Christmas Is Just The Beginning

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After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2 NIV

Did you get what you really wanted for Christmas? Hopefully, you did better than Diane, who excitedly ripped open the box from her sister. Inside, she found a colorful hat, soft and fuzzy; she loved it. However, after several attempts to get the right angle, it just didn’t look right. So, she called her sister. “I got the hat you sent me,” Diane said, “but it doesn’t fit.” Her sister replied, “A hat?” “I sent you a toilet seat cover!” (Life in these United States, Reader’s Digest)

Yes, Christmas is over, or at least that’s how we see it. The gifts have been unwrapped, the parties are finished, and we attended the special services at church. Now, our thoughts turn to the coming year. In a few days, most people will start packing away decorations and deep cleaning the house. The lines at Walmart, Target, and UPS will be long and slow as people return the wrong-size shirts, duplicate gifts, or even toilet seat covers.

However, in reality, Christmas is just the beginning. Both Christmas and Easter serve as essential dates on the calendar that remind us of the impact God has had, had, or will have on the world. Jesus never intended to be confined to two days on a human calendar but to be alive and transformative every day of our lives. Howard Thurman expressed this beautifully in his poem “The Mood of Christmas.”

“When the song of the angels is stilled,

When the star in the sky is gone,

When the kings and princes are home,

When the Shepherds are back with their flock,

                  The work of Christmas begins:

                  To find the lost,

                  To heal the broken,

                  To feed the hungry,

                  To release the prisoner,

                  To rebuild the nations,

                  To bring peace among people

                  To make music in the heart.”                (The Mood of Christmas by Howard Thurman)

Matthew added a twist to Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth. He introduced us to a small group of scholars from the East, who set out on a mission to find the true king who was meant to change the world. These “foreigners,” Gentiles, intellectuals, and advisors to kings—yet outside the Jewish faith—searched for the real meaning of Christmas. Others might have looked up at the night sky and seen the star, but did nothing to seek the truth.

Religious leaders knew the location from years of careful study of Scripture. When asked about where the Messiah was to be born, they knew precisely by quoting the prophets. They wanted a Messiah, on their own terms. What a difference if they had decided to join this band of seekers and follow the star. No doubt they gave good directions; unfortunately, they didn’t follow their own instructions to Bethlehem to find the Messiah.

This band of seekers wanted more than directions and more knowledge concerning the birthplace of the king of the Jews. They hadn’t traveled for weeks simply to talk with an earthly political leader; they sought the real king. This band of wise men didn’t need more information; their journey towards Christmas wouldn’t be complete until they saw the King of kings.

“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:9-11 NIV

These outsiders, seekers, scholars are a great example of those who understood the real meaning of Christmas. They willingly gave up comfort, prestige, and wealth to seek out the “one who has been born king of the Jews, the Messiah, the One who could bring real meaning to life.

“Not often, but every once in a while, God brings us to a major turning point—a great crossroads in our life. From that point we either go toward a more and more slow, lazy, and useless Christian life, or we become more and more on fire, giving our utmost for His highest—our best for His glory.” (Oswald Chambers)

What will you do with Christmas as we celebrate the arrival of 2026? Was it just another day that gets crossed off the calendar until next year? We can make our plans for 2026, and we should, but remember that they are subject to change often due to circumstances beyond our control. The one thing that remains certain is that God will be with us throughout 2026. “For to us a child is born…And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) There will be times in the coming year when these names and titles of Jesus will be our place of refuge and strength to face our challenges.

I pray that the hope, joy, and promise of Christmas continue throughout this year. Thank you for subscribing to and reading Prayer Safari each week.  I hope it offers a quick word of encouragement as we journey together on Safari. My desire is to honor God with each post.

Happy New Year!

God is great!

 

Due to technical problems post failed to send Monday

Christmas Is Just the Beginning

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After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2 NIV

Did you get what you really wanted for Christmas? Hopefully, you did better than Diane, who excitedly ripped open the box from her sister. Inside, she found a colorful hat, soft and fuzzy; she loved it. However, after several attempts to get the right angle, it just didn’t look right. So, she called her sister. “I got the hat you sent me,” Diane said, “but it doesn’t fit.” Her sister replied, “A hat?” “I sent you a toilet seat cover!” (Life in these United States, Reader’s Digest)

Yes, Christmas is over, or at least that’s how we see it. The gifts have been unwrapped, the parties are finished, and we attended the special services at church. Now, our thoughts turn to the coming year. In a few days, most people will start packing away decorations and deep cleaning the house. The lines at Walmart, Target, and UPS will be long and slow as people return the wrong-size shirts, duplicate gifts, or even toilet seat covers.

