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Unused Gifts

December 7, 2009 in General with 0 Comments

giftcards

According to the Consumer Reports National Research Center, one out of every five gift-card recipients never used their cards last year. I’m sure that retailers love this as the cards represent about $972 million in unredeemed gifts.
The top reasons for not using gift cards include:
Haven’t had time: 50 percent
Haven’t found anything I wanted: 37 percent
Lost the card: 14 percent
Card expired: 12 percent
Nearly a billion dollars unredeemed. It is hard to imagine leaving a gift this size unclaimed.

Christmas is a reminder for us that God has given us an even greater gift. Yet many people have yet to receive Him. Like these gift cards, He has remained unclaimed. What is interesting to me is that the excuses given for not using the gift cards are almost the same for not receiving God’s perfect gift. For most, they say they just don’t have time. Others are still looking. Whatever the excuse, they have yet to take Christ Jesus into their lives. And until they do, they miss out on the greatest joy of life.
Have you received Him? Have you claimed the greatest gift? This Christmas would be a great time to do it.

“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” John 1:10-11 (NIV)

Prayer:
Holy Father,
Thank You for Your wonderful gift. Forgive us that we too often leave it unclaimed. Help us to open our hearts and our hands to receive you wondrous gift this Christmas.
In Jesus’ name, Amen

Jae Yang and Adrienne Lewis, “Americans Neglect a Billion in Gift Cards,” USA Today (11-20-06)

There Is No Substitute

December 6, 2009 in General with 0 Comments

reindeer antlers 2

Salvation is to be found through him alone; in all the world there is no one else whom God has given who can save us.”
Acts 4:12 (GNB)

In Nome, Alaska, teachers receive the same professional journals and publications as teachers in other states. But the situations they face are quite different from all the other states.

A fourth-grade teacher, a newcomer to Alaska, had just received her latest curriculum resource and was discussing with the class the suggestions for a Christmas pageant. The instruction manual read: “For the children playing Santa’s reindeer, there should be brown outfits, and passable reindeer horns could be made of bare branches, trimmed to the proper shapes and painted.”

She looked out at the barren, treeless, snow-covered landscape. “Well, children,” she sighed, “I guess we’ll have to do something else. We can’t make horns of branches because there isn’t a tree for miles.”

The children looked disappointed. Then one little boy spoke up, “We haven’t any trees, teacher,” he said. “But we do have lots of reindeer horns.”

Sometimes we have to improvise. Our shepherds wear bathrobes. We make camels out of cardboard. But sometimes we substitute so much that we overlook the real thing.

We adults do a good job of substituting as well. We are so caught up in the festivities that we have forgotten the real message of Christmas. We have let Santa Claus and bright lights and packages take the place of the Christ Child and His message of salvation and hope.

This Christmas, let’s not substitute any longer. We will still have joy and happiness, but it will come from having Christ in our hearts and not tree branches on our heads.

Prayer:
Our Father,
Keep us from accepting any substitutes for Christmas. May we not overlook Christ Jesus this year.
In Christ’s name, Amen.

Opening the Door

December 5, 2009 in General with 0 Comments

prison_cell_locking_door

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.
Isaiah 61:1 (NLT)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German pastor who resisted the Nazi leadership during World War II. He was arrested and imprisoned by Hitler who ordered Bonhoeffer’s execution on April 9, 1945, shortly before the end of the war. During his imprisonment, he wrote letters to his fiancee and family. In a letter to his fiancee, Maria von Wedemeyer, dated November 21, 1943, he writes of one lesson learned from life in prison.:
“A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes, does various unessential things, and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside is not a bad picture of Advent.”2

We are prisoners as well. We are imprisoned in cells not made by concrete walls and steel bars. We are held captive by the nature and power of sin. And like all prison cells, there is no handle on the inside. No efforts, no matter how sincere or ingenious, can open the lock. Just like Bonhoeffer’s cell, it has to be opened from the outside.
That is what God did. He sent Jesus to do for us what we were incapable of doing for ourselves. He sent His Son to unlock the prison door, to fling it open and free us for new and abundant life.

Advent is the rattling of keys. It is the turning of the lock’s tumblers. It is the hope of freedom. It is the promise of the fresh wind of the Spirit rushing into our cells and making all things new.
This Advent, listen. What you think might only be the jingling of bells is really the Key of life turning the lock to set you free.

