Let it Shine

" 'Now Lord, you are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your Salvation. Which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, and the glory of Your people Israel.' And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, 'Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and the rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed - and a sword will pierce even your own soul - to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." Luke 2:29-34

Warm, unforgettable memories break over the shores of my heart with waves of nostalgia at this time of year. The bright lights of New York City have always been an amazing sight to me, but they put an additional, serious strain on the eastern power grid at Christmas. To a ten year old boy they are truly awe-inspiring. In 1960, it seemed every store, and major avenue competed for a prize for shedding the most light on Christmas. The Avenue of the Americas was guarded by rows of trumpeting angels, the skating rink of Rockefeller Center was ablaze with garlands of lights, but no display could hold a candle to Macy's. Their famous, flagship store windows were displayed with one Christmas scene after another. All around the block, each one of their presentations was more impressive than the other. They depicted Bible stories, and Christmas around the world. From Currier and Ives to the North Pole, each window was a huge Christmas card of creativity and light. The scenes still leap from my mind fifty years later. No one knows how to light it up like New York City.

The Christmas story is all about light. When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, they were looking for a priest who would set him apart for the service God had sent Him to perform. Simeon's life had been spent waiting for this moment. He knew immediately that he held the Light of the World in his arms. Many people witnessed the priest conduct the ceremony, and the parental act of obedience. They only saw a child being placed in the hands of an old man. It might have given them a warm feeling, to see someone so old holding an infant in their hands, but there was more going on than mere sentimentality. With eyes blinded by the darkness of sin, they saw a child, but Simeon saw The Light.

Simeon took the child from Mary and Joseph, turned his thoughts to the prophecy of Isaiah, and said, "A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES." His parents were amazed to hear these words. With all they had experienced, they could not have been easily surprised. Still to hear Simeon pronounce that Jesus was a fulfillment of messianic prophecy, gave them pause. The Messiah was not going to be a Savior for the Jews, but be a light of revelation for the people of the whole world.

Simeon did not pronounce all sweetness and light over the Child. His words are understood by us more today than they were by Mary and Joseph. He told them that their Child would be person of great significance, but "a sign to be opposed." The cradle and the cross are inseparable in the Christmas story, and those who oppose one must reject the other.

The contemporary culture of commercialism is not opposed to making a buck off the birth of Jesus, but it is growing increasingly opposed to the purpose for which He was born. Simeon's prayer of dedication reminds Christ followers, He was sent by God to be The Light of the world. People who have grown accustomed to being in the dark, rarely appreciate a sudden flash of light. It blinds their eyes, and shoots pain to the brain. This might explain why they are opposed to the greeting, "Merry Christmas!" The opposition to Jesus is not limited to Christmas greetings, and nativity scenes on the town square.

For centuries, ancient armies of evil have been mobilized to stop The Light from revealing the "thoughts from many hearts." Satan is not opposed to the Christmas season. He hates the Christmas Story, and The Light of The World. He hates it when The Light of Jesus exposes the consequences of sin for what it is, separation from God. When Jesus enters into a person's heart, His light overwhelms the forces of darkness, and guides blinded people to see the grace of God. This is the reason for all the opposition. When Satan sees The Light, he is threatened, and turns up his opposition to any "sign" that Jesus is the reason for the season. Hold up The Sign anyway!

The little song we learned as "Sunbeams" is running through my mind, and humming in my heart. "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Won't let Satan, whoooosh, blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine...." Sing it with me. Everybody on the chorus..."Let it shine! Let it shine! Let it shine!" Now, that is a Christmas carol that can point people to a very...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

What and When

"And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms and blessed God..." Luke 2:25-28

Dana was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2008. The adventure, as she likes to call it, has led us to many waiting rooms during 2008 and 2009. The thousands of miles we travelled on these road trips have taken their toll in more ways than one. There have been biopsies, blood work, mammograms, imaging centers, oncologist appointments, six months of chemo treatments, loss of hair, a year of herceptin treatments, two major surgeries, followup exams, and checkups hosted by a wide variety of waiting rooms. Bonding with courageoues people was the one common denominator of all the rooms we visited. There is a band of brothers and sisters that is forged from fighting a relentless war against a common enemy.

I know God's waiting room is the safest place to be, but still, it has grown wearisome. It is alot like an adult "time out." Remember when your child needed an attitude adjustment? You didn't know whether to ground them or pound them, so you put them in time out. My kids hated it. Now I know why.

I wish I could tell you that I entered every waiting room experience with a joyous expectation of answered prayer. There have been many times, I have been overwhelmed by the sheer monotony of waiting. Yes, I still believe God's waiting room is the safest place to be, but I must admit that I have gotten tired of the magazines.

Knowing "what" to pray for, her healing, has not been hard. The rock in my shoe and the bone in my throat has been caused by waiting for "when" she is healed. "When" and "what" are where Heaven and earth meet. Persistent prayer has prepared my heart to receive God's answer. I have learned it arrives in my heart, before He places it in my hands. The Holy Spirit guides me to a place where I can stand on the promise of God, and lift up Jesus...not the answer. There was a popular Christian song in the late 80's, "When Answers Aren't Enough, There is Jesus." The heart and the hands are always in conflict with the "what" and the "when" until I come to the place where Jesus is all I need. Still waiting, and still praying. Still heart. No lie.