However, in reality, Christmas is just the beginning. Both Christmas and Easter serve as essential dates on the calendar that remind us of the impact God has had, had, or will have on the world. Jesus never intended to be confined to two days on a human calendar but to be alive and transformative every day of our lives. Howard Thurman expressed this beautifully in his poem “The Mood of Christmas.”

“When the song of the angels is stilled,

When the star in the sky is gone,

When the kings and princes are home,

When the Shepherds are back with their flock,

                  The work of Christmas begins:

                  To find the lost,

                  To heal the broken,

                  To feed the hungry,

                  To release the prisoner,

                  To rebuild the nations,

                  To bring peace among people

                  To make music in the heart.”                (The Mood of Christmas by Howard Thurman)

Matthew added a twist to Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth. He introduced us to a small group of scholars from the East, who set out on a mission to find the true king who was meant to change the world. These “foreigners,” Gentiles, intellectuals, and advisors to kings—yet outside the Jewish faith—searched for the real meaning of Christmas. Others might have looked up at the night sky and seen the star, but did nothing to seek the truth.

Religious leaders knew the location from years of careful study of Scripture. When asked about where the Messiah was to be born, they knew precisely by quoting the prophets. They wanted a Messiah, on their own terms. What a difference if they had decided to join this band of seekers and follow the star. No doubt they gave good directions; unfortunately, they didn’t follow their own instructions to Bethlehem to find the Messiah.

This band of seekers wanted more than directions and more knowledge concerning the birthplace of the king of the Jews. They hadn’t traveled for weeks simply to talk with an earthly political leader; they sought the real king. This band of wise men didn’t need more information; their journey towards Christmas wouldn’t be complete until they saw the King of kings.

“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:9-11 NIV

These outsiders, seekers, scholars are a great example of those who understood the real meaning of Christmas. They willingly gave up comfort, prestige, and wealth to seek out the “one who has been born king of the Jews, the Messiah, the One who could bring real meaning to life.

“Not often, but every once in a while, God brings us to a major turning point—a great crossroads in our life. From that point we either go toward a more and more slow, lazy, and useless Christian life, or we become more and more on fire, giving our utmost for His highest—our best for His glory.” (Oswald Chambers)

What will you do with Christmas as we celebrate the arrival of 2026? Was it just another day that gets crossed off the calendar until next year? We can make our plans for 2026, and we should, but remember that they are subject to change often due to circumstances beyond our control. The one thing that remains certain is that God will be with us throughout 2026. “For to us a child is born…And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) There will be times in the coming year when these names and titles of Jesus will be our place of refuge and strength to face our challenges.

I pray that the hope, joy, and promise of Christmas continue throughout this year. Thank you for subscribing to and reading Prayer Safari each week.  I hope it offers a quick word of encouragement as we journey together on Safari. My desire is to honor God with each post.

Happy New Year!

God is great!

 

Due to technical problems post failed to send Monday

Merry Christmas! Emmanuel, God with Us

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So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Luke 2:4-7 NIV

The need for a warm touch, a kind word, a gentle hug, or a caring smile is a welcome respite in our frantic, hurried world. Jumbo, a large, multi-site supermarket in the Netherlands, decided to find a way to make a difference. Jumbo launched a customer line, Kletskassa (chat checkouts or slow checkouts), in 2019. The objective of opening a slow lane was to offer a more personal, social shopping experience. The cashiers on the slow line spend extra time chatting with customers. “Sometimes innovation means slowing down operations rather than speeding them up.” (Catherine Douglas Moran, Grocery DIVE)

Colette Cloosterman-Van Eerd, the company’s Chief Commercial Officer, said in an interview, “Many people, especially the elderly, sometimes feel lonely. As a family business and supermarket chain, we are at the heart of society. Our shops are an important meeting place for many people, and we want to play a role in identifying and reducing loneliness.”

There will be times when we need the express lanes of life or even the self-checkout lines, but more often than not, we need the slower lines that nurture relationships and community. We need that warm hand to touch us, to encourage us, to lift us out of darkness, and to hold us steady against life’s storms.

I have never seen an intentional chat checkout line in the United States, though I have stood in countless slow lines that were not intentional. Given the pressures of Christmas shopping, I doubt if most people would welcome a slow line at Walmart. Yet there are life-changing moments that force us into the slow lane, and interruptions that play havoc with the most well-organized calendar. One of these is a birth!

The canopy of night had fallen on the little town of Bethlehem when all of eternity converged. Every home and lodging that night was crowded with families and strangers who had traveled long distances. Joseph and Mary finally found a warm, dry shelter, knowing the baby was coming. Scripture doesn’t record the actual birth details, but you can only imagine the panic on Joseph’s face when he heard Mary say, “The baby is coming.”

