Christmas Day, Saturday, December 25, 2021

"Rest and Reset"

All is quiet.  All is calm, and all is bright.  Finally, Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem last night.  After a long, pregnant journey, they can finally rest.  Or can they?

I would love to think that the baby Jesus didn’t cry when he needed something.  I would also love to think that baby Jesus slept through every night from the time he was born.  But that would be stretching things, wouldn’t it?  Were Mary and Joseph able to rest after the birth of the baby?

When I think of the Holy family, it’s difficult for me to not think about the challenges that they would face from a world that doesn’t always want to be saved.  From reading the Bible, I know that they would not experience “Rest” for a while, if at all.  However, “Rest” may not have been the objective.  Instead, I think the purpose of Christmas was a “Reset”, or a new beginning. 

New beginnings are not always quiet.  Nor are they always Peaceful or Joyful.  New beginnings don’t always feel Loving, either.  But that’s okay.  We don’t need the Rest as much as we need the Reset.  It is the need for Reset that Jesus entered the world.  We need a do-over.  We need a new deal.

Christmas represents that new beginning that all of us could use.  Mary, Joseph, and the Baby Jesus didn’t have an easy life.  They were not fabulously wealthy and there were plenty of times of great struggle.  But that didn’t matter.  God still chose them, and God still chose us.  God chose to endure great challenges so that all of us might have Hope. 

Today is Christmas.  It’s a day of Reset. Christ has come, In Us and With Us, to change and reset Us.  All is calm and all is bright because God chose to give us the Light of His Love.  Because of Christ, we can start over and be His Light in a dark world. 

May Christmas shine bright in Us today, Forever and Always, as we carry Christ to the world!  Christ The Savior is Born! 

Merry Christmas!

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  (John 8:12, ESV).

 1 Day to Christmas, Friday, Dec 24, 2021

“Christmas Invitation”

Whew!  Is anyone else breathing a sigh of relief?  It’s finally here, the long-awaited day.  I’m not referring to Christmas Day; I’m expressing some relief because Christmas Eve has finally arrived.  This is a big day for folks who are leading and participating in Christmas Eve worship services.  We’ve written, prayed, studied, read, and rehearsed.  I’m ready.  (You are, too…even if the nerves are trying to take over.  You’ve got this!)

While many of us are planning to attend worship today, most of the population is not.  Some who don’t attend services are shying away from the crowds due to pandemic concerns.  This is a valid reason to not attend.  However, most people will not be attending worship because they don’t know that today is different from any other day in their spiritual lives. 

Those of us taking time to read a devotion probably know of the powerful experience a Christmas Eve worship service can deliver.  So many others, however, don’t know what Christmas Eve can do for them.  As Christians, this is our prime opportunity to invite folks to church.  We don’t necessarily have to invite them to our own church, but we can help steer them in the right direction today, possibly giving them a gift that they’ll treasure forever.  Even if they don’t want to attend in person because of obvious concerns, steer them to a Livestream.  There’s plenty to choose from, but a Livestream from your church is a great option to offer them.

Christmas is about the giving and receiving of a personal invitation to receive the LORD.  It would seem that everyone would understand it, but they don’t.  It’s not their fault.  They can’t love what they don’t know.  We’ve been there.  Today, let’s be intentional about spreading the Good News of Christmas.  

This is the moment that God created for everyone!  Invite someone to Christmas Eve!

“In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.  All went to their own towns to be registered.  Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.  He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.”  (Luke 2:1-6, NRSV).

 2 Days to Christmas, Thursday, Dec 23, 2021

“This is OUR Christmas!”

Boy, Howdy!  The Christmas countdown has blown by us.  Where did all the time go?  How do I not have everything finished?  I’ve accomplished lots of things, but I still don’t feel like I’m ready!

If you’re a parent like me, you know what it’s like to feel unprepared and unqualified.  I’m referring to the birth of your first child.  We had read the books, listened to lots of advice, and when the time finally arrived, we never felt more helpless.  There’s no real way to explain it, is there?  It’s just one of those things that you have to experience yourself to understand.

