Category: Christmas

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It’s Not Enough to Just Believe

Tis the season for Hallmark, plus a wide range of other Christmas movies old and new. Some are based on the actual reason we celebrate Christmas, but most are either crazy humor or fluffy sentiment. I like a mix of all. But I’m disturbed by the sweet-sounding advice we get from more and more movies and songs, especially at Christmas, that everything will work out if we “just believe.” “Have faith,” they say, and the “magic” will happen.

I can “just believe” I’m a giraffe, but that’s doesn’t make me one. I can “just believe” I will win the lottery, but that doesn’t mean I will (especially since I’ve never bought a ticket). I can have faith in Christmas “magic,” but that is not based in reality.

What we must know about believing, faith, hope, and trust, is that there must be an object worthy to put our faith in. There must be evidence to convince us someone or something is trustworthy and dependable, and won’t let us down. Hanging our hopes on thin air is not enough.

I believe in my husband because he proves himself every day—evidenced by his affection, commitment, faithfulness to me, and investment in our relationship. I can lean into that.

I believe in God even more, because He has proven faithful not just to me, but to millions of others throughout history. Even if my husband should fail me and break my trust, I can always hope in God, who never breaks His promises.

I once heard faith in God compared to the confidence we put in a chair when we sit down and lean back in it with our full weight. So often we approach God as if we’re unsure of His qualifications to hold us up. We tentatively perch on the edge of His lap, expecting He will get up and leave before we can settle in, or collapse on us at any moment. But that’s not what I see in scripture, in the world around me, or in my own life.

God loves it when we nestle into Him expecting Him to follow through:

The Lord delights in those who fear [respect, honor] him,
    who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Ps. 147:11, my note in brackets

Psalm 146 gives us twelve reasons why God is worthy of our hope and it just occurred to me that these reasons could be called The Twelve Hopes of Christmas:

[The generations] speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

They tell of the power of your awesome works—
    and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness
    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.

9 The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.

Ps. 146:5-9, emphasis mine

  1. Splendor—We see evidence of God’s majestic glory when the sky lights up with a sunrise or sunset, drive through snow covered mountains, or watch the powerful waves of the ocean.
  2. Wonderful Works—Hope rises when we ponder the changed lives around us, His miraculous rescues, and provision.
  3. Power—God not only cares, but has power to elicit change.
  4. Great Deeds—Like my husband, God’s actions confirm His commitment to us.
  5. Abundant Goodness—God is good; it is His character, baked into the heart of who He is.
  6. Righteousness—God always does the right thing, because He has the perspective of eternity, which we do not have.
  7. Gracious—His gracious kindness is not just a polite act God puts on for company; we can be assured He will always be the same.
  8. Compassionate—We may feel compassion when we witness suffering up close, but then quickly forget and go on our way. God’s compassion does not forget.
  9. Slow to Anger—How quickly we get angry at others in traffic, when they make cutting remarks about us, or fail to appreciate us. But God sees our motivations and our heart, and gives us chance after chance to come to Him.
  10. Rich in Love—Love is in the air at Christmas, but for the most part it’s emotional and short-lived. God’s love is unconditional—based not on our character, but on His.
  11. Good to All—Scripture reminds us that God sends rain on the just and the unjust. He provides food for all. His offer of salvation is open to everyone. He does not play favorites.
  12. Compassionate to All—Finally, God’s compassion is poured out to each of us. He cares for every person He has created, and wants to give each of us a hope and a future.

Hang your hopes on Jesus this Christmas, and all year round. Lean into Him and give Him your dreams. Let Him care for your needs. For Christmas this year, give Him your heart and believe He is not just a baby in the manger, but our Lord and King, our Savior, and Redeemer.

He came as Immanuel—”God is With Us” by King and Country.

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All I Want for Christmas is a Silent Night

Is that your greatest wish this Christmas—for a silent night? Or, maybe just a moment of quiet to gather your thoughts (and your wits), before the next party, family gathering, shopping trip, or sugar-filled kid tantrum. Whether the child is yours, or someone else’s.

In this season of joy, we sing about a silent night, but the Christmas season can be anything but quiet. We celebrate in noisy crowds at work and home, watch tons of movies, and play a steady diet of Christmas music at home and in the car. Everywhere we go music blares to “put us in the mood.” I think if I hear Madonna’s “Santa Baby” one more time I’m going to…well…I’m not sure what I’ll do. But it won’t be pretty.

How can we keep Christ as the focus and true meaning of Christmas when we’re constantly inundated by meaningless noise?