You can almost picture someone going to get the older woman in town who had delivered lots of babies.  She served as the midwife to countless young mothers and helped them give birth to their babies. Nothing out of the ordinary for her, she knew how to comfort the mother and quickly took charge of the delivery. The panic on Joseph’s face was relaxing just a bit, Mary was breathing again, and a host of angels were getting ready to sing. This unknown, unrecorded lady held Mary’s wiggling, crying baby. She tenderly caressed the little body, drying the baby off and gently handing Jesus to Mary. Yet for a moment in time, she held Emmanuel, God with Us, looking deeply into the eyes of the One who came that all might have life. Her strong but tender hands held for the first time, eternity in her hands.

Mary held her baby close to her heart, then wrapped him in the cloths she had brought. The King of Kings was laid in a manger filled with clean, fresh hay—the sounds of her baby’s cries breaking the stillness of the moment. Mary, through tears of joy and happiness, looked into the face of Emmanuel, God with us. You can almost hear Mary softly singing to her baby, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on, all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.”

The quiet room was soon filled with shepherds who came seeking to find and worship the Messiah. They had heard the Good News and left their sheep to seek someone greater. “But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid, I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)

“In the darkness of a church, the candles burn. They hold the darkness back, just barely hold it back. In the darkness of that Judean night, in the midst of nowhere, to parents who were nobody, the child was born, and whoever it was that delivered him, slapped his bare backside to start the breath going, and he cried out, as each on of us cried out, at the shock and strangeness of being born into the darkness of the world. Then, as the Gospels picture it, all heaven broke loose.” (Frederick Buechner, The Hungering Dark)

Heaven did burst open that night when “a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:13-14)

Advent has been a time of waiting, even as we struggled to find space among the many things to do, people to meet, and activities to attend. Maybe you don’t feel it has been as quiet and reflective as you wanted, but hopefully, there have been moments where you could quietly sit and reflect on the One who came for you.

Jesus, we celebrate your first coming and look forward to your return. In this Christmas season, we pause to say thank you for your love and redeeming us out of darkness.

Merry Christmas. Blessings to you and your family.

God is great!

Almost Christmas – Joy Overwhelming

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But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Luke 2:10 NIV

It happens to all of us. What happens? You expect something to occur, but then it doesn’t, or at least you think it hasn’t happened. Christmas probably ranks high on the list of times when you have needed to adjust expectations.

I was probably 9 or 10 when the realization hit me that I didn’t have any Christmas presents under the tree. Just for reference, it was probably still three weeks away from Christmas, but time was still close as a kid! My expectation was based on every Christmas past that I had at least a few presents under the tree. Granted, we were not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, but there was always something. The smart thing would have been to ask my mother about the situation, but even at that age, I had a fixer mentality. So, the next trip into town, I took what I had saved up over the year and headed for the Ben Franklin store (a micro-mini Walmart) in our small town. I found something that I could buy with the money I had saved, and a very kind Mrs. Skaggs wrapped it for me.  I took my present home to put under the tree. The reality was that I would have had presents, but expectations don’t always match reality, especially at Christmas.

I wonder what expectations Mary had when she was chosen to be the mother of the promised Messiah. She had to have a lot of expectations, given that the announcement came directly from an angel. “But the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.” (Luke 1:30-32a)

Mary had one simple, procedural question: “How will this be, since I am a virgin? Once the angel gave her an answer, she willingly said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”

Did Mary think that her friends and family would be excited about the baby she carried? Young, unmarried, and pregnant didn’t fit well in her cultural setting. All we know is that “Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea” to be with Zechariah and Elizabeth.

Did Mary think that Joseph would be excited about the baby she carried? “Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” (Matthew 1:19)

Did Mary think that she would have a high-profile birth? It wasn’t an unrealistic expectation given the royal status of the baby she carried. “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David” (Luke 1:32b).

Did Mary think she would deliver in a palatial mansion? “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Luke 2:4-8

Whatever expectations Mary had that night when she was told she would be the mother of the long-awaited and promised Messiah, reality quickly dashed them. Mary did not get a chance to fix up the nursery; she left quickly in a self-imposed exile to stay with Zechariah and Elizabeth in the Judean hill country.

It took an angel to persuade Joseph not to divorce Mary but to take her as his wife. Mary and Joseph walked a tough 70-90-mile journey over rough roads to reach the place where Jesus would be born.

Surely Jesus would be born in lavish surroundings, but even that expectation did not come true that night. Mary gave birth, and the baby was gently wrapped in cloth and laid in a simple, ordinary manger where animals ate their food.

Whatever expectations Mary might have had were entirely unimportant when she said yes to God. Mary’s yes brought her more joy and fulfillment than any expectations she might have had that first night. She came to a deeper understanding of God through obedience and trust. Although Mary had no idea what lay ahead when she said yes, she knew it was the only thing to do. Her song of praise expressed her heartfelt joy.