Mary and Joseph must have had a very interesting 9 ½ months.  “Interesting” is probably not the right word.  Is it possible to imagine the overwhelming feelings when one is pregnant with God?  Or, for us dads, is it possible for us to imagine being the stepfather to Christ?  Holy smokes!  That kind of pressure doesn’t seem fair.  And yet, it is these two, poor and unqualified people that God chooses to enter our world.

Lots of times in life, I have felt unprepared, unqualified, and unworthy.  I’ve studied… a lot!  I’ve experienced highs that I didn’t know existed and lows that I wish didn’t exist.  I’ve received help and advice from the world’s best and I’ve learned to have the patience of the prophet Job.  Yet still, when the most important things surface, I still feel like I’m not ready.

Here comes Christmas.  Santa Claus, gingerbread houses, and candy canes are just part of it… just like the lines, gift lists, and unexpected surprises.  I’ve worked diligently to be ready and accomplished plenty, yet I still feel unprepared. 

What I often forget is that the LORD created Christmas so that I don’t have to be worried about being unqualified, unprepared, and unworthy.  Yes, I am all of those things.  However, God knows it and God was already on top of the problem by the time I figured it out.  This is my Christmas.  This is OUR Christmas.  It is OURS, not because of what we deserved or what we’ve accomplished, but because of who God is:  God is love.  That’s enough for all of us.

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness — on them light has shined.  For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  (Isaiah 9:2, 6, NRSV).

 3 Days to Christmas, Wednesday, Dec 22, 2021

“God Bless Mama”  

It’s the Hump Day before Christmas and it’s all downhill from here.  I’m guessing that Santa’s workshop has stopped production.  A few of us are still trying to click an express shipping button to receive it by Christmas, but we’re gonna pay through Rudolph’s nose to receive it in time.  Production is finished.  The elves are putting away their tools and beginning to clean the factory, preparing for next year’s gifts.  In other words, this is our last chance to find something for our loved one, and if it’s not already on a store shelf nearby, we’ll be in trouble.  Oh well, there’s always next year!

After Mary was visited by the Angel, Mary left town and visited her elder cousin, Elizabeth.  Elizabeth was also miraculously pregnant, long after she and her husband had quit hoping for a child.  The encounter of the two women is quite beautiful and very interesting as described in the Gospel of Luke.  

We forget that the two women, who were each carrying a vital piece of God’s plan of salvation, had few options.  Their day-to-day lives were far from easy and they had to make the best of their situations.  Then, once their children were born, their challenges would increase exponentially.  But this was not the beginning of misery.  Rather, it was the start of a lifetime of blessings.

Let’s not allow these next few days to pass without giving God some big thanks for orchestrating a symphony through these two mothers, plus all the other moms who made huge sacrifices, forgoing their own wants and needs, to ensure that we received something special at Christmas.  Remember, someone had to say, “Yes, LORD,” for our Christmas to be possible.  

Elizabeth said, “When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.  You are blessed because you believed that the LORD would do what He said.”  (Luke 1:45, NLT).

 4 Days to Christmas, Tuesday, Dec 21, 2021

“Choose Option C”

Yep!  Just four more days until Christmas!  Today is a mess; today is also calm.  Today is bothersome; today is also peaceful.  I’ve got some unhappiness, but truth be told, life is joyful.  As the countdown nears my favorite day, I find that the chaotic problems are intersecting with the joyful calm that only Christmas can create.  It’s really odd and, every year, I expect it.  Now that I’m seeing it, I have to admit: Christmas is really incredible!

Only Christmas can take a completely messed up situation and bring a lifetime of blessings from it.  When Mary told Joseph that she was pregnant and that the baby was conceived by God, I’m fairly certain Joseph felt like he had been kicked by the mule in the backyard.  There’s no way that Joseph could make any sense of what Mary was saying.  According to religious law, Joseph had only two choices: Option A - Divorce Mary (they weren’t even married yet), or Option B - Turn her in to the authorities, likely resulting in her death.

God had a different plan!  God sent an angel to encourage Joseph to choose Option “C”:  Keep Mary and take her as his wife, a choice that human law and tradition didn’t provide.  Am I the only one who is amazed by that?

