Of all the holiday's celebrated, Christmas is a holiday that crosses all denominational boundaries and prejudices. Those who don't know what the celebration is truly about, join in the festivities. It is that one time of year where the hearts and minds of people are focused around that one Holy event that took place 2000 years ago.
As I consider all the traditions of people that have evolved since that night long ago, I stand in awe of God and his wisdom that in one moment we are united. Time spent in considering that precious gift given, so that we would know his love for us.
Although it has become a season of stress, trial and tragedy, it was never intended to be that way. It's not about all the busyness, decorations, buying gifts or parties. It's not about being perfect or living a perfect life. It is about Jesus our Christ our Savior. We can never out give God. We can never achieve the perfect standard of giving love as he revealed to us.
Let your mind wonder back to that little village, in the middle of nowhere, to a stable where livestock were kept. Close your eyes and imagine the stable smells, musty, dried grass and animal dung. The only light was a few oil burning lamps and the stars. Now hear the lowing of those animals and the cry of a woman in childbirth. Imagine the creator of all came into his creation in this way. The King of Glory, Honor and Praise!!!
In obscurity, without the fanfare and pageantry that one would expect for a king, this is what the scriptures say about the birth of Jesus. In Luke's account, he states that when Jesus was born, an angel told a group of shepherds that the king was born. “Don't be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior- yes, the Messiah, the Lord-has been born tonight in Bethlehem- City of David” (Luke 2:10-11).
Then the angel told them where to find him and how to recognize him. “You'll find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped in strips of cloth” (Luke 2:12). Then a vast army of angels appeared praising God, “Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth to all whom God favors!!” (Luke 2:13-14). Getting over their shock, the shepherds ran to the city to see the baby. Just as they were told about the baby, they began telling everyone about whom they had seen and they had heard. (Luke 2:15-20).
The sign of hope was not the woman giving birth, neither in the angel's message nor the praises of the shepherds whom they had been invited to see. The sign of hope was the baby, the one who prophets foretold, who the angels sang and the one who came to buy us back from slavery. He is the sign that God keeps all his promises to us.
Let's not let get caught up in what gifts we can and can not buy, or the friends and family that we can't be with or the busyness and stress this season brings, but let us focus on what we do have. We have the love of God, whose love knows no bounds. We have the saving grace of Jesus who rescued us from death. Let us put our hope in God from where all blessings flow.
May your light so shine in the love of Christ! Merry Christmas!!!
Copyright©2010 tathorpe-All Rights Reserved-
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Naughty or Nice?
One of the traditions of Christmas most children enjoy is writing to Santa. With pen in hand, they write the biggest letter of the year, hoping Santa will bring that one gift, making everything right in the universe. Special care is taken to tell Santa what good little boys or girls they've been, so it shouldn't be hard for Santa to reward them. Secretly hoping he doesn't discover that they had fudged a little on the “good” part.
I remember my brothers, sister and I would have a secret meeting to discuss what we would ask Santa for. Several weeks before Christmas, we'd sit at the kitchen table writing our letters. Beginning with the things we wanted most, then in descending order, telling Santa all the things we'd like. Socks and underwear were not part of our lists.
When we received socks and underwear, it was a sure sign of the dreaded “naughty” list. Growing up in a family of limited means, we still hoped for that one special gift from Santa that we knew our parents couldn't provide. Sometimes, to our surprise it would come and we'd think we made the “nice” list.
That is the world we grew up in, being taught rewards for good behavior while less than good, received scorn. This is known as “conditional” acceptance. We learned that anything less than good behavior, was unworthy of benefits.
Because many relationships are based in condition, we believe that the Lord's acceptance of us is also based on our good behavior. We don't want to end up on the naughty list on Judgment Day, being sent to Hell, while those on the nice list go to Heaven.
Our acceptance by God is not based on our performance, but based on his love. Before sin ever came into the picture, God loved us and chose us to be his special creation. Even after sin separated us from him, he declared he would redeem us.
“The Lord said, “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself” (Jeremiah 31:3 NLT)
“He will listen to the prayers of the destitute; He will not reject their pleas. Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a nation yet to be created will praise the Lord. Tell them the Lord looked down from his heavenly sanctuary. He looked to the earth from heaven to hear the groans of the prisoners, to release those condemned to die.” (Psalms 102:17-20 NLT)
“The Lord is merciful and gracious; he is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love”
“He has not punished us for all our sins, nor does he deal with us the way we deserve”
“He has removed our rebellious acts, as far away as the east is from the west”
(Psalms 103: 8; 10; 12 NLT)
The “naughty” list was nailed to the cross and all record of wrongs have been destroyed. (Romans 5:9-10). We have been given the special gift that made everything right in the universe, Jesus Christ!
“Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God, because of what Jesus Christ our Lord, has done for us” (Romans 5:1 NLT)
Let this be a season of Joy!!
Copyright©2010 tathorpe-All Rights Reserved-
I remember my brothers, sister and I would have a secret meeting to discuss what we would ask Santa for. Several weeks before Christmas, we'd sit at the kitchen table writing our letters. Beginning with the things we wanted most, then in descending order, telling Santa all the things we'd like. Socks and underwear were not part of our lists.
When we received socks and underwear, it was a sure sign of the dreaded “naughty” list. Growing up in a family of limited means, we still hoped for that one special gift from Santa that we knew our parents couldn't provide. Sometimes, to our surprise it would come and we'd think we made the “nice” list.
That is the world we grew up in, being taught rewards for good behavior while less than good, received scorn. This is known as “conditional” acceptance. We learned that anything less than good behavior, was unworthy of benefits.
Because many relationships are based in condition, we believe that the Lord's acceptance of us is also based on our good behavior. We don't want to end up on the naughty list on Judgment Day, being sent to Hell, while those on the nice list go to Heaven.
Our acceptance by God is not based on our performance, but based on his love. Before sin ever came into the picture, God loved us and chose us to be his special creation. Even after sin separated us from him, he declared he would redeem us.
“The Lord said, “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself” (Jeremiah 31:3 NLT)
“He will listen to the prayers of the destitute; He will not reject their pleas. Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a nation yet to be created will praise the Lord. Tell them the Lord looked down from his heavenly sanctuary. He looked to the earth from heaven to hear the groans of the prisoners, to release those condemned to die.” (Psalms 102:17-20 NLT)
“The Lord is merciful and gracious; he is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love”
“He has not punished us for all our sins, nor does he deal with us the way we deserve”
“He has removed our rebellious acts, as far away as the east is from the west”
(Psalms 103: 8; 10; 12 NLT)
The “naughty” list was nailed to the cross and all record of wrongs have been destroyed. (Romans 5:9-10). We have been given the special gift that made everything right in the universe, Jesus Christ!
“Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God, because of what Jesus Christ our Lord, has done for us” (Romans 5:1 NLT)
Let this be a season of Joy!!
Copyright©2010 tathorpe-All Rights Reserved-
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