Never underestimate the capacity of a commercialized Christmas to swallow a camel and gag on the truth. Every year churches and communities celebrate this season with all kinds of symbols, both sacred and secular. One of the best kept secrets in the Christmas story is Simeon. This time of the year, more is made about nameless shepherds, and wandering wise men than the man that Luke introduces to us as Simeon. His name had a rich heritage for answered prayer in Hebrew culture. It was the name Leah, wife of Jacob, gave to her son after crying out to God for His favor. She knew that Jacob loved Rachel more than her, and she called out to God to hear her prayer for a child. The name, Simeon, means "hear, or heard." The name she selected was Leah's grateful response to God for hearing her and sending a son to be a comfort to her in the middle of her heartbreak and rejection.

Similarly, Simeon had cried out to God for His favor. He prayed that God would allow him to see the Messiah, The Christ, before he died. He had received word from the Holy Spirit that his prayer had been answered. There is no indication in Luke's account of how long he had been waiting for the answer to be revealed, but he was counting on the reliability of the Spirit's promise.

Simeon lived a life of holy expectancy. He is described as, "'righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him." Simeon had a confidence and a hope that kept him ever ready to receive in his hands, the answer God had already given him in his heart. He continued to show up for work every day, devoted to doing what God had called him to do. His waiting resulted in righteousness, not resentment. The Holy Spirit's hand empowered him to trust in God, placing his faith in Him, believing that His delay did not mean God's desertion.

It is one thing to wait on God. It is quite another to wait with the right heart attitude. When Mary and Joseph arrived at the temple with the Child, Simeon was ready with open arms because his heart had never been closed off to God. This passage is a tremendous encouragement to people to pray with persistence. This kind of prayer is not a soul-wrenching, ear splitting whine that grinds a person's joy to dust. This is a consistent companionship that keeps the heart warm in the presence of God, and lifts the eyes of the prayer warrior to see the victory above the dust of the battle.

Simeon knew his prayer had been answered, by the work of the Holy Spirit in his life. He no longer agonized in prayer over the "what." He spent his life focused on making sure he was ready for the "when." "Simeon was faithful to carry out his calling, under the influence of the Spirit of God. God was faithful to deliver His promise to a waiting heart, prepared to appropriate the Gift of His Son. God had arranged a joyous junction between the obedience of the parents and the acceptance of Simeon. Luke gives us the coordinates of the crossroads between "when" and "what." "And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus..."

Simeon's initial response to the Child was to embrace Him. His second response was to praise God. Luke says a great deal with the words, "...he took Him into his arms and blessed God." Simeon's capacity to see "what" God was up to "when" God was doing it, was based on the preparation of his heart by the Holy Spirit. The work of the Spirit, prior to Pentecost, was often exhibited by His Presence coming upon a specific person, for a specific period of time, to perform a specific task. Simeon's prolonged possession of the Holy Spirit's Presence was a foretaste of what Jesus was to promise to His followers.

Jesus promised His followers, before His death, "It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you, but if I go, I will send Him to you...But when He comes, He will guide you into all the truth...He will glorify Me." (John 16:1-14)

Before he had tinsel, and trees to light his way, Simeon was guided by the true Spirit of Christmas. The Spirit will always glorify Jesus. Any spirit that tries to counterfeit the true worth of the Christmas story by lifting up the season, more than the Savior, is a false spirit. This Christmas make sure you have your heart ready to receive The Greatest Gift of All, Jesus. What are we waiting for? Lift Jesus up! If not Him, who? If not now, when?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Under Authority

"And when the days for their purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD"), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, "A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS." Luke 2:22-24

The little town of Bethlehem was not some backwater burg that had never known the spotlight of significant events. After all, this was the city of David, and it had seen its share of excitement. The brief account of 2 Samuel 23:13-16 supports this claim to fame. David was in an ever-tightening noose, fighting on two fronts. He was on the run from soldiers of King Saul on one flank, and the armies of the Philistines on the other. He was a fugitive from the King's justice, and on the most wanted list of the sworn enemies of the people of Israel. He knew he could find refuge in the hills, and a favorable reception from his kinfolk. He headed to his mountain stronghold overlooking Bethlehem with his 30 Mighty Men. He knew the hills and valleys of this terrain like the back of his hand. From this vantage point, he and his battle chieftains could slip into town for provisions, and defend themselves from the approach of an enemy. His strategy was dashed when the Philistines garrisoned Bethlehem, to set a trap and to cut off his supply line. David was standing over his hometown, and a little overwhelmed by his circumstances. He was flooded with a wave of nostalgia, longing for the good old days. With a touch of homesickness, David whispered, "Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate." It was not an order. David was just reminiscing about the lost days of his youth. When he was a simple shepherd boy, returning home from his watch over the sheep, he would often quench his thirst with the cold water that could be drawn from the deep well at the gate to the city. Three of his chief men heard him, and strapped on their swords and went to get David what they thought he wanted. Literally, his wish was their command. They returned to David with the water, bloodied and bruised after a brutal fight with the Philistine garrison. David would not drink it. It had cost them their blood, and he poured it out on the ground as an offering to the Lord. David knew that his influence over these men was a gift from God. As long as David "inquired of the Lord" these men sensed God's hand upon him. They respected David, not because he had a position of power, but because he was a man "under authority." Prayer was David's pipeline for his power. When David cut off his pipeline to power, he still kept his position, but lost the respect of his people. One word: Bathsheba.

