Soli Deo Gloria

". . .in all things God may be praised

through Jesus Christ.

To him be the glory

and the power

for ever and ever.

Amen."  

 1 Peter 4:11

In years past, the day after Christmas has been a let down.  After working so hard to prepare for Christmas by shopping, decorating, sending out cards, baking, wrapping presents, attending performances, filling stockings, etc., the day after seems anticlimatic.  But this year is different.  This year I didn't do one bit of shopping, and I noticed a difference in my heart.  When we sang the words, "You alone are worthy. . ." on Christmas Eve, it grieved my heart to realize that I had placed many things before Jesus.  In an effort to make Christmas special for my friends and family, I had forsaken the One for which Christmas exists.  In my heart, I had placed these other things on an altar and worshipped them.  Once Christmas was over, and those things were gone, a hole was left leading to a feeling of disappointment.

This year, there is no descent down from the peak reached through the frenzy of preparations.  Instead, I see that today is a day to celebrate!  Jesus has come!  And in His coming, I have hope.  Not just a hope of heaven, but a hope of a life filled with meaning and purpose that is overflowing with the glory of God! The day after is a day in which to rejoice.

Restoration  Before Jesus came, I had no hope of a relationship with a holy God.  In His holiness, He is set apart from all sin and perfectly free from sin.  I am sinful from birth and have no hope of living up to His standards of perfection.  In this way, I cannot enter into His presence as a sinful being.  But while I was still in my sinful state, Jesus came in order for Him to take my punishment so that my relationship with God is restored through faith in Jesus Christ!  The day after Christmas is a day to celebrate because I can experience a personal relationship with the One Who created me and loves me with a love I cannot comprehend!

Emancipation  Before Jesus came, I was bound to sin much as a slave is bound to his master.  The slave has no choice but to do as his master bids.  He can try to rebel, but in the end, the master will get his way.  The master owns the slave, who has no free will of his own.  Rather, his will belongs to that of his master.  This is like me with sin.  Before Jesus came, I had no will of my own, no choice but to do as the sin within me bid.  Thankfully, Jesus has set me free from this burden and now I have the opportunity to walk in the light, living as a child of light!  The day after Christmas is a day to celebrate because I can live as a child of light, free from the burden of sin!  I am free!

New Creation  Before Jesus came, I lived for myself and my own desires.  This led to an empty existence lacking in purpose and understanding of my worth in God's eyes.  But now I am made new.  All the old ways have passed away and I have been created in Christ to do good works!  Through the power of God's Spirit working within me, I am now capable of doing good, whereas before Christ I was only capable of sin.  The day after Christmas is a day to celebrate because I am made new, living a life of purpose and worth!

I will no longer feel let down after Christmas, because I know that my relationship with my Father in heaven has been restored, I have been emancipated from the bondage of sin in my life, and I am a new creation!  These are all reasons to celebrate all year long, thanks to Jesus, my Lord and Savior! 

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can keep this spirit of Christmas in my heart throughout the year.

Where have I placed other things, activities or beliefs above God?

How can I set aside my sinful nature and walk in the light?  What sin is coming between me and God?

Imagine

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more 

than all we ask or imagine, 

according to his power that is at work within us, 

to him be glory in the church 

and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, 

for ever and ever! 

Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21

Remember the John Lennon song, Imagine?  Have you ever really paid attention to the lyrics of this song?  It's easy to get caught up in the emotion of the music and lose the meaning, as the audience did at a Christmas on Ice show that my family and I attended last night.  Take a moment to read the lyrics:

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace

John Lennon imagined a one-world, no boundaries system with no hope for tomorrow, nothing to live for, and no purpose for our lives.  And then he thought we would live in peace?  Sounds like a recipe for chaos to me, and definitely not the kind of place I want to imagine living in.


As followers of Christ, we have a better imagination.  When Paul wrote the benediction found in Ephesians 3, he said that God is able to do more than we can ask or imagine. Like what?


