Enter Christmas: The Story That Changes the World

Christmas Day

phili310 — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 13:19:32 +0000

By the time most of you are reading this, I have a feeling the Christmas rush is winding down. Your floor may still be littered with paper and ribbons and tags that just a few hours earlier looked beautiful under the tree.

And somewhere underneath all that has filled our day, is the gift that made it all possible. A Savior. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

But that’s not the end of the good news. The messenger of the Lord says that we will find Him! Even though He is no longer wrapped in “swaddling cloths” and is no longer “lying in a manger”, I think those words still hold true. We will find him. But don’t hurry to look under the mounds of wrapping paper…He’s not there. And don’t panic to think that He is all tangled up in the Christmas ribbons…He’s not there.

In fact, you can find Him right where you are. Take a look…inside your heart and mind and soul. Think about what this day, Christmas Day, is saying to you and to me and to the world around us. And then maybe, just maybe, we will do what the Shepherds did after they had heard and seen: Let’s experience what the Lord has told us about!

I hope and pray that you will experience Christ…today, tomorrow, and every day that will follow! This isn’t a one-day-of-the-year kind of experience. This is about each and every day!

So…Merry Christmas! Today. Tomorrow. And every day that follows!!

Day Twenty Six (Dec. 24): Extra! Extra!!

phili310 — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:15:32 +0000

Do you remember when special editions of the newspaper would come out and they would sell them on the street corner? (Not to be confused with the Sunday paper that is sold at every underpass on Saturday so you can have tomorrow’s news today!)

These special editions came out when something incredible would happen. And they stand on the corner and shout “Extra…Extra…read all about it.”

Can you envision it…a messenger of the Lord standing on every street corner today saying “Extra…Extra…read all about it…I bring good news, news of great joy, news that will affect all people everywhere.” ?

I hope you can envision it for that is exactly what we are to be doing! We are to proclaim that good news of a great joy that has come to all people.

Who in your life today needs to hear about it? Are your eyes and ears and heart open to those that you are coming into contact with today that might need to hear (or see) some of that good news?

My guess is as many of us are scurrying about with last-minute things to do before Christmas Day, we will all come into contact with someone…somewhere…that needs to hear and see that good news.

Read all about it in Luke 2!

Day Twenty-Five (Dec. 23): Do Not Be Afraid

phili310 — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:55:48 +0000

I’m not one who loves scary movies. I have not watched any of the ‘Saw’ movies (what are they up to now…Saw VI?) In fact, the extent of my “scary movie film watching” was years ago with Dracula (pre-Vampire craze), Frankenstein, and The Mummy.

I know…why all of this scary talk just a few days before Christmas?

Every year it hits me when I read the story of Jesus’ birth and continue to find how terrified people were. Do you just gloss over that part? Or do you understand where there terror was coming from? Or do you think that angels are that terrifying?

Suddenly a messenger of the Lord stood in front of them, and the darkness was replaced by a glorious light – the shining light of God’s glory. They were terrified! (Luke 2:9)

I don’t know about you, but I tend to be more afraid of the darkness than I am light…especially light that is described as “a glorious light”…and then defined as “the shining light of God’s glory”.

Maybe they were terrified by light that wasn’t supposed to be there in the middle of the night. Come to think of it, that might shake me up a bit. Or maybe they were terrified by the “messenger of the Lord” that appeared “suddenly”. Or…

Maybe they were terrified that the world was about to change. Their world. Your world. My world. It seems like change terrifies us at times to no end! Even though our lives need to change, we get comfortable with the way things are…even if things are a mess!

The words of the messenger of the Lord are words you and I need to hear and take to heart: “Do not be afraid.” Light beats the darkness every time. A messenger of the Lord is better than anyone else that could stand in front of you today. And the shining light of God’s glory would fill your car and your life with more “oohs” and “ahhs” than any Christmas lights you have seen this Christmas.

That is indeed…good news.