One of the greatest insights I have ever received from the Word of God came from Ron Dunn. He walked me through Matthew 8:1-13, and showed me the source of the power and influence Jesus received from God. When a centurion approached Jesus to tell Him of his servant's illness, Jesus said, "I will come and heal him." The centurion told him to "just say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority." For years, I had read this passage, and had understood it to say. " I am a man in authority." After all, don't men in authority have the position that provides them with the power. Ron Dunn pointed out that Jesus marveled at the statement because everyone around Him was jockeying for position and ambitiously grasping for personal power. He said, "I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel." Jesus knew that men "under authority" have the real influence, because they know they only represent the source of the power. The Roman centurion was aware he had no power of his own. His orders were carried out because was was a servant of Caesar.

The Word of God or The Law of the Lord was obeyed in the home of Mary and Joseph. Jesus learned the principle of being "under authority" at a very early age. His devoted Jewish parents allowed God to have authority and jurisdiction over their lives. This may be a revelation of why they were chosen to carry out such a tremendous responsibility. This couple took The Word of God seriously. They knew Jesus was set apart for a purpose. From His first breath in the cradle, to His last breath on the cross he was under the authority of the Word of God. His earthly parents had allowed the authority of the Word of God to saturate His life and develop His character. The Son of God spoke with the authority of God, because He was in touch with The Source of power. The prayer life of Jesus was the pipeline of His power. Jesus could be trusted to be obedient to the Word of God, and God would give him influence over the hearts of men.

Luke's account reveals three Jewish ceremonies that Mary and Joseph participated in after the birth of Jesus. Their special assignment did not exempt them from obedience to the Law. The first celebration was the Circumcision of The Child. It could be done by a local priest. Likely this was done, because Mary would not have been able to approach the temple due to her need to be purified.

The second was the Purification from Childbirth. Poor people could bring two doves or pigeons. One of the doves was for a burnt offering of praise to God, and the other was offered as blood for a sin offering. Due to the flow of blood that continued after childbirth, a woman was considered unclean. For 40 days, Mary was restricted from touching anything sacred or even approaching the temple area. After the ceremony of circumcision, she had to wait an additional 33 days before she could present herself to the priest.

The third ceremony was the Consecration of the Firstborn. This was public recognition that the family agreed with the Word of God that their firstborn belonged to the Lord. (Exodus 13:1)
It was also the occasion when a price of five shekels was paid to the priest that redeemed the child for God and set him apart for His service. This is related to the Passover passage in Numbers 3:11-13. Luke does not mention the payment being made on behalf of Jesus.
Mary and Joseph had already traveled close to 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. A four day trip by caravan, probably took them close to a week, due to Mary's condition. A woman with a late term pregnancy would be hard pressed to cover the 20 miles per day that a caravan would travel. After the birth of Jesus. They were required to make the six mile journey to Jerusalem from Bethlehem for the purification and the dedication of the firstborn.

Their six mile trip to Jerusalem from Bethlehem was not the ordeal they must have experienced traveling from Nazareth to the city of David, but it could hardly be called convenient. This couple set a standard of obedience for those who want to put Christ back into the celebration of the Christmas season.

There will never be a more convenient time to allow the Word of God to exercise authority and jurisdiction over your life. Jesus was born in a cold, dark stable, but he was nurtured in the warmth and the light of Scripture. This Christmas let the Bible be authoritative for your life. Allow prayer to be the pipeline through which God can let His power flow through you to people in need of His warmth and light.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Making the Cut

"And when the eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb." Luke 2:21

This is one of those Bible stories that never seems to make the cut when Christmas pageants, cantatas, and concerts are being produced. Sheep, goats, camels, elephants and elves have a better chance at making the cast of most church productions. You have to admit, there is something ironic about having the circumcision scene cut from the script.

"And when the eight days had passed before His circumcision,"
The sign of the covenant between God and Abraham was circumcision. The Bible records God initiating this union in Genesis 17:9-12. God established a bond between Himself and Abraham's descendants. This covenant was symbolized by the removal of the foreskin of every male child on the eighth day of their birth.

"This is My covenant which you shall keep, between me and you and your descendants after you; every male among you shall be circumcised...And every male among you, eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations."

The removal of this small portion of skin was a sign of the covenant. It symbolized the death of the flesh that must precede the release of the life of God in the people of the covenant.

Why eight days? Dr. S.I. McMillen, author of "None of These Diseases," reveals that Vitamin K is responsible for the production, by the liver, of an element called prothrombin. It is necessary for the clotting of blood. This is released throughout the intestinal tract of a boy during days 5-7 after their birth. They have the highest level of this element, and therefore the greatest blood clotting efficiency on day eight. After extensive research (trial and error), medical science discovered this fact in the 1950's. Dr. Abraham, relying on the Word of God, was 4,000 years ahead in the learning curve. Isn't it just like God to tell His children what is good for them and not tell them why. Rebellious children ask, "Why?" This delays obedience, and postpones blessing. Obedient children don't have to know why. They trust that "Father Knows Best."

