Word for Today, Mon, 21 Nov 2005: The Real Reason for this Holiday Season
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
Here is this week's edition of Sowing Seeds of Faith,
written by my longtime friend, Larry Davies. In this
edition, Larry tackles something that comes up every
holiday season, whether it's Christmas, Easter, or any
of the other holidays that once put the Lord in the
foreground, but now squelch His voice within the
clamor.
I have had mixed feelings about holidays for many years
for this very reason. I enjoy family and I enjoy
friends, I enjoy seeing happy children, but I detest
the fact that Christ is the last one we consider, and
that is what angers me about so much of what goes on
during seasons of reflection.
Therefore, I am pleased to see that Larry Davies takes
on this topic with his usual knack for words and a
story. Don't miss the real message, though. Read
deeply into the heart of this. It is Christ in whom we
serve, and Jesus Christ who deserves the attention and
the praise. I think that comes out clearly in Larry's
message. Please read it.
Yours in Christ,
Brian
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Sowing Seeds of Faith...
"And The Real Reason for this Holiday Season Is...?"
Larry Davies
A recent email: "I wish for you to 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 church regularly receives phone 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 church, like others, will do what we can. Several
families receive food and gifts for the kids, but it
never seems to be enough. I wonder:
1. Why do we get so many 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. I
need to have my newspaper box 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 advertised as Santa
Claus and presents. We talk giving but fantasize
receiving. You say it's about 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 screams its
horrific message. "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
You may support our Christmas Child fund. All donations
are used to help families selected through our
website. All donations to the "Christmas Child Fund" go
straight toward families in need of help for
Christmas. We never use this fund for anything
else. Please consider helping a child today.
"Christmas Child Fund" -
http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/Christmas.Child.Fund.htm
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Jesus said: "You are the light of the world -- like a
city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to
see. Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put
it on a stand and let it shine for all." (Matthew
5:14-15)
"Breaking the Peanut Butter Habit: Following God's
Recipe for a Better Life" now on sale only through our
website. http://www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/peanbutt.htm
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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