And Mary said, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” (Luke 1:46-55)

Advent is a time of waiting for something greater than we can ever imagine. Unfortunately, our expectations often fall short of reality. However, when our hearts are focused on the Christmas message of God’s love for the world as Emmanuel, God with us, then we will encounter the most incredible gift any of us could ever receive. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2: 14)

God is great!

Finding Peace In the Waiting

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Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. Isaiah 40: 1-5

How is your anxiety level as we get closer to Christmas? Are you making progress on your to-do list? Most of us will fall somewhere in between; it will never be completely done, and things are starting to come together. Finding peace can often be a challenge in the busyness of these days. However, it is nothing compared with Hedviga Golik’s story.

Hedviga Golik died alone in her parking lot-sized, 190-square-foot, one-room attic apartment in Zagreb, Croatia. However, the tragedy was not her death but how long it was before anyone discovered her body. No one came to investigate her disappearance for 42 years, even though she resided atop a four-story apartment building surrounded by other buildings. Finally, in May 2008, her door was broken down, and Golik’s mummified body was found lying in her bed with an empty tea cup next to her.

Golik’s disappearance from others’ lives was a complex story. She had told neighbors she would be gone for an indeterminate period. She was known for her eccentric lifestyle and frequent mood swings. During those 42 years, a war broke out in Yugoslavia, neighbors were involved in an ownership dispute over the supposedly empty apartment, and life just got busy. A tired nurse that night fixed herself a cup of tea and then simply vanished from anyone’s thoughts.

If someone were to ask you how much God loves you, what would you say? There are several good theological answers, but Christmas and Easter are the two most powerful responses you can give. “The Maker of the stars and sea, Become a child on earth for me.” (Poet John Betjeman)

“The joy he has in the Son, he has in us. The eternal commitment he has to the Son he has for us. We cannot fully understand God’s love for us by simply comparing it to human love. If you want to understand how much God loves you, meditate on his love for His Son. God’s love for you is at no greater risk than his love for his Son, and that is the best of news.” (Paul David Tripp)

I don’t know if Hedviga Golik had an answer that night she stepped into eternity. John understood fully when he penned the introduction to his gospel account, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. (John 1:1,4,9)

“The true light has come. The message of the gospel is startling because it is true. It arrests attention, transforms hearts, changes destinations, and reshapes nations. It is good news for all, equally beautiful for every age and stage of life. It reaches every tribe, every tongue, every nation, announcing the evangelion, the good news: Jesus has arrived, and his light and life are a message of love for all.” (Sarah Yardley)

The popular Bible app, YouVersion, announced this week in a press release that its most-engaged verse for 2025 was Isaiah 41:10. This announcement and the selected verse are perfect as we focus on peace during the second week of the Advent season for Christmas. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Bobby Gruenewald, YouVersion’s CEO, commenting on the verse, said, “In a world full of anxiety and uncertainty, people are drawn to God’s promise to be with us, to strengthen us, and to help us. That message never gets old because the need for it is universal and timeless.”

In a world filled with tension, brokenness, and unrest, two of the most relevant titles for  Jesus during this time in history are Emmanuel and Prince of Peace. Wherever we are in our life stage, we can take great comfort in calling on Emmanuel, God with Us. (Matthew 1:23). When we face anxiety and anxiousness, what a great comfort and assurance it is that Jesus is the one who walks with us. In these times, He brings overwhelming peace in our most difficult and stressful situations. Thankfully, we do not have to walk through dark times alone or without help.

Come, Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, shine your light into the darkest places, that the world might witness the brightness of your glory, full of grace and truth. (Sarah Yardley)

Traditional Christmas carols usually do not include “Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus,” but maybe they should, as we face the last three weeks of the Christmas season. Just maybe we need to find time in our busy schedules to simply be with Jesus.

“O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There’s light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free! Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim. In the light of his glory and grace.” (Baptist Hymnal, p 198, Helen Lemmel)

Come, Lord Jesus. Fill me afresh with your light that my life may shine brightly. Give me eyes to see this Christmas season those who are lonely, hurting, sad, and hopeless. Let me be an instrument of peace in their lives.

God is great!

Countdown to Christmas

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The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. Isaiah 9:2 CSB

“I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.” I tend to agree with Maya Angelou’s words of wisdom as we enter this Christmas countdown. Many of us have experienced all three, and on rare occasions, on the same day.

Decorating for Christmas is a global ritual that welcomes the holiday season. According to a YouGov survey, 83% of Americans decorate for the holidays, with 79% decorating a Christmas tree. The when of decorating is a personal preference, but among those surveyed, 14% decorate before Thanksgiving, 48% the week after Thanksgiving, 23% the first week of December, and the rest in the second week of December or later. Other countries tend to follow Advent as their guide on when to decorate. I didn’t find any surveys on the percentage of people who struggle with tangled Christmas lights, but I did find that Vermont leads the United States as the number one state for Christmas decorating.