"His name was then called Jesus..."
Joshua was a popular name, and therefore, a common name among the people of Israel. Joshua and Jesus are one and the same. They have been translated "Salvation" or "The Lord is Salvation," Joshua is the English version of Hebrew word, Yeshua. Jesus is the English word formed from the Greek word for Joshua. As the right hand man of Moses, Joshua was chosen by God to lead the people of Israel into the Land of Promise and defeat their enemies. He was honored as a national hero, a valiant warrior, a conqueror and a champion for his people. Jesus was going to be a conqueror, but on a level that the world had never seen before. There was nothing startling about His name. Men had given it to their sons before, and nothing had changed. When Jesus was born, the Romans were the latest occupiers of the nation of Israel. Many thought Jesus would push them into the sea, and restore Israel to a new level of prominence. God had a much greater vision for His Son.

"The name given by the angel, before He was conceived in the womb."
This is a reminder that Jesus was God's idea. Mary and Joseph were following the plan of God. They were willing instruments in His hand. However, the Christmas Story is not about them, because Jesus did not come from them. He was Heaven sent. He was born of a virgin, and therefore not man made. Mary held Him in her arms, but this passage reveals God's fingerprints were all over His life.

What is the big deal? The deal is big because Jesus was going to take circumcision to the next level. He was going to invite men and women to be partners in a new covenant. He was not going to promote the circumcision of the flesh, but the cutting of the heart. This had always been God's plan.

"The Lord your God will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God will all your heart, and with all your soul, so that you may live." Deut. 30:6

Jesus did not come into this world for people to fall in love with the Christmas season. He came to tell them of God's love for them. He died on the cross in order to show them how much God loved them. He rose from the grave to defeat sin, hell and the grave. He revealed God's love and His power to change a person's heart from sinner to saint.

This Christmas, don't forget that the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart. God has given you The Perfect Gift. Is it time for you to give Him your heart. Your heart may be cold, or it may be broken. You may be approaching this merry season with mere cynicism. Exchanging gifts with God will make all the difference in your heart.

I remember the words of a Christmas card that I received years ago. It contained the words of a shepherd boy portrayed standing over the manger and looking into the face of the Christ Child. It said, "If I were a rich man, I'd do my part. Since I'm a poor boy, I'll give Him my heart."

Let Jesus come into your heart. He is able to make the cut that can remove the sin that separates you from God.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The Greatest Gift of All

"But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart." Luke 2:19

"What is the greatest Christmas gift you have ever received, or most memorable Christmas?"
I asked this question of the members of the congregation of my first pastorate. The most interesting response came from the retired band director of Arizona State University. He recalled how as a boy he had always wanted a trumpet. His family was caught up in the financial collapse of The Great Depression, and money was very tight. His prospects of receiving a frivolous gift, when the family had to meet their basic needs, were remote. He was tremendously surprised on Christmas day, when his favorite uncle provided the ten dollars he needed to buy his first trumpet. That gift changed the direction of his life. He became an accomplished musician, Later he was called on in World War II to train bugler's, and to develop marching bands. When the war ended he was hired by the university, and spent thirty years developing their band program. He said that he often wondered what his life would have been like, if he had not received the gift of his first trumpet. That one gift changed his entire life. It put him on the road to a very fulfilling career, and a comfortable retirement. In 27 years of asking this question, I have never had anyone top his response. Ponder the question. Do you have a better one?

Mary treasured all "these things"she was experiencing, as the mother of the Son of God. Luke's account reveals her as someone who would ponder, weigh mentally, or think deeply about the things that God was bringing into her life. She would often meditate on the words she heard, the people she met, and the exciting events that God was unfolding. These were heavy thoughts, and she chose to consider carefully what God was doing. Apparently, she continued to do this from the day she conceived, through the nine months of pregnancy, during his first thirty years of preparation, and until the day Jesus performed His first miracle.

The first miracle of Jesus was the turning of water into wine. This decision has always made Southern Baptists a little nervous. We would have been more comfortable if he had turned whiners into tithers. Oh well, I digress. Back to Mary. She made a remarkable statement about her son to the servants of the wedding feast of Cana. The host family had run out of wine at the celebration, and were facing public embarrassment and ridicule. Mary came to Jesus, and told Him there was a problem. Jesus responded with a divine, "So what." He tells her His time to reveal His power had not arrived. She doesn't push. She went to the servants, pointed them to Jesus and said, "Whatever He says to you, do it." (John 2:1-12) The paragraph heading in my Bible entitles this passage, "The Miracle of Cana." In other words, the urgent problem was turned into the best wine. Jesus launched His public ministry, after hearing about the need from Mary, and getting a go ahead from God. This should be a prototype for Christ followers.

Mary must have made a number of withdrawals from the treasury of her heart, during the first thirty years of the life of Jesus. There is no biblical account of the conversations, but John's account reveals a unique bond between Mary and Jesus. Many times they had talked about His mission in life. When Mary brought the need of the wedding party to Jesus, she knew He had the ability to make a difference. How did she know that? She had either seen His power first hand, or she had heard Jesus talk about His growing awareness of His mission.