Day Twenty-Four (Dec. 22): Where Are You Going Today?

phili310 — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:18:09 +0000

Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. (Luke 2:3)

I have a feeling many of us are “traveling” somewhere over these next few days. Some are like Joseph…traveling to their “hometown” (you know…”over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house we go”). Even though it is not be counted, for a census, it is to be counted in a way. Family and friends may be counting on you to be there.

Others are “traveling” a little closer to home…trying to wrap up the Christmas shopping that still needs to be done (or to finally get started)! And your journey may take longer than some of those flying to distant lands!!

Whether we are traveling near or far, I want us to stop for a moment and ask ourselves…Where am I going today? I have a feeling God may have travel plans in mind that we might be ignoring. If only God could intercept our GPS with the voice of maybe James Earl Jones and lead us to our destination.

Is that really such a stretch? He led Joseph and Mary to where they needed to be as it had been planned so many years ago….just as he has done for so many of us from the beginning of time!

Allow God to lead you over these next few days. I’m not telling you that we won’t go where we planned to go…but I wouldn’t be surprised if find a detour or two along the way!

Day Twenty-Three (Dec. 21): Are You Wiser Than…?

phili310 — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:28:58 +0000

How often are you confused? I hope you are laughing and thinking ‘When am I not confused?’ If you are, I feel much better!

Seriously, we tend to reach a state of confusion more often than we should. And I know when I reach that place, I become frustrated and a little panicky that I can’t think straight.

Now I’m not talking about simple matters that every 5th grader should know. One thing I have learned like those on television have learned is that I am not smarter than a 5th grader when it comes to some things. (Especially in the areas of science and math!) What I am more concerned about is wisdom!

Pick up a Bible and read Psalm 111. In 111:10, it reads Reverence for the Eternal is the first step toward wisdom. As I was reading some notes about Psalm 111 in the Voice of Psalms, I read these thoughts: “It is helpful to recognize that our confused state often begins with thinking we are wiser than is really the case.”

Thankfully, God has a way of reminding me on a daily basis that I am not wiser “than is really the case”. How about you? Take time to read Psalm 111. Think about the wisdom God has given you and shown you throughout your life. And then ask yourself, are you wiser than…?

Day Twenty-Two (Dec. 20): Chreasters

phili310 — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 13:19:00 +0000

OK…I actually typed the word. I know…it is whispered by some of us within the church, but we wouldn’t ever dare to let it out of the bag. But there it is…Chreasters. (BTW…I know it won’t pass ‘spell check’ but I think I may add it to the dictionary just in case I ever use it again)

I know you know what Chreasters are…those who tend to come to church only a couple of times a year = Christmas and Easter. Now…maybe I’m different…but I am not into scolding but rather, into encouraging. I am thrilled when people are here…even if it is just a couple of times a year. And I always have hopes that maybe, just maybe, this time “IT” will take and they will be back sooner rather than later.

In the 80th Psalm, the Worship Leader says Bring us back to you, God. If that can happen in incredible ways @ Christmas and Easter, it can happen the rest of the year too. And it does…with me and with you. God brings us back to Him at those times when we are just wandering off the beaten path, doing our own thing, and getting lost when we know better.

May we remeber…it not about bringing “them” back to God…it is about bringing US back to God. And maybe that is the starting point of it all!

(And ‘spell check’ did catch it!!)

Day Twenty-One (Dec. 19) Do You Hear What He Hears?

phili310 — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:08:38 +0000

“Word of God Speak…won’t you pour down like rain…”

Those words come from one of my favorite Mercy Me songs. I am always led to wonder if I am really listening to what God is trying to say to me.

But what about God? I know Job went round and round wondering if God heard any of his pleas, cries, and arguments. I know David wondered at times if God had turned a deaf ear towards him.

