Category Archives: Holidays & Holy Days

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December 16, 2024

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Bible Stories, Challenges & Difficulty, Holidays & Holy Days, Joy, Thanks & Praise, Today: Make it Count

“HALLELUJAH” RATHER THAN “HUMBUG”

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. [Isaiah 61:1-2 (NLT)]

 

Unfortunately, much of our Advent season is not spent joyfully looking forward to celebrating the birth of the Christ child. In hope of finding the perfect gift for everyone on our list, we pore over catalogues and search for sales and coupons. Either we fight for parking spots at the mall and spend hours standing in line or spend those hours sitting at the computer while shopping on line! We then fret and fuss over wrapping those gifts, mailing packages and Christmas cards, hosting and attending parties, baking cookies, making travel arrangements, decorating the house, preparing holiday dinners, and paying the ever-mounting bills. When we say, “Merry Christmas!” we might find ourselves mumbling a Scrooge-like “Bah! Humbug” under our breath! Instead of looking forward to Christmas with anticipation, there are times we can’t wait until it’s all over and done.

Dr. Seuss’ Grinch eventually realized Christmas really has nothing to do with all those trappings; I wonder why we have so much trouble remembering that same thing. Christmas isn’t about gifts, parties, cards, peppermint bark, decorations, or the “roast beast feast.” Jesus with His message of love, redemption, forgiveness, and salvation is the only reason for the season! Mary didn’t send out 100 birth announcements or bake dozens of cookies and the stable that housed the Holy Family wasn’t decorated with wreaths, ribbons, holly, or tinsel. God took care of the only decoration with a bright star and a heavenly chorus announced the birth. Shepherds were the first holiday guests and they didn’t expect gingerbread cookies or care about the stable’s decor or cleanliness. The Magi’s Christmas presents were odd gifts for an infant and probably arrived two years late.

Today, consider pausing from all your preparations to re-read Zechariah’s prophecy of a Savior who would redeem His people and the beautiful story of His birth in Luke 1 and 2. Tonight, take a drive and look at the Christmas lights festooned around your town; let them remind you of Isaiah’s promise; “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light … For a child is born to us.” Then let us joyfully raise our voices in a “Hallelujah!” instead of “Humbug!”

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. [From “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss]

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine … For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [Isaiah 9:2,6 (NLT)]

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December 12, 2024

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God's Plan, God's Promises, Holidays & Holy Days, Today: Make it Count

READY OR NOT…

For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. [1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 (NLT)]

For Christians, the four weeks before Christmas are the season of Advent: a season as much about preparing for Christ’s second coming as it is about preparing to celebrate His first. Having recently purchased a baby gift, I couldn’t help but see similarities between the way expectant parents prepare for the advent (coming) of their new baby and we prepare for the advent (coming) of Christ.

Wanting to give her baby the best possible start, the mother-to-be is cautious about what goes into her body. She adds pre-natal vitamins, stops drinking alcohol, gives up junk food, and shuns risky foods like sushi, alfalfa sprouts, and brie. In the same way, as we prepare for Christ’s coming, we should take these weeks to improve what we put into our minds—the things we listen to, read, watch, and stream. Are they as worthless as junk food’s empty calories or as unsafe as smoking or drinking unpasteurized cider are for the expectant mother and baby she carries?

In preparation for their baby’s arrival, the expectant mom and dad eagerly read all about child care and attend birthing, parenting, and infant CPR classes. We should be as intent on learning about Jesus as new parents are about babies. Advent is a good time to start!

Knowing that life will be different once their baby comes, the soon-to-be parents give serious thought to their priorities and the sacrifices to be made. Midnight feedings will replace date nights, designer handbags are swapped for a diaper bag, and a full night’s sleep will become a thing of the past. Carpets will be cleaned, the office or extra bedroom becomes the nursery, while cabinets, corners, and sockets are baby-proofed.

The four weeks of Advent are the time for Christ’s followers to prepare room in our hearts for Him. As we prepare for the coming of the Christ child, like expectant parents, we might reflect on any changes or sacrifices that we should make so Christ can make His home with us. Rather than baby-proofing, do we need to do a little sin-proofing? As we clean house in preparation for the holidays, we might want to clean our hearts of things like greed, pride, or resentment so there’s room for the King.

Once they know a baby is coming, I doubt that a day passes without the parents-to-be thinking about its arrival. Advent should be a season when Christ is first and foremost in our minds, as well. Just as a woman in her 40th week of pregnancy yearns for her baby’s arrival, we yearn for Jesus to arrive and straighten out the mess we’ve made of His world.

