Hark those Herald Angels Sing

I try and focus on a particular person or group of the Christmas story each year. This year- the group that stands out to me in the story is the Angels… specifically the Angels that appear to the Shepherds.  From the beginning God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit have been. At some point the angels came to be (Genesis 2:1)- they have been directly in the presence of God and Jesus since their existence (except those fallen angels who left with Satan).

Can you imagine the angels love for him?  Their time in heaven was spent worshipping and praising him- in his direct presence (Nehemiah 9:6, book of Revelation).  They knew who Jesus was as God’s son, in all his royalty and deity in heaven.  They knew the honor, praise, glory, and worship he deserved as the king of kings and the lord of lords. Can you imagine how excited they were for humanity to meet him? Luke 2:8-20 tells the story of the angels appearing to the shepherds in the field. (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+2:8-20)

Having seen humans and all the sin on the earth since its creation and knowing who Jesus was and what he was capable of, the angels must have been so excited and had great anticipation for him to come to earth. When they appeared to the shepherds they were singing and praising God.  Yet what was happening on earth as Jesus came was nothing like that.  It was a simple couple in a stable outside in the night. 

The difference in the response of humanity and the response of the angels as Christ came to earth is what stands out to me. On earth nothing all that crazy happened- there weren’t fireworks, there wasn’t a parade… very few people really even knew about this birth, and many who did probably shunned Mary, not believing her tale.  The angels on the other hand, had a perspective from the “heaven-side”- an inside scoop of knowing Jesus firsthand and knowing who He was. They were so excited for his coming to earth- they just wanted to share it with the shepherds and rejoice.

What did the angels think?  Were they confused by earth’s seeming lack of excitement for what they knew was the arrival of the greatest gift of all time? We received and met Jesus for the first time that night, they saw the son they already worshipped and loved come into the earth the first time.  Perspective J

The Perfect Gift

Call off the Search… that “perfect” gift hunt.  It is Christmas time and I know everyone is out there looking for “the perfect gift”.  If you get the “perfect” gift for someone every year does that mean the gifts that were perfect in prior years are no longer perfect? Or is that to say we are not using “perfect” as an end all be all, but an ongoing idea? In which case…“best for this year” would be more accurate I guess?

I digress- the point I was making is that we will never be able to give the perfect gift no matter how hard we try.  That gift was already given about 2000 years ago when God sent his son to the earth.  Christmas isn’t about giving the perfect gift- it is about receiving the perfect gift that has already been given.  It is a gift that will never rust, never be eaten by moths, and never decay… one that cannot be stolen or taken from us unless we freely choose to push it away.  A gift that goes on for eternity… there is no gift any human could ever give that can top this.  So stop trying- breathe, relax, and receive this amazing gift.  

Thanks or Thanksgiving.

I was thinking back to the “First Thanksgiving” and how it came from those who had plenty sharing with those who were desperately in need.   It was characterized because of giving- the giving gave lots to be thankful for. I know my Thanksgiving  (and I am sure lots of other peoples) is usually more concerned about what food is going to be made and eaten.  How much more thankful were the pilgrims, receiving food they had not expected and were in great need of, as well as the Native Americans who were able to share and bless others out of the blessings of food they had. 

It is cool that Thanksgiving is made from two words- thanks and giving.  There would not have been a first Thanksgiving without the giving.  I have seen a lot of people mastering the “thanks” part this year- but not so much has been said about the giving.  Thanksgiving is equal parts thanks and giving… I know that this has challenged me to want to make my holidays more about the giving part because I have lots to be thankful for!

And its not that I am unthankful for things every other day of the year, but Thanksgiving is a nice time to sit back and reflect on the things to be thankful for in the big picture…

1.     In the midst of realizing how inconsistent I am with tendencies to be motivated by sleep or emotions or things that taste good- I am so thankful for God’s consistency.  In a world where everything keeps changing- few things last- curveballs are flying left & right- and there is a “latest and greatest” coming out every week I am thankful that He is ALWAYS there and constant- especially when I am not.  He hasn’t changed since the beginning of time as we know it.