God always provides an option when it looks like there’s no hope!  It’s an option that provides and protects life.  We might feel as though everyone is frowning upon us and our messed-up situation.  Let ‘em frown.  God is smiling and giving us another option.

Choose “Option C”.  Choose Christmas.

“...An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit’…When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife.”  (Matthew 1:20b, 24, NRSV)

 5 days to Christmas, Monday, Dec 20, 2021

“Fear Not!”

It’s getting real. Five Days until Christmas!  I’m afraid I may not finish my shopping list for gifts and groceries.  I’m afraid I’ve messed up the gifts I’ve already purchased.  I’m afraid I don’t have enough energy to make it to Christmas, that I don’t have enough money to pay for the things I purchased, and I’m afraid I’ve forgotten something really important.

Christmas is coming, whether or not I’m ready. And, in addition to all Christmas will bring, there’s all the stuff of the next day, too: Back at the grind on a Sunday morning, when I really want to sleep in…and I’ve got to clean up and put up all the tinsel, ornaments,  and the thousands of lights, which I somehow have to keep from getting tangled in the takedown!  How on earth is any of this supposed to really be “merry” when the spirit of Christmas is sucking the Joy, Peace, and Hope out of my sanity?!  It doesn’t make me feel Lovable or Loving. 

Yet this is exactly how Christmas arrives, even from the beginning. Scripture tells of an angel's announcement to young Mary, somewhere between thirteen and fifteen years old, who hears that she is (somehow) pregnant and will give birth to the long-awaited Messiah. Her reply is so different from what we expected:  “Yes! Bring it! God is finally coming to free the captive and bring peace to humankind and justice to the oppressed!  I AM READY!”

That’s my paraphrased version, anyhow.  The Angel begins by telling Mary “Fear Not”. Ironically (or not), Scripture declares “Fear Not” 365 times. It’s as if God is telling us every day “Fear not, I’m with you” every day of the year. “I’m here, kiddo… don’t be afraid”.  

Don’t be afraid of the bills. 

Don’t be afraid of Cousin Eddie’s behavior. 

Don’t be afraid of everything that will most certainly go wrong on Christmas Eve. 

Don’t be afraid of that catastrophe that is waiting the day after Christmas. 

Don’t be afraid of how you will get through this nightmare: diagnosis of illness or even pandemic, loss, or threats to your Peace, Joy, or Hope. 

Don’t be afraid!  Why?  Because Love has arrived.

Love is here, 365 Days a year.  Fear Not. Immanuel - “God with Us” - has arrived. 365 reminders wrapped in the swaddling baby boy, who you and I need and each of us can share with the world at Christmas and every day of the year. 

Christmas is coming, ready or not!  But have no fear: Immanuel is here! 

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (which means, 'God is with us').”  (Isaiah, 7:14, ESV).

 6 Days to Christmas, Sunday, Dec 19, 2021

The Key to Christmas

Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the week attributed to the theme of LOVE.  I suppose that LOVE makes the most sense of all of the themes, especially since it is the reason we have Christmas.  It would be easy to lean on John 3:16 and call it a day, but quoting a Bible verse doesn’t really help people who don’t take the time to read devotions, attend church, or serve in their community.  Those folks, which represent three out of four people in our population, need a little more.

Something that might be helpful for us to be aware of: God could have chosen many other ways to handle humanity.  Despite our imperfections, mistakes, and problems, the LORD Loves us and chooses to save us.  God didn’t make it complicated so let’s not do it, either.  Christmas allows all of us to have a chance to turn things around in our own lives so that we might become a part of something bigger, better, and eternal.

We who are believers have an incredible opportunity at Christmas.  Our culture is engulfed with Christmas, neck-deep in blinking lights and decorations.  Even those who do not share our Faith are celebrating!  As God’s people, we can demonstrate Love for the world in ways that our world culture understands.  Sharing our resources, giving a kind word in the midst of conflict, and allowing a stranger to accept our place in line are just a few examples of God’s Love that we can give.  With a little thought, I’m guessing that we can come up with many other ways to show others that God LOVES them.

