MONDAY, December 22 Bow to a Baby?
Psalm 96 (excerpts from The Message)
Sing God a brand-new song!
Earth and everyone in it, sing!
Sing to God—worship God!
For God is great, and worth a thousand Hallelujahs.
Bring gifts and celebrate,
Bow before the beauty of God,Then to your knees—everyone worship!
When you read the text of Psalm 96 with its magnificent lines of worship and praise, the image that comes to mind is NOT a helpless, newborn baby. Totally unexpected. So unexpected that even the Hebrew people, who had been waiting for a God-sent King, didn't recognize that the miracle had happened. Yet, it really shouldn't have been unexpected, because that had been God's modus operandi for centuries: use the unexpected people at unexpected times. Life will change.
Ask any new parents and they will tell you: ANY baby changes life forever. This particular baby has the potential to change EVERYTHING. 'Bring the gifts and celebrate'! A new baby has been born! God on Earth!
From the humblest thing that lives
To the Name that is highest of all
Kindle in my heart within
A flame of love. (Celtic Prayers from Iona by J Philip Newell)
TUESDAY, December 23 Together
Luke 2:1-5 GNT excerpts
Emperor Augustus ordered a census to be taken...Everyone...went to register himself, each to his own hometown...Joseph went from the town of Nazareth...to Bethlehem in Judea...He went to register with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him. She was pregnant....
Even in the twentieth century, showing up to register at a hotel unmarried and pregnant would have caused a stir. It is unimaginable what it was like in Biblical culture. Surely it would have been easier, less embarrassing, if Joseph had just made the trip alone. But God had other plans - go together and know that God was present as well. Together we can do great things! When situations seem to be too hard, too challenging, too impossible, may we remember that we are not alone - we are in it together with God.
Generously given, profusely displayed,
Your graces of goodness pour forth from the earth.
As I have received so free me to give.
As I have been granted so may I give. (Celtic Benediction by J Philip Newell)
WEDNESDAY, December 24
Luke 2:6-14 MSG
While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel..There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified.....
I absolutely LOVE the Christmas story for the humility of it all. God uses the lowly, the outcasts of the society, to make God's entrance. No big parade, no kingly procession, just a few shepherds moving into town to check out an unlikely announcement. Just a poor stable, a bed of straw, a overfilled inn. Where, how, can God be found in this?
Perhaps when we look for God in the fancy churches, among the affluent Sunday worshippers, at government offices and ruling judges, we miss the God-in-action who is right in front of us: serving meals at a cafe, cleaning our rooms, teaching our children, and growing our food. Seek God, seek the face of God's Son, in our neighbors, our friends, our community, in the lowly among us. There we will find the gift of Christmas.
Today has been a most different Christmas Eve.....
No delivery of fresh baked goods to friends next door or housebound in the country, but a gift of coffee delivered to the hospital waiting room, the opportunity to receive the gift from another. No fellowship of friends and family, but the grace of digital messages of support, encouragement, and prayer. No candlelight service, just a bright star amid a clear and glorious sky. No Christmas Eve gathering to warm our hearts and fill our belly, but the service of a nearly-closed cafeteria to deliver some much needed sustenance. No 'Silent Night' echoes of chimes and choir, but the melody of monitor beeps and the chorus of angelic nurses. A day spent not in church and worship, but in hospitals and waiting, seeking 'room at the inn' and finding offers of hospitality emerge. Yet ultimately? A day of thanksgiving - for doctors old and new, surgeons, nurses, and all the medical support staff; for safe travels on icy and snowy roads, and mostly for healing in a sick son who is now on the way to recovery. Merry Christmas to all, Christmas blessings and grace from our God of all. And thank you to all. PS...The baked goods are in the freezer, awaiting delivery later!!! I seek your touch of healing, O God, for there you reside. Amen.
THURSDAY, December 25 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!
Luke 2:19-20 MSG
Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!
Two very different reactions to an incredible event. Loud outbursts of praise and adoration from the shepherds! Quiet moments of reflection and prayer from Mary. And perhaps this is how our day should be! Sing carols and laugh with friends and family! Open the presents and exclaim thanksgiving and praise! Declare 'Joy to the World' for a Saviour has been born. And then....in moments of quiet with God, ask yourself, 'What difference does this make? How am I changed by the events of this day two thousand years ago?'
