Peacemakers

The Christmas Holiday is almost on us.  Many of us will be getting together with family, and hopefully that's a good thing!

But we live in the real world.  So let's face it, when families get together it's not always like the Hallmark commercials.  Families carry strong emotions and baggage at times.  When we get together, sparks can fly.

When Jesus was born the angels sang these words.

 "Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."  Luke 2:14 (NIV)

Years later Jesus would teach, "Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God." Matthew 5:8 (NIV)

Most of us will not be able to directly influence world peace, however we can be agents of peace in the lives of those we gather with this Christmas. 

If we see conflict, will we seek to help bring understanding and resolution?  Will  we be quiet and do nothing?  Or do we fan the flames?

This reminds me of a prayer by Francis of Assisi.

"O Divine Master, grant that I may not seek to be consoled, as to console. To be understood, as to understand. To be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. It is in dying that we are born to eternal life."  - Francis of Assisi 

Let us be the peacemakers Jesus intended us to be this Christmas, and thereby honor his name!

Daylight

Yesterday was one of my favorite days of the year. 

It was the winter solstice. 

This day has meant a lot of things to a lot of different people over the centuries.  But I never really paid attention to it until I started riding motorcycles. 

Yesterday was the darkest day of the year.  From today forward, we are gaining about a minute of daylight each day.  The older I get, the less I enjoy riding my motorcycle at night, so this is a good time!

But it also reminds me that we go through seasons in our lives, hard times, dark days.  But once those days are behind us, each day can become brighter than the last.  This time of year speaks of hope to me.  If I'm in a dark time, I know better times will come.

Reading Philippians today, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phil 3:12-14 (NIV)

A minute of daylight a day is like a little cup of hope.  As we approach the new year, let's begin to embrace what God has for us, eventually those minutes add up, and we'll be riding again in the sun.

Baby Jesus

Maybe it's just me, but I've never been one to get very excited about the "baby Jesus."  I look at him on Christmas cards, in the manger scene in our living room, and frankly I'm not all that moved.

Just being honest, just sayin'

I mean, Jesus is my Lord, my savior.  The man Jesus, absolutely.  Even the boy Jesus who baffled the Pharisees, good stuff.

But the baby Jesus?  I don't get all the fuss.  I mean... he's a baby!  They all kinda look alike to me, babies are babies, aren't they? 

Is it just me?

Maybe it's a man thing... or not.

But scripture won't let me off the hook when it comes to the baby Jesus.  One man's reaction at seeing him challenges me to look closer.

Reading Luke 2 today,

"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Messiah.  Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
    you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel."

The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him.  Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,  so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." Luke 2:25-33 (NIV)

A baby is a new life, with a destiny.  The birth of a child, as many of us parents know, changes our lives forever.

And Simeon could see that, just in holding Jesus in his arms, he could see it all.  He could see that this child was the Son of God. 

He held God in the flesh, in his hands.

Lord, give us fresh eyes to truly understand, as Simeon did, how your coming changed our lives, forever.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Christmas is almost here, just a few more days.

One of the oldest and best-known Christmas Specials is "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

The story follows Charlie Brown, who, rather than being happy at Christmas is depressed.  We follow his efforts with the Christmas play, and the infamous Christmas tree, to the point where he shouts, 'Doesn't anyone know what Christmas is all about?"

Every year we complain about how the true meaning of Christmas is lost, or how some of us are offended at the "Happy Holidays" greeting.  The same cycle repeats itself every year.

But I got thinking about it.  What do I do to celebrate the birth of our Savior in a more meaningful way?  It's always easier to protest and complain, than to think creatively.  To change what we can, rather than expect stores not to take advantage of their biggest chance for great sales of all year.

So that's my Christmas week challenge, to myself.  To get my thoughts off the same old complaints and think about how I can do something, even small and different, each year.

Perhaps just thinking about how Linus answered Charlie Brown's question.  He smiled, and said, "I do Charlie Brown," then calling for a spotlight, he said...

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:8-14 (NIV)

After all, that is what Christmas is all about, it really isn't that complicated.

Yesterday, Today and Forever

A simple question used to be... "how many shopping days are left before Christmas?"

It was easy to figure out, you looked at Christmas day, the 25th of December, and you count the days stores are open between then and now.

Simple

But times have changed!  With online shopping, you now have to know where something ships from and how many days it takes to get to where you are...  Is mail delivered on Sundays now?  And, what about Christmas day?

With more technology comes more change.

But Jesus Christ, never changes.  The same Lord who was born over 2000 years ago in that manger, is the same Lord we worship today. His life, his teaching, his death and his amazing resurrection are just as true now, as they were back then.

I'm so grateful to serve a God who never changes.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Heb 13:8 (NIV)

Daily Time in God's Word

I have been training Taekwondo for the past six months.  Last night was the first time I was allowed to spar.

In my school, you have to be a yellow belt to spar, that means passing two belt tests to get to this point. 

It felt good to finally put the pads on and get a chance to do some sparing.  After the session our instructor said something that stayed with me.

He talked about how all of what we do, from endurance training, to technique practice and footwork are meant to help us spar better and to not get hurt when we do so.  Everything we do is useful when we spar.

Reading 2 Timothy today,

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Tim 3:16 (NIV)

To be completely equipped to "fight the good fight" we need to be in the Word, all of it.  As Paul says, "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."  1 Timothy 4:8 (NIV)

Daily time in the Bible is not just a good thing to do, it is essential to a healthy and victorious life in Christ.

True Words

Have you ever heard it said, "everyone is entitled to their opinion"?

Well, that is true.  The Lord has given us the freedom to think whatever we want to think.  However, that does not mean we are correct.

And, an opinion doesn't always match up with the truth.

I can be of the opinion that traffic should stop for me when I pull out into a crowded intersection, that doesn't mean I won't get hit.

That's why we need the Word of God in our lives.  When we struggle to see whose opinion is correct or even matters, it's best to see if the words line up with the Bible.

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Heb 4:12 (NIV)

What a blessing to have, at our fingertips, words we can rely on to be true.