Light

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I once heard darkness described as not being blackness that is overpowering the light, but rather, the absence of light itself. Perhaps that is why in His Sermon on the Mount, the Lord Jesus gave these words to those who follow Him, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5: 14-16, NKJV).

Sometimes we get discouraged because of the “darkness” in our world. We feel powerless, overwhelmed, discouraged. But remember, light shines the brightest in the dark. That is why He calls those of us who are following Him to join together as a local community of faith. Together, we become a beacon of light for those in darkness. Together, we take God’s love and impact our communities. We take His message of forgiveness, grace, and mercy and spread hope. Together, we help the needy, serve the less fortunate, and bear one another’s burdens. Since the beginning of the Christian Church, everywhere the Church of Jesus Christ has been found; those societies have been made the better.

Join together with a community of faith this weekend and let your light shine for Jesus!

Gift Receipts?

The other night, Lisa and I were trying to finish up our Christmas shopping. We unloaded our arms of gift items on the counter, (we should have gotten a cart!), and waited as the cashier rang up each item and placed it in a bag. As the store employee was finishing her task, she asked, “Do you want gift receipts?” Now, perhaps I was day-dreaming at that moment because when she asked the question, I paused. I was caught in silence for just a few moments, but they felt like an eternity. I have to confess, the question caught me off guard. Gift receipts?! Why would we need gift receipts? My mind couldn’t wrap itself around the idea that someone might actually return the gifts we are purchasing for them. Surely, no one would want to return these cool, radical, audacious, modern, trendy items we had searched so long and hard to buy?! Well, maybe I’m going a little overboard with that last statement! Lol.

In reality, gift receipts are a good idea. You never know when you buy a gift for someone if it is really something they will like or need, or if they already have that item or not. Gift receipts are a courteous item to include with your gift-giving. That is, unless you are referring to God’s Christmas Gift to us. That is one Christmas Gift that was never intended to be returned or rejected and yet, sadly, many people are opting to return, or simply to never receive. That precious gift given by God on the very first Christmas morning was, and is, His Son.

Lifeway (Southern Baptist resources) and USA Today/Gallop, have both recently released surveys in which they studied Americans and Christmas. The surveys revealed that 9 out of 10 Americans celebrate Christmas. 89% of Americans give gifts, 86% enjoy a meal with family or friends, 80% put up a Christmas tree and play holiday music, but only 58% say they “encourage belief in Jesus Christ as Savior.” The survey went on to state that only 47% attend Christmas Eve or Christmas Day worship and only 28% read or tell the Christmas story from the Bible.
Scott McConnell, the director of Lifeway research says that most people “give a head not to Jesus while they spend their time and dime pleasing themselves.” John Ed Mathison on his blog writes, “Most people who say that Christmas is religious, skip church, omit Jesus, and zero in on the eggnog.”

Let’s not add to the secularization of Christmas. We live in this world, but for us who are followers of Christ, Jesus called us to “come out” of the world. Jesus called us to be “salt and light” (Matthew 5: 13-14). As Christians, we are to influence the world, not the world influence us. we are to be reminders and reflectors of God's Love and His message of Hope and Salvation! This weekend, may you enjoy your family. Enjoy giving and receiving gifts. But don’t return the greatest gift, the only gift that really matters – Jesus! Make this a Christ-centered Christmas. Worship Him as a Family. Read the Christmas Story around the tree! Remind yourself and everyone around you whose birthday it really is!

Merry Christmas!

Find a Time to Kneel

This week I heard a beautiful Christmas poem. It went as you imagine most Christmas poems do. In fact, I have to confess, I was only listening with half interest. That was until one line was read that challenged me. It was one line that played across the pages of my mind the rest of the day. It was just one little power-packed line that I could not shake. The line simply stated, “May we all find a place to kneel at the manger this Christmas.”
How easy it is to allow the “busyness” of the season to steal away the most precious aspect of Christmas, that quite, humble, peaceful time of personal worship before the King of Kings! A popular Contemporary Christian Christmas song by the group Downhere that is on the airwaves right now is entitled; “How Many Kings.” Here are some of the lyrics:
“Cause how many kings, stepped down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
How many Gods have poured out their hearts to romance a world that has torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Only one did that for me”
May we slow down and remember that no other religion in the entire world makes the claim of Christianity. Only the One, True, God of the Bible left His throne to be born of a young Jewish virgin that He Himself created. The Creator became a part of His own creation. He left the praises of the angels for the ridicule and rejection of man. He traded the pleasure of a throne for a rough, rugged cross. He exchanged tears of joy for tears of sorrow. Why? He did it all for You! He did it all for Me!

The King of Glory became our Sacrificial Lamb to offer us Eternal Salvation.
Your Christmas calendar may be busy, but I pray that it isn’t too busy to stop and kneel at the manger and give the King of Glory the love and adoration that He so deserves.

Keeping Christmas Real

Recently my family and I enjoyed a wonderful evening strolling the streets of Cape Girardeau, MO. The night was cool. We enjoyed the Christmas lights that pierced the darkness. People were enjoying warm cups of coffee and Hot Chocolate,and the store owners were happy seeing all the shoppers coming in. My youngest daughter was so excited seeing the horse drawn carriage rides. I love Christmas in the city.
But what I loved the most about that night was listening to my teenage daughter, and the Student's Praise Team from our Church, singing carols and worship songs about our Savior as the crowds strolled by.

As people were busy traveling from one shop to the next, they would often slow down, or even stop as they would come upon these young Christ-followers singing about true meaning of Christmas. And for a minute, they were reminded to keep Christmas real. It's fine to decorate our houses and tress. It's fine to give and receive gifts. It's fine to have our family celebrations, just as long as we don't forget what it is all about. Christmas is all about the Savior who left Heaven's throne to come and take away the sins of the world.

The Prophet Isaiah proclaimed, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.." (IS. 9:2)

Merry Christmas