PERSISTING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

I’m stuffed – to the gills. What’s that mean anyway? Like fish, I’m full to the gills. To the top. Not another drop. Not another morsel. To the point of having trouble breathing. Do the holidays do that to you too? Well, actually, the holidays don’t do it to me, I do it to myself. The holidays for me used to start in August, the Youth Fair. A week of an ice cream a day (at least)! Then I’d be good until October – Halloween – candy that usually carried me into November. Ah…November…holiday season is ramping up big time. November carries me to December – a party a day – a cookie a day (at least) – the Bible does say to eat drink and be merry. Well, there’s really no reason to get control until after the first of January, you know, leftovers and all. The next holiday is a snow day – who doesn’t want to eat on a snow day – after all, aren’t we to store up to stay warm? The snow days carry me to Lent – wait, I can get control over Lent, I’ll give something up. Wrong reason — won’t work. Easter, with all its peanut butter eggs carries me to our May vacation, or holiday – again, an ice cream a day (at least). Sprinkle in a birthday here and there and I’m back to August. It all starts again. For me, it’s a perpetual destructive cycle.

I get so frustrated by my lack of self control, my lack of discipline? Am I alone? Are you why, why, whying? I am. That sounded like a commercial, didn’t it? Where oh where has my self control gone? Oh where, oh where can it be? Please, tell me I’m not alone!

As I was walking the worst-best dog ever this morning, I was lamenting about my heartburn. For real. I’ve had indigestion for a couple of days. I’m sure I know why, because I’ve been poisoning myself. For real. I beg forgiveness of God, tell Him I recognize my shameful deeds, they haunt me day and night, literally. I vow to make changes, which I sincerely mean and which I will follow through with, until…I break my vow. The vow I made to God, myself, and to those I made promise they would hold me accountable. I would love to say the devil made me do it, but he didn’t. I’m in charge of me and I make the choices.

I vow, I promise, promise, promise, not to eat sugar. That’s my battle. Your battle with self control or lack of discipline may not look like mine, yours may be retail therapy, over imbibing, power working, the shelter of momma’s little helper, fear for fear’s sake, the stress monster, the smoking giant, the Wordless Way, _______, you fill in the blank. The battle may be different but, the enemy of lack of self-control and lack of discipline, is the same. I keep thinking self-control and discipline just shouldn’t be this hard. After all, I know Jesus. I do know Jesus. He’s probably singing about now, I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden…

“Don’t even swear, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black.” Matthew 5:34

I love this!! Do you see what it says? Look again. You can’t, but God can. We cannot wake up one day and say ok, today’s the day I’m going to have self-control or be more disciplined. It doesn’t matter what part of your life needs a changing — whatever our giant, our fear, our obstacle. We do not have the power to overcome our obstacles alone, but He does. Why would we not want that? Without Him, we can do nothing, with Him, we can do all things! Remember what the angel told Mary…

For nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37

A dear friend who has been a many years smoker, recently told a group how she had quit smoking again. She had tried many times in the past. She said this time she did it with God, it was different – she turned it over to Him – didn’t take it back. She was amazed at what God could do through her. What God could do through her, not what she could do on her own.  Faith — it does not make things easy, it makes them possible!

“The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”

Luke 18:27

Just like most Saturday mornings, last Saturday we trekked to the grocery store. It’s amazing where God teaches us. If you think that God cannot speak to you in the mundane, every day exercises of life, look a little harder. The more you look, the easier you will see. Anyway…

As I started through a door in the grocery store, I noticed someone walking behind me using their cell phone – aren’t we all? The person looked up from their phone as I held the door. She blew me a kiss. A little much for just holding the door but, well, ok. Then it hit me, she had touched her fingertips to her chin and moved her hand towards me. She signed thank you. She smiled. I smiled. It gave me pause. You see, she was deaf. Prior to me holding the door, she had been communicating on her smartphone. That was the bam! for me. I praised God.

I had never really thought about it until then, but cell phones have revolutionized life for our deaf friends. Think about that. Once they could not communicate by telephone. Once they could not communicate unless the person they were communicating with was in front of them. Some deaf folks couldn’t communication without pen and paper. How incredibly awesome are cell phones for those who cannot hear? To the one who cannot hear, cell phones are priceless.

