25 Days 2 Christmas - Feelings

Feeling good is a high expectation for this season. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year sums it up in its lyrics: 

It's the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings 
When friends come to call 
It's the hap- happiest season of all 

Happy feelings are great. And yet they are not the essence of Christmas. It is about God deciding to love us. Love is first and foremost not an emotion but a matter of the will. 

C.S.Lewis in Mere Christianity observes, "But the great thing to remember is that, though our feelings come and go, His love for us does not. It is not wearied by our sins, or our indifference; and, therefore, it is quite relentless in its determination that we shall be cured of those sins, at whatever cost to us, at whatever cost to Him.

Romans 5: 8: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us." 

Knowing that God loves us despite our up and down feelings about Him and others should make all of us makes the hap -happiest people of all! 

Prayer: "God, forgive us when we wait to feel loving to You and others. Rather give us the strength to act loving to you and others, in this moment. Amen." 

Gift to others: Do one act of love to someone that you presently don't "feel" very loving towards with no expectation of reward or recognition"

25 Days 2 Christmas - Light

The shortest days of the year are upon us. Darkness envelops us by suppertime. This bleak season of blackness is hard on the body, mind and soul.

The world too often feels dark and black. News filled with strife and suffering envelop us. Fearful predictions and stressful demands is wearisome on the body, mind and soul.

The good news of the Christmas story is that it shows us darkness and despair will not last forever.

The coming of Jesus is described in the prophecy of Isaiah: the people who sat in the darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined. (Isaiah 9:1-2)

I read this recently, "Darkness never changes light. Light always changes darkness." The coming of Jesus meant he stepped down into our darkness. And that gives hope for my body, mind and soul.

Prayer: Lord Jesus help me to look to the light of your coming. Thank you for shining the way through the darkness. Amen.

Gift to others: Light up your home with candles, reminding yourself and others how light of Christ always changes our darkness.

25 Days 2 Christmas - Gifts

Gift giving is a love language. People's desire to say " I love you" means billions of dollars are poured into our economy in the holiday season. That is a lot of love!

We honor another when our gift reflects who they truly are as a person. In light of that let us consider the gifts of the wise men in the Christmas story. We read that they "opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." (Matthew 2:11) These valuable items were standard gifts to honor a king or deity in the ancient world: gold as a precious metal, frankincense as perfume or incense, and myrrh as anointing oil.

These gifts also reveal the nature of Jesus' work to come - gold representing his kingship, frankincense a symbol of his priestly role, and myrrh a prefiguring of his death and embalming.

Those were the gifts of the magi. The question now is what gift do we bring to Christ? The simple answer: our hearts.

Prayer: Lord Jesus I give you my heart. Take your rightful place in my life. You are the King of Kings, the Great High Priest and Savior of all.

Gift for others: Give a person today an act of kindness or a listening moment or a willingness to overlook a wrong.

25 Days 2 Christmas - Names

Do you know the meaning of your name? I googled my first name and discovered the name "David" is of Hebrew origin, and it means "Beloved". When I consider this meaning for my identity, I ask myself, "Am I a person who lives in such a manner that it creates the response of being dearly loved?"

The meaning of names carries a lot of significance in the Christmas story. Joseph is told by an angel in a dream "...to name him Jesus,for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) The name Jesus means "the Lord saves". The name of Jesus tells us that God is on a rescue mission. The name of Jesus tells us that we are the reason for the season. If we were not sinners there would not have been that first Christmas!

Every time you think about birth of Jesus this season, remember his name tells us about our deep need and God's amazing grace. And as you pray and sing the "name that is above all other names" (Philippians 2:9) bear in mind that through faith your identity is based on knowing that you are dearly loved by God.

In that way we all become a David!

Prayer: "Lord Jesus thank you for coming to save me from sins. May your name ever be my source of strength and hope. In your name I pray. Amen"

Gift to others: Say the names of 3 people who serve you today.

25 days 2 Christmas: Sing!

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God..."Luke 2:13(NIV)

On the night Jesus was born we are told angels praised God. Though it does not say specifically they were singing; we are right to believe such praise was done in song. Have you ever wondered what angelic songs of praise sounded like? Classical? Jazzy? Maybe a little bit country? Or was it attuned to the melodies of the day?

The bible doesn't tell us. However, when we grasp with our hearts the departure of the Prince of Peace from heaven, coming down to rescue us from sin and the grace of the Father who sent Him, our response is to sing!

Faith and song go hand in hand. Psalm 40:3 says, "He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God." Let me encourage you to let your heart move in song to the hope of Christmas. In doing so one glorifies God and finds joy and healing.

Prayer: "Lord put a new song in my heart that reminds me that you are my hope and and salvation. In Jesus Name. Amen."

Gift to others : Go on your social media and share your favorite Christmas song that tells about Jesus! Here is a link to a favorite of mine this year: Chris Tomlin's "He Shall Reign Forevermore" www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRVs0HikGeM

25 days 2 Christmas: Snow!

Snow! I know we are dreading the onslaught in the months to come. But something is wonderful about those first snowfalls. The muddiness and messiness in our yards and streets the night before is beautifully transformed into fresh and clean places come morning.

The bible says this about snow - "...wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." Humble self awareness makes me admit there is still a lot of muddiness and messiness that runs through my words, thoughts and attitudes. One of the great messages of Christmas is that Jesus came to clean us up; creating within us a fresh and clean space for God to do His work.

As we begin this Christmas journey, I hope we all experience a big snowfall of God's love and forgiveness!

Prayer: Thank you Father for the gift of forgiveness through your Son Jesus. We simply say, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." In Jesus name. Amen"

A Gift for others: Smile at 3 different people!

25 days 2 Christmas

Starting on December 1st I am going to post a Christmas thought for the day as we move towards celebrating the birth of Christ. If you would like to receive this, subscribe through your email, for a moment of encouragement and reflection. If you share this on social use the hashtag #25days2xmas

Pastor Dave