So, why do we decorate? Traditions are a big part of the reason, but many of us see them as a visual reminder of the Good News of Christmas. People want to hear good news, which explains the fascination with the Hallmark Channel’s predictable Christmas movies. The drama is woven into the story until the last few minutes, when everything comes together for the couple.

We decorate and give. The National Retail Federation estimated that in 2024, the United States’ spending averaged $902 per person, including gifts, food, and decorations. They are projecting this will drop to $890 in 2025. Yet, all of this spending amounts to about $950 billion annually.

This might be one reason the “7 gift rule” for Christmas has gained popularity. This is a new idea I came across during my research this year; the concept is to simplify holiday shopping by giving seven gifts to each person in your family. Each gift fits into a specific category: “Something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read, something to do, something to eat, and something for the family.” Some people add an eighth category, something to charity.

We decorate, give, and some even untangle the Christmas lights. We enjoy the Hallmark movies, the brilliant light displays, the Christmas parties, and finally the mountain of unwrapped Christmas presents, but all of these together do not ultimately bring the good news we need. Pastor David Jeremiah says it well, “All the Christmas presents in the world are worth nothing without the presence of Christ.”

Sunday, November 30, marked the beginning of Advent, a church tradition that has been part of the Christian community since the 4th century. Celebrated differently across denominations and faith traditions, it prepares the heart and the church for the coming of Jesus Christ. Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival.” The various Advent traditions help us keep our focus on Christ throughout a month that can become overwhelming in the busy schedules and activities. Whether part of your Sunday church service or observed at home, it can serve as a visual way to celebrate the Good News of Christmas.

Traditionally, Advent is marked each Sunday by lighting a different candle with a specific symbolic meaning. These five candles help to remind us of the coming of Jesus. “The central themes of Advent include hope, peace, joy, and love. These themes express key aspects of Christ’s coming, both two thousand years ago and in his return: Hope in his promises, peace through his reign, joy in his salvation, and love through his sacrifice.” (Britt Mooney)

The single flame in week one of Advent reminds us of the hope that is found in Jesus. Once we were “the people walking in darkness,” but now “have seen a great light.” That light of hope is found in Jesus.

For week two, we light the second candle of Peace. In a time when anxiety and hopelessness are common, the flames of the Peace candle remind us that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God…” (Isaiah 40:1-5)

For week three, the light grows brighter as the candle of Joy is lit. We pray, even in the brokenness, “God, be our joy.” “The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners…And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the LORD to glorify him.” (Isaiah 61:1-3)

For week four, the light of love joins with the other three, bringing light to any room. At the very core of Christmas is the message of love. God literally moves into the neighborhood as Immanuel, bringing salvation, redemption, and a future for all who call upon the name of Jesus. There is no greater message of Christmas than, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

On Christmas Day, as the four candles burn, the fifth candle is lit, the Christ candle. The Christ candle, surrounded by hope, peace, joy, and love, visually conveys the message the world needs. “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

The countdown clock towards Christmas ticks faster and faster each year, and you may occasionally need to reach up and stop it. This Christmas, maybe take an extra few minutes to sit and listen to your favorite songs, drink a mug of cocoa a little slower, and just enjoy looking at the untangled lights a little longer. If Jesus is the reason for the season, we may need to let Him have more of the season!

God is great!

Do We Need Thanksgiving?

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From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing. I will add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased; I will bring them honor, and they will not be disdained. Jeremiah 30:19

Do we really need a designated day called Thanksgiving? Do we have anything to be thankful for with rising food costs, global unrest, and political divisions? Life can be tough, and it might take some effort to find your voice to give thanks.

Thanksgiving can still be meaningful despite challenges.

Could you thank God for fleas in your house? Corrie ten Boom and her sister, Betsy, were imprisoned in the overcrowded, flea-infested Ravensbrück concentration camp. They had miraculously smuggled a Bible into the camp, and as Betsy read the scriptures, what was she going to do with 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus?” Betsy decided that thanks included the fleas. Corrie declared there was no way she would give thanks for a bunch of fleas. However, over time, they were able to hold Bible studies, share the Gospel, and see countless numbers of women come to faith in Christ. Only later did they discover why the guards had left them alone and had not entered their barracks: it was because of the fleas. (Preaching Today)

Thanksgiving comes as we recognize God’s goodness.

Finding fleas may not be what you have in mind for Thanksgiving, but having a thankful heart should be. “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1) President George Washington proclaimed the first nationwide Thanksgiving in the United States in 1789 with the words, “As a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God,” and calling on Americans to humbly offer prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations. Thanksgiving may not be a global holiday like Christmas or Easter, but it is widely celebrated in various ways across numerous countries. Yet, the common theme is being thankful.