Christmas arrives because God loves humanity and wants only the best for us.  Christ’s arrival symbolizes a chance for all people to receive eternal life.  When it comes down to it, none of us really need to receive anything else for Christmas.

This week, let’s demonstrate the LOVE that God has provided to the world through Christmas.. and maybe keep in mind the ole’ John:3:16… after all, God so Loved ALL the world. Let’s show the world lots of LOVE this week!  It’s the Key to Christmas!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”  (John 3:16, NRSV).

 7 Days to Christmas, Saturday, Dec 18, 2021

“Guaranteed to Forget (Fill in the Blank)!”

Woohoo!  Just one week until Christmas and today is the last Saturday of shopping!  We have a Guarantee that roads will be full of vehicles, sidewalks packed with baby strollers and pooch walkers, and the stores will be crammed like sardines in a can.  Woohoo!

As I’ve matured (a nice way to say that I’m old), I’ve learned that when I’m busy, I am Guaranteed to forget something.  I’ll look for an hour after misplacing my keys, only to find them in my hands.  I’ll lose my sunglasses and discover them on my head.  I’ll leave my home and have to come back because I forgot something…not once, or even twice, but three times I’ll unlock my door to retrieve something.  After maneuvering through the traffic, I’ll arrive at my destination.  I’ll return home, and then realize that I forgot the one item I was supposed to bring back.

I make a list only to misplace it or leave it at work.  I put notes on my phone to send reminders, but forget to take my phone off of “Silent” or “Do Not Disturb.”  Even though I work diligently to fix my forgetfulness, it still occurs.

Thankfully, the LORD doesn’t forget.  The LORD promised a Savior and the LORD delivered Christmas.  The LORD continues to remember each one of us, every day.  It would seem that if we could remember anything, it would be that the LORD is always there for us.  Yet during the “busyness” of the Holidays, it’s easy to forget the LORD (who our Christmas is about!).

Today, let’s try to remember the LORD.  When we see the lines of people and cars, let’s remember that the LORD loves them.  When we encounter someone who isn’t polite, let’s remember that the LORD loves them.  When we see the decorations, play with the toys, and enjoy our favorite foods, let’s remember that all of them are made possible by the LORD.

I can Guarantee that I’ll forget something today, but I’m not going to forget the LORD!  

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalm 118:24, NRSV).

 8 Days to Christmas, Friday, Dec 17, 2021

“Can Santa Wear Green?”

Is Santa allowed to wear a green suit instead of a red one?  In case you didn’t know, the earliest images of Saint Nicholas actually show him wearing a green suit, not red.  The LORD provided us with multiple people who are called by the title, “Saint Nicholas”, but the one we are referring to is Saint Nicholas of Myra, who is the one we lovingly call, “Santa Claus”.  

Our culture is loaded with traditions, laws, and customs that originate in the Church.  Our Calendar is rooted in the Church.  Our legal and justice systems, responses when someone sneezes, weddings, funerals, mealtime blessings, weekends off from work, and countless other things are squarely founded upon the teachings from the Church.  Yes, even Christmas came from the Church.

Now, if you’re like many of us who have been hurt by The Church in the past, don’t quit reading yet.  The Church has made plenty of mistakes, intentional and accidental, and some very bad.  However, over the course of history, it would be impossible to calculate the amount of good that had come through The Church.  Nothing stands as strong as The Church, especially this time of the year.  Why?  Because God is protecting The Church.

That’s right, God is protecting The Church.  God has promised that even in the worst of times, a remnant of The Church will survive and grow again.  Yes, nothing has withstood the pains of history like The Church.  In fact, it has been during the most difficult times of history that The Church has grown and flourished the most.  (WARNING!  This is also a metaphor.  Go back and substitute your name where you see the words,  “The Church”, in the preceding two paragraphs.)

So, enough of that.  Santa used to wear green because green is the symbolic color of life.  Saint Nicholas of Myra is best known for his protection of other people, giving them the opportunity to receive a new start in life.  As images of St. Nicholas first surfaced in the 4th Century, green was chosen for that reason.

