Today is a new day. That is a really good thing. Yesterday is behind and today is filled with potential.
I wonder what I am going to do for God today? How about you?
This month we looked at Christmas and I shared some of my thoughts with you. Now I turn the tables.
What do you think?
Feel free to comment, question, suggest. I would like to hear feedback.
And as for looking ahead, I was referring to next month. Jars will be the topic of my blogs for February.
Until next week, God bless!
Shepherds. They saw angels on the night of the birth of Jesus. Can you picture these smelly guys hanging around the fire? They could have been dreaming up stories for their families. Maybe they were thinking of how to make some money off of the angel visit. Perhaps a book deal was on their mind? Actually, we know that they were not doing any of those things. As with the first two parts, let’s go to the Word of God.
Luke 2:16-17 “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,”
Here is how Dictionary.com defines the word feet:
Noun, 1. a plural of foot.
Foot, noun, plural feet
One of the best parts about the gospel (or the story of Jesus) is that is forces us to make a decision. It seems that the shepherds were among the first to hear the story.
Once they heard, they moved. It was clear to them that what the angels were speaking of was for real. They had a choice and they made that choice without hesitation. It says the “hurried.” And when they saw the baby, another choice was to be made. They “spread the word.”
It is like having a can of paint. It must be spread in order to do the job. It won’t do any good to anyone if it stays in the can.
Friends, Christmas is all about God giving to us something unique. His son. The other part of that is us giving the world the same gift.
WE MUST TELL THE WORLD ABOUT JESUS. And it is my opinion that this “feet” is the most difficult of the three.
In conclusion,
Will you wonder in the feat of God giving His son to us?
Will you celebrate the birth of Jesus instead of commercializing it?
Will you be like a paint brush and spread the truth about Jesus?
I hope you have enjoyed a One Yard of Christmas. It has been fun reliving Christmas this January.
Now go, spread the word and enjoy Jesus for the rest of 2015!
Christmas is the greatest time of the year! Jammed pack into a few weeks, one gets to experience cookies, family, gifts, lights, music, and so much more! It is a great time to celebrate. In fact that is the topic of this blog; celebration. If you have not read part 1, please do so and you will understand what I mean about One Yard of Christmas.
As we did with the word ‘feat’, let’s go back to Luke 2 and find out what the second word is in One Yard of Christmas.
Luke 2:8-10 says, “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 that will cause great joy for all the people.”
We have all heard the story. The shepherds out in the fields with the sheep. A quiet and chilly night. Clear skies. BAM! An angel bursts into vision! The shepherds freak out! (I think any normal person would) But then the angel begins to speak, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy…” The angel used the word Joy.
That brings me to the second part of One Yard of Christmas: fete
Here is how Dictionary.com defines the word fete:
The birth of the Savior gives us reason to celebrate. Let’s hold a fete in His honor. Bring out the cookies and cakes. Wrap the presents and trim the trees. Sing great anthems to God. These are all appropriate actions because we are commemorating a timeless truth: God came to earth as a little baby human so we could see him. This brings great joy!
As you recall this past Christmas, what was it you were celebrating?
In your entire cookie eating and gift opening, who was at the center of your heart? You or Jesus?
Don’t misunderstand me. I like getting gifts and enjoying holiday parties. But it boils down to honoring our Lord and Savior with all that we do. So next time you hear the phrase “Jesus is the Reason for the Season”; please remember that the fete of Christmas is really for Him. I know there are 11 months until next Christmas so start now. Get into the habit of making your life a fete (celebration) of Jesus. He won’t mind a year long party. =-)
Happy New Year!
I usually look forward when starting a new year. But for this month, I am going to reflect not on 2015 but on Christmas. Yes, the modern season and commercialism of Christmas might be the Reason for Christmas is still real. Jesus, that helpless little baby born in a manger is still alive today! And because He still lives and reigns, the celebration must go on. So I now present to you One Yard of Christmas!
There are three feet in a yard. So it only stands to reason that in One Yard of Christmas, there are also three feet.
Here is the first one: a feat
Luke 2:6:7 says, “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.”
How is it that God, who happens to be completely powerful, was born completely helpless? At birth, that little baby was just like you and me. Totally helpless. It becomes even more staggering to think where He came from. The timeless words of John tell us “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…” John 3:16a. What God did was a feat of great love.
Here is how Dictionary.com defines the word feat:
1. a noteworthy or extraordinary act or achievement, usually displaying boldness, skill, etc.:
For me, God giving His son is an amazing act. A feat that has never been duplicated in all of time. You can probably think of many great feats that have happened through history. But do they really compare to the Almighty God and Creator of the Universe wrapping Himself in skin and being born as a crying little baby?
But why does it matter? Let’s go back to John. He wrote the three little words that are so simple yet so impactful: “God so loved.”
So as we journey through this year, may we never forget that God so loved us. I mean me. I mean you. Anyone can experience this love. That is what is so noteworthy or extraordinary about Jesus. The love of God shown to us in and through the infant of Christmas.
This is all in vain unless there is application. Carve out some time today and everyday to ponder the love of God. Read His Word. Soak in it. Let it be the driving force for your life. Surrender to the waves of His unending, unrelenting love. His compassions are new every morning! See Lamentations. Let 2015 be a year in which you are changed. God’s love will do that…
but only if you let it.
Two Minutes With Tim 