Good morning!
I know today is a day off for most of you (and for those retired always a day off) – an important day – Christmas Eve. The day most of us spend some time with our faith families celebrating the birth of Jesus. What consumes your thoughts on this day?
Are you anxious about whether you are ready? Whether you got everything done – all gifts bought, all activities done? Are you worrying whether you are ready? Kathy and I heard a sermon this last Sunday that resonated with both of us. Regardless of the answers to any of these questions, Christmas is coming (came…) – ready or not. God’s Son is born incarnate, and has brought salvation – ready or not.
So ready or not here is a mix of thoughts I want to share with you to prepare your heart::…
My favorite Christmas song is O Holy Night. You will find the lyrics below. Read them, ponder the meaning as it relates to your celebration of Christmas (one more time… #realreasonforchristmasjoy).
What is your favorite Christmas song? Why?
For me, this favorite song evokes so much emotion and stirring in my heart, moving me to be in awe of what God did for us…a little commentary alongside some of the lyrics:
Lyrics to O Holy Night (listen here)!
The stars are brightly shining (On clear nights, with stars sparkling and lighting up the heavens, I am left with an amazing peace knowing this is a part of God’s spectacular creation.)
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth! (thank you Jesus for coming not to condemn but to save…)
Long lay the world in sin and error pining (reminds me of where I was at one point in my life…)
Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth. (yes, a heart bursting with joy at the knowing of my Savior, Jesus Christ)
A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices (yes, going from living a life that was wearing me down, making me hopeless to a life of hope and purpose in Christ)
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn! (truly, the day is new…I have been made new in Christ)
Fall on your knees (when I hear this song and feel my heart bursting with joy, this in fact is how I feel – a need to drop to my knees before God at His awesomeness)
Oh hear the angel voices (music, heavenly and beautiful, beyond belief)
Oh night divine (truly divine)
Oh night when Christ was born (yes and moved by the knowledge that this is the beginning of Christ’s walk to the Cross for me and you)
Oh night divine
Oh night divine
Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming (Faith being capitalized reminds me that God is the author our faith…and birth we celebrate is one way God draws us back to Him)
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand (did I say my heart fills with joy when hearing this – seems to me joy is an expression or emanation of Light…)
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming (God’s light shining in the darkness)
Here come the wise men from Orient land
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger (kings, wise men, shepherds, us as we are, come to adore Him…next line – Christ, the King eternal)
In all our trials born to be our friend (yes, we become brothers and sisters, children of God and fiends, yes friends of Jesus Christ, especially as we slog through troubles in this life)
Truly He taught us to love one another (consider God first loved us by sending His Son…)
His law is love and His gospel is peace (love includes truth, peace is not peace without love and truth together; when I give up my rebellion to love, it means I first love God and His Holiness and desire transformation to my holiness that allows me to love as God loves)
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother (although we lay down our rebellion against God and now serve His will, we are freed from our sin and are made new in Christ)
And in His name all oppression shall cease (freedom is ours in our rebirth and renewal…we walk with Him and in Him through the Holy Spirit)
Sweet songs of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name (yes, yes, yes let us praise Jesus Christ singing HOLY, HOLY, HOLY…as we celebrate the start of the Son of God’s journey as a man – going to the Cross, so we can go Home…)
Consider reading the following – Luke 1-2; John 1:1-18; and Matthew 1-2
This is the eve of the day we actually celebrate Christ’s birth. We should be bursting with anticipation! We should be singing God’s praises. Glorifying God for His ultimate gift of Love.
I have to be honest here. I have wanted to dig in my heals and stop the clock as Christmas has been hurtling closer, faster than I ever remember…it is just arriving way too fast!
But wait, shouldn’t I want Jesus Christ to arrive, sooner versus later? Isn’t that what I am waiting for – reunion with my Savior? Isn’t maybe my perspective on this wrong?
I bring this up more for me to ponder. These feelings of wanting to stop the clock are uncomfortable. Excitement – that is the feeling I want to have about Christmas not anxiety over how fast it is coming.
And when I step back, I realize I do not want to stop the clock. I want to hold His Truth in more moments of my life.
Every day, every hour, every second, until the time arrives when I go home to Him.
I want to hold that excitement of Jesus though the Holy Spirit walking with me on this journey back to Him in eternity.
And this moment by moment feeling of excitement can start on Saturday as we celebrate His birth, the Son of Man. It can even start today.
To capture this idea of the excitement that this birthday celebration ought to stir within us everyday view this 4 minute video: Who Is This King of glory?
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us on Christmas day and for the weekend, during this time off to celebrate Your birth, is that our hearts break open to the full understanding of you, Lord Jesus Christ, coming for our salvation in a way that allows you to shine Your light brightly into those who cross Your path now and in the new year! Let this Christmas celebration lead to daily excitement to know you - God’s Son, Emmanuel - who is infused into our lives as we live to do Your work on our journey home. God’s blessing to each of you and your family at this most Holy celebration of Christmas! Amen!
