What do you see at Christmas?

Christmas 2009! What do we see? Family? Lights? Decorations? Presents? Food? The hustle and bustle? I wonder if what we see at Christmas reflects something of who we are.

Each Christmas I am drawn to the story of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35). Simeon, we are told, was a righteous and devout man. He was, and had been, waiting for Israel's Messiah. In fact, God had promised Simeon that he would not die until he saw Messiah. At the prompting of the Holy Spirit, Simeon made his way to the temple courts that day. There God fulfilled his promise to Simeon. But what jumps out at me is what Simeon saw. There was much to distract Simeon that day. The temple, we need to understand, was an immensely busy place. It was the economic, political, educational, and religious center of Jewish life. With all the activity, noise, and crowds, I can only liken it to a shopping mall during the holidays. Added to all that, Simeon encounters a joyful, excited couple coming to dedicate their newborn son. Yet, despite the commotion and the joy of a new baby, I can't cease to be amazed at what Simeon saw. Luke records that Simeon took baby Jesus in his arms and said:

Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel. (2:29-32)

Did you catch that? Simeon, that first Christmas, saw salvation! He didn't simply see a new baby or the joy of the new parents or the hustle and bustle of the temple activity. All the distractions did not cloud his vision. He saw salvation itself. He saw the Messiah who would redeem not only Israel, but all people.

I have to ask myself, "What do I see at Christmas?" It is easy to get caught up in all the good things at Christmas and let them be a distraction. Family, friends, gifts, decorations, the Christmas rush, and even religious activities can keep us from seeing what we should be seeing this time of year. We should be seeing what Simeon saw . . . God's salvation. Perhaps we let the distractions cloud our vision because our characters are not like the character of Simeon. Perhaps righteous, devout people who are eagerly waiting and looking for the ultimate salvation of God's people with the return of Messiah are the ones who are in the best position to see what we should be seeing at Christmas. What do you see this time of year?

Merry Christmas! Enjoy and celebrate this holiday to the fullest. Enjoy your family, the food, the gifts, the decorations, and the joy. But through it all, don't miss seeing salvation.

I Saw Jesus Today

A few months ago, with Halloween right around the corner, a woman was in a car accident. Her oldest son, 8 years old, was in the car with her. While the mother was relatively uninjured, her son died in the hospital shortly after the accident. I didn't realize it at the time I heard the story on the news, but this woman and her family lived right up the street from my family.

This time of year can be brutally hard for a family like this, especially when a tragedy is still so fresh, so I've been thinking alot about them. I decided to give them some Christmas goodies & hot cocoa mix just to let them know I was thinking about them and praying for them. I really can't imagine the heartache she and her husband and their other children must be feeling with the first Christmas without their son approaching.

I had only met her once before, but when she answered the door and saw me standing there, she smiled like we were old friends. Behind her, I couldn't help but notice a very large wall hanging with Jesus surrounded by children on it. She thanked me for the package; she hugged me; she continued to beam that warm smile at me, and I was struck by how joyful she was. I didn't want to walk away.This woman who has just lost a child couldn't keep the joy off her face or out of her eyes.

I know what that's about. She knows Jesus.

I've said before that our lives are our biggest apologetic for the truth of our faith, and this woman is one of the best examples I've seen. I barely know her, but I can see that even in her grief, she owns the certainty that Jesus gives all of His believers: death is conquered; Jesus is victorious. She knows she will see her precious son again one day and she trusts Jesus. She is most certainly sad and grieving terribly, but the joy and hope that she has in Jesus so overwhelms the sadness that you'd have to search for it to see it in her face.

Can you imagine what unbelievers who know her must be thinking - what they must be asking themselves? What is different about her? How can she maintain her joy in the face of such unspeakable pain? With God's grace, she will be able to share just how she can do that with someone who doesn't know Jesus.

But for me, I'm amazed. I saw Jesus today. Not in a wall hanging hung in an entry way but shining out from the joy-filled face of a grieving mother.

A Chance for Kingdom Building

As Christmas quickly approaches, we are reminded what an unmatchable gift we received when God sent his Son to be born in a lowly manger and ultimately be the Savior of the world.

 

We are so fortunate in this country to have so much, especially in comparison to much of the rest of the world; we are even more fortunate that it is so easy to hear about Jesus Christ. As my pastor has been emphasizing over the past few weeks in our study of 2 Corinthians, God was rich but for our sake He became poor, in order that through His poverty we might become rich. His point is that God took on humanity so that we might have abundance of life for eternity through faith in Jesus, something we never could attain if God had not become poor for our sake. In response, that ought to make us incredibly generous toward others. In fact, that is why God blesses us with the resources He gives us, so we can pour it back out on others. (To hear this sermon in full, click on "Great Grace Should Produce Great Generosity" under the Lincoln Berean sermons resource on the left side of the page.)

I know that many people reading this are very generous because many of you are my friends and I've seen how you live and what is important to you. But I want to tell you all about Abdul because some of you may be looking for other opportunities to build God's Kingdom, and some who are reading this may think this is a great way to get started.

Abdul is a "Christmas Child" ~ one of many. These children are kids who are awaiting sponsorship through Compassion. (http://www.compassion.com/) As sponsors of another child, Compassion asked our family, along with other sponsors, to help find sponsors for these children who have been on the waiting list for some time. Abdul is from Tanzania. He is 9 years old and lives with his grandmother. He has two other siblings. This child works~carrying water, washing clothes, and caring for children. Through Compassion's efforts, he participates in church activities, Bible classes, and primary school, but he and his family live in poverty. Sponsorship will mean releasing Abdul from poverty. It will mean he has access to food, medicine, and clean water. It will also mean he has what he needs to fulfill his God-given potential and multiply what you have done for God's kingdom by sponsoring him.

How exciting is that?! What a great God we serve who lets us be a part of doing His work and who will one day say to us, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" Can you imagine the thrill of standing with God while He points out to you all the things that became possible and all the people who came to Jesus because of your obedience?

If you are able, please consider sponsoring Abdul. All you'll need is his Compassion number and you can sign up right on line. The cost is $38 a month. My family is always excited to get letters from Mani, the child we sponsor. It has been such a blessing to see her grow and learn through her letters. When we first began sponsoring her, she couldn't write at all, so one of her teachers wrote her letters for her. In the last letter we got, Mani had written the alphabet in English and Tamil, and had also written her numbers. It's also very heartwarming to read that she is praying for us! How sweet is that? A child in a third world country with just the basics to survive is praying for me and my family! We love that she is praying for us and we love letting her know in our letters that we are praying for her and her family.

Just contact me if you would like to help and I will get you the sponsor number...it's that easy!

Christmas Blessings to you all as we celebrate Jesus' birth...He who was rich but became poor for our sake so we could become rich!