I have really been chewing on this. I’ve been asking myself two questions all week – Am I deaf? Are you deaf? I don’t mean can we hear, but are we deaf? You see there’s another definition for deaf, other than unable to hear. That definition for deaf is “refusing to listen, heed, or be persuaded.” Look it up. Again, I ask…

The second question I asked myself is – Do I use the resources provided to me? The deaf community uses the resources provided to them to hear, a device, something that was transformational, something that completely changed their communication. Why don’t I? Why don’t we?

Jesus asks us the same thing. In His teachings, He tells a story and then follows up with a profoundly deep statement – four times, the same exclamation. The statement seems benign and we gloss over it heading to the next teaching.

“For before John came, all the teachings of the Scriptures looked forward to this present time… Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!” Matthew 11:13-15

“A farmer went out to plant some seed…Anyone who is willing to hear ,should listen and understand!” Matthew 13:3-9, Mark 4:3-9, Luke 8:5-8

“I the Son of Man, am the farmer who plants the good seed…Anyone who is willing  to hear  should  listen and  understand!”

Matthew 13:37-43, Mark 4:14-23

“If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple…Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!” Luke 14:26-35

Four times from His lips. Seven times in His Word. What does that say? Here’s the Message:

“Are you listening to this?
“Really listening?” (MSG)

Aha! That’s what it’s all about. Listening. Do we listen? Do we pay attention? Do we heed? Do we obey? That’s what listening is? He’s saying, are you paying attention to what I just said? He’s saying, come on guys, listen – really listen.

“You have been permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others have not. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them. That is why I tell these stories, because people see what I do, but they don’t really see. They hear what I say, but they don’t really hear, and they don’t understand.” Matthew 13:11-13

You see, it’s not about our physical hearing, it’s about spiritual hearing. It goes way beyond just hearing the words Jesus said. You know, even Satan heard the words. Anyone can hear Jesus teachings, but not everyone will listen. Let those who have ears hear and understand. To those looking, seeking the truth, if we are truly listening, it will be revealed. The Holy Spirit will open our minds to the teachings of our Lord. What does that mean? It means that when we study His Word, one of His communication devices, when we seek Him and truly listen to Him, He will communicate the meaning of the scriptures by opening our minds. He will give us understanding, which is transformational to us.

Then he opened their minds to understand these many Scriptures. Luke 24:44

Just like those who cannot hear use the communication resources available to them, why would we all not use the communication resources available to us? The Word of God the Father — God the Son, God the Spirit, is revolutionary. Why would we not want that?

We could learn a valuable lesson from our deaf friends. Use the priceless resource we are given. Use the communication resource that will transform our lives.

Let the one who has ears hear…be transformed…start a revolution!

In school, I was never very good at English or language arts. I just wasn’t. I didn’t like it. Oh, I liked the literature part, I liked to read, but that was about it. Much to June B. West’s chagrin, I could not have cared less about how to construct a sentence, pick out nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs. It didn’t matter to me whether or not I could diagram a sentence – why would you waste your time doing that? Or, whether or not my participle was dangling – what does that mean anyway – it just doesn’t sound right? Why are run on sentences a bad thing? As my niece Meg would say, in the course of a lifetime, what does it matter? Right on, girl! To me, not one bit.

You see, in Ms. West’s class, I was much more focused on creative writing. Way back when. I became quite the creative writer. I was pretty good at it too. My language arts skills were tested to the max. How, you asked? By seeing how many words I could fit on a gum wrapper that I then tossed to a certain somebody sitting behind me. The art of the craft was leaving enough room for a response. It’s amazing how much dialog you could get on the inside of a foil gum wrapper. They don’t make gum wrappers that big anymore, if at all, so don’t try it at home. I just wasn’t focused on the English, on learning what I supposedly needed to know. That’s ok, my teacher was much more focused on her study of ancient druids – no kidding. I was focusing on my future (she said with fluttering eyes!) something that would last the course of a lifetime. Silliness, you say. Right, you are. But I did get an A in the gum wrapper creative writing class. Anyway, back to the point. The point is that I simply wasn’t focused on what I was supposed to be focused on.