Prayer:
Holy Father,
Our prison cells can be stifling. Robbing us of hope and joy. Come and fling open the doors once again. Free us this Advent season to worship you and live for You all year long.
In the liberating name of Jesus, Amen

Bringing Light Into the Darkness

December 4, 2009 in General with 0 Comments

Rattenberg, Austria

Rattenberg, Austria

John 1:3–5 (NIV)
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

The little village of Rattenberg is the smallest town in Austria, and getting smaller each year. The town has lost 20 percent of its population in the past two decades, and as of 2005 had only 440 residents. The reason? Darkness. Rattenberg is nestled behind Rat Mountain—a 3,000-foot obstruction that blocks out the sun from November to February. But thanks to some clever new technology, the town’s situation is about to get a little brighter.

An Austrian company called Bartenbach Lichtlabor has come up with a plan to bring sunshine into the darkness by installing 30 heliostat mirrors onto the mountainside. The mirrors will grab light from reflectors on the sunny-side of the mountain and shine it back into the town.

The project will not be cheap—the European Union will cover half of the $2.4 million bill—but if successful, will bring hope to the 60 other communities scattered throughout the Alps that endure the winter darkness each year. Markus Peskoller, Lichtlabor’s director, has also committed to paying for the $600,000 cost of planning the project because of its potential for other markets. “I am sure we will soon help other mountain villages see the light,” he said.*

Christmas is our reminder that God sent his own light into our darkened world. Jesus brought the light of our Heavenly Father to shine in our lives. Our sin and the evil in this world had blocked it out, but God found a way to let it shine upon us once again. It was a costly project as well, but we don’t have to pay. Our loving God paid the price completely. He paid it with the life of His only Son so that we could live in His light and behold His love.

Prayer:
Holy Father,
Thank you for sending Your Light into our darkened world. Thank You for sending Jesus. May we reflect His light as He reflects Yours.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

*George Jahn, “Mirrors to Banish Town’s Winter Darkness,” Associated Press (11-20-05)

Who is Your Christmas All About?

December 3, 2009 in General with 0 Comments

Jesus and Santa

Matthew 1:22–23 (NIV)
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”

Marti Pieper of Charleston, South Carolina tells of a time when her 12-year-old son, Andrew, played the part of the boy Jesus in their church’s Christmas musical. He was waiting in the church hallway, costumed and ready for the musical to begin. He probably felt just a hint of self-importance as he watched a much younger child tug at his father’s sleeve, point in his direction, and ask, “Who is that, Daddy?”

The father, however, continued toward the nursery area without answering his son’s question. Turning back, the preschooler asked Andrew directly, “Who are you?”

Andrew smiled a bit proudly and gave what seemed an obvious answer: “I’m what Christmas is all about!”

“Oh!” the little boy replied, startled. “Hi Santa!”

As we enter the Christmas season, we need to be careful about who is the focus of our Christmas. Does Santa get more attention than Jesus? Does worship take a back seat to shopping? Do you think more about what you’re getting than what He gave? Remember WHO Christmas is all about! (Hint: He doesn’t wear a red suit.)

Prayer:
Holy Father,
Thank you that You know what Christmas is all about. Thank You that You loved us so much that You gave us Your Son. Father, remind us again that Jesus is what Christmas is all about.
In Jesus name, Amen.

DON’T MISS THE MAIN EVENT!

December 2, 2009 in General with 1 Comment

Choir Practice

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
John 1:12 (NLT)

The church choir director was being driven out of his mind at the rehearsals for the Christmas Choral Concert. It seemed that at least one or more members of the choir was absent at every rehearsal. Finally they reached the last rehearsal and he announced: “I want to personally thank the pianist for being the only person in this entire church choir to attend each and every rehearsal during the past two months.”

At this, the pianist rose, bowed, and said, “It was the least I could do, considering I won’t be able to be at the Christmas Choir Concert tonight.”

There are several people who are like this at Christmas. They put a lot of time and energy into all the preparations, but miss the main event. They give special attention to all the decorations and make plans for all the festivities, but wonder why it never seems like Christmas. They never understand why they do not have the Christmas Spirit.