God's Family  It used to be that I had to be born into the right people group, the nation of Israel, in order to belong to Him.  Now, through faith in Jesus, I can be a part of God's family!  And as a member of this family, I stand to inherit eternal life.  How many people have searched their lives for a way to be able to live forever, or at least extend their existence?  I can think of the famed "Fountain of Youth," research in cryonics, (a human being is frozen until some point in the future when good health can be restored through medical breakthroughs), along with all kinds of nutritional supplements and exercise plans.  But none of these promise eternal life, and none gives the assurance of a life of hope that we can have in Jesus!  Paul desired for all believers to be able to, ". . .know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance. . ." (Ephesians 1:18)  I have the hope of heaven as my inheritance as a member of God's family!


A Member  Everyone wants to belong.  Ask anyone who works with gangs, and they will tell you that one of the most prevalent reasons youth join gangs is that they want to be apart of something.  Even though their gang family does not truly care about them, it fills a need to belong.  As a believer in Jesus, I belong to a huge family that spans the globe.  No matter where I go, I will find those who share my faith, love my God and learn from the same scriptures. As the Apostle Paul taught, "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." (I Corinthians 12:27)  Through my simple faith in Jesus as my Savior, I am a member of the Body of Christ: now I belong!


Direction  I remember many times in my life when I had to put together some kind of gift on Christmas Eve.  My husband and I would start off thinking we could easily figure it out, but would always resort to reading the directions to finish the job.  In order to truly understand the workings of the object, we had to go to the directions created by the manufacturer of that item. It is the same with us!  As a believer in Jesus, I now have access to the One who created all things and who best knows how I should live my life!   I have direction and guidance from my Creator as a follower of Jesus.


This Christmas, as I think on the miracle of God's Son coming down as a tiny babe, I will remember all that He has done for me.  He has adopted me into His family, thus making me an heir, He made me a member of His world-wide family, and bestowed upon me the gift of a relationship with Him.  I can't imagine anything better!


As I begin this day, I pray that I can keep my mind focused on the promises of God that came through His Son.


How can I live my life in unity with my adopted family?


This Christmas, how can I best honor the sacrifice Jesus made in the way I talk about, interact with, and treat my family?

Believe

"For nothing is impossible with God.”

 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. 

“May it be to me as you have said.” 

Then the angel left her.

Luke 1:37-38

"Oh, Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind."

"Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to."

"He who has no Christmas in his heart will find no Christmas under the tree."

"People have to believe in something."

"I need to believe something extraordinary is possible."

"Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone."

If you've watched any Christmas movies lately, you might recognize some of these quotes, or the sentiments behind them.  I tend to get mushy at Christmas time and overflow with warm and fuzzy thoughts.  But do I really know what these thoughts mean, or do I just repeat them because they sound good?  

Christmas is a day set aside for me to remember the birth of our Savior; Jesus Christ.  Since He is the author and perfecter of my faith, is it possible to have faith without Him?  And, is it possible to have faith in general, or does it need to be directed toward something or someone?

The Source  Faith, as defined in Hebrews 11:1, "is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  As outlined in the "hall of fame of faith" found in Hebrews 11, faith is vital to anyone serious about following Jesus.  In fact, verse 6 explains the importance of faith in our walk. ". . . without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."  I have no hope of pleasing God without having supreme confidence in Him and His ability to keep His promises and provide for my every need.  Even this certainty, however, is not from myself, but is a gift of grace from God himself.  "By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence." (I Peter 1:3)  If I want to have faith, I must get to know the One who is the source of faith. 

The Focus Faith is nothing in and of itself.  Or as Oswald Chambers so wisely phrased it: "Faith that is sure of itself is not faith; faith that is sure of God is the only faith there is."  It sounds good to say, "you just have to believe that everything will be okay," but it rings hollow in the face of the truth.  "Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory." (1 Peter 1:21 NLT)  God will never let me down; I can trust in Him completely.  I cannot just believe, but I must believe in God.  My faith must be directed toward God, or it is an empty shell.  If I want my faith to be true, I must direct it toward Him.

When the angel Gabriel visited Mary to inform her of God's plan, she believed the angel's words when he said that nothing is impossible with God, and she accepted His impossible plan for her life.  Her faith was from God and  in God.  As a result, we celebrate Christmas today!  May the faith God has given me make this Christmas a most precious one as I trust in Him as my Savior!