Thanksgiving can come even before we recognize it.

Thanksgiving is the one day of the year when we can pause and reflect on the things we’re thankful for, including the not-so-obvious ones. “Rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:7) I will admit that the not-so-obvious things require more effort. Last Sunday, while driving home from Nashville, we made our usual stop at exit 310 on I-75, better known as the Buc-ee’s break. As we got back on the road, our Apple GPS rerouted us to exit at 290 in 20 miles. This was not unusual since traffic congestion is normal. I followed the directions when we reached the exit and came off the interstate. Instead of taking us on an alternate route, we were directed to get back onto I-75.

My frustration with Apple was quick; I should have used Waze! However, within seconds, a God thought came, “You did ask for driving mercy.” After I had a moment to consider the thought, all I could do was say thank you. You might say it was simply a glitch in the system, but I believe that it was a momentary delay that may have prevented an accident or worse. It is in these not-so-obvious times that we can’t explain that we need to have a heart of gratitude.

Thanksgiving can come in worship even when we struggle to worship.

Worship feels easy when the sanctuary temperature is 72 degrees, the music is at a comfortable 70 decibels or lower, the message lasts about 20 minutes, and you’re out before kickoff. However, it becomes much harder when worship occurs amid personal challenges, frustrations, or even hopelessness. Yet, it is in these moments that worship arises from a heart of thanksgiving. “Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.” (Psalm 95:1-2) We can reflect God’s grace from a heart of thanksgiving as we draw near to Him through our worship.

Henri Nouwen writes, “To be grateful for the good things that happen in our lives is easy, but to be grateful for all of our lives—the good as well as the bad, the moments of joy as well as the moments of sorrow, the successes as well as the failures, the rewards as well as the rejections—that requires hard spiritual work. Still, we are only truly grateful people when we can say “thank you” to all that has brought us to the present moment. As long as we keep dividing our lives between events and people we would like to remember and those we would rather forget, we cannot claim the fullness of our beings as a gift of God to be grateful for. Let’s not be afraid to look at everything that has brought us to where we are now and trust that we will soon see in it the guiding hand of a loving God.”

So, do we need an official Thanksgiving Day? Hopefully, our answer is yes. We need a heart of Thanksgiving, not just for one day, but every day. Let Thanksgiving be the defining yes of your daily life.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” Colossians 3:15-17

Wishing you a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving, wherever you may be today.

God is great!

What’s In A Name

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But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice. John 10:2-5 NLT

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Whether you are a Shakespearean fan or not, you are most likely familiar with this quote. Juliet’s words of love were spoken to her beloved Romeo, even in the midst of their family’s feud. His name, Montaque, was inconsequential to their love.

What’s in a name? If you were to ask Laurence Watkins for his full name, it would take him over an hour to tell you, and he would have to read it since he can’t remember it all. The reason for the confusion is that Watkins has 2,253 unique words making up his moniker. Can you imagine what it was like when he got in trouble as a little boy and his mother yelled at him with all his middle names! Actually, his parents didn’t give him all those middle names. Watkins wanted to set a Guinness World Record and decided he could beat at least one record simply by adding names. However, it took him a lot of money and an appeal to the New Zealand High Court to win the right to add all of his additional names to his legal name.

Watkins only viewed names as a way to break the world record for the longest name. For him, a rose still smells the same. However, Dale Carnegie wrote that names are central to who we are as humans. He wrote, “Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”

What’s in a name? It has been part of human identity since creation, when Adam and Eve walked in intimacy with God.  Yet throughout history, there have been ruthless, evil efforts to dehumanize people by changing or replacing people’s names. The most recent vivid picture was the Nazi effort to eliminate the Jewish population. In their brutal concentration camps, they gave prisoners numbers in place of their names. These numbers were even tattooed on the prisoners’ arms.

Dr. Robert Rozett writes, “Despite the inhuman treatment and use of numbers instead of names in the Nazi camps, the Jews clung fast to the human spirit.”  Dr. Rozett goes on to write that recent efforts have been made to identify individuals who died. “The gathering of the names of the murdered Jews of the Holocaust is no less important than listening to survivors’ voices. Recovering their names not only restores their identities but also helps us understand that Jews during the Holocaust were not just a nameless mass subjected to persecution and murder. The victims had lives, families, thoughts, fears, and hopes for the future—and each and every one had a name.”

What’s in a name? King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon believed that giving someone a new name was a way to remove their cultural and faith traditions from the conquered people of Jerusalem. The king took the brightest and most talented young leaders from the land to serve in his palace. They were “taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans…The palace master gave them other names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.” (Daniel 1)

Yet what he didn’t know was that the name that truly made a difference for them was the Name of the one they worshiped. “If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, and we will not worship the golden statue you have set up.”