This Christmas, or anytime we’re feeling rattled by the never-ending chatter, inside or out, Pastor Jon Courson suggests taking a “word fast” to reset our bodies and spirits. How? Turn the radio off in the car; take a walk, or exercise, without ear buds; spend a night with your family without a movie or music playing. We could even—GASP—refrain from talking ourselves.

Does this sound good? You may be nodding your head, but also thinking how implausible this would be. For while we crave silence, we also fear it. Why?

  1. Because we think if we don’t speak those all-important words, the world will fall apart.

“When I am quiet, I am genuinely helpless. After all, who will tell it like it is unless I open my mouth? Who will straighten out the situation unless I pontificate and proclaim my theories or vast understanding?

When like my Lord, who, when He was reviled, reviled not back, who, when He was questioned by Herod, spoke not a word in return, I am quiet, I am helpless. I must depend solely upon the Father for defense, for justification. And that’s scary” (Jon Courson’s Application Commentary).

We also fear silence, because,

2. When it’s quiet, we see ourselves for who we really are.

“When the television isn’t blaring or the music isn’t playing, when the voices aren’t chattering, when it’s just me and my Lord in silence—suddenly, confronted with my flaws and hypocrisy, I realize I’m not as deep and spiritual as I like to think I am. My thoughts wander easily. My body gets restless physically. When I don’t feel the presence of God, it haunts me” (Jon Courson’s Application Commentary).

So while we yearn for and desperately need silence, we also avoid it.

Why is it so important to pursue?

First of all, we’re constantly pouring out, especially at Christmas. We’re giving, helping, serving, and going to events we don’t necessarily want to in order to please our boss or someone we love. And it saps our strength! The best way for God to refill us is to get alone with Him–to worship, cry, or simply let Him hold us (even if it’s just a quiet walk around the block, or drive home from work). In doing this we open ourselves to hear His voice and be refreshed.

Even Jesus did this. During His years of ministry, after hectic times of teaching, healing, and conflict, Jesus withdrew for a quiet time with His Father. He also encouraged His disciples to step away. He is still calling His followers into times of silence and refreshing. Even, and perhaps especially, at Christmas.

Secondly, we need times of silence for God to give us perspective. In the cacophony of voices, we can get confused about what is true. The world is quick to tell us what to think about right and wrong! But when we get alone with God—when we enter His sanctuary—everything makes sense again (Psalm 73). Truth, after all, is not what man decides is true today, but what God says is true for all eternity.

Even though our noisemakers may differ a bit from believers in the past, they also suffered constant bombardment from the world, and had to choose to be still before the Lord. Those who were wise learned to be intentionally quiet. And we can do the same.

I desperately need this! And it is my prayer for all of us this Christmas. As we fast from noise in big or small ways; as we let the noise subside, inside and out; as we breathe in the Spirit of the living God—I pray all within us will become calm and bright, filling us once again with Christ’s empowering peace.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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Come Let Us Adore Him

My sister Kathy walked into the room to find her grandchildren, Evan and Emma, playing with the nativity set. She had placed it on a low table especially for them. All the figures—Mary, Joseph, sheep, cows, and the wise men—were crowded in a circle around baby Jesus. Normally we arrange our nativities as if they are on stage performing for a crowd. But Evan and Emma were acting out the Christmas story and IN it all the way.

“Oooh,” Kathy said, “What’s going on here?”

“They’re ‘dooring Him,” Evan said, and Emma nodded in agreement.

Kathy remembered years before when their mom, Heidi, played with the same nativity set and did the exact same thing. When asked what was happening, she gave the same reply, “They’re ‘dooring Him, Mommy.”

Isn’t that what Christmas should be about? Our focus shouldn’t be our perfectly decorated home or tree. It doesn’t matter if the presents are all wrapped the way they look in magazines. Our food and clothes don’t have to be fancy. And even though we would like to be gathered with family, many of us won’t be able to do that this year. Yet Christmas can still be wonderful, magical, and take us to our knees. IF we gather round to adore Jesus our Lord.

My girls moved the people and animals around in the manger scene they were allowed to play with as well, and I love to see our grandchildren doing the same thing. It’s important for them to be able to understand it and feel like they’re part of the action. We adults need to do the same thing. We may not sit down and rearrange the figures like our kids do, but we can imagine ourselves at the scene.

How would it feel to be Mary—chosen to bring the Son of God into the world, receiving visits from angels, shepherds, and wisemen from far off countries?