I wish I could say English class was the only time I ever lost my focus. Not so. There are times when I have lost my focus on Jesus. Yikes, I said that out loud! Please tell me I’m not alone. To the trained eye, an English major, in reading this blog it’s probably obvious that my focus wasn’t on language arts those years ago. But, I think too, that those times when I’m not focused on Jesus, folks can see that too.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sins that so easily hinder our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. Hebrews 12:1

Pursuing Jesus in every moment and every inch of our life requires focus. Maintaining our focus is a matter of keeping our eyes on Jesus. Simple as that. Keeping our eyes on Him through His Word. The Word is filled with so many examples that can be so encouraging to us. Folks who momentarily lost focus – Abraham, King David, Jonah, Moses, Peter – but folks who regained focus and finished the race with their eye on God.

Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path and stay safe. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. Proverbs 4:25-27

Do you find it hard to focus on Jesus because of all the things in life? What is stealing your focus? What is pulling your attention away from Him? What is sidetracking you from a deeper more genuine relationship? We will never be able to keep our focus on Jesus in our own power. We cannot will ourselves to focus on Jesus. The world is more powerful than we are, but Jesus has overcome the world. His power will give us the ability to focus on Him. He has provided a path for us and a way to stick to it. Read His Word.

You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
Psalm 56:8 (NLT)

Thou tellest my wanderings;
put thou my tears into thy bottle;
are they not in thy book?
Psalm 56:8 (KJV)

You’ve kept track of every toss and turn through the sleepless nights,
Each tear entered in your ledger,
each ache written in your book.
Psalm 56:8 (MSG)

What beautiful words. Words of comfort. Words of reassurance. Words of life. Words of love. These words have hugs built right into them. Arms wrapped. Holding.

Our tears flow freely over life, trying to wash away all that would cause us pain. They are full of hurt, fear, loss, longing, disappointment, brokenness, separation, pain, illness, and even death. I don’t have to tell you that life is hard. You’re living it.

Whether our tears fall in big round drops or in salty streams, every bit of moisture is collected. The mother’s tears for a son are collected. The wife’s tears for a husband are collected. A child’s tears for a parent are collected. A friend’s tears for a friend are collected. Think about the number of tears shed in a single day on this earth. God surely has a huge reservoir in Heaven – an ocean of tears.

“Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept.
John 11:34-35

What a comfort to know that He who collects my tears also shed tears. That’s right. Jesus wept. Jesus was sad, broken, grieved by the loss of his friend. I marvel at that. Jesus, the One. Jesus, the Healer. Jesus, God of the Universe. The One who could dry every tear experienced pain, loss, grief. His tears fell too. What does that say to me? Jesus knows exactly how I feel. How you feel. Exactly.

“Why are you crying?” the angels asked her.
“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” She glanced over her should and saw someone standing behind her. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”
“Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”
“Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and exclaimed, “Teacher!”
Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!”
John 20:11-18

Mary’s tears were collected too. But guess what? In the midst of her tears, she saw Jesus. She was looking for Him and, He called her name. He appeared to her. I don’t know if He will visibly appear to us – He has the power to do that, you know. But I do know this, that in our tears, through our tears, while they are being collected, He calls our name.

So what do we do about this thing called life that causes so much pain for so many? We look to the One who chose to experience what we experience. We look to the One who knows what we’re going through. We look to the One who will guide us through the pain. We look to the One who calls our name.

We are told there are only two things we can be sure of in life – death and taxes. That’s not true, at all. We can only be sure of Jesus. He has promised us his unfailing love, forever. I can’t promise you that life will be easy, but I can promise you – He promises you – that whatever causes your tears to fall, whatever course your life is on, He knows what you’re going through. He is collecting every tear that slides. He’s calling out – Mary. He’s calling out — your name, My child, it’s Me!

There will be a day when no more tears will fall for those who know Him…

I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever.” Revelations 21:3-4

Until then…Through our tears do we turn to Him? Do we look to Him for the answers? Do we look to Him for the comfort? Do we look to Him for the healing? Do we look to Him, the only One we can be sure of? Can we say we have seen the Lord?

I was sure by now
God you would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen,” and it’s still raining.

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

And I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I’ve cried
You hold In Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
And you raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You…I hear you whisper, “I’m with you.”
-Casting Crowns

Beauty in the brokenness. Do you see it? We can get bogged down and stuck in the brokenness. You don’t know what I’m dealing with, you say. You don’t know what I’m going through, you say. You don’t know the battles I’m fighting, you say. You don’t know the illness I have, you say. You don’t know how I’ve been hurt, you say. You don’t know…You don’t know…You are right. I don’t know yours, but I know mine. Guess what? The things that break me in life are the same as yours, hurt, fear, loss, chaos – they just have different names. We’re all living life in a fallen world. And, brokenness is brokenness.

