Tag Archive - Christmas Play

Walk or Fly?

December 9, 2009 in General with 0 Comments

Angel

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:12–14 (NIV)

A little girl, dressed as an angel in a Christmas pageant was told to come down the center aisle. The child asked, “Do you want me to walk or fly?”

Christmas is a special time. A time of wonder and awe. A time of hope. Not the kind of hope we have when we wish things could be better or people would act nicer. Not the kind of hope we have wishing that our dreams will come true.
No, Christmas’ hope is far more certain. Christmas, you see, is a time of possibilities. It is a reminder that wonderful things can happen. Hearts can change. Impossible things can happen. Angels can fly.
How can I be so sure? Is it because I’m thinking positively enough or someone sprinkled magic dust on me? No. I believe that the impossible can happen because it already has. On that first Christmas, God became flesh and lived in our world. And because He did, He promised us that we could become like Him.

We live in a world where little angels can fly. I know it because God became a little baby and changed my life.

Prayer:
Holy Father,
Thank You that in You all things are possible. Thank You that You can make angels fly and change a heart like mine. But most of all, thank You that Your Son became flesh.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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.

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.