We can easily miss what is happening in our midst. Caught up in our daily routine and distracted by the flurry of activity around us, we become too occupied to see the valuable things surrounding us.

The Christmas season seems to amplify this struggle. In the weeks leading up to Christmas Day, we are busy wrapping up year end reports, shopping for family and friends, and attending special events. There are holiday programs and concerts to attend, baking to complete, and a myriad of extra commitments. Throw in some decorating and wrapping of presents and our schedules keep filling up, leaving us to move through each day with at least a hint of a survival mentality.

Most of the festivities are enjoyable and make the season more meaningful, but they also consume time and attention. Children find it more difficult to focus on schoolwork as the break approaches. Couples feel the increased tension in their relationship, as each individual feels increasingly overwhelmed. The hurry of the holidays can easily keep us from slowing down enough to savor the deeper meaning hidden in this treasured time.

I felt this in significant ways this year. Learning the traditions of my new community while trying to fit everything in filled my calendar and to-do list to their capacity. There were days where I was adding tasks faster than I could complete them. While I confess there was a certain satisfaction as I lapped my task goals three or four times a day, there was little time to pause and reflect.

In the brief moments reflection was possible, I found myself contemplating the first Christmas. As I taught and preached my way through the Advent and Christmas story, I continued to envision myself in the story. This time, however, I was not connecting with the major figures of the narrative, but resonating with the average people in Bethlehem. There, among the nameless masses, I found myself going through the activities of life with little time to recognize what was happening nearby.

When we read the familiar Bible stories, we see the attentiveness and awareness of Mary and Joseph, angels and shepherds, and prophets and wisemen, but do we consider the people gathered in Bethlehem for the census? Do we ponder those living in the city now overwhelmed with people, or the people offering services to the multitudes? Consumed with daily details, it was easy to miss the answer to the greatest prophecies arriving quietly in their midst.

The good news in this is that the power of the Savior’s birth was not diminished due to lack of attention. God’s promises were no less fulfilled, and the divine revelation was just as meaningful regardless of who was there to receive it. Jesus came into the world, not just for those who were present at the birth, but for the whole world. The Son of God was given as a gift to all who would receive him, even if they missed the moment of his arrival.

We are busy, often too busy. It is easy to miss what God is doing while we attend to the details of our lives. Still, God is gracious. Yes, we would be blessed if we paused long enough to look more deeply at our lives and the world around us. Nevertheless, God is ready to bless us whenever we are ready to look. There may not be an angelic announcement. There may not be a sign in the sky, but the One born in a manger is always waiting and ready for us. In fact, he loves us enough to pursue us into our busy schedules and invite us to receive him as he receives us.

Jesus is not hidden, waiting for you to show up. No, he is with you, encouraging you to receive him. So, if your life is too busy, as I know mine is, remember it only takes a moment, just one precious moment to stop and see. One small pause, with an open spirit, is enough to receive the Savior into the manger of your heart. In that holy moment, everything changes. Our eyes are opened, and we begin to see everything with the fresh vision of God.

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The story of Jesus unfolds one day at a time, just as our lives do. There was no button Jesus or his family could press that would leap them forward in the story. They had to walk out the plans of God in their lives like everyone else and there was a lot of waiting.

We often miss this truth as we reflect on the life of Jesus. The gospels tell the story of Jesus, but they do not all give the same amount of detail. Matthew begins with the entire genealogy of Jesus and then jumps to his birth, while Mark begins with John the Baptist and Jesus’ baptism at thirty years old! Luke gives the longer narrative of Jesus birth, including the famous dramatic monologue of Linus in A Charlie Brown Christmas, and John begins with a more philosophical reflection on the Word.

In every case, the story moves rather quickly and in just a few verses, or a couple of chapters at most, Jesus is a thirty year old man beginning his ministry. So, it is easy to see why we get the feeling that Jesus’ life was always full of ministry activity and moved along quickly. The truth is, it took the same time it take us, including time spent waiting.