The expectant parents have a good idea of when their baby will come and, while we know when Christmas will arrive, only God knows the date of Christ’s second coming. Nevertheless, Jesus told us that, like labor pains, there would be signs—things like wars, famines, earthquakes, persecution, conflict, economic turmoil, and deception. Considering today’s news, it’s not surprising that 39% of Americans (and 47% of American Christians) think we are in the end times right now. Then again, chaos and trouble are not unique to the 21st century. The early church thought Jesus would return and usher in God’s Kingdom in their lifetimes and I suspect Christians throughout the centuries have thought they were living in the end times. We don’t know if we’re living in the last days but, like those soon-to-be-parents, we know for sure that He will arrive whether we’re ready or not!

The immense step from the Babe at Bethlehem to the living, reigning triumphant Lord Jesus, returning to earth for His own people – that is the glorious truth proclaimed throughout Scripture. As the bells ring out the joys of Christmas, may we also be alert for the final trumpet that will announce His return, when we shall always be with Him. [Alan Redpath]

However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. … You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. [Matthew 24:36, 44 (NLT)]

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December 5, 2024

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Attitudes & Behavior, Holidays & Holy Days, Love & Works, Wisdom & Guidance

FEAST OF ST. NICHOLAS

Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” [Matthew 19:21 (NLT)]

St. NicholasTomorrow, December 6, is the Feast of St. Nicholas (or Sinterklass). Although it is difficult to know fact from fiction, we do know that St. Nicholas was born around 270 AD in Patara, a city in Lycia (modern day Turkey). The son of wealthy and devout parents, it was his uncle, the Bishop of Patara, who took charge of his spiritual life. Nicholas became the Bishop of Myra in Turkey, quite likely attended the council of Nicaea, spent seven years imprisoned under Diocletian Persecution, and died on December 6, around 343 AD. While we don’t know much about the man, he must have had a great impact on the early Christian church because, by 450 AD, churches in Asia Minor and Greece were named in his honor and, by the mid-6th century, the Emperor Justinian dedicated a church to him in Constantinople.

When Nicholas’ parents died, legend has it that he distributed the money and property he inherited to those who begged him for help. Taking seriously Jesus’ command to sell his possessions and give to the poor, he selflessly gave away his entire wealth. It’s said that wherever he saw suffering or need, he gave in secret and expected nothing in return. The best-known story of this revered saint is that he secretly provided money for three girls whose father was so poor he couldn’t provide them with dowries. No dowries meant no marriages which meant they’d be sold into lives of servitude. Nicholas secretly provided each girl with a bag of gold (some say by putting it in their stockings that were drying by the fire). This legend evolved through the centuries into the custom of gift giving on the eve of his saint’s day.

Tonight, in memory of the cherished saint, children throughout Europe will put out shoes, boots, or stockings to be filled with small gifts like coins, oranges, nuts, candies, and cookies brought by the Saint. These little gifts are meant to be shared with others rather than kept for oneself. In some countries, the legendary saint is said to be accompanied by the demonic Krampus who leaves coal in the shoes and stockings of naughty children (or possibly beats them with a stick)!!

From what we know of him, Nicholas loved God more than anything. I wonder what he would think of the way his name, faith, and generosity have turned into such crass commercialism. While he is the patron saint of children, seamen, brides, the hungry, and scholars, he is not the patron saint of credit card companies, malls, shoppers, catalogues, or Amazon! Nicholas certainly wouldn’t approve of the way Santa Claus has eclipsed the Christ child in the hearts of many.

As we move into this holiday season, perhaps we should emulate St. Nicholas, the original Santa Claus. His life wasn’t about how many presents were stacked under his tree; it was about dedicating his life to serving God and helping those in need. Perhaps we should pare down our Christmas list so that our gifts are as simple as fruit and nuts and must fit into a shoe or stocking. Let us also remember that those holiday gifts are to be shared. After all, it is Jesus, not Santa, who is the reason for the season!

Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do. There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need. [Deuteronomy 15:10-11 (NLT)]

Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor. [Proverbs 22:9 (NLT)]

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December 2, 2024

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Faith & Hope, God's Plan, Holidays & Holy Days, Trusting God

ADVENT HOPE

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. [Ephesians 1:18-20 (NLT)]

Without Christ there is no hope. [Charles Spurgeon]

According to the Greek myth, when Zeus presented a beautiful jar to Pandora as part of her dowry, he forbade her to open it. Curiosity, however, got the best of her. When she lifted its lid to peek into the jar, all the malevolence and afflictions Zeus hid inside were released. As evils like sickness, chaos, death, conflict, hatred, jealousy, sorrow, envy, lust, famine, and violence came rushing out , the terrified woman quickly replaced its lid. All that remained in the jar was hope—the only consolation humans have for the trouble and suffering Pandora let loose upon the world.