I’m going to make a bold statement. Hold tight… If we don’t have bad, we won’t know if something is good. If everything were always good, we wouldn’t know it was good cause that’s all we got. I dare say too, if it was all good, we, being the humans we are, wouldn’t appreciate the good for long. Stop throwing stuff at me! If we do not have brokenness, we cannot see beauty. She’s completely flipped her lid, you’re saying. Stick with me a minute.

We have to live this life, but we don’t have to live a broken life. Brokenness begets brokenness. But Jesus begets beauty. What’s the opposite of broken – whole. Wholeness is beautiful. How do we see beauty in the midst of our brokenness? By seeing Jesus. By seeking Jesus. By snuggling up to the only One who can make us whole, regardless of the circumstances, the diagnoses, the pain, the hurt, the separation, the battle, the brokenness.

So, how do we get to the beauty in the brokenness? The light in the darkness? The trust in the terror? The comfort in the pain? The easy answer — Jesus. So easy…yet so hard. I promise you though, if you answer the brokenness with Him, you will see beauty. Beauty that is so beautiful, it passes all understanding.  Not just Him, as in take this cup from me, but Him, as in I trust You, even when I don’t understand.

“I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work.” God’s Decree. “For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Beauty in brokenness…a wife going to the kitchen cabinet, taking out the only oil she has, and anointing her ailing husband for healing. Beauty in brokenness…a wife praying blessings over a crucifix, the one she bought for his birthday, the one that will lay atop his cancer. Beauty in brokenness…the tears collected by God cried over a suffering one. Beauty in brokenness…the Christ who hangs on a cross, praying the Father’s forgiveness for those who hung Him there. Beauty in the brokenness is raw. It touches us in the very center of our being.

“Father, forgive these people, because they don’t know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34

Beauty in the brokenness, do you see it? How, you say?

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

“Do you finally believe? But the time is coming – in fact, it is already here – when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have any trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:31-33

All Jesus’ words show us how to find beauty in the brokenness. All His words are inviting. All His words say come. All His words say receive. All His words say I have overcome, I will handle this. All His words say trust. All His words say take heart and look at the beauty. Beauty in our brokenness, beauty that can only be found in Him. All who are broken, lift up your face…to see Beauty.

I’m afraid of the dark. Always have been. You too? Maybe it’s because I don’t see well in the dark – who does you say? Maybe because I’m a Type A personality, you know, slightly excitable (some call that jumpy) – I know, hard to believe, isn’t it? I don’t know exactly what I’m afraid of. The landscape is no different at night than during the day. I can’t see what’s going on so I can’t control what’s going on? Never mind the reason, I’m still afraid of the dark.

I’m working on overcoming that fear. I no longer insist on living where there are street lights. Good thing. Where we live there are no street lights. Slightly bothersome since I always found comfort in my dad telling me not to worry, they’d let me go once they got me under the street lights! Thanks, Daddy.

Anyhow, if the moon’s not up, it’s pitch black at our place. And, I’m afraid. Don’t they (there’s the they again – whoever they might be) say that the first step in overcoming a fear is facing it? Well, I’m a working on it.

The first day of 2019, like clockwork, the worst-best dog ever wanted to go for a walk at 6:00 a.m. It’s very dark at that hour. It was one of those creepy mornings – it’s the first of January, and the wind is blowing like crazy. I suit up in my early morning walking garb – sweatshirt, PJ pants – otherwise known as Wal-Mart-wear, and my long purple bathrobe that has big holes around the bottom from the worst-best dog ever. We step out onto the porch and guess what – it’s 60 degrees! That’s just creepy in the dead of winter. We set off…we walk down the road, to the back of our property, in the dark. The further we walk away from the house, from safety, the less light I see. I’m thinking of turning back each step I’m taking forward.  Until we reach a spot along the fence line between our field and the cow field behind us…and suddenly, there is illumination…

From noon to three, the whole earth was dark. Around midafternoon Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Matthew 27:45-46

…it is the spiritual darkness that should give me terrors. It is the spiritual darkness that should make me most afraid. It is the spiritual darkness that should make me jump out of my skin.