Waiting is an important part of the spiritual life. In spite of living in a time where our digital world moves quickly, exploring the deep things of God comes by slowing down and waiting on God to speak and lead. This is exactly why the adult Jesus is seen making regular time away to wait in prayer. Waiting on God puts us in a position to hear the profound whispers of the Holy One in our lives, and to breathe deep the breath of the Holy Spirit.

Take a moment to ponder these few verses:

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! – Psalm 27:13-14

Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. – Psalm 33:20-22

There are many more, but clearly, the Scriptures affirm the value of waiting on the Lord.

If you are anything like me, you can find yourself impatiently waiting for things to happen. I can become impatient waiting for my computer to start, and that takes less than a minute. We’ve been trained to expect things to happen quickly and to reject things, places, and people who make us wait, but this is exactly the opposite of what draws us to the deep revelation of God.

Whether it is making time in our daily devotions to quietly wait to hear from the Lord, or patiently enduring the circumstances of our lives as we wait for God to grow us and deliver us, waiting is essential to an intimate relationship with God. That, therefore, makes it an extremely valuable tool in living an effective, powerful, victorious Christian life.

We cannot rush God, so instead, we allow God to teach us how to patiently wait. Like Jesus, who grew one day at a time, so we trust our growth and our future to God as we wait upon him. We come before the Lord, still our hearts, and wait patiently for the still, small voice of the One to speak, and we savor the time in his presence. What a way to spend another day of Christmas, and what a good thought as we plan for a new year!

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Whenever I think I have a sense of the vast, universal message of Christmas, I become aware of how much more there is to explore and understand. On the surface, it seems like such a straightforward story, and to some degree it is. Yet, the more we ponder God’s great act in Jesus Christ, and the longer we consider the all of the surrounding story of this holy birth, the more of God’s love we discover, and the greater revelation of God in Jesus we uncover.

Pondering is a good thing. In fact, one of my favorite quotes of the Christmas story comes in Luke’s narration of Jesus birth. After Mary receives a visit from an angel telling her she will give birth to the Messiah, after a dramatic confirmation by Elizabeth and another from Joseph, and after a long trek to Bethlehem which includes the testimony of some shepherds who declare angels have confirmed them message again, Luke says, “But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19) Mary knew there was much, much more to consider than she understood at first glance.

Throughout history, this single verse from Luke was a favorite for those within the monastic traditions. It remains a special reflection to this day, because it echoes the heartbeat of those who would think deeply, and pray into, the profound things of God. So much of what there is to learn along our spiritual journey cannot be captured quickly. We need time to savor the details and mine the hidden treasures that lie well beneath the surface.

I am not suggesting that the revelation from God is not clear, nor should we be looking for strange, mystical interpretations of God’s word, but we should not settle for a quick reading that only skims the surface, when the word itself is inviting us into a deeper conversation. When Jesus was about to leave his disciples, he told them that the Holy Spirit was coming and that he would remind them of all Jesus said to them and teach them everything. That message is equally for us today. When we ponder, we are making room in our thoughts for the Holy Spirit to reveal what God is teaching us in that moment.

Like Mary, being good stewards of the word of God, the revelation of God, and our experience, involves pondering. It is active reflecting, which is the very definition of Christian meditation. Unlike other forms of meditation that seek to empty the mind, Christian meditation seeks to fill and the mind and spirit with the mind of Christ and the Holy Spirit. It actively considers things seeking God’s perspective and insight, while trusting in the Spirit to reveal God’s word to us. Our insights should always be consistent with Scripture, but we should remember that, when we think we understand, we should understand there is more to be understood.

As we continue on our Christmas journey, instead of wishing the season was over, maybe we should be thankful for the time to reflect on the deeper things God would say to us this year as we, like Mary, treasure all these things and ponder them in our hearts.

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Darkness never overcomes light. Walk into a dark room, turn on a light, and instantly the darkness is gone. There is no great battle where darkness might actually push back the light. Where light is shining, there is no darkness. In fact, darkness takes its definition from light. It is the absence of light. Light, however, is not the absence of darkness. The relationship between light and darkness is all about the light.