How would we react if we were Joseph—responsible for Jesus’ protection, care, and upbringing; receiving instructions from God through dreams?

What would we do if angels appeared to us, even though we were lowly shepherds, and gave us specific instructions on how to find the newborn King, the Savior of the world, so we could go worship Him?

Would we trust a new star in the heavens and travel far from home to honor a king prophesied in Hebrew scripture, and bow before Him as the true King of all the world?

There were other people involved as well, who are not represented in the creche—Mary’s mother and father, Zechariah and Elizabeth (John the Baptist’s parents), King Herod (the king who tried to murder Jesus), Simeon and Anna (who welcomed baby Jesus in the temple as the expected Messiah), and many others not mentioned in scripture, but who knowingly or unknowingly took part in Jesus’ birth story.

Let’s pause from our activities and Christmas busyness to kneel at the manger–if possible, physically, if not, mentally and emotionally, to adore Jesus. He alone is worthy. He is Christ the Lord.

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things” (1 Chronicles 29:11).

I pray as you bow to adore Him that all the other distractions will fade into the background and you can be fully present with Jesus our Lord and Savior.

Merry Christmas to you!

Here’s another photo a reader sent in of a Nativity scene addition. The potato heads are getting in on the action!

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Consider Yourself Warned!

I finished wrapping the rest of our Christmas presents last night. This is usually one of my favorite holiday activities. I love listening to Christmas music and praying for each person as I wrap their gift. But this year I was in for a shock. I discovered warning stickers on several of the gift bags. And it made me angry!

None of the gift bags displayed all-out nativities, but some had lovely snow scenes with a word about Christmas, and a giant red sticker that’s nearly impossible to get off. It warns the bag contains…gasp…scripture.

Hello. It’s Christmas. You know, the religious holiday that celebrates the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? But sadly, our culture no longer believes in the Christ of Christmas. They would like to wipe out the whole Jesus part altogether. Many who are not against Him are so inundated by Santa and reindeer, snowmen, and Happy Holiday greetings, that they are woefully ignorant of why we even celebrate this day.

This realization hit me full in the face recently while playing a Christmas game with a group of friends. Stumped by one of questions, the woman next to me asked if I knew the answer, “Can you name the three main characters of the real Christmas story?”

“Sure,” I said, “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.”

“Oh good,” she said. “I had no idea.”

Gulp.

Oh how my heart cries out for people to know the JOY and PEACE Jesus came to bring to us. Not just so we could have a Happy Holiday, but experience the deep down, abiding love and forgiveness of His presence, throughout every moment of life! And now, even innocent bags with any hint of that truth are now seen as suspect. Beware, they say!

But then…maybe that’s a good thing. The surgeon general warns cigarette buyers that: second-hand smoke is harmful to children; smoking can cause cancer, heart disease, stunt fetal growth, clog arteries, and contribute to numerous other health issues. And yet people continue to smoke, in ever-increasing numbers.

Maybe the public should be warned of the dangers of scripture. Such as:

Heavenly Father’s Warning: Learning scripture can correct wrong-thinking and reveal God’s power.

Jesus said, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God” (Matthew 22:29; Mark 12:24).

Heavenly Father’s Warning: Arming yourself with the sword of God’s Word has proven effective in defeating the devil’s attempts to deceive you and destroy your life.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand…In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:10-13, 16-17).

Heavenly Father’s Warning: Reading the history of God’s people could result in learning and provide encouragement and hope to endure the trials of life.

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope (Romans 15:4).

Heavenly Father’s Warning: Becoming familiar with God’s Word can lead to the recognition and worship of His Son Jesus Christ.

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (Hebrews 1:3).

Heavenly Father’s Warning: Reading scripture can lead to spiritual surgery—healing your soul, spirit, body, mind, and heart.   

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:12-13).

Heavenly Father’s Warning: Those consistently exposed to scripture are likely to exhibit repentance, maturity, and godlike qualities.  

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Heavenly Father’s Warning: Those who regularly use the scripture in this life, need not fear the second coming of the Son of God we celebrate on Christmas Day.  

In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance (Revelation 1:16).

So watch out for signs of God’s Word. In fact, I hope you will seek it out on purpose. What you do with it now will affect you for eternity. You can’t say you haven’t been warned.

#Christmas #Jesus #scripture #swordoftruth #persecution  

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Has Christmas Become Too Familiar?

My husband and I decided not to have a Christmas tree in the house this year, making our large nativity set the focal point instead. Once we made the decision I felt both excited and lost.