While on that cross, Jesus took on the sins of the world. Jesus’ groan from the depths was caused by my sins. Yours too. When Jesus took on my sin, He was separated from His Father. Why? Because sin and God cannot coexist. Not even a little bit. He was my ransom. Jesus took on the agony of death for me, and you. That’s a shocking statement, but a true statement. Think about it.

By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours – a total blackout. The temple curtain split right down the middle. Jesus called loudly, “Father, I place my life in your hands!” Then he breathed his last. Luke 23:44-46

Slashed right down the middle, the barrier that kept us from God. We are no longer cordoned off behind the curtain – we are no longer separated from the Most Holy. We have complete access, there is no longer an obstruction – well, maybe just one. Me. You. Look what Jesus said. “I place my life in your hands!” Can you say that too? Have you done that?

You see, my illumination on that walk, my fear facing walk, revealed that I have nothing to be afraid of. Jesus paid the price. I need only place my life in His hands. Don’t get me wrong, if something jumps out of the woods when I round the fence line of life, I’m going to scream like a girl and run. I’m going to run to the Savior, to the One who separated Himself from His Father so that I don’t have to be separated from the Father for all eternity. Eternity is a very long time…it’s forever…Have you placed your life in His hands?

A new year, a new opportunity. Of course, every second of every day is a new chance. Yes! A chance for what, you say? A chance to be all in. To be all in with what you say? All in with Jesus. Will you be all in this year with Jesus?

Will you take your place in the nativity? Will you walk into the stall? Move right in. Pull up some straw and have a seat. You know you’re part of it, right? You know you’ve been invited, right? The other option is to peek into the nativity, note how cute He is, ooh and ahh over Him, maybe drop off a gift – in the plate or of your time — and just walk away, just get on with our lives.

Isn’t that what we do when we’re not all in, when we dabble? When we’re not completely committed? We peek in on Him. We take a glance and then avert our eyes. We see that hanging out, taking our place beside the manger in the nativity, accepting the birth to rebirth, may require something of us – change — and we just move on. We check Him out but we’re not serious about Him. We speak of Him, but are not committed to Him. Oh, occasionally we go back to the nativity to peek in and see if He’s still there (especially when we need Him or especially when it would look good), and then back to the world. When will He become our world? You wonder that too? I have very few answers, but I got this one. He will become our world when we become serious about Him. When we stop dabbling and move into the nativity.

How do we know if we’re living in the nativity, how do we know if we’re serious about Him? Our lives will speak it! If our lives have been changed by our commitment to Him, we are living in the nativity. If our lives have not changed, we are not living in the nativity. Simple as that. Our lives must be changed in order to live with Jesus. What do you mean, you say? The Word of God says we must be changed. Well, give me the list of rules and I’ll follow them. Show me the dos and don’ts. Follow the Commandments, 1-10 – I can check those babies off. That’s not at all how it works.

It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God. Galatians 6:15-16

Do our lives look different before we entered the nativity and now? Have we shaken off the old ways? Do we still talk the same, act the same, have the same attitudes, work the same? Do we still hold onto grudges, anger, fear? Do we still think the same? Only of ourselves – our wants, our desires? If we do, we’re only dabbling in Jesus. We dabble in church — Easter and Christmas? We dabble in prayer – only when we need something? We dabble in the Word – making it say what we want it to say. We dabble in our relationship with Jesus – on again/off again. Dabbling is dangerous. Why so? Because it’s superficial. We think we’re living in the nativity and we’re not. We think a little bit of Jesus will do us. We think we can have Jesus without changing. It’s just not possible.

I appeal to you brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

It doesn’t mean we just do things differently or that we stop or start new behaviors. It means we become new people. It means we live differently. Make no mistake, change can be a drawn out, laborious process, but a process nonetheless. Remember, a process is a series of actions or steps taken to get to an end. But look at the promise.

And I am certain that God, who began a good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6

He began the good work. He will finish it. He will return. He keeps His promises. Are we done with dabbling? Are we done with the superficial? Are we serious? Are we all in?

There’s a spot in the nativity, right beside the Baby Jesus. Are we changed by this Baby?