Happy Birthday, baby Jesus! Happy Birthday, Jesus, Savior!
The light of the Christmas star to you,
The warmth of home and hearth to you.
The cheer and good will of friend to you,
The hope of a childlike heart to you.
The joy of a thousand angels to you,
The love of the Son
And God's peace to you. Amen. (www.irishamericanmom.com)
Happy Birthday, baby Jesus! Happy Birthday, Jesus, Savior!
The light of the Christmas star to you,
The warmth of home and hearth to you.
The cheer and good will of friend to you,
The hope of a childlike heart to you.
The joy of a thousand angels to you,
The love of the Son
And God's peace to you. Amen. (www.irishamericanmom.com)
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| Christmas Day prayers from the Grande Ronde Hospital |
FRIDAY, December 26 Slow Down!
Titus 2:11-13 MSG
God’s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation’s available for everyone! We’re being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears.
It's the day after Christmas, the stores have opened for the 'exchange time' sales, many take down the tree, and 'clean up the mess'! All the chaos of the season can be over and we can get back to 'normal'! Hey folks! Slow down! We haven't opened all our gifts, our Christmas ham is still in the fridge! What happened to the twelve days of Christmas that START on Christmas day?? Because, really, we are still waiting...waiting for Christ's return; waiting for heaven on earth. But this is a 'days of Christmas' wait. Active, involved, LIVING Christmas every day.
Maybe our forced 'slow' Christmas this year will help us stretch out the celebration, reflect on the beauty of God's gift coming again and again and recognize the gifts of grace that arrive every day from God. I put one Baby Jesus into the manger yesterday morning, perhaps today we shall add another. Maybe we will spend the Twelve Days of Christmas adding the gift of Jesus each day! (Might have to double up on a few days!)
May the Blessings of Christmas be with you,
May the Christ Child light your way,
May God's holy angels guide you,
And keep you safe each day.
(www.irishamericanmom.com)
SATURDAY, December 27 MESSIAH
Luke 2:25, 28 GNT
At that time there was a man named Simeon living in Jerusalem. He was a good, God-fearing man and was waiting for Israel to be saved. The Holy Spirit was with him...Simeon took the child in his arms and gave thanks to God: “Now, Lord, you have kept your promise and you may let your servant go in peace. With my own eyes I have seen your salvation..."
Simeon KNEW what he held in his hands - the ultimate gift from God to the world. God with us. How well do we acknowledge the gifts we have been given? How often do we say thank you for all the graces bestowed upon us. How often do we reflect on the amazing difference it makes in our lives that Jesus truly was and is Emanuel - God With Us - Messiah?
As I have received, so free me to give.
As I have been granted so may I give.
The gift is not ours to keep alone. What shall we do with such a gift? What shall we DO with Emanuel - Jesus - Messiah - God?
May you be blessed
With the spirit of the season, which is PEACE,
The gladness of the season, which is HOPE,
And the heart of the season, which is LOVE. (www.irishamericanmom.com)
SUNDAY, December 28 PAPA! FATHER!
Galatians 4:4-5 MSG
You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa! Father!” Doesn’t that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child?
Adopted into the family of God through Jesus. For all those who have a baby or addition to the family near Christmas, this family adoption business must be particularly poignant. I'm thinking of our friends who brought home a new baby on Christmas Day. All the emotions of Mary and childbirth, the vulnerability of the infant God, the wealth of love that surrounds a strong family unit....
When we are fully part of a family, boundaries change. We are free to abide within a set of rules because those 'rules' are for the common good of the community. They are not just Laws, but a loose structure that actually frees the family to fully live. And in Jesus, the family changed. The old laws were set aside for a new family construct based on intimacy with our parent God and our brothers and sisters in faith.
We have been feeling that community of faith surround us this holiday season through messages, prayers and calls as Jed slowly mends from his ruptured appendix surgery. We are all family - adopted by God. Merry Christmas... on the 4th Day of Christmas!
Give us wisdom to seek you,
Light to guide us to you,
And joy as we come before you,
Our God and King forever. (www.religiouscard.printeryhouse.org)
BENEDICTION: (D365.org - Bill Buchanan)
"Now go out into the world knowing that God goes before you, walks beside you, stands behind you, and is at work within you, empowering you to make a difference in the world.Go now into the rest of your day, knowing that God is out there doing amazing things. Go now, rejoicing that you get to be a part of it!"
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