How will it feel not to have a Christmas tree in our living room? We’ve always had one. Will our home feel empty and un-Christmassy? Or peaceful and holy?

That’s the trouble with traditions. What starts out fresh and exciting becomes expected, a rutted trail we follow without awareness or appreciation. The wonder fades; we repeat memorized lines wrapped in stale rituals.

What a tragedy when this happens to Christmas!

Yet it’s easy to mechanically attend recitals, parties, church activities, and family gatherings because that’s what we always do. It’s possible to shop, decorate, and bake out of habit, without being conscious that Jesus—the Son of God—coming to us in the flesh so we could see, touch, hear, and know God.

Perhaps you’ve heard the saying, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” Sometimes that’s true. But more often it’s not so much contempt, but a failure to see those closest to us because we think we know them. This happened to the people in Jesus’ hometown.

In the years after the angel’s sang and the shepherds told everyone what they’d seen at the manger; after Simeon and Anna greeted Jesus at the temple and recognized their Messiah; after Herod freaked out when he heard a new king had been born and he murdered scores of innocent children; and after the Magi visited Mary and Joseph’s home and presented Jesus with gifts—it seems everyone except Joseph and Mary forgot who Jesus really was. The people in His hometown watched Him grow up. They knew Mary, Joseph, and Jesus’ siblings (who didn’t believe in Him until after His resurrection). They thought they knew Him so well they missed seeing who Jesus really was.

 And this spawned contempt for His teaching. Even though news of His miracles reached Nazareth, they didn’t recognize their Messiah because He was so familiar.  “Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.’ He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.He was amazed at their lack of faith” (Mark 6:4-6, NIV).

What a tragic comment! And that can happen to us at Christmas.

  • Is the story so familiar we no longer see the miracle of God with us?
  • Do we think we know Jesus so well we expect nothing from Him?
  • Is He amazed at our lack of faith?

Although our living room does feel a little empty without a tree, it also feels clean and bright, and surprisingly peaceful. This year has been even more chaotic and noisy than usual for us, so this quiet space draws me to pause and look. White lights frame the nativity figures in the window-seat. The other day I sat down to gaze at the scene and marvel.

I’ve been thinking of other ways to combat the neglect of familiarity. Here are a few ideas you might try:

  • Read an Advent book or Christmas devotional to focus on Jesus and gain fresh insight.
  • Pray with your family by candlelight. Talk about what life would be like if Jesus had not come.
  • Don’t just sing Christmas carols, but read the lyrics. Many contain the gospel message in concise and beautiful poetry.
  • Ask your family or friends, “Which person of the nativity do you most relate to in your relationship to Jesus, and why?” (Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the angels, Anna, Simeon, King Herod, or the wise men).
  • Type the word “savior” in the search engine of biblegateway.com and read all the verses that come up. I have been writing my responses in a journal to each and I am seeing my Savior in a whole new way!
  • Ask others what is spiritually significant to them about: candy canes, bells, lights, Christmas trees, caroling etc. And tell them your favorites.
  • Do a Google search on what Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah were fulfilled in Jesus’ birth.

I think tonight I’ll invite Kelly to snuggle with me on the couch and gaze at the familiar tableau where our tree usually stands. I hope we’ll be able to let the cares of the day go and see the miracle of Jesus—so familiar, yet so amazing—and savor the blessing of Christmas.

#Christmas #Jesus #whatChristmasisallabout #tiredofChristmas #regainthewonder #nativity #Advent #Messiah

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$5 Christmas Sale!

Now is the time to get a great deal on a terrific book for your next small group study, or gifts for friends or family. The Four Gifts of Christmas has readings for every day of Advent (the season before Christmas) to get you in the Christmas spirit, and keep your focus on the Reason for the Season.

Jesus brought us the timeless gifts of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love that very first Christmas. And they are still available to us today. Get to know the people who witnessed His birth–who welcomed Him and who rejected Him, and how we can learn from their stories. The nativity is a timeless celebration of faith and what Jesus means to us all year round!

Since Advent begins on December 1 this year, I’m offering a special deal. Today through November 30, if you order 5 or more copies of The Four Gifts of Christmas, you can get them for $5 each, plus shipping.

To order click on the Contact button on the menu bar above and send me an email. Let me know how many copies you would like, what address to ship to, and what method of payment you prefer. I’ll get back to you as soon as possible so we can work out the details.

This is a great way to get a daily dose of holiday spirit!

#Advent #Christmas #Love #Joy #peace #hope