I was listening to a Christian radio station the other day on my way home from work. In fact, it was the day after Christmas, December 26. After a Christmas song had finished, the announcer – DJ, came on and said: “Now that Christmas is over we’ll start looking toward the new year.” He said it, just like that. Just like I typed it. With absolutely no emotion. Just another day. Just another announcement. It’s over folks, next… Maybe he just has that kind of voice, maybe he was busy looking over the next announcement, maybe he was just plain glad Christmas was behind him. It just struck me as odd. Christmas wasn’t even cold and we’d bounced right on to the next thing. The biggest event in history didn’t even get 24 hours of recognition.

I wanted to yell wait, stop, holdup dude. I’ve been preparing for months, 22 hours a day. I’ve cooked, cleaned, wrapped, scheduled, partied, and decorated and it’s over – just like that! Say it ain’t so! Christmas can’t be over already.

Well, if truth be told, I’m a little glad Christmas is over too. Sigh. Why so, you ask? To be frank, it’s exhausting. No, I’m not a Grinch – I love, love, love buying gifts for others, I love, love, love my tree and my house being decorated for the Season. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Christmas Season – reflections on the Reason, Sunday worships, time with family. But it starts in JULY!!!! Come on, people. You know, it used to be that Christmas preparations didn’t start until Thanksgiving. A few years ago, they (whoever they are) moved it up to Halloween – costumes and Christmas trees coexisting. Now Christmas is advertised alongside swimwear – the manger beside the patio furniture. What will it be next? July 4 – Uncle Sam and Jesus? Before long Christmas and the Resurrection Cross of Christ will be on the same shelf side-by-side. Then guess what, it will be Christmas alongside Christmas. I’m exaggerating, just a little, maybe.

But wait, just think about that for a minute. The Christmas Season year round. What would that look like? Not the tree, the decorations, the gifts, the celebrations. But the Christmas Reason year round, daily. Celebrating the birth of the Messiah our Savior, 365, every single day of our life – December to December!!

The Savior of the world has come, and I don’t know about you, but I need a saving. By the way, you do too. Shouldn’t we be proclaiming with great enthusiasm and with great emotion that the Savior of the world has come and that He is available to all? Shouldn’t that be the announcement – it’s not over, it’s only just begun! Shouldn’t we be saying look what He has done for me – for you – sent His Son, and He’s yours for the asking? Afterall…

He forgives all my sins (too many to count)
and heals all my diseases (my spiritual, mental and physical ailments – too many to count)
He ransoms me from death (He died so that I would not – in my stead!)
and surrounds me with love and tender mercies. (Morning by morning new mercies I see.)
He fills my life with good things, (too many to count – blessings abound!)
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s (He gives me strength and power to rise above!)
The Lord gives righteousness and justice to those who are treated unfairly.
(The Lord protects His children!)
He revealed His character to Moses and His deeds to the people of Israel.
(He shows us who He is!)
The Lord is merciful and gracious;
(He doesn’t give us what we do deserve; but He does gives us what we don’t deserve.)
He is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love.
(His patience and love toward me is unbelievable!)
He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. (With Him, forgiven is forgotten.)
He has not punished us for all our sins, nor does He deal with us as we deserve.
(too many to count)
For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.  (This wondrous love cannot be measured – His love for us is too great!)
He has removed our rebellious acts as far away from us as the east is from the west.
(He forgives our defiance and makes us willing to obey Him.)
The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.
(He loves us so much that He sent His Only Son to Save us!)
Psalm 103:3-13

The Bible is full of the Reason to celebrate the Christmas Season, year round. Check it out. Commit this year to finding the Reason, to living the Reason, to announcing the Reason. Shouldn’t Christmas be celebrated every single day of our lives? How will we do that this year? How will we keep Christ in our hearts every moment of everyday? Impossible, you say? Not!  He shows up for every celebration, He always accepts the invitation.

Check it out. The picture. Do you see what I see? What do I see, you ask? I see Jesus on the cross on my deck. I know what you’re thinking. She’s lost it. Would you expect anything less from me? Some might look at this picture and see just a stick or a twig blown in by the wind. But, if people can see Mary in a grilled cheese on a plate, I can most certainly see Jesus in a stick on my deck. They say, Jesus is where you look for Him, right?