I recently took a nasty fall because I tried to navigate our Worship Center at night, in the dark. I’ve walked there in darkness before and felt confident I could do it again. Unfortunately, I forgot that we rearranged the platform for our children’s Christmas program, and was completely surprised to find myself tripping over it. The first question everyone asked me was, “Why didn’t you turn a light on?” It is a very reasonable question. The act of throwing a switch would have prevented all the bumps, cuts, and bruises that I received. You can be sure I will not try that again.

Notice, though, that nobody said, “Wow, it’s too bad the darkness held back the light and prevented you from seeing the staging obstacle before you fell over it.” That’s because it is clear that the darkness did not prevent the light from illuminating my path. I failed to let the light dispel the darkness. Sound familiar?

John makes it clear that the eternal Word, Jesus Christ, was born into our world to be the Light of the world. Even more importantly, he reminds us that what is true for physical light is also true for spiritual light – the darkness does not overcome it! It is easy in a world full of evil, injustice, and negativity to believe that darkness is winning. We may even be tempted to think it has already won. Fortunately, that is a lie the darkness tells to keep us from seeking the Light and letting him shine through us into every dark corner of the world.

Darkness cannot hide from the light, and it cannot overcome it. Despite its best efforts to deceive us, the truth remains – victory belongs to the light!

As we continue to celebrate the wonder of Christmas, we must not forget the radical truth that Jesus did not come into the world to merely be a nice person with some kind thoughts and words about love. No, Jesus came to seek and save that which is lost, to destroy the works of the devil, and to lead the world into the ever increasing light of his glory!

Christmas is so much more than a sentimental story of a baby. It is a radical declaration that the kingdom of light has come, and it is time for the darkness to flee!

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The shepherds responded to the angel’s message by immediately going to Bethlehem to see the Promise of God in person. They arrived and told everyone what had happened to them, and what was told to them about the precious child of Mary. When they left, they returned giving glory and praise to God. Three very significant things stand out in the actions of these shepherds:

They responded right away to the word of God. The angel revealed God’s plan and invited them to go and see for themselves the great thing God was doing. That invitation was a call for them to be a part of the story, a part that would be shared for generations to come. These simple, unnamed people who were doing their job, responded in faith and they did so right away.

Often, God extends a call to people, inviting them to join in the great story of the transformation of the world, only to have them say, “I’ll have to look into that sometime,” or, “Isn’t that nice, somebody should get involved with that.” We are tempted to postpone our response to the call, or ignore it all together.

The shepherds, did not wait. They left their work, their peace, and their comfort, and went to follow the call of God. God said, “Go and see,” and they did. Faith in God says, “Yes!” Then, it demonstrates that yes by putting faith into action.

They told everyone what they experienced, saw, and heard. As someone once told me, our relationship with God is very personal, but it is never private. The message of the Lord is not just for us, but it is meant to be shared with others. Too often we are afraid of what others will think of us. Will we be seen as crazy? What if people question our experience? We can already hear people saying, “Aren’t you taking this God thing too far?” or, “You heard from God? Really?” So we keep the message to ourselves and try to fit in with those around us.

The shepherds could not keep it in. They saw angels! They received the message! How could they deny their experience? How could they not make known the great thing God was doing? The same questions apply to each of us who experiences the revelation of God in our lives. How can we stay silent when God is speaking? What difference does it make what others think of us when God trusts us with his word? Instead, we should embrace the words of old hymn of the church, “I love to tell the story!”

They continued to give glory and praise to God. They did not walk away from their encounter with Jesus, keeping it to themselves, and returning to business as usual. No, they were changed by that experience, and it produced a heart set on praising God and giving him glory. This moment in time, that most of the world missed, became a life-changing reality for them. They could not go back to who they were before, and the cry of their heart became a declaration of praise to God.