Go to Church this Christmas Season.  Wear green, red, or any color you wish.  God doesn’t care what you wear.  God just wants you.

“This is what the Lord says:  ‘Just as the heavens cannot be measured and the foundations of the earth cannot be explored, so I will not consider casting them away for the evil they have done.  I, the Lord, have spoken!’ “ (Jeremiah, 31:37, NLT).

 9 Days to Christmas, Thursday, Dec 16, 2021

“They Take Care of Us”

Unless folks (or their families) have worked at a church, it’s impossible to communicate the stretch and the stress that arrives this time of year.  This is the church’s metaphorical “Hail Mary” as we approach the upcoming week:  Multiple worship services requiring lots of logistics and multiple bulletins, end-of-the-year newsletters, planning of next year’s groups and activities, plus all of the extra events on the calendar, create pressure that’s impossible to describe unless you’ve experienced it yourself. 

Church staff and their families make incredible sacrifices of time for a solid eight weeks leading up to Christmas. There is no time away from work before Christmas, be that for grocery or gift shopping, or a few nights at home where the work does not continue.  The holiday countdown leaves little time for their families at a time when their loved ones need them the most! 

Before you think this is a plea to buy gifts for your church staff, this writer must interject: personal past experience has given me a micro-view of the sacrifices of others around me. Specifically, the experiences of emergency personnel, municipal workers, retailers, and small business owners who work long hours to make sure our homes are safe, streets are clean and safe for the increased traffic, and that the needed sales figures are achieved to complete a difficult, COVID-related year.

It’s likely that you, too, know someone who works exceptionally long hours this time of year.  It might be good to check on them.  Encouragement is likely an unexpected and welcomed lift. “Thank you’s”, notes or cards of encouragement, or even a gesture to their spouse or children might lift their spirits. They probably can’t take time off to join you for coffee, but a random text of love and appreciation can help relax some very tense muscles.  After all, they receive more complaints and aggravations from the general public now than at any other time of year. 

Thus far, our focus this week has been on finding JOY. Today, commit to giving JOY to those that ensure it for the rest of us!  In loving others, we can bring JOY to God, too. 

“Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves.  Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others.”  (Philippians 2:3-4, CEB).

 10 Days to Christmas, Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021

“Blast Off!”

10-9-8-7…and so the countdown continues.  When I was a child, I would stand on the back of the couch (not advisable) and prepare to launch.  I would say, “Countdown!  Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven…”  When I reached “0”, I would holler “Blast Off!”, and I’d jump.  Sometimes I would jump with the intention of landing on my little sister.  Other times, I would pretend to be Superman, leaping over tall buildings in a single bound.  I don’t remember any serious injury that resulted from my Blast-offs, nor do I remember breaking any furniture in the process.  However, I do remember that once the countdown was at 10, the numbers moved much more quickly because of my excitement.

That’s how Christmas arrives.  Today is ten, and then tomorrow is nine.  The days move faster and faster.  Before I know it, I’ll be enjoying a nice cold beverage after the candlelight service on Christmas Eve.  However, I’m not there yet.  I’ve still got to punch through a growing list of items that appear without an invitation on my doorstep, vying to take my JOY.  When Advent began, I didn’t have much to do before Christmas.  Now, as the countdown continues and I’m moving towards the couch to prepare for a Blast-off, I’m beginning to wonder whether this trip is really necessary…time moves faster and the chaos dampens the Joy, replacing it with anxiety and even frustration.

When I was younger, I couldn’t wait to get a little older so that I could enjoy the really cool gifts at Christmastime.  Now that I’m older, I wish I was young again so I could enjoy those really cool, vintage gifts that I received over the years.  I’m struggling to make up my mind as I climb into the nosecone of my rocketship and begin the balancing act of standing on the back of the couch.  No mom or dad is here to warn or scold me.  No sisters to pounce on and no big brothers to push me before I’m ready.  Nope, it’s just me and my countdown… And just like nostalgia for childhood, this Christmas will soon pass with a longing for this year's heartwarming, happy, and even thrilling moments. Will the countdown deliver when I remember it several weeks from now?