What’s in a name? It makes a big difference when God changes your name to make you an instrument of His redemption. “Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations…I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.”(Gen 17:3-7)

What’s in a name? When that name is Jesus, it is everything! That Name is the beginning of life, the renewing of who we are, and the hope of all that will come. “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Paul David Tripp writes about Jesus, “The great line that divides humanity is not political, economic, social, or ethnic. No, the great fault line is Jesus…The cross of Jesus either is your hope in life and the one to come or it represents the death of a man you do not love and do not need. There is no neutrality in the shadow of the cross. So, today, what will you do with Jesus? Will you bow in worship and gratitude, or will you take life in your own hands and walk away?”

What’s in a name? It is the name you get from the choices you make, the people you know, the way you live your life, and, in the end, the name you put your trust in for eternity. “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” (Prov 22:1)

Charles Spurgeon said it well, “A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble.”

God is great!

Staying the Journey Because of One

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For it is Christ’s love that fuels our passion and holds us tightly, because we are convinced that he has given his life for all of us. This means all died with him, so that those who live should no longer live self-absorbed lives but lives that are poured out for him—the one who died for us and now lives again. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 TPT

What keeps you on your journey? If you ask Dale “Grey Beard” Sanders, it is to reclaim the age record as the oldest person to thru-hike the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail (AT). He captured the title in 2017 at 82, but his life-long friend and fellow hiker MJ “Nimblewill Nomad” Elbert took it from him in 2021 at age 83. The 90-year-old Sanders from Memphis, TN, determined not to be out-aged by his friend, set out on September 6 this year to reclaim the title. If you are unfamiliar with the AT, it starts at Springer Mountain, Georgia, and ends at Mount Katahdin in Maine (or vice versa, depending on which direction you are going), passing through 14 states. It is designated the world’s longest hiking-only trail.

Grey Beard still holds the Guinness World Record for paddling 2,400 miles from the Mississippi’s source in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico (America) at age 87. When asked why the age record motivates him so much, he answered, “I like to break records.” Sanders wants to inspire people to live better, healthier, longer lives. “I’ve always cared about people, and I do this because I still care about people.” (Info from article by Arnold “Bloodhound” Guzman, Appal. Trail website)

We all have something or someone that keeps us on our journey. You may not have plans for thru-hiking the AT, but if you are living, you have something or someone who keeps you on your journey. Connie and I had the blessing of being at Bud Fray’s memorial service last Sunday. Dr. Marion “Bud” Fray served, along with his family, in Zimbabwe and South Africa, then as a professor at Ouachita Baptist University and Southwestern Seminary, and finally retired from a local church ministry.

Why mention Bud? Some of you will know him, others not, but Bud lived out his passion and commitment to Jesus to the very end. In his biography, Both Feet In, he wrote, “How could I claim salvation without absolute abandonment to Jesus as Lord? My Jesus would not share His heart with anything half-hearted or with geographical restrictions. I yielded all to Jesus that morning, the best I knew how. The light of the Lord invaded my heart and captured me utterly.”

It was out of that initial commitment that Bud would live his 97 years, never wavering or with second thoughts. “I realized that my purpose in life was to be like Him no matter where I lived or what I did. It was He, not I, who was working all things together for the purpose of me being like Jesus.”

Bud would live out a totally surrendered life as a missionary in Africa, a university and seminary professor, and foremost as a prayer warrior who loved Jesus with Both Feet In. He would have fully understood the sentiment of Anglican theologian Richard Sibbes, who wrote roughly 400 years before Bud, “The love of Christ and the love of the world cannot lodge together in one heart.”

We need to hear the stories of those who have faithfully stayed on the journey with the One who made the difference in their lives. This journey we are on is not always easy, which makes the stories of others encouraging for us.

When Watchman Nee said yes to Jesus’ invitation to follow him, even though he could have chosen a comfortable life, he never wavered in his passion and commitment to Jesus. “Outside Christ I am empty; in Christ I am full.” Watchman Nee lived out these words, thus becoming a target of the Chinese Communist authorities, resulting in his imprisonment in 1952 until he died in 1972 at age 68 for his refusal to renounce his faith.

A piece of paper was found under his pillow in prison by his grandniece, inscribed with his final words to the world, “Christ is the Son of God who died for the redemption of sinners and was resurrected after three days. This is the greatest truth in the universe. I die because of my belief in Christ.”

British pastor Pete Greig remarked about Watchman Nee’s faith, “His teaching, forged in the furnace of marginalization, persecution and war, was always challenging, particularly for those in the West whose faith had become comfortable and complacent.”

