Jesus is the Centerpiece of Christmas

Our pastor was talking last Sunday about how hard it is to see the true meaning of Christmas in this day and time. From Times Square signage bought by American Atheists proclaiming that no one needs CHRIST this Christmas to the movies that talk only of elves and romance and presents, it looks as though Christ is being blocked out of the season altogether. 

But there are still manger scenes being erected in church lots and public buildings all over America. There are still people who know that Jesus truly is the Reason for the Season. I’m so thankful that when I walk the streets of our town a manger scene can be found in a storefront window. And Merry Christmas signs are still seen everywhere.

As I was thinking about my own collection of manger scenes and how I worked hard to make the lights on one display shine on the baby Jesus, God spoke to my heart.  How many nativities are set up where Jesus is behind the shepherd? As displays are observed is the manger itself placed outside the barn? Is the light shining brightest on Joseph or Mary or one of the Kings?  

If we’re not careful we will find ourselves settling for a personal faith that's been diluted by culture and other people's takes on spirituality. We’ll have a little Jesus off to the side of our lives and a lot of self-motivation and me right in the focal point. Only One King can be on the throne and only one Lord can be the center of our lives.  We will inevitably choose who is center – either ourselves or God.  We can even put family, work, spouses, friends and other things in the center but Jesus says He will share His glory, His rightful place, with no other.

God speaks again: If you will keep Me front and center in your life all other things will fall into place. As you look solely to Me for your needs, your wants and your desires you will find that I AM all you need.  When you put me off to the side of your life other things get mismanaged and become in disarray. Chaos ensues when you try to put yourself or anyone else but Me in the center of your heart and life. Feeling burdened by things or people or decisions or choices? Place Me back in My rightful place and see how it all will get back into focus.  I will redirect your path so that you can focus on Me everywhere you go.

Oh beloved, you are precious in the sight of the Lord. The Savior of the World has come and ransomed you from everything that can trouble you and seek to control your heart and mind. Look to Him for everything. Keep Him in the center of your life. His love and care are your nourishment. His Words are your guidepost. His precious promises are your reason for living. Don’t relegate Him to the background. Keep Him front and center and watch as He takes you where you could never go on your own and makes your life a shining example of His glory and grace.  He loves you and He’s for you and that’s why you want to keep your focus on Him all the days of your life.

Hebrews 12:2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven.

Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Psalm 9:10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Run to the Spirit of Christmas - Christ Himself!

Our whole family loves A Christmas Carol. There are many versions, from the original movie of 1938 to the most recent Disney remake of 2009.  The story revolves around Ebenezer Scrooge who has spent his life being a grumpy self-centered agnostic. Because of the original Dickens’ story and subsequent movies, people with his personality are referred to as “Scrooges”, especially during the Christmas holidays.

There are three ghosts or spirits in this movie as well. They are sent to try to get Mr. Scrooge back on track and to help him see the error of his ways and thus to give him redemption. Through the visitation of these three spirits – Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future – Mr. Scrooge is sent on a trip of self-discovery and self-loathing, but eventually he finds himself changed and the change becomes well…dramatic to say the least.

We too have to deal with these spirits or issues - Our past, our present and our future.

Christmas past may hold the pain of unrealized dreams and hopes. Nobody’s perfect, especially parents, so there may be hurts that make us unable to enjoy today. If we hold onto those hurts we will find ourselves mourning what we could have had rather than enjoying what we do have. Are you hurt beyond imagination and still reeling from things you could not control? Or maybe you did the wrong thing and you’re still making yourself pay.

Christmas present holds much promise. This year will be perfect! But it’s hard when others don’t share the joy of the season. Or you are facing tragedy, resentment, unforgiveness. Like ornaments that are so heavy they bend the limbs of the Christmas tree beneath the load, these weights tend to bend us over and make us want to forget Christmas altogether. Who needs the pain?

Christmas future holds the highest hopes. We plan for the future and ignore the present because somewhere in the future things will be better, right? So we hold so tightly to our imaginary day somewhere in time ahead that we can’t enjoy the present. We feel destined to repeat the same offenses, but all the while hoping, just hoping that things will be better next year. What is in your perfect Christmas? Love, joy, peace? You’ll never find them on your own.

Oh beloved, run to the Spirit of Christmas – the Lord Himself!  He will take your mistakes and sorrows and rejections and replace them. Just as ornaments on the tree get broken and ruined, God takes each one and gives us a fresh new start! Just as our trees get old and lose their needs, God gives us a fresh today! No need to live with the past, it’s dead and gone. And, His future for us is brighter than the Morning Star! Let the Lord love you today and watch as He says, “Crawl up in my lap and let me tell you about your wonderful life! Speak your Christmas “wish list” into My ear! Give your past mistakes, present worries and future hopes to Me and let Me remake the entire movie into our love story! For I have loved you always. I AM with you in your past, I AM with you in your present and I AM with you in your future. If you let me, I AM able to make this a Christmas without regrets. Don’t turn your eyes on the tinsel or the glitter or the packages or the people, even those you love oh so much! Just turn your eyes on Me, the Author and Finisher of your Faith. I love you and I AM on your side. This is my gift to you this Christmas. Rejoice in My Love for I AM your Redeemer!

1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.

Ecclesiastes 11:5 Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.

2 Samuel 23:5 “Truly is not my house so with God? For He has made an everlasting covenant with me, Ordered in all things, and secured; For all my salvation and all my desire, Will He not indeed make it grow?

 Job 42:2 “I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

Romans 8:29 We are assured and know that God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. (Amplified)

God is My Restorer

We just got back from a 10 day 3500 mile motorcycle trip!
Yes, I rode the WHOLE way. Well, there was that couple of miles
in the wrecker with my friend, Sherry, but that's another story!

It was a learning experience! I don't always want to learn everywhere I go, but I must need lots of teaching, because God just keeps going with me. And, wherever I go I need teaching.

Thankfully, His learning cUrVe is huge for me! Isn't that great? He loves me. Therefore, He works with me where I'm at.

This is just one of the many things He taught me. Some things I cannot share because they are just between me and Him. But here's something I hope someone might be able to glean from:

God is my Restorer.

On our trip we saw many old cars and trucks.
Lots of them were rusting in fields, rendered useless
by the elements.

But as we visited the Route 66 Museum, we saw
old trucks of the same type -only they had been
restored. Their paint shone in the lights and the chrome
was polished to perfection.

Same vehicles, but because someone had cared enough
to do something about their poor condition,
they had been restored.

Most of us just throw away old cars. Trade them in.
Put them out to pasture.
It's a lot of trouble to put that much care into
a classic. It's hard work from the get go.

Out to pasture.
But then someone comes along
and sees what could be and he begins
the process not caring how long it will take.

Jesus cares about us like that.
He takes our useless lives, rusty from sin
and walking in the flesh.

He buffs us.
He polishes us.
He recreates us.

Why does He do this?
Why does He take the time to
restore us, when He could just
move on with someone new?

Hosea 6:2
In just a short time He will restore us, so that we may live in His presence.

Thank you Lord, for fixing us up for YOUR glory and YOUR honor
and just so that we can live in YOUR Presence!

And He also says in His Word:

Joel 2:25
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

Psalm 23:3
He restores my soul...

Isaiah 57:18
I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.