The Christmas story from our own postcards and decorations gives us a serene picture of the birth of Jesus. It wasn't long after his birth that evil is present.
This coming Sunday (December 30) alerts us to the fact that Herod learns he has been tricked and desires to kill the Christ-child. Herod's sure-fire way of doing so was to have every child killed two years old or younger.
However, Herod's plans get thwarted. An angel appears to Joseph in a dream stating that he is to flee with Mary and the child to Egypt to escape Herod's persecution. The flight to Egypt takes place and the Holy Family remains there until Herod's death.
What provision God makes to keep evil from destroying the grand plan for our salvation. Have you ever wondered about your own life, how God might have kept you from some evil? This element of the Christ-child's story makes us ponder God's working in our lives to protect us against any form of evil.
I hope you are having a peaceful and blessed holidays!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
What Is God Calling You to Do?
As we get closer to Christmas, we come to look at the main characters in the story - Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. While Mary gets much of our attention, Joseph also deserves our close scrutiny for how he reacts in all of this activity.
Joseph learns that Mary is pregnant and his emotions start to turn within him. He realizes that Mary could be severely punished for what has happened to her. So, Joseph resolves to “dismiss her quietly.” (Matthew 1:19)
Then, before he takes action, an angel comes to him in a dream directing him to scuttle his plan and accept God’s plan. Joseph is to continue in the relationship with Mary and take her as his wife.
We notice the higher obedience that Joseph yields to in this story. He is doing what goes against his own logic and reasoning.
What is God calling you to do? Is it something that defies your own reasoning? Is it sticking it out in a friendship, where your relationship might bring another person closer to God? Might it be sticking it out in a job that appears unchallenging, but where God wants you there because a great challenge is coming your way?
What is God calling you to do? What would Joseph have missed if he would not have obeyed the angel's words?
Joseph learns that Mary is pregnant and his emotions start to turn within him. He realizes that Mary could be severely punished for what has happened to her. So, Joseph resolves to “dismiss her quietly.” (Matthew 1:19)
Then, before he takes action, an angel comes to him in a dream directing him to scuttle his plan and accept God’s plan. Joseph is to continue in the relationship with Mary and take her as his wife.
We notice the higher obedience that Joseph yields to in this story. He is doing what goes against his own logic and reasoning.
What is God calling you to do? Is it something that defies your own reasoning? Is it sticking it out in a friendship, where your relationship might bring another person closer to God? Might it be sticking it out in a job that appears unchallenging, but where God wants you there because a great challenge is coming your way?
What is God calling you to do? What would Joseph have missed if he would not have obeyed the angel's words?
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Christmas Youth Pageant
What’s behind that sheet? What’s on the other side of that music stand? You will find out on Sunday!
The sanctuary will be transformed for the youth pageant. The presentation will be on "God's Gift to Us." Our youth will explore for us how we deal with all the busyness of the season.
I look forward to the young people taking part in the service. They will also be doing some other parts of our worship as well. In addition, the chimers will be playing. It’s an uplifting time for our young people and for the family and relatives of our youth to come and see them in action!
I hope your preparation for Christmas is going well!
The sanctuary will be transformed for the youth pageant. The presentation will be on "God's Gift to Us." Our youth will explore for us how we deal with all the busyness of the season.
I look forward to the young people taking part in the service. They will also be doing some other parts of our worship as well. In addition, the chimers will be playing. It’s an uplifting time for our young people and for the family and relatives of our youth to come and see them in action!
I hope your preparation for Christmas is going well!
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Living an Authentic Life
This time of the year is busy for all of us with shopping, writing Christmas cards, and attending parties. It’s easy to become too focused on material things as opposed to preparing our hearts to once again hear this message of the Christ-child’s coming.
The Gospel reading from Matthew (3:1-12) calls us to examine our way of life to maintain a proper focus. In these verses the person of John the Baptist is preparing people for Jesus' public ministry and calls us to look at how we are living.
John the Baptist wastes no time and cuts to the chase for us to live an authentic life. He cries out: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (vs.2) He issues a rather scathing remark to the Pharisees and Sadducees by calling them a brood of vipers. They had an outward religion that neglected matters inside them. They were called to “bear fruit worthy of repentance.” (vs. 8) John warned them not to say, "we have Abraham as our ancestor.” (vs. 9)
We are called to look at our inner life. Our hearts must be right for us to bear fruit that is in accordance with God’s ways. Each of us is responsible for our own way of life. We cannot rely on the faith of a shirttail relative. Personal responsibility is what matters.
Is there repentance that needs to take place in your life at this time of the year? What in this busyness for the holidays pulls us away from an authentic life?
The Gospel reading from Matthew (3:1-12) calls us to examine our way of life to maintain a proper focus. In these verses the person of John the Baptist is preparing people for Jesus' public ministry and calls us to look at how we are living.
John the Baptist wastes no time and cuts to the chase for us to live an authentic life. He cries out: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (vs.2) He issues a rather scathing remark to the Pharisees and Sadducees by calling them a brood of vipers. They had an outward religion that neglected matters inside them. They were called to “bear fruit worthy of repentance.” (vs. 8) John warned them not to say, "we have Abraham as our ancestor.” (vs. 9)
We are called to look at our inner life. Our hearts must be right for us to bear fruit that is in accordance with God’s ways. Each of us is responsible for our own way of life. We cannot rely on the faith of a shirttail relative. Personal responsibility is what matters.
Is there repentance that needs to take place in your life at this time of the year? What in this busyness for the holidays pulls us away from an authentic life?
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