Not a Very “Christmassy” Christmas
Father, this has surely been a week of variety! Each day has held new experiences for me, at home and on my bus route. Thank You for Your stability in my life, and though nothing was totally crazy, I so appreciate Your guiding presence.
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I can’t help but look at where I find myself and think how different everything seems to be.
It is not like last year when we were in the middle of all the initial COVID shutdowns and mandates. School looked different. Church was limited, for our churches at least, to an online-only option. Holidays were local and limited. We had no interaction with family outside of our immediate area.
This year COVID is still impacting but in different ways. School interactions are not nearly as restrictive – just cautious. We are meeting in person and online for church. But this will be the second year in a row that we have not held an open house. (It has been our annual tradition to host people from both of our congregations with an evening of tasty food and wonderful fellowship in our home. We had done it for 17 straight years…until last year.) Other holiday traditions at our churches did not take place. There was no holiday dinner after Thanksgiving at the Beulah church, which meant, beyond our Advent wreath, we have no Christmas decorations up. One couple was kind enough to decorate the Liberty Chapel church, but we missed our usual Hanging of the Greens get together there with food and fellowship.
At this point where we live, we’ve had at least one or two decent snow events. This year so far, we’ve had one small one. It’s odd that really it has been pretty mild temperature-wise with a fair amount of rain. It’s not felt very festive for sure.
Our home is decorated for Christmas inside and out but just the other night I drove around our area a bit and saw a fair number of lit trees in people’s windows but very few have done much outside. Even the places I knew had set up outside décor were dark.
I’ve been listening to Christmas music at home since October (what can I say? I love it!) but have only caught bits and pieces of it when we’ve been out.
It’s just not been very “Christmassy” at least to our normal standards.
This past Sunday’s sermon was entitled, CELEBRATING THE SEASON WHATEVER YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES. I opened with a poem, No Christmas This Year. The last stanza read,
But if you lose Christmas when troubles befall,
You never have really had Christmas at all.
For once you have had it, it cannot depart
When you learn that true Christmas is Christ in your heart.
As I ponder what everything is like this year compared to years of the past, I realize that I need to adjust my perspective. Traditions and year-to-year occurrences are all well and good and I enjoy them so but not a single one of them changes what Christ did. He came and lived and accomplished His goal of offering Himself as a sacrifice for us all, for only blood would do. And He relinquished His all so that we might find salvation that we could not get any other way.
Lord Jesus, enable me to let this year be a year where You are enough. May I be grateful each day for Your gift to me. Amen.
Dec 16th, 2021, Thurs, 8:39 pm
Repetition…again
A day full of different things, Father, but definitely a good day all around. Thank You for the ability to accomplish the things I did. It is a gift from Your hand!
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I have struggled tonight with a very difficult topic, and even though I have invested a fair amount of time in preparation, I just don’t feel that I am knowledgeable enough to delve into it. So, since my time is quickly coming to a close, I feel compelled to share a post from yesteryear.
When I wrote this, I was working at Kohl’s and my schedule was such that I got up an hour early to pray, read, and write. This is the post in its entirety, opening and all. I pray you find it beneficial.
Dec 15th, 2021, Wed, 6:29 pm
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It is a struggle to get up out of my toasty bed, especially when another hour of sleep sounds so enticing but Proverbs 6:10-11 from the Amplified Bible helps me bring my thoughts back on track.
“Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to lie down and rest”— So your poverty will come like an approaching prowler who walks [slowly, but surely] And your need [will come] like an armed man [making you helpless].”
King Solomon may have been pointing to physical poverty, but it applies just as readily to spiritual poverty. Father, our time together is vital to my spiritual well-being. My relationship with You must be cultivated. It is of the utmost importance. Bless our time together. May I hear clearly what You have for me this day. Amen.
Matthew 6:7-13 (<<click here to read the passage)
It’s interesting in this passage to read Your warning against “repeating [our] words again and again” thinking that that is how our prayers are going to get answered and to see that it is immediately followed by a prayer You gave us, that many of us know by heart, that we repeat every Sunday in our worship together.
I have read where some think we should eliminate the Lord’s Prayer from public repetition, but I think what’s important to remember, once again, is the relationship aspect.
Several years ago, I attended a funeral service where the minister lead those gathered in the Lord’s Prayer and honestly, I felt he was trying to make sure he finished ahead of everyone else! It felt like it was a race to get through it as quickly as possible! Now I’m not questioning his relationship with You, Lord, but his prayer sure did not reflect that relationship.
Every Sunday both of my congregations (and our online service now!) repeat this prayer at the conclusion of our prayer time together and I purposely do not rush when I lead them in reciting it. I have preached on the importance of prayer and highlighted the wonderful aspects of this prayer You set before us as an example of how we should pray. But again, it comes down to our relationship with You. Repetition is not the problem – complacency is the problem.
Lord, help us to keep our hearts and minds in the right place. Help us to keep You in the right place. Repetition is a benefit, not a detriment if our hearts are set in pursuit of our relationship with You.
Dec 6th, 2017, Wed, 6:47 am
From Fisherman to Scholar!
What a day, Father! Thank You for getting me to the end of it. May I hear Your voice clearly that Your word may ring clear!
Acts 1:15-26 (<<click here to read the passage)
I read through this passage early this morning – probably around 5:15! – as I was finishing up my bowl of cereal for breakfast. It helps get an overview but as I reread it tonight, other things are standing out. I might write of the one tomorrow but the one I will deal with first has to do with what Peter had to say.
