O Holy Night

Last night, Christmas was lovely.  Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, in-laws, and friends all crowded around the table catching up on the present and remembering the past.  Then it was onto a trailer full of hay for the annual carol ride through town.   Everything was smiles, hugs, photos, songs, and great anticipation of the quickly approaching celebration.  But this morning, Christmas is different.  One of my girls is sick, and another almost is.  Faces are pale, tummies are churning, and eyes are sleepy.  We’re not sure what will become of our best-laid plans for holiday travel, and the long list of want-to-do’s for today has devolved into a short list of have-to-do’s for tomorrow. 

In the midst of the mayhem, one phrase from yesterday’s carols keeps rolling around my half-awake mind.  “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.”  These words mean more now than they did last night.  It’s a small thing, but it’s made me think.  Our bit of tiredness resulting from a few hours of sickness can never compare to the weariness of a world dealing with centuries of sin.  “Long lay the world in sin and error pining.”  Unable to save ourselves, we were born into doom and despair.  Even the faithful who continually offered the stated sacrifices lived and died knowing that judgment had only been delayed, not dealt with, and that our sins had only been set aside, not settled.  The promised Savior seemed long in coming, and the weight of transgression and wrong shrouded our hearts as a never-lifting fog.

But then a mother groaned, a baby cried, and hope was born.  The weary world lifted her eyes in delight at the coming of a new day.  Thirty three years would pass before a blood-stained cross and an empty tomb shattered sin’s darkness forever, but Easter began at Christmas.  As earth’s long night of sorrow gave way to a sinless dawn, the brightness of its first rays thrilled our hearts and calmed our fears.

Joy to the world!  Christ the Savior is born!  Rejoice greatly and let His love lift you up and give you life this Christmas.  It really was a Holy Night.

“Because of the tender mercy of our God, the Sunrise from on High will come to us from heaven, to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”  Luke 1:78-79

Merry Christmas!

Stargazing

Ever wish you were a star?  Somewhere along our lives, the thought has crossed most of our minds.  We hope to throw (or catch) the touchdown pass, make the basket, hit the homer, win the championship, wear the medal, own the stage, sing the song, write the script, or somehow achieve something so big and so bright that for a moment or more, we capture the attention of others and cause them to look our way.  But why?  In this season where glowing stars top trees and towers all over town, I’ve been thinking about what it means to shine. 

The Christmas star is a good place to start.  The Magi arrived in Jerusalem because a special star had appeared in the sky.  “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him”(Matt 2:2).  To the Wise Men, this star was a brilliant sign.  Its light signified new life—a life so precious and important that they changed their schedules and altered their lives for a trip to a foreign land.  Armed with seeking hearts and worthy treasures, they headed to the palace to see the King. 

But no baby was to be found, and they were sent on their way by a suspicious tyrant and scripture-spouting teachers.   “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me”(Matt 2:8).  As they turned their camels south, the star showed back up.  “After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was”(Matt2:9).  The star, whose light had gotten them going, now became their guide, and the journey brought great delight.  “When they saw the star, they were overjoyed”(Matt 2:10), and when it led them to Jesus, they gladly offered themselves and then their stuff to the One who is worthy. 

The star of Christmas did what stars do best—give light, guide, and bring glory to the One who made them.  No wonder you’ve wished to be a star—that’s what you were designed to be—“Children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life”(Phil 2:15-16).  You were created in Christ to give light to a dark world, to guide the people who cross your path to Jesus, and to bring glory to the One who made you.  You words, actions, and attitudes should be so full of God that for a moment or more, they capture the attention of others.  “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever”(Dan 12:3).

This Christmas, and beyond, be a star, but instead of seeking the spotlight, shine His light. Not so others will look at you, but so they will look for Him.

What's In The Box

I really need to wrap.

The gifts for three family gatherings are piled under a blanket in my bedroom, and not one is adorned with paper or bow. I sometimes think, “Why? Why spend so much time and tape when all will be ripped away in mere seconds? This year, why not pass out unwrapped presents?” But I wouldn’t. It wouldn’t be right. I can’t imagine coming to the tree and having gifts just sitting there for all to see. Knowing what you got the moment you got up would take away something very special from Christmas—the wonder of what’s in the box.