Of course, it wasn’t Pandora who brought misery into the world—it was Adam and Eve who brought sin, misery, and death into the world with their disobedience. Rather than remaining in Pandora’s jar, hope came to the world in a baby born in Bethlehem about 2,000 years ago.

How many times this past week did you hope? Did you hope the family would arrive safely, the turkey would be done on time, the rolls wouldn’t burn, or that no one would argue about politics at dinner? We hope for things both large and small—getting a raise, excellent grades, better health, reconciliation, a good night’s sleep, a winning season for our team, a cure for cancer, an on-time departure, finding the perfect gift, world peace, the winning lottery ticket, or a better tomorrow.

Biblical hope, however, isn’t about expecting better circumstances. Biblical hope is living through the storms, loss, pain, and disorder of this life while holding on to the hope that God will show up right in the middle of our mess! In the darkness of our lives and today’s troubled world, Christ’s followers have hope regardless of whether our circumstances change for the better or the worse. We have hope because we know the One who holds our future in His hands. We have hope because we know that He is with us every step of the way. Best of all, we have hope because we know how the story ends—and its end is better than anything we possibly could imagine!

Yesterday was the first Sunday in Advent—the four-week season in the Church calendar dedicated as much to the Messiah’s second arrival as to His first! In observance of this season of preparation, last night we lit the first candle (the candle of hope) in our Advent wreath. A circular garland of evergreen, the wreath’s greens represent eternal life and its round shape represents God’s unending love. Often called the prophecy candle, it reminds us that the Messiah’s arrival, death, resurrection, and return in final victory were prophesied hundreds of years before His birth. This first candle represents mankind’s past hope for the coming of the promised Messiah, our present hope because of Jesus’ presence in our lives, and our future hope for His promised return.

Hope came into the world with the birth of Jesus—Immanuel—God with us. God gave us hope with His forgiveness of sins, our salvation, and His promise of peace. He gave us hope with the resurrection of the dead, the communion of saints, the redemption of creation, the Holy Spirit, the return of Christ, and the life of the world to come. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the gift of hope.

The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity—hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory—because, at the Father’s will, Jesus became poor and was born in a stable so that thirty years later He might hang on a cross. [J.I. Packer]

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. [Romans 15:13 (NLT)]

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November 28, 2024

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Attitudes & Behavior, Holidays & Holy Days, Thanks & Praise, Today: Make it Count

THANK YOU NOTES

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. [Psalm 107:1 (NLT)]

It’s one thing to be grateful. It’s another to give thanks. Gratitude is what you feel. Thanksgiving is what you do. [Tim Keller]

wild turkeyWhen I was a girl (back in the days of pen, paper, and postage stamps), my mother insisted that I write a “thank you” note for any gifts I received. Whether my birthday or Christmas, I was not allowed to enjoy any gifts until the necessary notes had been written. Moreover, each note had to be personal. I couldn’t just write a quick generic, “Thank you for the nice present.” I had to say something specific about the gift and, if it was money, I had to say how I planned on using it. Even if the present was something I really didn’t like or want (and we’ve all had those kinds of gifts), I had to express gratitude. My mother reminded me that, while I might not value the gift, someone else’s time, thought, love, and money had gone into getting it for me. Therefore, I should take the time to properly acknowledge and show my appreciation for the giver’s generosity. Her “thank you” note rule also applied whenever someone did something special for me. If a family took me to an event or I’d spent the night at a friend’s house, a note of thanks had to be written.

Eventually, once I was old enough to buy the gifts, host the guests, and do the good turns and favors, I appreciated the time, energy, money, thought, and love that goes into those things. My mind set changed from “I have to write a note” to “I want to write a note.” Rather than an obligation, thanking someone became a privilege.

Whenever I get a note of thanks, I relish it, especially when it’s from a grand. Misspellings or poor penmanship don’t matter to me; I love knowing that they (and their parents) appreciate the gift and the love that came with it. Unfortunately, nowadays, people rarely write “thank you” notes or even send “thank you” emails. We seem to take people, their gifts, and kindness to us, quite for granted.

As rare as hand-written notes are today, how much rarer is it for us to remember to send our thanks regularly to our Father in Heaven? What if we couldn’t play with our toys, enjoy our health, use our talents, spend our money, live in our homes, hug our family, eat our food, use our intellect, or accept God’s grace until we had properly thanked him? The fourth Thursday in November may be our national day of thanksgiving, but every day should be a day of giving thanks. That means seriously thinking about our many blessings, specifying the gifts for which we are grateful, and then actually giving God our thanks and praise.