Though the Holy Spirit had yet to come in His full power upon them, He most assuredly had to be working through Peter. Remember, Peter was a simple fisherman. He probably had a remedial amount of training in the synagogue, but he was no scholar. His life’s focus was fishing and all the many things that went with it – when and where to fish, net maintenance, the operation of boats and sails, and how to handle a rudder. Those things were his expertise!
But here he stands in the presence of the 120 gathered there, and he is definitely large and in charge! He steps readily into those areas of responsibility. (Jesus knew what He was doing, didn’t He?)
Peter’s ability in the area of leadership is one thing but his ability to call forth very applicable portions of Scripture, I find utterly amazing! In his reference to what happened to Judas Iscariot and what now needed to be done, blows me away…and it had to be of the Holy Spirit!
He says in verse 21,
“This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It also says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’”
He quotes two separate portions of Scripture – both written by David, Jesus’ ancient ancestor – tying them together to do what needed to be done.
The first one is from Psalm 69:25,
Let their homes become desolate and their tents be deserted. NLT
The second is from Psalm 109:8,
Let his years be few; let someone else take his position. NLT
If you’ve ever read through the book of Psalms, you know that it is a large collection of verse. It is one part of the Bible’s Wisdom Literature. There are 150 psalms, some short and some much longer, but that is a lot to wade through and Peter just pulls these two verses seemingly out of the air…and they fit exactly where they are and what they need to do!
They quickly move on from Judas’ death to replacing him, bringing the core back to its original twelve in number. With the Holy Spirit’s direction, Matthias is chosen to fill the slot.
Don’t hesitate in stepping out to do what God has called you to do. He knows what you are capable of, even if you don’t have a clue! And it may be a bit cliché but you plus God is always a majority and there is absolutely nothing, you cannot do with Him by your side. There’s no better place to place your faith!
Dec 14th, 2021, Tues, 8:25 pm
Not Even Jesus’ Family Was Perfect
Father may our time be productive. As I looked over the passage earlier today, may the extra time that it has percolated in my heart and mind bring to mind what You would have me say. Amen.
Acts 1:12-14(<<click here to read the passage)
Being a part of a family can certainly be a handful. Some families may look like they have it all together but, truth be told, that is very rarely the case. And honestly, the free will that God has bestowed upon us impacts our relationship with Him, but it also impacts our relationship with others…families included.
In my life I’ve witnessed the workings of many families, some have been thoroughly immersed in the church and others have had almost nothing to do with it. And you may be surprised, that many times a stringently held religiosity doesn’t necessarily guarantee that every relationship that comes out of that initial family unit will be free of strife. I would say there is just about as much division and divorce as there is in any other family background situation.
I’ve also seen, families birthed out of very disjointed and dysfunctional families, that are whole and sound, full of love and stability.
Would you be surprised to hear that Jesus’ family wasn’t perfect? The One who was wholly God and wholly man unquestionably had family issues. Scripture seems to lean in the direction that Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph, the carpenter, died early on. So, that would mean that Jesus would take up the leadership role in his family.
Today’s passage tells us that after Jesus returned to Heaven that the disciples “met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.” v14
So, what do we know about Jesus’ family? Several New Testament passages refer to them but one that is pretty all-inclusive is Mark 6:3. It reads in part,
“[Jesus is] just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” NLT
There are at least six siblings that we know of. Scripture isn’t totally clear on their relationship with their older brother but all in all, it seems to point to them really not believing in who He was until after His resurrection.
His brother James (not the disciple by the same name) became a leader in the Jerusalem church. He also wrote a book that bears his name. Judas – also known as Jude – authored one of the New Testament epistles, as well.
So let me say this. Never give up on your family. Continually pray for them all – for those who don’t believe as well as for those who do. You know that life is hard, and it is no easier for any of them. Pray that those who believe will stand firm in that belief. And pray for those who have yet to believe. And just as important is to walk the talk before them. You may just be the only Bible they ever see!
Dec 13th, 2021, Mon, 6:32 pm
A Sip of Cold Water
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
….will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
….he is my God, and I trust him. Psalm 91:1-2 NLT
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The only reason I would not have my insulated cup of ice water on my bus with me every time I drive is that I inadvertently forget to bring it with me on rare occasions – even in the winter months. I don’t drink nearly all of it in the couple of hours I’m out, but I like having it with me to grab a sip when I feel like it.
One thing I’ve noticed is that, especially with my first drink, I can feel the coolness of it in my mouth. I can feel it flow through my esophagus. And then I can feel it glide right into my stomach. You probably think I’m weird, but it really is a pretty cool sensation. Of course, if I take another sip right after that, I don’t feel it the second time, but after several minutes without it, I notice it once more.
It’s cool because our Creator made the crowning glory of His creative genius so intricately detailed. Science discovers previously unknown things about the human body all the time.
For example, Massey was sharing with me recently that although anesthesia has been in use for well over 100 years, we’ve never really understood how it works…that is until the last couple of years. I’m talking 2020! They still don’t understand everything about it but they’re heading down the right path! (Don’t ask me for details, I tried reading a couple of articles on it, but it’s over my head!)
With all the advancement of science and technology, there are still things we don’t know and can’t figure out!
It reminds me of a favorite verse from the Book of Psalms. David wrote this one.
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
….and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
….Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
….as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
….Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
….before a single day had passed.
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
….They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them;
….they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
….you are still with me! Psalm 139:13-18 NLT
We most certainly are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (NKJV). We are special. We are by no means an accident. God made each of us. And He knows each of us, through and through!
I love it when the simplest things of life remind me that our Sovereign God is in charge, and I am in His ever-loving hands!
Dec 12th, 2021, Sun, 8:15 pm