Celebrating Christmas (no more "Bah! Humbug!")

As Christmas approaches once again, I'm digging deeper into the gospel accounts of Jesus' birth - deeper than in prior years, learning line upon line, precept upon precept.  There's no better way to prepare your heart for Christmas.  It's so easy to get distracted, and caught up in the busyness, and all the things "to do" during this season.  For many years, I honestly couldn't wait for Christmas to be over - December 26th was my favorite day of the year!  I'd feel such relief from stress on that day - I'd wake up feeling like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders.  That's what the world, and materialism, and maybe our own expectations, have made of the holiday.  But it doesn't have to be that way.  And I'm not talking about "getting organized" - I've tried so many different methods and gimmicks in order to have that "perfect" holiday... 

It doesn't work.

No, the best way to get ready for Christmas is to spend some time in the first two chapters of both Matthew and Luke.  Read and study those passages.  Go back in time over 2,000 years to the tiny nation of Israel, which was under the thumb and oppression of the mighty Roman Empire, where something was stirring...something was going on... whispers in the night... angels... miraculous events... scandal... magi... murder... a star...

The nation of Israel is God's chosen people.  He chose Abraham to be the father of that nation, another 2,000 years farther back.  He led Abraham to the land of Canaan, the Promised Land, which He gave to him and his descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.  And even though Abraham and his wife, Sarah, had no children, and were well past the childbearing years, Abraham believed God when He told him he would have as many descendants as there were stars in the heavens.  Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.  God promised Abraham many things, but the greatest promise was that through him, through Abraham, all the families of the earth would be blessed.  ALL the families of the earth!  All of us!  God would send the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior - through His chosen people. 

God led His people into Egypt to survive a famine, and out of Egypt, out of slavery, over 400 years later.  God led His people THROUGH the Red Sea, through the wilderness, in spite of their stubborness - all the way back to the Promised Land.  And when they turned against Him, and did exactly what He told them not to do, and worshipped other gods, false gods and man-made idols...He sent His prophets to them, to warn them, that their unfaithfulness would not go unpunished.  But they didn't listen.  He allowed them to be conquered and taken away to foreign lands.  But He led some back - to rebuild - and they rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem, and rebuilt their temple...  Through all of this, His prophets spoke His words to His people.  But then, after Malachi, the last Old Testament prophet...there was silence. 

For 400 years, there was no prophet, no word from God, no consolation, no comforting, no word. 

Just silence.

And then...it was time.

God sent His messenger, His angel, Gabriel, to deliver a message to a priest named Zacharias.  And what a message it was!  Oh my Goodness, the story's just getting started...


Now the Lord said to Abram,
   "Go forth from your country,
     And from your relatives
    And from your father's house,
    To the land which I will show you;
    And I will make you a great nation,
    And I will bless you,
    And make your name great;
    And so you shall be a blessing;
    And I will bless those who bless you,
    And the one who curses you I will curse.
    And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."
(Genesis 12:1-3)

Christmas, 2011...For You

Christmas..."it's the most wonderful time of the year"! Right? That's what the song says. It's a time of celebration, of giving, of family, of traditions, of caroling... Yes, it truly is all of that - but what about those who are facing extremely difficult circumstances, for whom Christmas just seems to magnify the pain?

For instance, those who are grieving the death of a member of their family. I can't help but think of the Sproul family, who just days ago, suffered the loss of their mom/wife, to cancer. Or my friend Katie's family, who face their first Christmas without her. (I need to tell Katie's story sometime soon - I didn't know her for very long, but she made such an impact on my life. She's an incredible young woman...and I can't wait to see her again!)

For those who feel the absence of someone dearly loved, like a big, gaping hole in their heart...Christmas could become more of an ordeal, than a celebration.

There are many other things that can get in the way of the ever-elusive "perfect Christmas"...worry and stress over money problems, strained relationships, and of course, dealing with diseases - like PD, Alzheimer's, ALS, cancer, depression, anxiety, and so many more...

But when you look at the events of the first Christmas - the reason we celebrate today - the circumstances surrounding what happened were in no way "perfect". Mary, who was engaged to Joseph, was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Mary knew this, and Joseph knew it (after an angel told him in no uncertain terms in a dream), and maybe just a few others (like Elizabeth), but to most people, Mary was a teenage, unwed mother.

The birth itself was hardly "ideal". She and Joseph were far away from home and family, there was no hospital, no doctor or midwife or even her mom, there was not an inn or a home to stay in. These two young people, who had not even consummated their marriage yet, went through labor and delivery all on their own...in a stable.

Oh, but the birth was very special - so very special! Because the Child was no ordinary human being. The Child was God, the Son - becoming flesh and blood, like us - to save us. In that dark night, as Mary endured the labor pains, and pushed with all her might, pushed through the pain, to give birth to this very special baby...everything changed.

Most of the world didn't have a clue of what a momentous event had just happened. Even those in Bethlehem just slept right through it. All except for a group of shepherds - God chose to share the good news with them - via His messengers, angels.

And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Those two little words, "for you" - they've had such an impact on me this year as I've read the Christmas story. I'm not sure I can really explain it...but when I think about what those words mean...there has been born for me a Savior...I get this warm, almost burning, awesome feeling deep in the center of my heart and soul - and it fills me with joy.

Christmas isn't about a "perfect" celebration here on earth - that's just not possible. Christmas is about a Savior who was born...for you...for me...for each and every one of us.

For the one who is grieving the death of someone dearly loved...a Savior has been born for you. He has come to conquer death and give us eternal life together with Him in God's kingdom.

For the one who is worried and stressed over money, or mistakes made...a Savior has been born for you. He has come to show us the Father's love, how He will take care of our every need, even our greatest need - forgiveness of our sins -and give us new life in His kingdom, beginning right now, here on earth.

For the one who has been hurt by others, or abused by someone in authority over them, or perhaps your heart is breaking over a child who has rejected you and is on a path of self-destruction...a Savior has been born for you. He has come to make you a part of His family, a child of God, adopted into God's kingdom, forever. He has come to forgive you of all your sin, and you in turn, can forgive others of their sins toward you. He has come to deliver you from anger and bitterness.

For the one who daily battles the degeneration of their body, mind, and/or emotions...a Savior has been born for you. He has come to save the eternal part of us - what is temporary will pass away, but He promises to hold onto that which is eternal, in fact, renew it every day, and one day, clothe that eternal "inner man" with a new body - that is imperishable.

Whatever the darkness is in your life, the good news of Christmas is that a Savior has been born...for you.