Mary's statement provides a window into the treasure room of her heart."Whatever He tells you to do, do it." She knew that there must be more to the Christmas story than the birth of Jesus. She was not privy to the timing of the launching of His mission, but she certainly had confidence in His ability to perform it. This was not the chutzpah of a typical Jewish mother. She had been dwelling on the importance of the life of Jesus for thirty years. She knew in her heart that there was more to the story than a baby in a manger. She lived with a holy expectancy for much longer than nine months. The real birth of Jesus began when He was thirty years old, and she was anxiously waiting for that day to come, when His purpose in life would be revealed.

If Mary was able to get over the miracle of the manger, then so should we. The Christmas Story points people to Jesus. It is the responsibility of Christ followers to lead people from the manger, and then the cross. The story does not end there. The resurrection of Jesus and His ascent into heaven is another chapter that must be shared with people in need of the greatest gift of all. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He is praying for His followers to tell the story that will prepare the way for His return.

What would you say is the greatest Christmas gift you ever received? This Christmas, make sure that you remember Jesus is "The Greatest Gift of All." Remind people Jesus is still in the miracle working business. If they tell you about a need in their life, follow Mary's lead. Go to Jesus on their behalf, and then point them to Jesus. You never know when Jesus will perform another miracle. He still does His greatest work in the lives of people who will do what He tells them to do. Pray for people in need, and point them to Jesus. He is "The Greatest Gift of All."

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

GPS and ABC

"The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them." Luke 2:20

Global Positioning Systems, GPS, are all the rage. No matter where you are in the world, you can get where you want to go, and return home again. All you have to do is listen to your GPS, and follow the directions. It is still a matter of obedience. Nothing has changed much since the shepherds followed their angelic directions and made their way to Jesus.

The shepherds received a commission from the angel to go to a stable in Bethlehem. When the army of angels returned to heaven, the shepherds raced to the town, and followed the directions until they found the Child in the manger. What they did next is an indication of the impact that their encounter with Jesus had upon their lives. Luke's account says, "The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as had been told them."

Long before texting was invented, the letters PTL were used to express, Praise the Lord! When praise for God becomes so irksome that just saying the words are too burdensome, it is time for a fresh encounter with Jesus.

"Jesus is the Reason for the Season." I remember the first time I saw the bumper sticker with this announcement plastered on the car in front of me. The passengers were in a fight and the vehicle was filled with packages. Bumper stickers are not always proof of truth in advertising. Some of you will remember a sticker from the seventies, "Honk if You Love Jesus." Honking at a person with that label on their car never produced a positive response. If their hand gesture was any indication, they must have borrowed it or bought a used car.

When the shepherds left the manger, they went back to their work and their homes, glorifying and praising God. Their response is still the industry standard for those of us who want to make sure that Christ is put back into Christmas. There are many activities during this time of year that require great expense, and enormous effort. The test of whether these events are worthy of our energy is the response they produce in our own lives and those who participate in them.

The Christmas season should produce more than the comments,"What a party!", "What a pageant!", "What a sermon!", "What a present!", or "What a service!" All these are poor substitutes for, "What a Savior!" After all the animals have exited the building, the bathrobes and hay have been put away, the tree and lights taken down, there just has to be something more left behind than 'festival fatigue."

If you have lost your way in the celebration of Christmas, you might want to turn to God's GPS...Glorifying Praising Shepherds. They lead us away from a self-absorbed obsession with pageants, presents and parties, and take us back to the root system of the Christmas tree...glorifying and praising God for sending His Son to be our Savior.

Glorifying and praising God for His Perfect Gift is not limited to a season of the year or expressed by a single style of worship. It is a way of life that confronts our secular culture with a sacred perspective, no matter what. Praising God in difficult circumstances and unexpected conditions is only possible when there is a consistent companionship with Jesus. The fruit of keeping Christ in Christmas comes out of the overflow of an unbroken connection with The Root, every day of the year.

Glorifying God means that everything we do and say reflects well on Who He is. Praising God means that we honor His character and His contributions to our lives in spite of the conditions that around us. If glorifying and praising God has not been on your Christmas list, there is till time to do some shopping. My friend, John Caster, keeps me updated on the latest Christmas trivia. His most recent report informed my that the 12 days of Christmas don't begin until Christmas Eve. See there is still plenty of time to get back to the basics of glorifying and praising God. You might want to turn on God's GPS and begin with your ABC's.

Ancient of Days, Alpha and Omega, Advocate
Bridegroom, Born of a Virgin, Blood of the Lamb
Comforter, Creator, Counselor
Defender, Daystar, Deliverer
Eternal, Edifier, Elohim
Friend, Faithful and True, Father of Lights
Good, Guide, Great, Giver
Holy, Helper, Healer
I AM, Invincible, Intercessor
Jehovah Jireh, Judge, Jehovah Nissi
King of Kings, Kinsman Redeemer, Keeper
Lord of Lords, Life, Light
Maker, Mercy, Master
Name Above All Names, Near, Nazarene
Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient, One True God
Prince of Peace, Paraclete, Power
Quickener of the Dead
Rock of My Salvation, Redeemer, Rest
Savior, Sustainer, Shelter,
Teacher, Tester, Truth
Uplifter of my head, Unleavened
Victor, Vindicator, Vision
Way, Warrior, Wonderful
X = Christ
Yahweh, Yoke Master,
Zion's Hope and Soon Coming King