The numbers are moving past at warp speed, Scottie, but in some ways, that’s a good thing.  For those of us that are still searching for the HOPE, PEACE, JOY, and LOVE of a real Christmas experience, the quickening countdown is a sign that God is moving us closer to something very real, much needed, and greatly desired.  Namely, we are that much closer to the blessings that God promises through Christmas.    

We just need to ask ourselves now and then, “When the countdown reaches “0” and we Blast-off, where will we land?”  Santa’s sack would be a great place to land, but the best result would be landing into the arms of the LORD.

“So teach us to number our days, that we may cultivate and bring to You a heart of wisdom.”  (Psalm 90:12, Amplified Bible).

 11 Days to Christmas, Tuesday, Dec 14, 2021

“If You’re Behind this Christmas”

If you’ve been following this countdown, you’re well aware of the speed by which the calendar is flying this year.  I remember when I began writing the countdown for this Christmas  (see “It’s Time to Have Hope!”, Sunday, Nov 28, 2021).  The point of the article was to encourage us about the HOPE of this Christmas.  Are you seeing HOPE yet?  Where have you seen it?  If you haven’t found any HOPE yet, you’re more than a week behind.   Keep looking!  Don’t give up!

What about PEACE?  We spent the entirety of last week chasing Advent PEACE (see “Blessed are the Cheesemakers”, Sunday, Dec 5, 2021).  I’m curious:  Have you found PEACE?  If so, where did you experience it?  If you haven’t found any PEACE this year, you’re just a couple of days behind.  Keep looking!

This third week of Advent is focused on JOY.  While we’re still searching for HOPE and PEACE, keep a lookout for sources of JOY.  We need joyful, happy moments this Christmas just to differentiate ourselves from last year. Years from now, we don’t want our descendants lumping this Christmas (2021) together with Voldemort (The-Christmas-that-shall-not-be-named) from last year.

Never fear!  Our Christmas isn’t nearly as challenging as lots of Christmases in the past.  We’re already blessed, equipped, and experienced.  If Mary and Joseph could find JOY in giving birth to a Jewish baby who was conceived out of wedlock in First Century Palestine, and if our ancestors could find JOY in their Christmases that came in the midst of war, plague, economic depression, and natural disasters, I think we can find it, too.  (Even if it's on Amazon and Google!)

Oh for heaven's sake! We could always just take the easy way!  Just turn to God and start praying, asking God to show us the simple gifts of HOPE, PEACE, JOY, and LOVE.   All we gotta do is open our eyes, ears, and heart, and hold on tight!  Here comes Christmas, right on time!

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”  (Matthew 7:7-8, NIV).

12 Days to Christmas, Monday, Dec 13, 2021

“Traditions: Love ‘Em or Leave 'Em?”

It’s another Happy Monday with 12 Days until Christmas! No, it’s not about the song! Actually, I have great news: If you received a partridge and a seedling pear tree on your doorstep this morning, you can send them back from whence they came. The Twelve Days of Christmas do not begin until Christmas Day, so your fears of receiving another eleven days’ worth of gifts may be alleviated (at least, for now).

With twelve days in our countdown until Christmas, this is the first day of the week we attribute to JOY (Joy is one of four Advent themes: Hope, Peace, JOY, and Love). Though giving and receiving gifts are viewed as the most popular sources of JOY this time of year, holiday traditions are viewed by lots of people as the most sentimental sources of JOY. Kisses under the mistletoe, Christmas trees, and stockings hanging by the chimney with care are just a few of these sentiments. Holiday music, television programs, films, and colorful sweaters, twinkling lights, and cookie decorating are more of the many traditions that make Christmas joyful!

It’s fun to learn about the many traditions that families, churches, and cultures celebrate this time of the year. While we might view some traditions in our homes as ridiculous, we cherish others, allowing us the opportunity to choose our favorites when we start our own homes. But whatever your favorites might be, I’ve always felt it important to be able to experience JOY within them. Otherwise, why continue them if they aren’t pleasing?

And yet, that last statement is incorrect. Some traditions are important because they help preserve our identity. Other traditions are important because they help us to remain focused on something greater than our own personal happiness. There are many other reasons to maintain traditions, all of them valid. But we can't keep every tradition!