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will have faith in God and God alone.

Where do I believe what I hear without testing it against the truth found in scripture?

How can I live my life in a way that demonstrates the faith I have in Jesus? 

Why am I Here?

"For even the Son of Man 

did not come to be served, 

but to serve, 

and to give his life 

as a ransom for many."

Matthew 10:45

Jesus did not have an identity problem.  He knew His purpose and the position He chose in this world and this knowledge shaped His life as a man.  When He entered His creation as the long awaited Messiah, many were expecting a King who would be exalted over all the nations and a Savior who would save them from their worldly troubles.  What they didn't expect was the reality of God's plan for the King of Kings and Savior of the world!

Servant  I learned how to serve my husband by watching my younger sister in her marriage.  When it's time to eat, she dishes him up first, no matter how hungry she is.  She thinks of little ways to serve him throughout the day by anticipating his needs while he's at work, or getting certain chores done that she knows are important to him.  She possesses the heart of a servant.     Jesus possessed this same spirit.  He chose to lower Himself to the position of a subordinate in order to please His Father.  He did not expect to be treated in a certain way, but instead humbled Himself for the sake of those He loves: His Father and His people.  In this season of giving that generates incredible stress and high expectations, how can I humble myself for the sake of my Father and those He has placed around me?

Donor  I have heard stories of people who have given vital organs, such as a kidney, to a complete stranger in order that they might live.  These kinds of stories always make the news because they are so rare, but there is always some kind of pay off for the donor.  It could be simply a feeling of goodwill that they receive as a result of this selfless gesture, or it could help them move beyond some feelings of guilt for past wrongs that they have committed.  Whatever the reason, humans are incapable of selfless sacrifice in and of their own strength.  Jesus, however, gave His life selflessly and He deserves to make the front page headlines each and every day.  He was only thinking of His love for His Father and His desire to obey Him, as well as His love for mankind who is powerless to repair his broken relationship with God the Father.  Jesus gave His life so that I might live, and live a full and meaningful life, not just an existence. "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." (I Peter 2:24)  Christmas has become a time when I focus on meeting expectations and creating memories for my family and friends.  How is this honoring the sacrifice Jesus made for me?  I am redeemed by His blood and are free to live for Him.  In living for Jesus, all other pressures will fall away until He is all that remains.

This Christmas season I will remember the reality of Jesus.  The King of Kings became a servant, and the Savior of the world appeared as a life-giving donor.  This did not meet the expectations of the people, but it was just as God had planned and this plan can change the way I view my purpose as His child.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can focus on God's plan for me and not on the expectations I have for myself, or that others may hold over me.

How do I minimize the sacrifice Jesus made for me, especially as I celebrate Christmas?

Where am I exalting myself above those around me in the attitude I carry?  

Am I Ready for Christmas?

"You know the generous grace

of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Though he was rich,

yet for your sakes he became poor,

so that by his poverty he could make you rich."

2 Corinthians 8:9

"Are you ready for Christmas?"

"No I have a few more gifts to get.  How about you?"

"I haven't even started yet!  I wait until the day before and catch all the sales!"

This is a typical exchange at this time of year.  When most people are asked if they're ready for the big day, they immediately think about whether or not they are done with their shopping.  Gift giving is a big part of Christmas, in fact I would estimate it might make up about 60-80% of the typical American Christmas with the rest of our time, effort and thoughts going to food, decorations and church, because who doesn't love a good candlelight service? 

This year I am challenged with the thought that, if Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Christ, where is the focus of my heart?   And how does that focal point bring honor to Jesus' sacrifice of lowering Himself to a mere baby in order that I may have the richness of a relationship with my Father and the hope of heaven? 

Grace  Grace can be defined as getting what I don't deserve.  My life, family, friends, home, health, possessions, even my next breath, is not guaranteed or earned.  Instead, it is all a gift from the Creator to me, the created.  He doesn't owe me anything!  But God is rich in grace and gives even though I don't deserve it.  Jesus taught that, " He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matthew 5:45)  God is generous to all, even when we don't think about Him at all throughout the day. Would you give good things to someone who doesn't even give you a moment out of his day?  I wouldn't!  But God does.  And He calls us to extend that same grace to others, even if they don't deserve it.  This Christmas, I can give the gift of grace!

