‘Tis the Season

Over commercialized holiday.  A pagan ritual that should not be recognized by the church.  Mythical celebration by first century Christians set in time to coincide with the winter solstice and therefore avoid detection.  I think I have heard every reason in the world not to celebrate this holiday.  Some members of the churches that I’ve grown up in have almost become hostile in their reaction to other family’s buying CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.  What next?

 

This world is hurting.  This world is in dire need of a savior.  In a recent movie about a “man of steel,” the hero is quoted as saying “I hear the world crying out for a savior.”  I agree.  Just look outside of our walls of the church (For that matter, look INSIDE the walls of our church).  Watch the news every night.  Sit inside city, county, and state offices of social services.  People are in desperate need of a savior. 

That savior is Jesus Christ.  When he became flesh, the Gospel story here on Earth began.  The day he rose from the dead, the triumph over Satan’s plan of death was complete.  His life is our example.  His death should be ours.  His resurrection is our salvation.  Why NOT celebrate his birth if it brings others into contact with Him.  My argument: Just don’t stop with the manger.  Finish the rest of the story. 

Was Jesus born on Christmas?  Lots of arguments for and against.  The Jewish calendar marks the 6^th month (as mentioned in Luke) as falling somewhere in August or September.  Some people refer to the sheep grazing on the hills while the angels proclaimed his birth as an indication that it was more like March or April.  One thing and one thing only matters:

 

Jesus, the incarnation of the living God, had arrived. 

Looking for Good…

It’s easy on sunny days to find good in the world.  A soft breeze may remind you of a great family vacation that you had growing up.  A fresh and bright snow blanket on the ground might seem to give the world a “newness” it may have lost. 

It’s even easier to find the bad in the world.  Look around you.  You can find countless examples of evil in the world.  Yet, somehow, when brought out into the light, it makes us even more disgusted.  (Ever wonder why bars don’t have windows?  Ever wonder why most “bad things” happen in the dark?  People don’t want to be “seen” doing “bad” things, yet they still do them.)  It’s hard to battle Satan when he knows your weakness.  What’s worse, he plays dirty.  He’ll try to separate God from the world so that all you see around you is evil, vile, disgusting things.  It’s hard for ANYONE to deal with…  

It’s even harder when dealing with hurt people all day long.  When you surround yourself with “expertise” in helping others, hurt people will eventually start asking for your help.  With those petitions for help come their stories of abuse, neglect, and all around mistreatment.  Sometimes I have to stop and start looking for the good in those hurt people’s lives.  Sometimes they themselves can’t find it and need help in carrying on. 

Emotionally tiring. 

But…it’s what I’m built for. 

Maybe I’m not necessarily looking for good in those poor people’s lives.  Maybe I’m looking for God in my own life in order to be able to point out the good in their life.  Make sense?  In order to really find good in the world, you must first find God in your “own world.” 

What blessings has he given you today? 

What “neat things” did you see today?

Who encouraged you today?

Who did you “bump into” today? 

What “sunbeam” came to you today?

My prayer for you today is this: May God show himself to you in your WORST moment today.  May God continue to work in your life today even when you don’t think He’s really there.  May God surround you with support, emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually.  May God use you in spite of Satan’s attempts to separate you from Him. 

Sunday’s a comin’!