The lights on the square in Bentonville, AR give a true small town USA feel to the Christmas season. Residents gather throughout the Holidays to wander the sidewalks, take photos and enjoy the festive display. It is something that we haven't done in a few years.
Well, we've come to the end of another Christmas Music Marathon. There have been a lot of new songs this year and I hope you have enjoyed the more contemporary twist on the celebration of the birth of Christ. I'm already looking forward to the 2016 Christmas Music Marathon. Can I get an "Amen"?
I'm going to take a few days off. I'll see you next year.
It's Christmas Day! A Savior is born! May the Gift and the Spirit of Christmas live in your heart and home this year and may He walk with you every day of the New Year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our home to yours.
The house is decorated and there is excitement in the air. Tonight we will attend a candlelight Lord's Supper at church, then we will come home, read the Christmas story and open our gifts. It will be a good time together as a family.
I do enjoy spending some time around the tree admiring the ornaments that my wife has selected over the years. Most of these ornaments are over a decade old. The little beaded wreaths are much older.
One of the most recent additions to our Christmas decorations is this lantern. Not to worry, the candle is electric, but the flicker of it's flame is very realistic. It serves to remind me of the Light of the World whose birth we celebrate. As I said earlier, there is great anticipation in our house on Christmas Eve. I believe it was much different in a manger in Bethlehem.
Joseph and Mary had traveled there to be taxed. Joseph had brought his wife in order to protect her from the ridicule that she may have faced in Nazareth because of her pregnancy. While God had visited both of them personally and told them what was about to take place, I doubt if either of these new parents truly understood the magnitude of this "O Holy Night".
It is only because of that holy night that any of us have any hope of eternal life. It is only because of that most holy night that any of us have a real purpose in this life. May the Spirit of Christmas fill your heart and your home this year and may the Savior make His presence in your life very real this coming year. Merry Christmas from our house to yours.
Every year I spend a little time photographing Christmas ornaments on our tree. This year we traveled to the home of my wife's sister and her husband a few days before Christmas, so I spent a few moments photographing these ornaments. Most trees have a lot of bright, shiny ornaments of all colors, and this tree is no different. However, there are these ornaments. They were crocheted by my wife's mother. They are simple. They say Christmas and you can see the love that went into each piece.
Christians are a lot like Christmas ornaments. Some are bright and shiny. They are out in front of every event at church. There is no doubt that some things would never get done without them. Then there are those Christians that are a lot like the crocheted ornaments. They are simple, and quiet, but they are a part of a much greater story. They support every activity in the ministry without much fanfare, but you can see the love in everything they do.
The Bible tells us that Christians are members of the Body of Christ. Each of us has a part in the ministry of the church and there is a need for every member of that body. Not all of us need to be the hands. Not all of us need to be the brains. We simply need to remember that Christ is the Head of the church and we are the parts that do the will of the Head. I have to say, there have been times when God called me to be a shiny ornament. Now He has given me content with the role of the crocheted ornament but He has never given any of us the role of an unused ornament.
All of us are born for a purpose. The Bible tells us that God has plans for us. The question is "What is God's purpose for our life and are we willing to follow His plan." Pastors are not the only people that God calls into a profession. From the time I was in the ninth grade, I knew that God wanted me to be an architect but I didn't know why. I was over 40 when we moved to our present location and the church was beginning a building program. I was appointed chairman of the long range planning committee and later, chairman of the building committee. Our committee guided the church through millions of dollars of construction. In fact the largest project that I was involved in, as an architect, was not a part of my day job. It was as chair of the committee that planned and constructed our our new sanctuary. I firmly believe that God called me to be an architect and led my professional career to this location so that I could be a part of these projects. That leads to the question, "Why was Christ born."
As unlikely as the answer might seem, He was born to die. The Bible says that Christ would save His people from their sin. It also says that without the shedding of blood there is no remission for sin. Therefore, only the death of Christ, as the perfect Lamb of God, on a cross was sufficient sacrifice for the sin of this world. Without Christmas, there can be no Easter. Without Easter, there is no reason to celebrate the birth of a child in Bethlehem. Christ was born to die...for you and me.
Children's programs at school and church are a part of the Christmas season. Unfortunately, any reference to the true meaning of Christmas has been eliminated from the public school programs. But there are occasions when the real spirit of the season shows up in the most unlikely places and it is almost always appreciated and welcomed. Here is my all time favorite Christmas video and a traditional post that I will continue as long as I blog. Enjoy!