At the three celebrations my family will attend on Christmas Day (in two different states, by the way— good, busy times!), the scene will be much the same. Those present will gather ‘round the tree for a time of sharing. We’ll share praise to our God for the best gift ever—Jesus. We’ll share lots of love as we talk and laugh, and we’ll share the excitement and joy of giving and receiving. At each gathering, someone will be “Santa” and will pass out the gifts under the tree, and then we’ll go around the room and open the gifts one by one, with everyone else watching and waiting and wondering—What’s in the box?

That’s what makes it so fun—the excitement of the one giving and the expectation of the one receiving. The giver can hardly wait to for the “getter” to see what’s inside, and the recipient is anxious to get in there and see! Funny thing, but the more excited the one giving is about the gift, the more excited the one receiving the gift becomes. The paper, bows, and boxes, which at first might seem like barriers, actually build anticipation and add beauty to the gracious exchanges. As our time together comes to an end, the room is filled with expressions of delight and gratitude and the sweet satisfaction of sharing our best with those we love.

I’d better get busy. Only a few days are left before Christmas, and even God wrapped His gift. “You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

Never lose the wonder of what’s in the box.

Good Grief, It's Christmas.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly. ‘Tis the season to be jolly. But what if you’re not? What if life’s circumstances have left you more mournful than merry? Then what do you do?

This question hit me hard yesterday at 65 miles per hour. Late to meet a friend for lunch, I was zipping north on the four-lane when I saw an older gentleman walking slowly toward his truck, wiping his eyes with a white handkerchief. I knew where he had been—the memorial by the side of the road. At that spot, only a few years ago, a courageous law enforcement officer was brutally murdered. With one unfounded, fatal shot, a wife lost her husband, kids lost their dad, parents lost a son, friends lost a pal, and our town lost a hero. Homes, hearts, holidays, and everydays would never be the same.

So how do you have Christmas when your heart is breaking? How do you trim the tree, string the lights, and smile at parties when all you want to do is sob? When divorce, death, abuse, family issues, health problems, or host of other troubles and tragedies have you down, how do you “get up” for the big event? And should you?

I’m not giving the selfish or the sour an excuse for being a Scrooge, but if you’re truly hurting, don’t fake it; faith it. That’s not meant to be a cute, trite saying. It’s serious truth. Our cultural traditions and decorations which can be so delightful at times but very difficult at others, are not Biblical requirements. The first Christmas brought only two divine necessities for celebration. One was explicit—“Don’t be afraid. This is good news of great joy,” and the other was implied, “Come and see. Here’s how to tell you’re in the right place—the baby will be in a barn.”

This season, if you’re struggling with a heavy heart, if you’re dealing with loss, if the empty place at the table or the missing face in the picture still brings pain, stay simple and go with God’s advice. “Don’t be afraid.” His perfect love calms your fears(1 Jn 4:18), His presence will never leave you alone(Heb 13:5), and by His purpose, He works for your good even in the bad(Rom 8:28). So, “Come and see.” Don’t try to be something you’re not. God knows what you’re really feeling, and He’s just glad you came. And keep your eyes open in unlikely locations—God often shows up where you least expect Him. The Christ of Christmas was “a man of sorrows and well-acquainted with grief”(Isa. 53:3). He does more than see your tears; He shares them.

At its very heart, Christmas isn’t about being jolly; it’s about joy—the “can’t quite be described, deep in your soul” peace that only comes because Jesus came. When the tears start to fall and the days seem dark, don’t try to dry your eyes; let God hold your tight and be your light.

“Because of the tender mercy of our God, the Sunrise from on High will come to us from heaven, to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” Luke 1:78-79

Fear Not

Every year about this time, the same scene appears on the screen as Linus steps to center-stage and reminds Charlie Brown (along with the rest of us) what Christmas is really all about. No matter how many times you’ve seen the movie or heard the scripture, the simple beauty of such great truth is always astounding. But yesterday, as I watched Linus tell the story one more time, I noticed something I’d never seen before. Linus drops his blanket.