Reminding ourselves of Who God is fills our hearts until it has to be poured out on others. The shepherds went back to their work and homes glorifying and praising God after they encountered Jesus. When you are lost in the maze of malls, and mushy sentimentality turn on God's GPS. The shepherds got with Jesus and the encounter changed them from the inside out. Jesus can do the same for you today. It is a simple as A, B, C.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

A Wonderful Life

"So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds." Luke 2:16-18

Christmas is not officially celebrated at our home until we have gathered our girls around the Yuletide TV and watched the Frank Capra classic, "It's a Wonderful Life." We love to watch Jimmy Stewart's portrayal of a man who comes to the end of his rope, and turns to God for a solution. Don't swallow everything that is served from the screen. Just like fish, eat the meat and spit out the bones. Angels aren't accurately portrayed, but from beginning to end, the movie provides an image of the power of persistent prayer. Take time to watch an uncut version of this film and you will see as positive a presentation of prayer as Hollywood has ever produced. The title says it all. Life and wonder are meant to be two sides of the same coin.

People long for wonder in their lives. When God sent forth His son to be born of a virgin, He did not mean for His children to create a celebration that would smother the Child in wrapping paper. The shepherds set the standard for contemporary Christ followers. Luke's account says, "They made known the statement which had been told to them about this Child." Simple statements about the purpose of the birth of Jesus can go a long way to introducing people to the wonderful life God has in store for them. Jesus said, 'The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) This Christmas make sure you don't rob people from hearing how they can receive God's greatest gift...JESUS!

A witness is someone who tells people about what Jesus has done in their lives and leaves the results up to God. The Bible says, "...all those who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds." (Luke 2:17b-18) All the people who heard the shepherd's story may not have believed it, but they were amazed by it. Everyone who hears the Christmas story today will not believe it. Whether they believe it or not, the story should not be watered down. When we tinker with the message it becomes a wonderless mush of maudlin sentimentality and mind-numbing "to do" lists.

What is wonder? It is the invasion of heaven into the heart of man. It is an encounter of the miraculous with the mundane. Wonder releases the self-absorbed cynic from the prison bars of his soul. Perpetual and pointless navel gazing is replaced by a childlike awe at the hand of God at work in his life.

People who are prone to wander are usually searching for wonder. The world always offers a lure that looks better than the real thing: entertainment for joy, money for peace, lust for love. The lure looks very inviting because the hooks are hidden from view. Male PMS has been described as an obsession with power, money and sex. Trolling for a wonderful life in these waters is dangerous. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Money cannot buy class,, and looking for love in all the wrong places leads to disastrous results. Men who have it all, usually lose it all because they find that life has no meaning at all...without Jesus. Two words: Tiger Woods.

There is a hunger in the lives of people at this special time of the year. Their hearts yearn for a life that is filled with the same kind of jaw dropping wonder that people had when they first heard about the birth of Jesus. The real Christmas story has always scratched an itch for wonder in the lives of those who hear it. When the story edits out the death, burial and the resurrection of Jesus, His birth loses its worth. He did not come to earth to establish a birthday celebration. His mission was to commission God's children to make disciples, not to make merry. Dumbing down the original message robs people of the wonder that God wants his children to have in their lives. People are watching your life and looking for the difference only Jesus can make. Never lose the child like wonder and awe at the love of God for you. Remember, God's Perfect Gift was not sent to you because you deserved a Savior, but because you needed one. That's why it is called amazing grace. Pretty wonderful, huh? If you have grown calloused handling the holy, tell someone about the love God as for them through His Son, Jesus. They may not believe the Christmas story, but they will be amazed by it. It will soften your heart and your hands, and you will wonder at the warmth of God's love for you, all over again.

"The world will never believe in a religion in which there is no supernatural power. A rationalized faith, a socialized church, and a moralized gospel my gain applause, but they awaken no conviction and win no converts." Samuel Chadwick

The wonderful life begins with the wonder of Jesus. Go tell it on the mountain!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
 

The Exact Truth

"When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, 'Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.' So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger." Luke 2: 15-16

What is missing in this picture? Where is the star? Where are the wise men? Where are the Christmas presents of gold, frankincense and myrrh? Did Luke fail to do his homework, or did the eyewitnesses just not recall all the events of when he interviewed them. In his introduction, Luke said, "Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught." Luke 1:1-4

The witness is challenged in the court of law to place their hand on the Bible and swear to "Tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. So help me God." Bearing false witness to the Christmas Story is done by well meaning Christians all the time. It is most often done in their live nativity scenes.

Several years ago, I was meeting with a pastor and he told me he was looking for a camel, and wondered if I could help. I told him I could offer him a light, but that I had stopped smoking "Camels" a long time ago. He wasn't amused. He had a real dilemma. His church had advertised that they were hosting a live nativity scene for the week preceding Christmas. People were going to be coming from all over the county and drive by the stable they had built next to the church. He needed a camel to stand next to the wise men at the manger scene. Like a moth to the flame, I ventured into a debate with him on the need for accuracy in bearing witness to the Christmas story. He seemed genuinely surprised that the Bible does not place the wise men at the scene, on the night of the birth of Jesus. When Jesus was born at the stable, and placed in manger, the shepherds came running, but the wise men were still two years away from arriving to pay their respects.