God’s church did/has/will prevail! It is made up of flawed heroes of faith, from well-known celebrities to unknown, ordinary believers, yet each trusting in the One on the journey with them. Jesus laid the rock-solid foundation, and though imperfect saints have often messed up, they never stopped the church from moving forward. Watchman Nee wrote in The Secret of Christian Living that “God’s way of salvation is in Christ, not in your own self. Patience is in Christ, humility is in Christ, holiness is in Christ. All is in Christ. In you, yourself, there is always uncleanness and unholiness. If you live in Christ, you have everything. But if you live in yourself, you remain unchanged.”

Mrs. Gambiza’s story is told in Bud’s book, where she resisted cultural expectations to remain committed to her faith. When she was asked why she did not capitulate when her brother-in-law persecuted her and mocked her faith, she replied, “Pastor, my heart would not let me. Jesus living in my heart makes the decision for me. He is my King.”

Keep on traveling this journey because you have One who never gives up on you. “I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.” Eph 1:18 NLT

God is great!

Getting the Hammer into the Right Hands

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The words of the wise prod us to live well. They’re like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd. Ecclesiastes 12:11 The Message

You probably have one, but do you have a Stiletto 10oz Trimbone smooth face with a curved handle?  Most people may have a Husky or Milwaukee version, or, like me, a generic off-brand. This thing—the world’s most trusted and familiar tool —is a hammer. My no-name hammer does the trick, except it doesn’t carry the Stiletto price tag of $336 on Amazon. Archaeologists have even discovered hammer-like instruments dating back 3.3 million years.

Hammers may have changed slightly in appearance, what they are made from, and the price tag, but the purpose has not changed. They are either an instrument of creativity and construction or a tool to destroy. American Psychologist Abraham Maslow, who is best known for developing Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, wrote, “I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.”

The constructive or destructive element comes from the hand that is holding the hammer. I am not sure that Martin Luther, when he picked up a hammer on October 31, 1517, realized that he would unleash a firestorm when he nailed his 95 Theses position paper to the Wittenberg Castle Church. This action would spark the Protestant Reformation, reshaping Western Christianity forever. Out of his commitment for change would come his rallying cry, “Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”

“Christians should be exhorted to be diligent in following Christ, their head…” (number 94 on the list) would be a framework of the Reformation. Luther’s writings, which emphasized that salvation comes by faith alone and that the Bible is the ultimate authority for Christians, spread quickly because of the newly invented printing press.

Eric Metaxas, in his work on Martin Luther, wrote, “To know that others were being cruelly treated, were being imprisoned under horrendous conditions under the threat of death, and to know that some would make this ultimate sacrifice, was surely more difficult for Luther than had he himself endured such things. But there can be no question that they drove him closer to God and made him the more passionate to spread the truth God had entrusted to him. This is one of the practical ways that we can see Tertullian’s famous phrase “The Blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church” being borne out.” (p303-304)

In God’s hand, the hammer is used to drive home the deep impact of his words. In Jeremiah, we read, “Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain? declares the LORD. Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:28-29 NIV

In God’s hand, the hammer of his word breaks our hardness of heart, reshaping it into His image and likeness. It is often hard on us, but in His hands, we can be confident that it will be for our good. “Affliction is God’s forge to soften the iron heart. It is impossible to form iron while it is cold, but make it red hot, and you can stamp upon it any impression you please. The heart is hard, and its natural resistance is much increased by prosperity. God softens hearts with the showers of adversity and makes us more attentive unto him and less influenced by the noise of the world.” (Thomas Case, A Year of Puritan Devotional Readings)

In God’s hand, the hammer gives another chance to build a place of refuge. When the world was overcome with wickedness, God saw in Noah a different spirit. Noah picked up his hammer and, with his sons, built an ark according to God’s plans. “The LORD then said to Noah, Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation…Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; people and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark.” (Gen 7:1,22,23)

In a godly hand, the hammer is used to build a place of worship. “The craftsmen of Solomon and Hiram and workers from Byblos cut and prepared the timber and stone for the building of the temple…In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel, or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built.” (I Kings5:18, 6:7).

In a wicked hand, he uses the hammer to destroy. The cries of crucify him, crucify him had finally been heard by Pilate. With a wave of his hand, Jesus was led to the hill where he gave up his life for us. Jesus was laid on the crossbeam as the Roman soldier took up his hammer to drive the nails into his body. “When they had crucified him, they divided his clothes by casting lots.” (Matt 27:35)

In God’s hand, the destructive use of the hammer is restored. “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb…Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! (Luke 24:1,5)

How much better it is to hand over the hammer of our lives to God and let Him build. God is the ultimate builder, who can take nothing and create a masterpiece. “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (I Peter 2:4-5)

God is great!