What traditions do you keep and which have you chosen to forget? Unfortunately, none of us can forget the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” No matter how many times musicians try to arrange it, the tradition of having to listen to that song gets worse every year.

“Remember the days long past; consider the years long gone. Ask your father, he will tell you about it; ask your elders, they will give you the details…” (Deuteronomy 32:7, CEB).

 13 Days to Christmas, Sunday, Dec 12, 2021

“We can do this, Mr. Grinch!”

The theme of the third Sunday of Advent is JOY.  Joy is likely the easiest theme to understand because Christmas is all about being happy and bringing happiness to the ones we love, right?  Sure, Hope, Peace, and Love (week four) are important, but ain’t Christmas all about the HAPPY, HAPPY, JOY, JOY?

Watching the Christmas movies on television these last few weeks, I’ve been particularly interested in something that the Grinch (Jim Carrey’s version) says to the people in Whoville.  When one of the female Who’s is offered a car and diamond ring to accept a marriage proposal, the Grinch gives the people of Whoville a dramatic speech:

“Gifts…That’s what it’s always been about.  Do you want to know what happens to your gifts?  They come to me, in your garbage.  You see what I’m saying, in your Garbage!  I could hang myself with all the bad Christmas neckties I found at the dump.  The avarice never ends!  (He points to the crowd.)  ‘I want golf clubs.  I want diamonds.  I want a pony so I can ride it twice, get bored, and then sell it to make glue.’ “

The tirade is funny but it’s causing me to stop and think for a moment.  How do I usually try to bring joy to my loved ones?  By purchasing gifts, which are sometimes randomly chosen because of their convenience rather than their relevance to the recipient.  Yep, there it is.  I said it.  I’ve been guilty (more than once) of a late-night Christmas Eve rush to a 24-hour drug store to get that gift that makes no sense whatsoever.

What to do?  Maybe this year, we can choose gifts that make a difference.  Letters, phone calls, and personal visits are great gift ideas.  Homemade goodies and personally handmade crafts are unique, as are framed photos and artwork of ourselves and our loved ones.

Christmas doesn’t need to carry a huge cost.  Christmas just needs our time, attention, and loving consideration for those around us.  Save bad gifts from the dump and leave them on the store shelves!  We can do this, Mr. Grinch!

“Everyone should give whatever they have decided in their heart. They shouldn’t give with hesitation or because of pressure. God loves a cheerful giver.”  (2 Corinthians 9:7, CEB).

14 Days to Christmas, Saturday, Dec 11, 2021

“I promise that I will not complain about Christmas stuff this year.”

Wow!  It’s only two more weeks until Christmas and I’m already halfway through the devotions.  YeeHaw!  It’s not that I dislike writing devotions, but at times it is a chore.  I do it because I know I’m supposed to do it (I negotiated with God many years ago).  I sometimes complain about writing them, but after I’m finished with all of them, I begin to miss them.

It’s so strange and mysterious how God works.  Sometimes, the things we view as tedious become some of the biggest blessings.  At Christmastime, lots of things can be seen as tedious.  Fighting the traffic, shopping, cooking, and doing things for someone else is all part of the Christmas experience.  We complain silently (or loudly), yet when it's over, we’ll begin to miss Christmas and kinda’ wish it was still here.

We’ve already talked about trying to slow down a little (see the “Hurry Up and Slow Down” devotion, Monday, Dec 6, 2021).  It might also be helpful to start paying more attention to our chores, or the things that are sometimes tedious.  Questions such as, “Why is this my responsibility?” or “What’s the purpose of this activity?” may open our eyes (and heart) a little more.  

Christmas is not supposed to be a chore.  Christmas is supposed to free us from the chains we wrapped around ourselves during the year.  Maybe that’s why we miss Christmas after it's over:  We recognize that in the midst of our complaining, God was busy at work, giving us the blessings that we needed the most.

I may regret this, but now that I’ve made myself feel guilty, I’ll do it anyway.  I promise that I will not complain about the following Christmas-related stuff this year:  writing devotions, traffic, or anyone that approaches me and says, “I know you’re busy, but…”

Okay, there’s mine.  Where’s yours?

“Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You’ll be living proof that I didn’t go to all this work for nothing.” (Philippians 2:14-16, The Message).

 15 Days to Christmas, Friday, Dec 10, 2021

“The Real Deal”

Oh my!  Have you seen it?  Have you seen Cinderella’s Christmas Castle at Disney’s Magic Kingdom?  It’s quite incredible this year during the Holidays.  My daughter and I were able to visit the Magic Kingdom during Thanksgiving Break.  My goodness, the pictures just don’t capture the full magnitude of that experience.  But honestly, just about every awesome experience is so much better in person than in a picture, video, or even live broadcast. There’s just something about seeing it with our own eyes, smelling, hearing, and feeling it for ourselves. 

I think this is one reason that the Holiday Season this year seems to be a little bigger than any previous year.  After being locked up by the pandemic last year at Christmas, people are hankering for the Real Deal.  We have been so blessed by the expansion of live-video products across many industries.  We were able to attend classes, meetings, and even worship without the need to leave our homes.  But now, we’re ready for more.  We’re ready for the real deal.  

This year, I believe Christmas can really make a difference for us.  We’ve learned how to appreciate some simple things that we previously may have taken for granted, such as our usual Christmas fare of family reunions and friendly gatherings that were absent last year.  Oh, sure, Christmas still arrived just fine in 2020.  However, it was so difficult to experience it fully without that actual, physical contact provided in the sights, sounds, feels and smells. 

What plans have you made to experience Christmas this year?  As you prepare, don’t forget to include church.  Church suffered last year, too, mostly because our folks were unable to freely attend with confidence.  This year, however, we’ve figured out how to make it work with in-person worship, even with a large crowd.  Watching online is fine, but it’s nothing like the physical attendance that captures our senses and feeds our souls.

It’s time for a Real Deal Christmas!

“They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:46-47, NLT).

16 Days to Christmas, Thursday, Dec 9, 2021

What’s On Your Tree?

Is there a tree in your home, all decorated for the Holidays?  If so, how did you decorate it?  Did you hang lights on it?  What about ornaments?  Are you tempting fate with your vacuum cleaner by using popcorn or tinsel? 

I was raised with four other siblings.  As a child, our tree always contained a hodge-podge, patchwork variety of all kinds of homemade stuff that we brought home from school.  In true childlike fashion, our names would be etched on the back with the date just underneath.  (I’m so glad my teachers coerced us to put the date on them – I had no idea I was so brilliantly talented as a child!)  Tinsel (remember, this was the 1970’s) was hanging from the branches and all kinds of colored lights were crammed in every opening.

No, the local fire marshal would never have approved, but decorating the tree was one of the highlights of the season.  We usually had a real tree.  I don’t remember dad bringing it home, so I’m guessing my older brothers helped him get it into the house.  My little sister and I would bounce in and help mom decorate.  I remember arguing with someone (likely my siblings… maybe my older sister?) about placing all my homemade ornaments on the tree.  Of course, over the years my ornaments would break.  I’d try to glue them back together, but that didn’t really work.

At Christmastime, some of us feel like a patchwork tree, complete with broken ornaments and too many lights.  I know that, at times, I feel like a walking fire hazard.  But a big piece of the Christmas Season is the recognition that God doesn’t care about what we see in the mirror.  God doesn’t mind if our popcorn is 3-years stale or if our dated tinsel is a little over the top.  Rather, God is looking at us on the inside. 

This Christmas, remember that none of us are perfect.  The department store trees, perfectly decorated with meticulously crafted and unbroken ornaments, pretty bows and ribbons, and a glistening, crystal tree-topper, aren’t real trees.  We don’t need to compare our trees to theirs, and we don’t need to compare ourselves to our neighbor whose life seems perfect.  All we need to do is recognize that God made us exactly the way we need to be and God is proud of His work. 

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Have no regard for his appearance or stature, because I haven’t selected him. God doesn’t look at things like humans do. Humans see only what is visible to the eyes, but the Lord sees into the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7, CEB).