Tag Archive - Christmas

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

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.

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