERYTHING--whether we're aware of it or not!
THIS baby was Lord of Creation, yet He became part of creation.
THIS baby was King of the world, yet He became subject to his parents.
THIS baby was Sovereign God, yet He subjected Himself to our limitations.
Why?
Because by THIS baby's life--and death--He would open up forgiveness to us. He would offer us new life--eternal life, and life 'to the full', here and now.
THIS baby changed EVERYTHING that day.
Have you let Him change YOU?
Blessed Christmas,
Dave
http://
It's nice that this baby was born, cattle were lowing, sheep were keeping Him warm...but the reality behind it was much more than a story, and THIS baby changed EVERYTHING--whether we're aware of it or not!
THIS baby was Lord of Creation, yet He became part of creation.
THIS baby was King of the world, yet He became subject to his parents.
THIS baby was Sovereign God, yet He subjected Himself to our limitations.
Why?
Because by THIS baby's life--and death--He would open up forgiveness to us. He would offer us new life--eternal life, and life 'to the full', here and now.
THIS baby changed EVERYTHING that day.
Have you let Him change YOU?
Blessed Christmas,
Dave
http://
Friday, December 17, 2010
Magical Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve...I look forward to it. Always have.
When I was a kid, Christmas Eve meant excitement, anticipation, cookies and milk for Santa, hanging the stockings...and trying to get to sleep!
There was always that 'deeper magic', though--that sense that, when I looked up and saw a really bright star in the sky, it might have been something like they saw on the night Jesus was born. This was the deeper mystery...and it touched my heart in a deeper place.
Today, Christmas Eve is still special...but for different reasons. There are new traditions--new pajamas, KCC's Christmas Eve service, Lori's special recipe cocoa and cookies. The 'deeper magic' is even more real, though--cuz now I understand it!
"...an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”
When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife...And Joseph named him Jesus.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose,and we have come to worship him.” (Matthew 1:21--2:2)
The mystery and magic of that night make Christmas Eve very special. Sometimes children know it's magical, but they don't yet know why. My hope and prayer is that, in the same way that their hearts are 'strangely stirred' on Christmas Eve...in the same way that mine was as a kid, their hearts will want to know more--about the REAL source of the 'magic'.
This Christmastime, may all of our responses be like those of the magi--we have come to worship Him!
Blessed Christmas,
Dave
When I was a kid, Christmas Eve meant excitement, anticipation, cookies and milk for Santa, hanging the stockings...and trying to get to sleep!
There was always that 'deeper magic', though--that sense that, when I looked up and saw a really bright star in the sky, it might have been something like they saw on the night Jesus was born. This was the deeper mystery...and it touched my heart in a deeper place.
Today, Christmas Eve is still special...but for different reasons. There are new traditions--new pajamas, KCC's Christmas Eve service, Lori's special recipe cocoa and cookies. The 'deeper magic' is even more real, though--cuz now I understand it!
"...an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”
When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife...And Joseph named him Jesus.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose,and we have come to worship him.” (Matthew 1:21--2:2)
The mystery and magic of that night make Christmas Eve very special. Sometimes children know it's magical, but they don't yet know why. My hope and prayer is that, in the same way that their hearts are 'strangely stirred' on Christmas Eve...in the same way that mine was as a kid, their hearts will want to know more--about the REAL source of the 'magic'.
This Christmastime, may all of our responses be like those of the magi--we have come to worship Him!
Blessed Christmas,
Dave
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Where Are You, Christmas?
If you've seen "The Grinch", you know this song...it gets in your head, and just stays there!
I love this song--partly because it's Faith Hill (who is great), but partly because this song touches a place in my heart that longs for a simpler time...a time in which Christmas was 'magical'.
Why is it that we can 'miss' Christmas so easily--that the tug of consumerism and chaos seems to sidetrack us so quickly that, despite our best intentions, Christmas comes and goes and we realize that we've 'missed it' again.
More accurately, we've missed "HIM" again.
Christmas is, of course, the day we celebrate Jesus' birth. His Incarnation. God becoming flesh--Emmanuel, "God With Us".
"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”(which means “God with us”). (Matthew 1:22-23)
The song asks the question, "Where are you Christmas? Why can't I find you?"...and I think I know the answer! We 'can't find' Christmas because we're looking in the wrong place.
The Grinch realizes this too--when he says (very well done by Jim Carrey, I might add) "Maybe Christmas doesn't...come from a store! Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."
When he realizes this, his heart changes...and ours can too!