This morning when I was reading Psalm 149, I read these words that grabbed me: For the Eternal One is listening…

Now…the “listening” that is being referred to is God listening to our praise and worship. I know that some of us tend to sing so quietly that the people sitting around us can’t hear a thing. And there are those times that could be a good thing! But I will never forget Charles Allen. Dr. Allen was the Sr. Pastor at FUMC of Houston for many years. I remember watching him on television at times and inevitably his microphone would be turned up as he was singing. And for those of you who knew Dr. Allen, he was not known for his singing! And yet, that did not stop him from signing joyfully!

I know God was listening to every word and note he sang. And I have no doubt… God was pleased!

If only we could hear what God hears!!

Day Twenty (Dec. 18): What’s It Worth To You?

phili310 — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:50:32 +0000

I love it when this particular word comes to mind! Fortunately I am finding it to be “in play” in my life more and more and more. In fact, it happened again this morning as the children of Faith Kids were performing their Christmas program. I was standing back there watching the children and all of their parents and grandparents positioning themselves like the Paparazzi and the word came to mind again.

The word is…priceless.

Think about it. What’s it worth to you when something is deemed ‘priceless’? It is usually not something material, but an experience or something shared in a relationship.

Priceless came to mind as I was reading Psalm 19. Think about these phrases from Psalm 19 and think about the worth of they say:

The Eternal One’s law is perfect…

His words are reliable and true…

The Eternal One’s directions are correct…

God’s commandments are clear…

The awe of the Eternal is clean…

The Eternal’s decisions are sound…

And then to follow all of that up, David says They are worth more than gold – even more than abundant, pure gold. I guess you could say David is saying himself that word…priceless.

Read the 19th Psalm and think about what all of that and more that God gives to us is worth to you. I have a feeling you will come to the same conclusion that I did. Priceless!

Day Nineteen (Dec. 17): More Than a Stocking Stuffer

phili310 — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:53:28 +0000

Do you still do Stocking Stuffers around your home? Stocking Stuffers were always fun little things. I remember for years most of what would fill my stocking were trading cards and candy. Not a bad thing! I collected baseball cards for years and you never knew when you might find a valuable insert in one of the packs.

The candy would always vary…but I can remember a few years getting rolls of LifeSavers in my stocking. I thought of those LifeSavers this morning as I was reading Psalm 116: O Eternal One – I am begging you – save me!

I have to say…I have never known God not to hear my cries – my pleas – my begging requests to be saved. In fact, Christmas is a time when we remember God heard all of those from throughout the world and sent us what we need the most…a Savior.

And the gift was not made to fit inside a stocking. God made that gift to fit perfectly inside of our heart and our soul. Take time to read Psalm 116 and to remember the times in your life that you have cried out for mercy…for help…for a Savior. And take time to thank God for the Answer that has been given unto you!

Day Eighteen (Dec. 16): Be Glad

phili310 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:16:55 +0000

Today’s Psalm is familiar to most…although if I asked you right off the bat if you could tell me what Psalm 118:24 says, I have a feeling you would be like me…Not Smarter Than a 5th Grader!

Before this morning, I could not have told you. But once I read it, I knew it…just not as 118:24.

If you have been around the church for any amount of time, you have heard this verse said by one person or another. Most say it like this: This is the day that the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. See…I knew you knew it.

This morning as I was reading it, I read it from the Voice of Psalms: This is the day the Eternal God has made; let us celebrate and be happy today.

Those are good words for today (in fact, those are good words for every day). I woke up once again to sound of rain today…already thinking ‘Here we go again’. I listened to the forecast and heard cloudy, cold, and rainy once again. I keep thinking one of these days the sun will shine again. And at this rate, you might find me outside doing the ‘happy dance’…whatever the ‘happy dance’ is!

But why allow the clouds or rain or cold to keep me from “celebrating and being happy today”? There is no good reason! God is the same…yesterday, today and forever. And for that reason alone…I can celebrate and be happy today.

So go ahead and join me. Don’t wait for the sun to come out. Run outside and let’s celebrate and do the happy dance today!