God is Faithful

As 2023 comes to a close, we can take time to reflect on all the ways God has been faithful to us. God is always there for us when we seek His presence in prayer. His Holy Spirit is within us, giving us strength when we need it most. God is our constant companion when we converse with Him throughout the day and night. When we are lonely and our hearts are breaking, God is faithful to come to us and comfort us through our loss or grief. God is faithful.

God has been faithful to me in so many ways this year. Most consistently, I call upon God for guidance when I begin each blog. Usually I don't have a topic in mind to write about until God gives me one. I am always amazed that He puts in my mind a subject and a scripture twice a week. (I shouldn't be amazed. This is God we are talking about after all!) God is faithful.

God has heard my prayers for protection for my children and grandchildren. I cannot know how many times God has intervened on their behalf but I am so grateful. I have prayed for my friends and He has touched their lives with healing, comfort, grace, guidance, compassion and strength. God is faithful.

"God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful," (1 Corinthians 1:9 NIV).

Thank you, God, for knowing our hearts, and for blessing us with Your faithfulness, over and over again. You are great, Father, and we are so grateful for all the ways You have been faithful to us this year. Amen.

"Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changes not, Thy compassions they fail not; As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be. Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!" (Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923; William M. Runyan, 1923).

Christmas is Love

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

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 room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told," (Luke 2:1-20 NIV).

Baby Jesus is love. God loved us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to be our Savior. From a tiny baby born in a stable, Jesus grew to be a man of glory and honor, of example and teaching. So on this Christmas Day let us all remember what baby Jesus represents: God's Love for us. Rejoice and celebrate with your families, if you can, for Love is with us today. Merry Christmas.

The Nativity

At our house the nativity gets the best and most spacious surface to fill. I have several nativity sets that I display together. They all have sheep and shepherds (of course). I know some people wait and put baby Jesus in the nativity on Christmas Day. I think that is a neat tradition. But, I put Jesus in the stable right away because He is a reminder to me of what Christmas is really all about.

I love the scripture in Isaiah that prophecies the coming of Christ nearly 700 years before His birth.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end," (Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV).

This scripture is filled with hope. We all need hope, especially during these days of wars and unrest in the world. Jesus Christ is still our hope, even 2000 years later.

Lord, touch our hearts with the love You sent to earth that first Christmas Day. As we finish our preparations to celebrate Your Son's birth, fill us with Your Spirit to make our faith strong and courageous. Help us to keep Jesus the center of our celebration. Amen.

Christmas Gifts

"'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;" (by Clement Clarke Moore).

How many times has this story been read to children before bed on Christmas Eve? There is such an excitement in children as they anticipate opening gifts on Christmas Day. The packages are wrapped and under the tree, reflecting the lights and looking beautiful with bows and ribbons. What fun it is to watch the children open their gifts with oohs and ahhhs and screeches of joy.

But, far greater than any package under the tree is the gift of Jesus, Our Savior, being born in Bethlehem. "The Messiah is the fulfillment of God's promise that a descendant of David would rule forever." Each year we celebrate the birth of Immanuel, "God with us". Unlike a new Christmas toy, the birth of Christ never gets old or broken or tossed aside. This Gift is always new and joy-filled.

"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord--and he will delight in the fear of the Lord," (Isaiah 11:1-3a NIV).

Lord, Help us remember the real reason for Christmas as we hustle forward during this last week before Christmas. It isn't what is under the tree or in the stockings, it is the baby Jesus, born in a stable in Bethlehem because there was no room in the inn. Help us make room for Jesus in our hearts this Christmas season. Amen.

Christmas Carols

There is one Christmas carol that was the first one most of us learned as a child. What song would you name? I think it would be "Away in a Manger." Am I right? When I taught Sunday school or led the Christmas program the song we taught the youngest children was "Away in a Manger." There were actions that went with the song but only a few would remember them up on the stage. Rarely could you hear the small group of children singing during the program.

When I was a child our church set aside a day to go caroling to neighbors and shut-ins of the church. We would take along a plate full of homemade goodies to leave with them. What I remember most is the faces of those we caroled to. They would survey the crowd of singers, looking for familiar faces and smiling back. For years, my father led the singing by starting a song and others joining in. It was never quite the same for me after my parents became ones to be caroled to. But, they enjoyed it so much.

"In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High," (Luke 1:26-32a NIV).

The Savior of the world is coming soon! Prepare for the day of His birth by singing carols! Rejoice! 

Lord, the day of our Savior's birth is coming. Help us prepare our hearts for this day of celebration. Keep Christ Jesus in our minds and hearts this season. Jesus is the reason we rejoice! Fill our hearts with joy, even when our minds are filled with sorrow. Christ is coming! What a blessing of salvation You are sending. Amen.

Christmas Trees

Poinsettia Tree at Mayo 2023

Perhaps the most common symbol of Christmas is the Christmas tree. It can come in many shapes and sizes, live or artificial, and any color under the sun. There were shiny aluminum trees that reflected colorful lights that were popular when I was growing up. 

We always had a real tree that had been cut down when I was growing up. Dad would pick one out at the grocery store or he would trudge out through our pastures to find a tree that was the right size. They were usually cedar trees that popped up randomly along the fence line. Sometimes Mom would spray it green or white but usually it was in its natural state and only a couple of weeks before Christmas so it didn't dry out too much. It seemed like it was always a struggle getting the tree stand to fit the tree. After lights and bulbs, the final touch on our tree was silver tinsel.

"The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire," (Matthew 3:10 NIV).

John the Baptist said these words to remind the people to live productive lives for God; not just say they are a believer, but actively live obediently for God.

Lord God, guide us through this Christmas season and use Christmas trees to remind us of Your Son's birth and lying in a lowly manger, to His sacrifice on the wooden cross, to His resurrection three days later. Thank you, God, for sending Your Son to save us. Amen.

Christmas Lights

One of the early signs of Christmas is light. It seems like this year there are more outdoor lights than ever before. Our neighborhood is privy to Carl and Penny Moyer's magnificent Christmas light display on NW 26th St in Ankeny. If you haven't seen it, it is worth driving by. It is on all night long.

We have a simple display every year: a shepherd and sheep and the light of a star. It is our way of telling part of the Christmas story.

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven," (Matthew 5:14-16 NIV).

I love having the Christmas tree lights on. The lights make me happy. I hope you find the light of Jesus in your Christmas. It can make you happy, too.

Christmas Cards

Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the celebration of the coming of Christ. Many churches light candles for each Sunday in December plus a final candle for Christmas. 

Years ago I prepared for Christmas by making my own Christmas cards. I researched scriptures on sheep and found dozens of them. I love the images of the lamb and sheep used to reference Jesus Christ. I used scriptures about sheep and added rugged sketches of sheep to cards that I had printed. I'm not an artist so the resulting cards were less than beautiful but the scriptures were meaningful to me.

As I look back on the cards I made I am rather embarrassed and very glad that I started buying cards that had sheep on them instead. Every year I look for sheep cards and sometimes the choices are very limited. It seems there are getting to be fewer people who send out Christmas cards. It has gotten expensive with the price of stamps these days but it is one way to stay in touch with the special people in our lives.

"But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel," (Matthew 2:6 NIV).

May you watch for the Lamb's presence during this Advent season and may it remind you of the coming of Christ Jesus as a baby born in Bethlehem.