This Christmas, spend more time contemplating the love of God, which caused Him to send Jesus to Earth. Spend less time worrying about what to buy whom, and what you'll get from whom, and more time worshipping at the manger!
Jesus--the Savior, the Messiah--came into the world to show the love and grace of God in every way possible. THAT is "Christmas", and THAT is where we will "find" it.
May He be real in YOUR life today.
Blessed Christmas,
Dave
I love this song--partly because it's Faith Hill (who is great), but partly because this song touches a place in my heart that longs for a simpler time...a time in which Christmas was 'magical'.
Why is it that we can 'miss' Christmas so easily--that the tug of consumerism and chaos seems to sidetrack us so quickly that, despite our best intentions, Christmas comes and goes and we realize that we've 'missed it' again.
More accurately, we've missed "HIM" again.
Christmas is, of course, the day we celebrate Jesus' birth. His Incarnation. God becoming flesh--Emmanuel, "God With Us".
"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”(which means “God with us”). (Matthew 1:22-23)
The song asks the question, "Where are you Christmas? Why can't I find you?"...and I think I know the answer! We 'can't find' Christmas because we're looking in the wrong place.
The Grinch realizes this too--when he says (very well done by Jim Carrey, I might add) "Maybe Christmas doesn't...come from a store! Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."
When he realizes this, his heart changes...and ours can too!
This Christmas, spend more time contemplating the love of God, which caused Him to send Jesus to Earth. Spend less time worrying about what to buy whom, and what you'll get from whom, and more time worshipping at the manger!
Jesus--the Savior, the Messiah--came into the world to show the love and grace of God in every way possible. THAT is "Christmas", and THAT is where we will "find" it.
May He be real in YOUR life today.
Blessed Christmas,
Dave
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Christmas Preparations--It's a WONDERFUL Life!
Ah, Christmas!
It's no secret: I LOVE this season!
The movies, the decorations, the songs...SO cool!
The most important thing, of course, is the story of Jesus' birth! Those who were able to attend "The Baby Changes Everything", KCC's Christmas program last weekend, know this...and we'll certainly talk about it over the next couple of weeks!
One of the movies I wanted to start these "Christmas Preparations" with was "It's a Wonderful Life", however. Not on overtly "Christian" movie (in fact, the theology is pretty rediculous), but it's a movie worth noting anyway...because it is too easy to forget the truth of the movie's title in this season of 'plenty'.
We are so surrounded with the message which says, in essence, that "If you love someone, you'll buy them lots of stuff", that it can positively depress those of us who can't buy much--or anything! If we're not careful, the 'spirit of this world', can blind us to the truth: That the value of a man's life lies in his relationship with those outside of himself--God, his family, and his friends.
Not only that, but this movie reminds us that it is in loving others--investing ourselves in them--that we make real 'investments' that will last. With every selfless act, we're putting a 'deposit' in the bank of humanity and relationships--and that's a good thing!
This movie also reminds us that the people who are TRULY 'rich' in this world are not those who have 'stuff', but those who have friends!
So, this Christmas season, don't get sucked into the "buy more stuff" mindset...instead rededicate yourself to investing in your relationships!
In this way, you--and those around you--will be blessed!
"Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:12)
Blessed Christmas,
Dave
It's no secret: I LOVE this season!
The movies, the decorations, the songs...SO cool!
The most important thing, of course, is the story of Jesus' birth! Those who were able to attend "The Baby Changes Everything", KCC's Christmas program last weekend, know this...and we'll certainly talk about it over the next couple of weeks!
One of the movies I wanted to start these "Christmas Preparations" with was "It's a Wonderful Life", however. Not on overtly "Christian" movie (in fact, the theology is pretty rediculous), but it's a movie worth noting anyway...because it is too easy to forget the truth of the movie's title in this season of 'plenty'.
We are so surrounded with the message which says, in essence, that "If you love someone, you'll buy them lots of stuff", that it can positively depress those of us who can't buy much--or anything! If we're not careful, the 'spirit of this world', can blind us to the truth: That the value of a man's life lies in his relationship with those outside of himself--God, his family, and his friends.
Not only that, but this movie reminds us that it is in loving others--investing ourselves in them--that we make real 'investments' that will last. With every selfless act, we're putting a 'deposit' in the bank of humanity and relationships--and that's a good thing!
This movie also reminds us that the people who are TRULY 'rich' in this world are not those who have 'stuff', but those who have friends!
So, this Christmas season, don't get sucked into the "buy more stuff" mindset...instead rededicate yourself to investing in your relationships!
In this way, you--and those around you--will be blessed!
"Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:12)
Blessed Christmas,
Dave
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