Have we seen Him? Who, you say? Jesus. Hasn’t this Advent Season been about anticipation, preparation, expectation, on the lookout? Remember, the Baby? Did we miss the Reason for the Season? Have we been looking for the Baby? Well, He’s here! Glory to God!

Eight days after birth, Mary and Joseph took their baby to the Temple for the ceremonial circumcision and naming. They named Him Jesus. While at the Temple, they met up with a man named Simeon. You see, Simeon was a righteous and devout man who lived in Jerusalem. The Spirit lived in him, and he was anxiously anticipating, preparing, expecting the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. In fact, the Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had actually seen the Messiah. Simeon was on the lookout. On that eighth day, the Spirit led Simeon to the Temple . There he met Mary and Joseph. He took the Baby into his arms, held Him close and softly spoke:

“Lord, now I can die in peace!
As you promised me,
I have seen the Savior
you have given to all people.
He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
And he is the glory of your people Israel!”
Luke 2:29-32

Simeon was looking for the light that would reveal God to the nations. The One that would come to console, comfort, help, rescue, not just Israel, but all mankind. The Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. The One John had foretold. Upon picking up that baby, he exclaimed: “Lord, now I can die in peace! As you promised me, I have seen the Savior you have given to all people.” Can we say the same? Have we seen Him? Can we die in peace?

When we think about it, it’s so hard to fathom. A Baby is such a strange way to save the World. Isn’t it? Simeon didn’t think that though. He instantly recognized the Savior because he had been looking for the Savior. You see, he had been waiting, expecting, preparing, on the lookout for Him, the Savior, the Messiah, the Promised One. Simeon followed the nudge of the Holy Spirit and saw Jesus. Do we? Have we followed the nudge? Have we stepped forward when stirred to pick up the Baby, hold Him close, speak in awe – I have seen the Savior?

Moreover, do we tell others we have seen the Savior?

Anna the prophetess was also there, a daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was by now a very old woman. She had been married seven years and a widow for eighty-four. She never left the Temple area, she worshiped night and day with her fastings and prayers. At the very time that Simeon was praying, she showed up, and broke into an anthem of praise to God, and talked about the child to all who were waiting expectantly for the freeing of Jerusalem.
Luke 2:36-38

Upon hearing Simeon’s words, Anna recognized Jesus. Upon recognizing Jesus, she broke into praise. Anna then told everyone who had been waiting for the promised King – I have seen Jesus! Anna told everyone who needed help, rescued, saved – everyone who needed Jesus – the Savior has come!

Just like the night wind said to the little lamb – Do you see what I see? A star.
Just like the little lamb said to the shepherd boy – Do you hear what I hear? A song.
Just like the shepherd boy said to the mighty king – Do you know what I know? A child.
Just like the king said to the people everywhere – Listen to what I say! The Light.

Simeon and Anna were looking for Jesus. They found Him. We need only look too. We will find Him.

You do know we’re having a baby tomorrow, right? Had you heard that? Are we ready for it? Not Christmas silly, the baby. There’s lots of preparation that takes place before a baby comes, right? Babies change our lives, completely upside down, right? Not only a newborn coming into the world, but in a way when the baby arrives, we too are reborn. Old habits, old routines, chucked right out the window. Right?

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn. Luke 2:6-7

So, what are we going to do about this baby? Anything? Remember the story of Lazarus, Jesus’ friend? Lazarus died. Jesus raised him from the dead.

Many of the people were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen. But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together to discuss the situation. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. John 11:45-47

See there, the Pharisees and the leading priests were asking the same thing. What are we going to do about this baby?

You know, a baby changes everything. Babies, this Baby, changed the course of the world. A world headed for eternal damnation to a world of eternal restoration.  Will this Baby change us? What will happen if we don’t allow ourselves to be changed, to experience new birth, to be reborn?

So, what are we going to do about this Baby? You know, the one swaddled at birth and placed in a manger. You know, the one swaddled at death and placed in a tomb.

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and He was God. He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn’t make. Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. This light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:1

The light that gives light to all mankind left behind the cloths in the manger and the cloths in the tomb. He was born! He did die! He is risen! Indeed.

So, what are we going to do about this baby?

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. The stars in the sky look down where He lay. The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the poor Baby awakes. But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes. I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky. And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay. Close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care. And take us to heaven, to live with thee there.