We were made for praise. Once we encounter Jesus, our hearts cry out as well. Our lives are different simply because of our experience with the Savior. The only authentic response to the work of Christ in our lives is to glorify God and offer our praise. Like any type of witness, we can only tell the truth of what we have seen and heard and, when it comes to God, that witness always involves a voice of praise.

As we continue to live in the true joy of Christmas, may we take direction from these faithful shepherds who, having had an encounter with God, were never the same, and could not keep from telling anyone who would listen!

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May you enjoy God’s richest blessings on this glorious day!

Merry Christmas!

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We all like to have our lives in order, especially before major events, yet we are all too familiar with the reality that it usually doesn’t work that way. Often life refuses to cooperate with our agendas, and even when we think we are prepared, we are not as ready as we thought we were. I regularly hear people talking about being ready for marriage or for starting a family, and my first thought is, “Who is ever fully ready for what those decisions mean?”

We prepare and plan, as well we should, but part of life involves jumping in and working it out as we go. Jesus, speaking in Luke 14:28 says, “If one of you wanted to build a tower, wouldn’t you first sit down and calculate the cost, to determine whether you have enough money to complete it?” (CEB) His point is clear, before you take an important step in life, physically or spiritually, you should do all that you can to be sure you are ready. But what about the times where you can’t prepare; when there is nothing more you can do to be ready? What about those occasions where there is no time to prepare? That is where you put your trust in God and take a leap of faith.

Tonight, we will celebrate the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem; a journey of physical and spiritual distance. These two young people responded to the call of God far before they were prepared, but God was able to make them ready. They said, “Yes,” and dove the deep end of a pool with no way to see the bottom. There was simply no way for them to fully envision where their decision to agree with God would take them. They could only put their faith in the One who called them.

When God calls us, inviting us to join in exciting, redemptive work of Jesus, we are not prepared, but God will prepare and equip those who respond to the call. We will not know all that is before us on the journey, but we will know the One who goes before us to lead the way, behind us to protect us, and with us to enjoy the path together.

God doesn’t need what we have, God wants to have us. Please notice the difference. God doesn’t need our things, our skills, and our talents, for they are gifts of God to us. God desires our heart, our communion, our “Yes.” From there, all things are possible, and the joy for the journey is already ours because Joy is our companion and strength.

Wherever you are on your own journey to Bethlehem today, remember that God is bringing you to your Christmas Day. Ready or not, it is coming, and when it does there will be all the reason in the world to rejoice!

Happy Christmas Eve!

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I find it striking that this teenage girl, when confronted with an amazing reality, and with many potentially negative implications in her life, chose to respond with praise. It would be one thing if she said, “If that is what God wants, I will do it, but I’m honestly a little intimidated.” Instead, she accepts the calling with joy and begins to declare the praise of God.

Praise is a powerful tool, but at its root, it is the spirit’s reaction to the greatness, and the faithfulness, of God. More than just some songs we sing, or words we say, praise is the response that bursts forth from within as we encounter the Spirit of God. You may remember Jesus saying, as he entered Jerusalem to the praise of the crowds, that if they did not praise the very rocks would cry out. An encounter with God produces a spirit of praise.

There are currently, many postings on social media and Christian media, along with numerous Christian cards and items that proudly declare, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” I respect the sentiment. As a Christian, I believe this season is dedicated to the praise of the Savior. The bigger picture, however, is that, as a Christian, Jesus is the reason for my praise every day and in every season. The One who captivates my heart and calls me to know him more is worthy of my praise in every moment of my life, as he is for all who bear his name.

When John was expressing his vision of the throne room of heaven early in Revelation, he makes it profoundly clear that everything gives praise to the Lamb of God, Jesus. The whole worship of heaven is offered in praise of him. If all of heaven continuously stops to give praise and glory to the Savior, then our lives should be marked by that response of praise as well. It is the cry of our heart to offer praise and worship to God, through the Son, Jesus Christ.