This may not be a huge deal, but is it too much to ask that Christians tell the story just the way it happened? Hollywood takes alot of heat from the Christian community for doctoring or tinkering with biblical accuracy of a Bible story any time they produce a homogenized version of the milk of The Word. We always need wise men. However, if they show up at the stable, they are scene crashers who do not belong in the picture. The shepherds' costumes can't hold a candle to the multicolored robes worn by the three kings bearing gifts. They always get overshadowed at any nativity scene. They also look a little cheap for not stopping at "BETHMART" to pick up a little something for the baby. Let's get it right people.

Vance Havner was fond of saying, "It doesn't matter how high you jump when you are in church. It matters how straight you walk when you leave it." Dr. Havner would have loved the shepherds. After the angels left them, they proved to be quick learners. They had not just heard the message, they received it.

The shepherds ran straight to Jesus. They didn't get detoured by any distracting celebration. They set the pace for future generations. Anyone interested in putting Christ back into Christmas must be willing to admit that the celebration has collected quite a bit of baggage over the years. The focus on Christmas presents, cards, lights, parties, cantatas, pageants, nativity scenes and a host of other seasonal activities should not detour a Christ follower from being a true witness. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father, but by Me." (John 14:6) No camel is needed to get people to Jesus. Get the picture?

The shepherds ran to Jesus. The account in Scripture says, "So they came in a hurry." Running to Jesus is a great way to live. The shepherds set the pace for any Christ follower who desires to underscore that Jesus is the reason for the season. People are watching Christians all the time. They will not follow people running around in circles. They are already dizzy, all by themselves. If they look at a Christian's life, they should not have any trouble finding Jesus. Too often our lives do not offer much hope. When people are looking for The Light, we dont' need to offer them a camel.

One night I was sharing Christ with one of my neighbors, and I received a wake up call that had a powerful impact on my life. Dana and I had invited a couple to dinner in our home, and later that evening I had a chance to talk to the husband about Jesus. He listened to what I had to say, and he was appreciative of it. He admitted he needed a new sense of direction, and was so glad I had taken the time to explain to him how God loved him so much that He sent Jesus to save him. Then he said, "You know, I have been without work for a while. Because I am restless, I can't sleep. It leaves me awake late at night and up early in the morning. I have been watching you since you moved into the neighborhood. You are up and out the door before daylight, and often you are out of the house and gone for hours in the evening. I told my wife, that I needed a job, but I sure don't want the one that guy has. I didn't know what you did for a living. All I knew was it looked to me like a terrible way to live." These were sobering words for a pastor. He had seen me absorbed in keeping a church running, and it didn't impress him a bit. It wasn't until I pulled out of the "religious rut" that I had any success at pointing him to the Prince of Peace.

Could it be possible that people are really interested in meeting Jesus during this season? Have we covered up His Presence with all of our Christmas baggage? Take a look at your calendar, and your check book this week. Are you celebrating His birthday or throwing a party for yourself? When Jesus came the first time, there was no room for Him in the inn. The greater tragedy would be that 2,000 years later there would be no room for him in His church. Let's make sure that people who follow our lead will be able to find their way to Jesus.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Suddenly

"And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." Luke 2:13-14

Suddenly is one of my favorite words in the Bible. God is not limited by time and space, but there are times I grow impatient with His pace. One of the most often quoted platitudes people share with me is, "God is never late." I have to admit it has provoked a cynical thought, and a caustic reaction from me over the years, "OK. Got it, but He is seldom early."

God seems to specialize in taking me to His waiting room, and bringing me to the end of myself. Once I become convinced that I am not in control, and I yield my plans into His capable hands, He moves quickly. God can do more in five minutes with my availability than I can do with 50 years of my ability.

Luke seems to have taken a page out of Mark's play book. His synonym for the sudden way God sometimes implemented His plans was "immediately." Check it out.

• "Immediately coming out of the water, He saw the heavens opening..." Mark 1:10
• "Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness..." Mark 1:12
• "Immediately they left their nets and followed Him." Mark 1:18
• "Immediately He called them..." Mark 1:20

See what I mean? Mark was a man who could see God at work in the present tense. Some people are convinced that God will always carry out His will with snail like perseverance, but never with a sudden, spontaneous explosion of His power.

The angelic messenger punctuated his message to the shepherds with a wall of sound resonating from the voices of the army of God. It must have been a soul stirring and spine tingling experience to hear rank upon rank of angels shouting at the top of their lungs. This was not a candlelight cantata or a contrived laser show at some bale of hay and a bath robe pageant. The "heavenly host" describes the legions of loyal angels bringing what they do in heaven to the hills of Bethlehem. This was an ancient army of warriors releasing centuries of pent up praise.

The praise of the "heavenly host" revealed the close relationship God desires to have with His people. He was worthy of angelic praise, but He finds pleasure in bringing peace on earth to His children. God sent an invading army of angels to announce His desire to establish peace in the lives of men of good will. If you are at war with God, lower your rebel flag. The war is over.