Perhaps one writer said it best, “Many are hoping that this Christmas will be the best one ever, while forgetting that it is the first one that makes the difference.” Christmas will only be special and truly significant in our lives if we give ourselves to Him who was responsible for the first one. Otherwise, we will just be going through the motions and miss the main event.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
May we not miss the main event. May we remember what Christmas is all about. Help us to focus upon God’s gift to us, His Son Jesus.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

WHAT AN ANNOUNCEMENT!

December 1, 2009 in General with 1 Comment

Nativity play

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!”
Luke 2:9-12 (NLT)

A group of first graders decided to produce their very own Christmas program. They produced their own updated Nativity Story. All the major characters were there — Joseph, the shepherds, the angels, the wise men from afar… but where was Mary?
Shortly after the production began, there was heard from behind some bales of straw moaning and groaning — Mary was in labor! A doctor with a white coat and black bag was then ushered onto the stage and disappeared with Joseph behind the bales of straw. After a few moments the doctor emerged from behind the bales of straw with a jubilant smile on his face and holding a baby in his arms.

He then announced to the audience: “It’s a GOD!”

Thanks to the innocence of little children to make the message clear. Christmas isn’t about little babies and children and gifts. It’s about God. It’s about how God loved us so much that He couldn’t stand continuing without us. It’s about God coming to earth and providing us a way to Him. It’s about God becoming like us, so that we can become like Him. It’s even about sin and God’s salvation.
Christmas is about a little baby, but we must remember that this little baby was born because He was the savior of the world.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for becoming like us so that we can become like You.
In our Savior’s name. Amen

ANTICIPATION

November 29, 2009 in General with 0 Comments

boy waiting

For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.”
Luke 2:30-32 (NIV)

Advent is waiting.

We wait for Christmas day. We wait for that special gift we asked for and hope that someone remembers to get. Children wait for Christmas morning, afraid that it will never come.

Advent, though, is waiting for something that has been promised. A special event that has been planned. It is waiting in hope for something that is not based on human desires or plans, but upon the will of God.

Long ago God prepared the world for the coming of His Son. He brought all things in the universe together for this one special occasion. Then he spoke through the prophets so we could know that He was coming.

Because of that we wait with joy. We decorate our homes and our church because we joyously await His coming. We sing the Christmas carols. Advent is festive. All because we know that He came as God promised and that He is coming again just as He promised.

Waiting again with joy for His promised coming. Come Lord Jesus.

Prayer:
Father,
We commit this time of Advent to You. As we wait, teach us Your will and Your ways.
In Jesus’ blessed name. Amen.

Magnets

November 20, 2009 in Daily Faith, General with 0 Comments

Electromagnet

Electromagnet


In the book, Arabian Nights, Sinbad the Sailor warns his shipmates about a great magnetic rock in the Indian Ocean that is so powerful that it draws all the nails and bolts out of passing ships. The ships literally fall apart and sink. Sinbad tells his shipmates that they were to steer clear of that rock lest they lose their lives.

This world has a magnetic pull on us as Christians. It draws us away from God’s heart. The world distracts and entices us. Gradually pulling us out of the circle of God’s loving embrace. It draws us away from Christian fellowship and from spending time with God. The influence of this world loosens the nails and bolts that holds our lives and our families together. Our lives are pulled apart.

However, there is another magnet. When Christ resides in our hearts, we have an internal magnet that can pull us together. That magnet is stronger than the pull of the world’s magnet, but it’s like an electromagnet. It has to have a power source. And worship is what powers that magnet.

The magnet powered by worship pulls all the pieces of our lives together. Public and private worship holds us together in a world that wants to pull us apart. Worship is not a waste of time. Worship is what makes the rest of our time make sense. It holds together all our loose ends of our fragmented lives.

Don’t let the world pull you apart. Spend time with God in worship and your life will hold together.

Are You Kin To Jesus?

October 3, 2009 in General with 0 Comments

 grandmother and child

There was a small boy whose mother took him to Sunday school for the first time. When they got home, his mother asked him, “Who was your teacher?”

“I don’t remember her name,” he answered, “but she must have been Jesus’ grandmother because she didn’t talk about anyone else.”

Sometimes I wonder, if after talking to me, would others think I was related to Jesus? Would they believe I was a child of God? Would they even think that I knew this Jesus fellow first hand or had just read about him?

I believe our conversations reflect our love, or the lack of love, for Jesus. Our words do give us away. People know who you belong to by the way you talk.

Listen to yourself talk sometime. Do you hear the words of a relative of Jesus or just an acquaintance?

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