Later today, when you take that walk in a vain attempt to work off the extra 2,000 or more calories you consumed at dinner, try listing your blessings and offering your thanks as you walk. Chances are that you’ll still be thanking God for His gifts by the time you return home.

Silent gratitude isn’t very much use to anyone. [Gertrude Stein]

Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. [Psalm 100:4-5 (NLT)]

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November 25, 2024

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Attitudes & Behavior, Church & Worship, God's Word: The Bible, Holidays & Holy Days, Obedience, Salvation: A New You

CHRIST THE KING

“My kingdom isn’t the sort that grows in this world,” replied Jesus. “If my kingdom were from this world, my supporters would have fought, to stop me being handed over to the Judaeans. So then, my kingdom is not the sort that comes from here.” [John 18:36 (NTE)]

God’s kingdom, you see, isn’t about food and drink, but about justice, peace, and joy in the holy spirit. [Romans 14:17 (NTE)]

For those of us who attend liturgical churches, yesterday was the last Sunday of the liturgical (or church) year: Christ the King Sunday. A kind of liturgical “New Year’s Eve,” it is the climax and conclusion of the Church’s year.

Starting with Advent, the first half of the church year focuses on the events of Jesus’ life: His incarnation, birth, manifestation, temptation, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension. The second half of the church year begins on Pentecost (with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit) and, depending on Easter’s date, lasts 23 to 28 Sundays. Sometimes called Ordinary Time, this season focuses on the teachings of Jesus. Next Sunday, we start a new year with the first Sunday in Advent and begin another journey through Scripture to remind us of who we are and to whom we belong.

Like the rest of the liturgical church calendar, Christ the King Sunday is man-made rather than ordained by God. Nevertheless, having attended a liturgical church most of my life, I find comfort in regularly celebrating not just Christmas and Easter but the entire mystery of Jesus—from His incarnation through His death, resurrection, and ascension, to the gifting of the Holy Spirit and the expectation of His glorious return.

When I first saw the words “Christ the King” on the church hymn board years ago, I didn’t know that this observance is a modern addition to the church year. It was instituted in 1925 by Pope Pius XI in response to the growth of communism, fascism, atheism, and secular ultra-nationalism in Europe at that time. Although first observed by the Roman Catholic church, Protestant denominations such as the Lutheran, Anglican, Moravian, Methodist, Nazarene, and Presbyterian churches have joined in observing this day as a reminder that Christ reigns above all earthly rulers.

In the past, cults of personality have formed around leaders like Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin, Mao Zedong, and they continue to form around some world leaders today. Christ the King Sunday is a vivid reminder that our allegiance belongs to our spiritual ruler in heaven as opposed to any earthly political “messiah.” While temporal powers will fade away, Christ’s reign and His kingdom remain eternal. Whether Roman Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant, observing Christ the King helps to move us from the politics of people to the politics of heaven.

Indeed, Jesus is unlike any other head of state in history. While most leaders are concerned with gaining, increasing, and maintaining power, Jesus gave up His divine power to live as a man among the poor and humble and to die a criminal’s death. While the world’s “kings” strive to amass wealth; King Jesus deliberately left the grandeur of Heaven to be born in a stable and live in a small village as a carpenter’s son. Believing that might makes right, the world’s leaders use economic and military might to enforce their will but Jesus chose to love and forgive his enemies. Jesus’ kingly degrees are unlike those of any earthly ruler: love God, love our neighbors, do unto others as we would have them do to us, pray for our enemies, turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, live in peace with one another, and invite the poor, crippled, lame and blind to our banquets—hardly the typical political platform!

The Kingdom of God is a present reality in our lives and yet, at the same time, the completed Kingdom is yet to come. Theologians describe it as our living in the already—what Christ has done—and the not yet—what He is yet to do when He returns in majesty and glory. Until that day, however, there will be a struggle between the kingdoms of this world and God’s Kingdom. We might want to ask ourselves to which kingdom we owe our allegiance and evaluate whether our actions, attitudes, and words reflect that allegiance. May we always remember that Jesus is our only king; indeed, He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Then I heard something like the sound of a great crowd, like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of strong thunder, saying, “Alleluia! The Lord our God, the Almighty, has become king! Let us celebrate and rejoice and give him the glory, because the marriage of the lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself. … On his robe, and on his thigh, is written a name: King of kings, and Lord of lords. [Revelation 19:6-7,19 (NTE)]

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