He really does. He’s holding it as he steps on stage. He’s holding it as he begins speaking—“And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flocks by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shown round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto then, ‘Fear not.’” And then he drops it. As soon as Linus says, “Fear not,” he let go of what had been his security—of what he had held onto when he had been afraid.

Linus isn’t the only fearful soul in the world. He’s not the only one carrying around insecurities and uncertainties. His just happen to take the visible form of a tattered blue blanket; ours show up in other ways. But just as God’s “good news of great joy” was so exciting and so compelling that Linus needed both hands to express his delight, so we too, because a Savior has been born, can release our fears and our failings and find rest in His peace.

“The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight” the carol proclaims, and the lyrics are true. Deep down, past all the externals, three things scare us most, and each was conquered by Christ. Our fear of insignificance (that we don’t matter or that we won’t matter) faded away when our Creator became our Savior. Our fear of not being loved (because of who we are or what we’ve done) dissolved the day He carried our cross, and our fear of the darkness of death (that all will end or that’s what after won’t be good) dissipated in the light of His glorious resurrection.

“Fear not, for behold I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all people. For unto you is born this in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”

Let go of your blanket and grab hold of your God.
He's worth both hands.

And It Came To Pass

“And it came to pass in those days…” Had the Bible been written in Southern, this verse would read, “It just so happened that right about then…” But why and how? Did it just so happen by chance or did it happen just so by choice? And what was so “right” about “then”?

“When the time was right, God sent his son” into a world He had prepared politically, economically, socially, and spiritually to receive and spread His good news of salvation through Jesus(Gal 4:4). The Greeks contributed a common language. The Romans supplied an elaborate road system, reliable mail delivery, and two centuries of peace on three connected continents—Europe, Asia, and Africa. Jewish families migrating to these areas took with them their hope of a Messiah and their Hebrew scripture. And into centrally-located Palestine, who had the Roman leniency of self-rule and religious freedom, God shattered 400 years of silence with an angelic announcement to an unsuspecting priest(Luke 1). Had Jesus come earlier, things wouldn’t have been ready. Had He come later, they wouldn’t have been right--so He came right about then.

God had managed conflicts and conquerors to create the right set for the Savior, but He knew it would take an empirical order to move a very pregnant Mary the seventy miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem, so “it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed”(Luke 2:1). Returning to an ancestor’s birthplace to be counted (and to pay the census tax) was an imposition and an inconvenience, but God caused Caesar to give the order and millions to get a move on—all so one baby could be born in the little town of Bethlehem.

Nothing just so happens unless God allows it or arranges it, and since we know that He is in it, we can trust it happened just so we could know more of who He is and more of who we are in Him. Chance does not exist, only God’s choice.

This December, as you deal each day with the varied circumstances and situations of life, may the perfectly-prepared scenario of the first Christmas remind you that God “holds in his hand your life and all your ways”(Dan 5:23).

Things come to pass on purpose.

The Gift

“Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat”—and so is the pile of presents stored under a blanket in my bedroom. “Please put a penny in the old man’s hat”—or in my VISA account, if you have any extras!

While this Christmas carol may be fun to sing in rounds, the whirlwind of Christmas shopping, gift-exchanging, and bill paying isn’t always so enjoyable. The craving of our consumerist society to accumulate more stuff seems to escalate at Christmas, and we find ourselves trying to balance what we want to do, what we feel others expect us to do, and what we think we ought to do. For Christmas to be full of joy and peace, we need to do more than give the right gifts; we need to get it right about the gifts.

Let’s start simple. Giving and getting are not wrong. In fact, they’re very right. But being generous didn’t start with us; it started with God, for on that first Christmas day, the world was given a gift more magnificent than we had ever imagined, more beautiful than we had ever dreamed, and more needed than we had ever desired. This Gift was no last-minute decision or day-before find, for from eternity past, God the Father had been ready and waiting for that moment, and “when the time was right, God sent his Son, and a woman gave birth to him”(Gal. 4:4).