2.     I am thankful for health and the education & skill of doctors.  After tearing my ACL and breaking my finger on the same day… going to lots of doctors… having surgery… wearing splints… and going through physical therapy I am very much so appreciative of God’s design in my body’s capabilities to heal- and the skills and wonders of technology to help fix us.

3.     I have a growing soft spot the older I get for animals.  I am especially thankful for my sweet dog and they way she sleeps.  I love when dogs curl up in little balls to sleep. It makes me smile.  (I wish I looked that cute when I slept!)

4.     With my grandmother passing away this year- I am so thankful for her life and legacy.  She raised two steadfast daughters and left an amazing legacy in her grandchildren to be hard workers and to live a blameless, upright and honest life… to be committed and live a life of prayer and service.

5.     I am still working through the backside of this one, but I have had a lot of friends get married this year.  I am very excited and thankful for the lives they are beginning together!  I am working on being more thankful as I realize it completely changes the dynamics of hanging out with them (my selfish care).

6.     I have a growing thankfulness for order.  So often I live in a state of chaos running around and making things happen on the fly.  They get done of course- but I am realizing how much I love the peace and the calmness that comes when I can think through some more things ahead of time (always being ready to chuck those plans out the window as life throws changes).

7.     Work- I am definitely thankful to have a job that I enjoy, where I can be challenged to grow and I have great coworkers.

Old Testament

So I had this little moment at work the other week- a co-worker was saying how hypocritical and violent the Old Testament was, especially compared to the peaceful Jesus of the New Testament- I was not involved in the conversation but it got me thinking…

I was aware of the differences between the Old and New Testaments but for some reason had never really put it to great lengths of thought.  This juxtaposition is so cool! What I realized is how God uses both Testaments to show the fullness of His love.  The Old without the New, and the New without the Old are incomplete.  God uses the Old Testament to show us his attitude towards sin- how He hates it and how in his presence not even the smallest amount of sin can be tolerated and how we need to deal with sin (annihilating entire towns, etc.).  He uses the New Testament not to contradict the Old, but to complete it.  God’s attitude towards sin does not change in the New Testament- he still feels the same exact way, however Jesus has paid the penalty through the sacrifice of his life.  Upon accepting Jesus’ sacrifice God no longer sees our sin upon us.

To look at the Testaments as separate entities can distort the full message.  Without understanding God’s attitude towards sin as seen in his response in the Old Testament diminishes Christ’s sacrifice in the New Testament…  To look at the New Testament and only focus on Christ’s love for us puts blinders on us to the full reality and weight of our sin as seen in the Old Testament.   I think this is part of the reason Jesus says, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead,” in Luke 16:31. Directly referring to Lazarus rising from the dead, but ultimately to himself rising from the dead, Jesus is making the point that people won’t believe and be saved by Him without understanding who God is and why his own sacrifice was needed (as shown by Moses and the Old Testament prophets).

You...

I want to take this moment to tell you that you are special.  You are loved and you were created and designed.  You were known before this world even existed.  You are not the byproduct of primordial ooze that was struck by lightening while the waters boiled at the right temperature while a comet crashed nearby and… you get the picture.

You were thought of- known- loved- and created.  You have a purpose. Regardless of who your earthly father may be, you have a perfect heavenly father who knows you better than you know yourself.  He knows what brings you joy- and he loves to share those things with you.  He loves you enough to give you free will and let you be your own person.  He doesn’t force you do anything, but delights when you choose to seek and follow his ways.  Not because he needs you- but because he wants to be with you and love you.

He is love, but he is also just and fair. His standards are unchanging- he is steadfast. He loves you enough to offer you correction when you do wander into something that will hurt you, but still gives you the final choice.  When you fall short and put yourself or anything else before him in sin, he loves you enough and has already paid the “bail” so that you can be seen as clean before him and be free if you so choose to accept.

He designed you and he loves you, and I just wanted you to know that.