Hopes and Fears

What do you hope for?  Christmas brought it.  What are you scared of?  Christmas solved it.  In an obscure village better known for what it had been than what it had become, a mother groaned, a husband prayed, a baby cried, and the hopes and fears of all the years were met right there that night.

There is no desire Jesus does not fulfill.  There is no terror Jesus does not defeat.  You want to be loved?  He adores you so much He gave His all.  You want to be protected?  No power in heaven or earth can snatch you from His hand.  You want a purpose?  He put you here to bring Him glory and be a blessing.  You want a future?  He’s busy preparing an awesome forever.  

You’re scared of death? He rules the graveyard and will raise you up. You’re fearful of life?  He felt all you face and promises strength for trials and exit ramps for temptation.  You’re afraid of failure?  His abundant grace stands ready to forgive. You’re anxious about needs?  He promises to supply.  You’re alarmed about loneliness?  He covenants to stay close.  

Because Jesus came at Christmas, we can come any time—to the God of the universe, bringing our fears, our faith, our losses, our love, our sorrows, our smiles, our wants, our wonder, our joys, our junk, our repentance, our gratitude, our appreciation, and our adoration.  We come in awe like the shepherds, knowing we don’t deserve to be there but delighted we got invited.  We come in worship like the Wise Men, bowing humbly to give ourselves and then our stuff.  We can never bring too much praise because baby in the manger was the ultimate answer to our deepest needs, our greatest desires, and our gravest terrors.

What do you hope for?  Christmas brought it.  What are you scared of?  Christmas solved it.  May all your hopes and fears be met in Jesus and may you know the richness of His joy on this very special day.

Merry Marvelous Christmas.

Christmas Grace

Last week, in a moment of musical need, I downloaded the largest and cheapest Christmas album I could find.  Five bucks and less than five minutes later, “21 Classic Christmas Favorites, Volume 2” was mine for the listening.  The whimsical “Winter Wonderland” was followed by a festive “Frosty the Snowman,” and the serene strains of “Silent Night” melded into a rockin’ rendition of “Jingle Bells.” But right before “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” led the way for Santa’s sleigh, Willie Nelson started singing “Amazing Grace.”

The song caught me by surprise, but it shouldn’t have because no two words sum up the story better.  Amazing Grace—grace that gave up heaven to help us here on earth.  Amazing Grace—grace that kept a promise though we had broken ours.  Amazing Grace—grace that showed up small but with no small print.  Amazing Grace—grace that invited outcast shepherds to a holy stable.  Amazing Grace—grace that moved magi to bow before the King.  Amazing Grace—grace that is as real and fresh and potent today as it was two thousand years ago.  Amazing Grace—grace that rescues and resuscitates a wretch like me, and keeps me alive breath by breath.  Amazing Grace—grace that knows I can’t hold up my end of the bargain so it never even asks. Amazing Grace—grace that is always faithful, always available, and always forever.  Amazing Grace—grace that is greater than all my sin.

Willie couldn’t have picked a better song.

Awesome God.  Astounding Love.  Amazing Grace.

Merry Christmas.

The Present Problem

“For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given.”  Isaiah 9:6

We have a problem with the presents.

Knowing my husband likes to read, I ordered him some books.  Knowing I like to read, he ordered me a few too.  Packages are arriving daily, but since we used the same account, neither of us knows whose they are.  If I open them to see, my surprise might be spoiled, and the same holds true for him. 

The situation is being solved by having one of our daughters open each box and read the heading.  If it’s a book I bought for him, I recognize the name.  If I’ve never heard of it before, I know he bought it for me, and hearing only the title doesn’t give away the topic.  (For example,  a few years ago he gave me The Zookeeper’s Wife, which was about hiding and helping Jews in Nazi Poland, and The Greatest Game Ever Played, which told of a golf match and not a football rivalry!)

The system has worked so far, and since only three days and even fewer packages remain to arrive, hopefully it will hold true for the duration.  However, in the spirit of holiday honesty I must admit that knowing the names has piqued my curiosity and caused me to be even more excited for Thursday morning when I can see what subjects he chose this time around.

The first Christmas wasn’t quite so complicated.  The One who gave the Gift left little doubt about its recipients—the label listed us all.  “For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given”(Isaiah 9:6).  When the good news of grace arrived, no one had to guess who the gift was for.  The answer is always you.  

And though the present came wrapped differently than most expected, the package arrived just as had been predicted.  “A virgin will conceive and give birth to a son”(Is 7:14).  “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel”(Micah 5:2,4).  No one needed to wonder who this baby would be and what He would do for the title gave away the content.  “And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever”(Is 9:6-7).  

The few words I know about my gifts don’t tell me much, but what we know about God’s says everything. “You shall give him the name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins”(Matt 1:21).

Can’t wait for the mail to come today!

Blue Christmas

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

On the day before Christmas break, this mean math teacher gave a test. My students requested tunes while they toiled, so I obliged, hoping music might inspire them to excel—but the first song up was “Blue Christmas.”  I had never paid much attention to the words, but yesterday I really listened.

I'll have a Blue Christmas without you;
I'll be so blue just thinking about you.
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
Won't be the same if you're not here with me.

Elvis was crooning of lost love, but the lyrics hold even more true for those who have lost loved ones. Instead of hugs and happiness, your holidays will be filled with sorrow and sadness, and the good times will be tinged with grief.  As the celebration and excitement of the season brews and builds, my heart is heavy for friends who face an empty place at the table.  My meager words will do little to heal the hole in your hearts, but the undeniable fact that Christ has come offers unshakable hope.

The reason for your pain is the reason He came—“To shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide our feet in the path of peace”(Lk 1:79).  Every moment since the fall of man, physical and spiritual death held terror over mankind, making our days dark and our nights long.  Separated by sin from the God who made us, our lives seemed fraught with futility and our funerals reeked with finality.  But through the Law and the prophets, God kept giving glimmers and sending assurance that one day One would show up who would shatter the chains and set us free.

And He came on Christmas day.

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy.

Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy.

This Christmas, if a seat at your table is empty, remember that the tomb is too—and take hope.

“O, tidings of comfort and joy.”