Can you imagine how excited the Father must have been? Surely He could hardly wait for Bethlehem. If you’re a parent, you can start to understand. At my house, I don’t know who’s looking forward to Christmas morning more—my girls or their mom and dad! We can’t wait to see their faces and sense their delight, to hear their gasps and feel their grateful hugs. Yes, parents should be wise in their purchases and everybody knows we shouldn’t blow the budget, but if there was ever a time for extravagance, surely Christmas is it! God was no Scrooge when He sent His Son. He cared enough to send the very best.

This gift was more costly than we can fathom and more unselfish than we will ever understand. We will never deserve a gift so precious, and we can never express our gratitude too much. The best thing we can do with God’s gift is the best thing we can do with any special gift—be excited, be thankful, and receive it with joy.

The reality of Christmas isn’t the presents and the gifts; it’s the gift of God’s presence. So as we buy and wrap and shop and share, may our generosity reflect the God who “so loved the world that He gave.”

Jesus-Filled St. Nicholas

Flanked on both sides by a brightly lit reindeer, the sign centered in my front yard proudly proclaims that Jesus Is The Reason For The Season. While some passing by might think we’re sending mixed signals—the declaration of the Savior and decorations associated with Santa—I think it’s possible to focus all the fun and festivities of Christmas as a statement and celebration of faith. The jolly, jiggly man we see dressed in red and white today might seem more at home in the mall than beside the manger, but the story of Santa is rooted in the faith-filled life of a man who gave what he had and who he was for Jesus Christ.

The real Saint Nick was born in southern Turkey during the third century after Christ and was orphaned when he was young. His parents left their son much gold and a love for God, and Nicholas became known for his rich generosity and kindness. While many stories of his charity endure, one repeated in three ancient accounts and differing only in details tells of how Nicholas aided an impoverished family in a desperate situation. With no money for his daughters’ dowries (and therefore no prospects of decent marriages), the father thought he would be forced to sell his girls into slavery—or worse. But Nicholas, upon hearing of the maidens’ plight, came secretly at night and tossed a bag of gold through an open window. Some versions say the coins landed in a stocking left by the fire to dry; others say they landed in a shoe. Either way, his gift resulted in a grateful father, happy daughters, and the delightful tradition of having “stockings hung by the chimney with care,” or, if you live in Europe, shoes left by the door.

Nicholas’ gift transformed the lives of its recipients. It meant that the daughters could now live in love instead of fear and in intimacy instead of isolation. Instead of being property, they would be protected, and in the place of desperation, they would find delight—all because the gift made a way for them to have a right relationship. Sounds a lot like another gift. This Gift has transformed the life of His recipients. Because of Him, we now live in love instead of fear and in intimacy instead of isolation. In Him, we are valued, protected, and treasured, and through our right relationship with Him, we find our deepest delight. Perhaps St. Nick was onto something after all.

Christmas isn’t about Santa; it’s about Jesus, but when you see pictures, decorations, and imitations of jolly old St. Nicholas, smile and let them remind you that Nicholas didn’t just give; he gave because of God.

By the way, when I started this devotion, I didn’t know that the day I chose to write about St. Nick, December 6th, is the anniversary of his death. Under the persecution of the Roman emperor Diocletian, Nicholas suffered exile and imprisonment because of his faith in Christ. He continued to serve God’s people after his release, and died several years later. Pretty neat!

So don’t forget to hang your up stocking. You never know what might end up inside!

Back Room Living

I dusted Jesus off today and set Him in His proper place

Influenced by a post-Christmas sermon last January, I didn’t return the holy infant to the attic along with the rest of the nativity, but kept Him out as a visual reminder that Jesus should be the center of my life each day—not just during special occasions. Nice thought, but here’s the problem—Jesus spent the year in the front room.

When you enter our home, you step into the front room, and though the floor plan is quite open, one well-placed partial wall blocks your view to the rest of the house. As a result, our family strives to maintain some semblance of order in the front room in hopes that a guest’s first impression will be the one that lasts, for when you step beyond the wall, you step into real life. The dishes in the kitchen aren’t always done, the dining table is quite possibly graced with a bag of groceries or yesterday’s mail, and the floor of the family room is most likely littered with an algebra book, a stray article of clothing, or someone’s flip flops—all because life mostly happens in the back rooms.