"Praising God" is the main reason angels exist. They often serve as messengers of God and guardians of men, but extolling, honoring, and glorifying God is job one before an audience of One. You might want to tune in to the Army-Navy game some time and listen to the yell practice that they engage in before the kickoff. The cadets of Army and the midshipmen of Annapolis are able to forge their voices into an awesome sound. The broadcast does not do it justice, but it is still an awe-inspiring exhibition.

In February 1996, I attended the Promise Keepers Clergy Conference in Atlanta. There were 60,000 representatives from a wide range of denominations and church disciplines. One of the speakers asked us to stand up, and take a moment to get acquainted. He asked us to shout out the name of our church or denomination, when he counted to three. With good humor, everyone gave a simultaneous shout out. It was total confusion. It was loud, boisterous, and utterly incomprehensible. Without missing a beat, he asked us to remain standing, and shout out The Name, The Name that was above every other name. He counted to three, and everyone in the Georgia Dome thundered, "JESUS!" It was a breathtaking moment. The memory of what I heard almost 14 years still sends a chill down my spine and warms my heart at the same time. I had never heard anything like it. The conference leader pointed out that our first response is what the world hears, when Christians glorify their invention more than Christ. He challenged us to make sure that we would never lose our focus on Who God had sent into the world to transform the world into a giant "Lost and Found."

The Christmas season is a great time to lift up the name of Jesus. Denominational differences, and church schisms have fractured the lens of our magnifying glass. Too often people who need to hear about Jesus are never introduced to Him, even in church. A style of music is glorified or a tradition is magnified, but Jesus is not lifted up. I know lost people cannot worship. I get that. However, they may not be able to speak words of praise, but they certainly are able to hear God's people praise Him, and see the reflection of His glory on their faces. When the angels shouted out praise to God, they did not have their nose in a hymnal or their tongue wrapped around their favorite chorus. They were not extras in a pageant or window dressing for a cantata. They were serious minded warriors banding together in a unified force of praise that pointed people to God as the source of peace for their lives. "Glory to God in the Highest!"

There are only 16 shouting days until Christmas. It may be kind of sudden, but here it comes,

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

Here's Your Sign

"In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And the angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' " Luke 2:8-12

A contemporary country comedian has made a career out of three little words, "Here's Your Sign!" The shepherds outside of Bethlehem received a similar announcement from the angel of the Lord. Their fear of the messenger was their first obstacle to receiving the message from God. This is a common reaction recorded in all the Scripture accounts I have read about angels delivering their messages. I sometimes think that "FEAR NOT" is the first statement angels are taught to memorize in flight academy. They use it every time they come face to face with a fear stricken recipient of a message from God.

This was not the first time God had sent for a shepherd to be a part of what He was doing in Bethlehem. The angels found the shepherds carrying out a time honored occupation, outside of the city of Bethlehem. These fields were the same ones where David had served his father Jesse as a shepherd boy. God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to find the next king He had chosen to replace Saul. Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel, but he said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen these." Samuel asked, "Are these all the children?" Jesse reported, "There remains yet the youngest and behold, he is tending the sheep." Samuel commanded, "Send and bring him here." When David was brought before him, the residents witnessed David being anointed by Samuel to become God's choice for the next King of Israel. (I Samuel 16:9-11)

Bethlehem had a great history. As the birthplace of a great king, the City of David held a place of prominence among the people of Israel. However significant that historical fact may have been to them, not much had happened there lately. Their eyes were fixed on their past, but God was up to something new.

What is the significance of the shepherds receiving an angelic birth announcement? Perhaps they were chosen because sheep require a shepherd, night or day. They were faithfully carrying out their responsibilities while others slept. They were the tip of the spear in the fight for protection of their flocks. We know that King David never forgot his shepherd boy roots, and King Jesus was to be called The Good Shepherd. The fact is they were chosen to receive a message of hope in the middle of the dark of night. Isn't it just like God to be all about sending a beam of light into the darkness to give His people a glimpse of His glory. God must love the little people of this world. He made so many of them.

"This will be a sign for you." The shepherds were given a sign to point them to Jesus. The Christmas season serves a similar purpose today. The trick is to make sure the sign doesn't become a substitute for the real thing. My Dad, Don Miller, often shares his personal proverb, "Never let the system overshadow the Savior."

In June of 1987, my family was visiting Arizona's spectacular Grand Canyon. We were standing on the rim admiring the view when I heard the screech of tires and brakes. A family from New York had almost rammed their car into the sign. The father jumped out of the vehicle swearing at his wife and kids to get over next to the "Welcome to the Grand Canyon" sign for a picture. He took a snapshot, and swore at them to get back into the car. They drove off in a cloud of dust and left a vapor trail of disbelief on the faces of everyone who witnessed the scene. The had stopped at the sign, and missed the wonder of God's creation. They could tell their friends they had been to the canyon, but they had never really experienced the beauty of it. Truth really is stranger than fiction.

I have thought about that Grand Canyon scene many times over the past 22 years. God help us to have the discernment to know when we are settling for a snapshot of a sign, when God wants to unfold the majestic landscape of His grace. Christmas is a wonderful time of the year to put the system on pause and reflect on the love God has for you personally. I know you believe in God, but this is a time to remind yourself that God believes in you. His message to the shepherds was meant for you too. "There has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Can I get a witness?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!