Breathe...

STOP!

Just for a minute, stop. Get a cup of tea, find a comfortable chair, and sit down.

Take a deep breath.

Think of all the blessings in your life.

            You are breathing.

            Think of the people who make your life rich.

In your mind, name them.

Think of sunshine on your face,

            Snowflakes on your tongue.

Think of the joy of your salvation.

Say “Thank You”

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.  And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.  And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

There is amazing economy and simplicity in the telling of the birth of Jesus. The God of creation became one of us, was born in the normal human way, and lived among us. Because of the miracle of this, we have hope for a life of hope and joy.

We complicate Christmas. We have traditions to keep and gifts to buy and baking to do, and while these are good things, they are not the main thing.

Jesus is born. Hallelujah!

           

Person of Influence?

By any account, Joseph was one of the little people. He was a Jew, the smallest and most insignificant of countries. He was a carpenter, a craftsman, whose day was probably filled with repairing common household items and building common farm implements. In Jewish economy, he was strictly blue collar.

And yet, in God’s economy, he was the elite, that man with a heart that sought to be God’s man. He was that man of integrity and kindness who would not marry a woman who was unfaithful to him, but still couldn’t bring himself to publically disgrace her. When God stepped in and told him to go ahead and marry Mary, that the baby was of the Holy Spirit, he didn’t question his own sanity but obeyed. He didn’t ask, or at least it isn’t recorded that he asked, what this all would mean for him, personally. He had to know that people would talk. His reputation would be dragged through the mud, just like Mary’s would. People would assume they had sinned.

Joseph was that insignificant man of great significance. He would raise God’s Son, teaching him a trade, and what it means to be a man, and a man of God. Joseph is, like many of our dad’s, that largely unsung hero who is rarely mentioned but had great influence.

God seems to have a special place in his plans for insignificant people. Little people, like shepherds and village girls and carpenters. Perhaps they are more willing to let God have the glory, aware of their own insignificance. God can do big things with little people. The birth of Jesus shows in so many ways that little people are precious and noticed by God.

Who are the influential people in your life? Are they giant slayers or kings? More likely they are laundry slayers or servants. Mothers and fathers and teachers and bus drivers and Sunday school teachers and youth group leaders and salesmen and neighbors, people who looked beyond themselves and lived in obedience to God.

You don't have to be a 'person of influence' to be influential. In fact, the most influential souls in my life are probably not even aware of the things they've taught me. ~ Scott Adams

Have you thanked those little people of influence in your life recently? As you go through your day, who are you influencing? It may be by the kindness you show to the new kid at work, or the smile you give the homeless lady you pass on the street at lunchtime. Maybe it’s the attention you show to the middle child at home or the too-loud attention-seeking child in your class. Maybe it’s the lady who watches you when you don’t even know it. Maybe it’s the harried sales clerk or the driver of the car stuck in traffic next to yours.

In God’s economy, no one is insignificant.

Joseph reminds us of that. Mary. The shepherds. God will use who He wills, and who is willing.

Are you willing? How will God use you today?

God IS With Us!

I’ve so enjoyed reading your Facebook posts, the ones where you show off your trees, all pretty and decorated, a pile of perfectly wrapped presents underneath. I love all the recipes for the different cookies you’ve been busy baking, and the projects you’ve been sewing and handcrafting.

When my kids were at home, I did a lot of this stuff too. We always went the Saturday after Thanksgiving to a tree farm up in the Columbia River Gorge and cut our tree. We hoped for snow, and we were usually rewarded. We’d throw snowballs and somebody would cry, and we’d stand around the fire they had going to warm up while Dad tied the tree to the top of the Jeep. We’d get home and the kids would hang all their wet gloves and hats and coats over the railing around the stairwell to dry. On Christmas Eve we always had soup for dinner, and then went to church as a family, and usually several of us were performing in either a pageant or in song. Christmas Day meant presents and a huge dinner. There were caroling parties and madrigal feasts and lots of dinners with friends. There were school programs, and lots of shopping.

Christmas is different now. My kids have all grown and moved into homes of their own. No school programs, no cutting a tree, and Christmas at church is different, more modern. Last year I cooked Christmas breakfast for my kids who live in town, and then drove three hours to have dinner with my daughter. I drove another two hours and finished the day with my Mom. There is less shopping, and more gift cards.

We all have different ways of celebrating Christmas, and those celebrations change with our place and season in life. The really great thing is that we have reason to celebrate. God, the same God who created the universe, who hung the stars in the night and stretched the rainbow across the sky, this same God, wanted to be with us. He became incarnate, the Emmanuel. He came to earth and inhabited human flesh. When Mary looked into the manger and smiled at her little baby, she was smiling at God.

 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”  Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” Matt. 1:23

This idea of God wanting to be with us is prevalent throughout scripture. God walked with us in the garden, he had his people build him a tabernacle and dwelled in it in the wilderness, and he came to earth and became one of us.

He didn’t stay a baby, though. He grew up and lived and died and rose again for us. And then this God who would be with us, indwelt us.

We have reason to celebrate. Our traditions may change, our life situations will certainly change, but God never changes. He still wants to be with us.

However you celebrate, whether it’s Christmas or just being alive and saved, don’t forget about Jesus. So much of our preparations for Christmas are harried and busy. We are so focused on getting everything done and decorated that we forget the point; God wants to be with us. Don’t leave him out. Don’t ignore him. Be with him.

How will you be with him, who loves you and calls you Beloved?