In those rooms, the pressing problems of the world—and the sixth grade—are puzzled and pondered, family Wii tournaments are hotly contested, and the compound interest my daughters learn about in math class becomes reality on the mortgage check. In those rooms, we double over with laughter, lament in sadness, and deal with bad moods. In those rooms, we enjoy lengthy family dinners, leftover lunches, and grab-as-you-go breakfasts. In those rooms, we interact and react, hug, pray, dance, fuss, and cry, and do what families do best—be together. And all the while, Jesus lives in the front room.

It didn’t seem right last January to place Him in the back rooms. He looked too fragile and too vulnerable to spend His days in the midst of the family fray. He might have been knocked around, knocked off, or nicked up. I considered it, but I really couldn’t find Him a good spot. He would have been in the way on the kitchen counter, in grave danger on the coffee table, and too high up on the entertainment center. He would have been lost between the peas and the potatoes on the dining table and completely covered in papers on the desk. But in the front room, Jesus was safe from the daily melee. His serene expression matched the calm order of those few square feet, and on the middle bookcase shelf He would certainly be noticed by any visitor. Besides which, He really blended with the front room color scheme much better than the back. So that’s where He was set.

It worked well. He couldn’t see the times I was irritated when I should have been patient or the times I was unengaged when I should have been involved. Hopefully He was far enough away that He didn’t hear my unhelpful words or my unholy tones. And since out of sight means out of mind, His face often held little place in my priorities and plans. I guess you could say Jesus was present but not a part.

That’s why I moved Him today. It’s Christmas, and as I arrange my nativity and ponder again the stunning truth that God stepped into my world, I am drawn by the grace of His Spirit to bow at the manger, to gape at the cross, and to rush toward the empty tomb.

Jesus didn’t come to be present but not a part; He came to give us life and to be our life, in all of life—even the back rooms.

Decoration Day

“They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.” Psalm 145:7

It’s Decoration Day! Time to venture into my attic, retrieve the piled-up boxes, and transform the house into a bastion of holiday cheer! The coffee table will host the holy nativity. The piano top will sprout candles, bells, and garland. And, of course, stockings will be hung on the back of the cabinets with care. (Gotta love Florida!) As we deck the halls, our senses will be heightened by the sound of Christmas carols, the scent of fresh fir (ok, fresh pine), the sparkling of the bright lights, and, if I’m really good, the aroma of fresh-baked snicker doodles.

Why the fuss? Why all the effort to unpack and adorn when in only a few weeks all must be dismantled and put away? Because it’s Christmas!! The celebration of the birthday of our King! This very special party started one evening in Bethlehem when an infant Jesus took His first breath and with His newborn cry announced, “It’s begun!” And the celebration continues today because one afternoon on Calvary, He drew His last breath and cried, “It’s done!” In come-back-to-life glory, He invites us today to share in the amazement of the shepherds and the awe of the magi as we celebrate the great truth that God came to be with us and make a way for us.

Ring the bells! Trim the tree! And pile up the presents! You can’t rejoice too much! Let your decorations be a declaration that Christmas is all about Jesus and that you are excited about the “good news of great joy”(Lk 2:10). May the twinkling lights remind you that Jesus is the Light of the World who has brightened the darkness in your heart. Let the beauty of the hanging ornaments cause you to consider the Beautiful One who hung on a tree for you. May the warmth, love, and closeness of friends and family prompt you to pause and reflect on the perfection and intimacy Jesus left in heaven when He journeyed to earth for those “nine months in a mother’s womb, three days in a borrowed tomb, and the time in between that brings us to our knees”(Francesca Battistelli). And as you cover your presents with lovely paper and festive bows, remember that the Father wrapped the best gift ever in baby-soft skin.

As God’s children, we should seize this opportunity to celebrate and to share. The holidays are holy-days because of what God has done. It truly ‘tis the season to be jolly and joyful, so make the most of Jesus and you’ll have a Merry Christmas--and a delightful Decoration Day!