Merry Christmas all! Have a Christmas and weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Patrick
I know today is a day off for most of you (and for those retired always a day off) – an important day – Christmas Eve. The day most of us spend some time with our faith families celebrating the birth of Jesus. What consumes your thoughts on this day?
Are you anxious about whether you are ready? Whether you got everything done – all gifts bought, all activities done? Are you worrying whether you are ready? Kathy and I heard a sermon this last Sunday that resonated with both of us. Regardless of the answers to any of these questions, Christmas is coming (came…) – ready or not. God’s Son is born incarnate, and has brought salvation – ready or not.
So ready or not here is a mix of thoughts I want to share with you to prepare your heart::…
My favorite Christmas song is O Holy Night. You will find the lyrics below. Read them, ponder the meaning as it relates to your celebration of Christmas (one more time… #realreasonforchristmasjoy).
What is your favorite Christmas song? Why?
For me, this favorite song evokes so much emotion and stirring in my heart, moving me to be in awe of what God did for us…a little commentary alongside some of the lyrics:
Lyrics to O Holy Night (listen here)!
The stars are brightly shining (On clear nights, with stars sparkling and lighting up the heavens, I am left with an amazing peace knowing this is a part of God’s spectacular creation.)
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth! (thank you Jesus for coming not to condemn but to save…)
Long lay the world in sin and error pining (reminds me of where I was at one point in my life…)
Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth. (yes, a heart bursting with joy at the knowing of my Savior, Jesus Christ)
A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices (yes, going from living a life that was wearing me down, making me hopeless to a life of hope and purpose in Christ)
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn! (truly, the day is new…I have been made new in Christ)
Fall on your knees (when I hear this song and feel my heart bursting with joy, this in fact is how I feel – a need to drop to my knees before God at His awesomeness)
Oh hear the angel voices (music, heavenly and beautiful, beyond belief)
Oh night divine (truly divine)
Oh night when Christ was born (yes and moved by the knowledge that this is the beginning of Christ’s walk to the Cross for me and you)
Oh night divine
Oh night divine
Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming (Faith being capitalized reminds me that God is the author our faith…and birth we celebrate is one way God draws us back to Him)
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand (did I say my heart fills with joy when hearing this – seems to me joy is an expression or emanation of Light…)
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming (God’s light shining in the darkness)
Here come the wise men from Orient land
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger (kings, wise men, shepherds, us as we are, come to adore Him…next line – Christ, the King eternal)
In all our trials born to be our friend (yes, we become brothers and sisters, children of God and fiends, yes friends of Jesus Christ, especially as we slog through troubles in this life)
Truly He taught us to love one another (consider God first loved us by sending His Son…)
His law is love and His gospel is peace (love includes truth, peace is not peace without love and truth together; when I give up my rebellion to love, it means I first love God and His Holiness and desire transformation to my holiness that allows me to love as God loves)
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother (although we lay down our rebellion against God and now serve His will, we are freed from our sin and are made new in Christ)
And in His name all oppression shall cease (freedom is ours in our rebirth and renewal…we walk with Him and in Him through the Holy Spirit)
Sweet songs of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name (yes, yes, yes let us praise Jesus Christ singing HOLY, HOLY, HOLY…as we celebrate the start of the Son of God’s journey as a man – going to the Cross, so we can go Home…)
Consider reading the following – Luke 1-2; John 1:1-18; and Matthew 1-2
This is the eve of the day we actually celebrate Christ’s birth. We should be bursting with anticipation! We should be singing God’s praises. Glorifying God for His ultimate gift of Love.
I have to be honest here. I have wanted to dig in my heals and stop the clock as Christmas has been hurtling closer, faster than I ever remember…it is just arriving way too fast!
But wait, shouldn’t I want Jesus Christ to arrive, sooner versus later? Isn’t that what I am waiting for – reunion with my Savior? Isn’t maybe my perspective on this wrong?
I bring this up more for me to ponder. These feelings of wanting to stop the clock are uncomfortable. Excitement – that is the feeling I want to have about Christmas not anxiety over how fast it is coming.
And when I step back, I realize I do not want to stop the clock. I want to hold His Truth in more moments of my life.
Every day, every hour, every second, until the time arrives when I go home to Him.
I want to hold that excitement of Jesus though the Holy Spirit walking with me on this journey back to Him in eternity.
And this moment by moment feeling of excitement can start on Saturday as we celebrate His birth, the Son of Man. It can even start today.
To capture this idea of the excitement that this birthday celebration ought to stir within us everyday view this 4 minute video: Who Is This King of glory?
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us on Christmas day and for the weekend, during this time off to celebrate Your birth, is that our hearts break open to the full understanding of you, Lord Jesus Christ, coming for our salvation in a way that allows you to shine Your light brightly into those who cross Your path now and in the new year! Let this Christmas celebration lead to daily excitement to know you - God’s Son, Emmanuel - who is infused into our lives as we live to do Your work on our journey home. God’s blessing to each of you and your family at this most Holy celebration of Christmas! Amen!
Merry Christmas all! Have a Christmas and weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Patrick
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