In our second worship service this morning, the children will take over the message with their Christmas play. They practiced for many weeks to come and share this powerful story. Through the voices of these children of God, we will once again be reminded of Mary’s praise, and the praise of the angels. We will watch as shepherds and kings come to worship and adore the newborn King. We will be reminded of God’s gracious gift in the infant Christ, and we will be a part of the body of Jesus’ disciples who join in the offering of praise.

Today, as we move closer to Christmas Day, let us set our affections on him of whom the angels sing? Like Mary, let’s respond to God’s call in Jesus with a song of praise that declares the promise of hope, joy, and peace. May our spirits burst with praise for the Holy One, for he alone is worthy.

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There is a lot of truth to that statement, but there is an even greater truth that I am tempted to forget. I am not the center of the universe. Never has, nor will, the world revolve around me, and any challenges I face must be kept in perspective by remembering my place in relationship to others.

Just last night, our church received a request from a family for help this Christmas. With no money for a Christmas tree or presents, and facing some severe needs, they were reaching out for help. No sooner did I receive the request, than I felt the Holy Spirit say, “These are real problems. Help them, and while you are at it, watch your perspective.”

In his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul reminded them, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” (2:3, NIV) He knew the heart of his listeners, maybe the heart of every listener. It is all too easy to think that our world is the whole world and simply ignore those around us, caught up in all of our own issues. It was an important reminder, and it remains a significant call upon all of our lives. Great things happen when embrace a way of life that values others ahead of ourselves.

Humility is a challenging concept, but one that is at the heart of the Christmas message. Jesus chose to leave his heavenly position to become one of us in order to liberate us from sin and death, and to give us new life. The very nature of the incarnation, God in human flesh, is an expression of humility that seeks to lift others up.

The popular author, C.S. Lewis once wrote, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.” The goal of embracing a humble life is not to think poorly of ourselves or to treat ourselves badly. True humility is about seeing the value in others and being willing to take second place. The modern Bible translation, the Message, expresses Romans 12:10, “ Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.” Real humility is practicing playing second fiddle.

We all have days where we get lost in our wishes, wants, and desires, but with a little Christmas perspective, we can embrace the humble spirit of Jesus, put others ahead of ourselves, and find the true meaning of life that is found in relationship with Jesus and others.

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Personally, our family, like so many others, is making its own preparations for the celebration. Food and presents are being purchased, plans to be with family are being made, and some decorating has begun. There always seem to be more details than time, but even that craziness is part of the preparation.

Things and events that really matter require preparation. A great holiday with family rarely springs forth from planning the day before. In fact, when we neglect or procrastinate our preparations, we are usually forced to make other, less desired arrangements. Yet, with adequate planning and action, we can find all that we need and maybe even a little more. Then, when the celebration arrives, we are able to enjoy it to the fullest.

This is the reason for Advent. Despite the carols being played in grocery and department stores, the Santas we see everywhere, and even the numerous manger scenes with the baby Jesus already present, we are not celebrating Christmas yet. We are preparing for that celebration, and it involves much more than scheduling and decorations. The season of Advent is a preparation of the heart and spirit; a getting ready for what God is about to do in our lives and the world. Yes, we know that the birth of Jesus already took place historically, but in preparation for celebrating that event, we make ourselves ready for his continued arrival in our world and look toward the day when he returns in final victory.

It is tempting to leap ahead and miss all of the waiting, but part of the blessing is found there. Like the blessing of delayed gratification in so many other parts of our lives, waiting for the full celebration of Christmas makes its celebration all the more special. It also gives us time to reflect, to contemplate, and to make ready the mangers of our hearts for a fresh experience of the Incarnate God in our lives.

I know it is tempting, but can we be patient and wait? Can we avoid scouring our spiritual homes to find our presents early and not peek at those wrapped gifts awaiting Christmas Day? It may be hard, but it will be worth it when, like children rushing down the stairs to see the magical display, we embrace the revelation of God with wide-eyed wonder. May we be blessed in our giving and receiving, but also in our waiting.

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