Dear friends,
I always enjoy receiving the weekly edition of "Sowing Seeds of Faith" from Larry Davies, who has been my friend now for more than a decade!
In this latest series, Larry has a candid discussion about Christmas, the whole gift thing and interjects, at several crucial moments in the dialog, the historical account of the birth of Christ.
I have to tell you, from strictly a media hype and commercialization standpoint, I really do not like any of the public holidays. While I enjoy seeing my children happy and excited, one side of me rejoices with them and the other side of me laments, because as I see it, their joy misses the whole point of the celebration. Gatherings with a lot of hype, over-preparation, anxiety, and things of that sort bother me very much for the same reasons.
To me, every season is Christ. To me, Christ is the reason that I am here. I resent the stuff that goes on because it manages to distract my own focal point and threatens to take me out of fellowship with the One that I love - the very thing I want most, particularly in times when we celebrate His birth, His burial, and His resurrection.
If you struggle with these things, too, do not fret, but do take time right now to remember that not only is Jesus Christ the real reason for this season, He is also the One who gives life meaning and purpose. It is He who desires a relationship with each of us. As a starting point, can't we pause from all of the noise around us and yearn for that deep relationship with Him, a relationship that is like no other?
Dear Jesus,
You are so precious to me. You know that I do not wait for this season to have a relationship with you, but you also know that I battle every day with distractions that threaten our relationship. How I long for the Day when I will be with you forever! Your human mother, Mary, believed the Angel when he said that "Nothing is impossible with God!" I believe that, too. Therefore I ask You to overcome every obstacle in me that blocks our relationship and draw me nearer to You each day until The Day when my faith will become sight and I will see You, face to face in glory. Until then, guard my soul, forgive my wandering sinfulness, draw me close to You each day, and fill me with your Spirit. I ask all of these things for your continual honor and glory. Amen.
Yours in Christ,
Brian
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| Weekly Bible Study
by Rev. Larry Davies
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| "And the Real Reason for the Season?" |
December 1, 2008 |
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A recent email: "Please pray for my children. I know they will have nothing for Christmas and it's tearing my family apart. I don't know how to tell a child Santa is not coming." Penny
"God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, 'Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!'" (Luke 1:26-28)
Our churches regularly receive calls: "I'm sorry to ask for help but I don't know what to do?"
"That's all right. What can we do for you?"
My husband's been laid off and we have no savings for Christmas presents.
I'm a single parent and everything I make goes toward paying the bills.
My daughter has a drug problem and I'm raising her children and doing everything I can but there is no money for Christmas.
They all end their plea with: "Is there anything you can do to help our children have a better Christmas?" Our churches, like others, will do what they can. Several families will receive food and gifts for the kids, but it never seems to be enough. During these difficult times, I wonder:
1. Why do so many more pleas for help just before Christmas?
2. Who else is in desperate need but never calls?
"Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 'Don't be frightened, Mary,' the angel told her, 'for God has decided to bless you! You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!'" (29-33)
The answers are as close as your local newspaper. My newspaper box should be enlarged but not because of increased content. Circulars scream their slogans: "Make your Holidays Brighter!" "Catch the Christmas Spirit!" "Our Gifts Make a Difference!" Here's my favorite: "Beat the After-Thanksgiving, Pre-Christmas Rush with our Pre-Thanksgiving, Pre-Christmas Sale!"
Admit it. Christmas is cleverly promoted as a holiday about Santa Claus and presents. We talk giving but fantasize receiving. You say Christmas is for family and friends. (Yeah, right!) You try to remember the celebration of Christ's birth. (Watch the kids eyes glass over as you tell them.) But turn on the television; visit a department store or pick up a bulky newspaper full of ads and the ugly truth is revealed. "The reason for the season is buying gifts and lots of them!" Ouch!
Christmas has become a glaring reminder of who receives generously and who gets little or nothing! Question: How do you justify all of this to a poorer child surrounded by children loaded with more toys than they can ever use that Christmas is for others -- but not for you?
Mary asked the angel, "But how can I have a baby? I am a virgin." The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby born to you will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What's more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she's already in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." (34-37)
Christmas was never meant to be this way. Jesus was born in a barn with only farm animals and a few shepherds as witnesses. He grew up the son of a blue-collar worker in a land occupied by Rome. Throughout his earthly life, Jesus had few if any material possessions. How did we get everything so mixed-up? How can we change? How can we recapture the Christ in Christmas?
Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant, and I am willing to accept whatever he wants. May everything you have said come true." And then the angel left. (38)
Next Week: Creative ideas to help us celebrate the real reason for the season. Send me an email describing what you do to remember the real reason for Christmas. I'll share a few ideas with our readers next week. Meanwhile -- beat the after-thanksgiving, pre-Christmas shopping frenzy, stay home, relax and read the real Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke. God bless. Larry
Send your ideas to [email protected]
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