Rich When I think of what it means that Jesus is rich, I automatically think of all the resources, power and legions of angels that are at his disposal, ready to be put into action at a moment's notice.  But He also dwelled with His Father in heaven when He gave that up in order to live the life of a human for 33 years.  He gave up the glory of heaven for me!  Even though He has been returned to His rightful position, it is an unthinkable sacrifice to surrender the richness of His proper place for any period of time.  I have a hard time even yielding my favorite chair in the family room!  If I can adopt Jesus' attitude of surrender, think how it would benefit those around me.  This Christmas, I can give the gift of sacrifice.

Poor  Jesus put Himself in the position to be ridiculed, disrespected and cast aside.  "Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.  Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;  he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being."(Philippians 2:6-7 NLT)  Jesus became poor so I can be rich in the blessing of heaven.   I run from anything that would put me in a position of humiliation, embarrassment or disgrace.  Why is it acceptable for Jesus, but not for me?   This Christmas, I can give the gift of humility.

Let me ask myself the question again.  Am I ready for Christmas?  I need to be ready to extend grace to those who don't deserve it, give up positions I feel entitled to hold, and become humble for the sake of God's great name.  No, I am not ready.  There's a lot of work to be done on my heart in order to be truly prepared for Christmas.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will not just focus on the physical preparations for Christmas, but that I will allow God to prepare my heart.

How am I demeaning the sacrifice Jesus made in coming down into His creation in the way I celebrate Christmas?

Give a Gift

"On coming to the house,

 they saw the child with his mother Mary,

and they bowed down and worshiped him.

Then they opened their treasures and

presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh."

Matthew 2:11

The news of the shootings, stabbings, pepper spray attacks and brawls circulated across the country.  Was this some kind of demonstration gone bad, or a prison riot?  No, these were incidents that happened on Black Friday, the first official shopping day of the Christmas season.

Gift giving is a big part of the American holiday experience, leading some to resort to violence in an effort to snag the best possible gifts.  But why do we give?  On, or shortly after, that first Christmas over 2000 years ago, a group of magi from the east appeared to worship the Messiah.  The gifts they presented were chosen carefully and not the result of a frenzied shopping spree.  Rather, they were symbols of who they believed this child to be.

Gold  The first gift was to show their respect for the King of kings.  According to the prophecy found in Isaiah 9:7, "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."  That's like no king we've ever seen before!  Gold is given not because a king needs it, but because a reigning king is worthy of the finest gift that can be found.  Am I giving my very best to Jesus, my King?

Frankincense  When the Israelites made sacrifices to the Lord, an offering of grain could be chosen as a memorial, or remembrance, offering.  "And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon:  And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD." (Leviticus 2:1-2  KJV)  This offering, given freely as a way to demonstrate to God the giver's attention to God's commandments, is received by God as an aroma pleasing to Him.  The wise men gave the gift of Frankincense as a show of worship and devotion to the living God.  Am I living my life out of worship of, devotion to and reverence for God and His commandments?

Myrrh  This aromatic resin harvested from certain trees was an ingredient utilized in fragrant perfumes and was often used as an embalming agent.  This gift was symbolic of the sacrifice Jesus was making in entering into His own creation and ultimately laying down his life.  "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)    The purpose for Jesus' birth into a sinful world is clear.  "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:17)   The gift of myrrh was given as a reminder of the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus.  Do I keep my Savior's unspeakable sacrifice at the forefront of my thoughts?

It is easy to get caught up in the materialism of the American Christmas.  But my prayer is that this Christmas, every activity I choose, every cookie I bake, every carol I sing, will be done with a purpose in mind.  Just as the wise men brought gifts which symbolized the position, power and purpose of Jesus, let me live my life in such a way that brings honor to Him.  

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that this Christmas season will be a time used to honor the sacrifice Jesus made in coming down into a sinful world in order to save me from that sin.

How am I holding a low view of Christmas, allowing it to become only about the presents, parties and decorations?

Where am I demeaning the memory of the birth of Christ?