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It was night. The shepherds were quietly watching over their flocks in fields near to where Mary was giving birth. When all of the sudden, an angel appeared in the sky and reported the good news of the Savior's birth. The angel told them only where to find the baby and how to recognize him. And then the entire night sky filled with angels praising God & saying, "Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased". (I love the NLT version of that). Then the angels disappear.
*
The Bible records next the shepherds speaking. "Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord told us about." I can imagine there was a bit more conversation going on than that though. Can you imagine it today? We'd likely be saying "I have to get my phone", or "where's the hidden camera?" or "nice special effects". Or perhaps there was near silence, awestruck by what they had just seen and heard. Maybe very little was spoken, just action taken. We don't know whether the shepherds questioned the validity of what they saw, whether they were silenced with the awe of the moment, whether they traveled with full belief of what they were to see or with an attitude of doubt and reservation, but we can know that they were every bit as human as you and I are and, most likely, had a similar reaction to what our's might have been. Whatever their underlying thought, the Bible says they traveled quickly to Bethlehem.
*
There they found exactly what they were told they would see.
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Luke 2:17-18, "After seeing [baby Jesus], the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished." Then vs. 20, "The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them."
*
I love that the shepherds went and told everyone. Many probably believed their tale, many likely did not. But they told it. To everyone. And when they were done telling, they went back to their regular job and praised God for all they had heard and seen.
This Christmas season I challenge you, along with me to share about what God has done. Share with a loved one, one of your children, a friend, a classmate, a coworker. And then, regardless of whether they believe you or find you and the story offensive, return to your normal duties of life with a attitude of praise and glory to God for what you have seen and heard.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
the Christmas cast - Mary
I was nine months pregnant with my first son, Alex. I was big, I was hot, I was tired and I was uncomfortable. James and I were living in a tiny town in Northeastern Oregon. It was an unseasonably warm mid-May Saturday afternoon when we decided we had to get new tires put on the car before Alex arrived. It was also one day before my due date. In hind site now, this was likely not the best day to be taking care of this errand, but at the time (for whatever reason) it seemed quite logical.
We drove to our local, friendly Les Schwab Tire dealer. Certainly they could get us all fixed up and on our way quickly just in case this little fellow decided today was the day. We walked in to explain what we needed. The most important part of the conversation with that nice gentleman that day was price. We were still learning our debt lessons and we would not spend more than what we could pay cash for. We were incredibly specific and insistent about the price. The nice Les Schwab man assured us that there would be no trouble. He could get the tires we wanted could afford put on the ole' Nissan and we'd be on our way in about an hour. Perfect! We could go browse the Wal-Mart next door until they were finished.
As we turned to head to Wal-Mart, James stopped and turned to the man. He told him that if there was any problem to please call on our cell phone. He gave the man the number and off we went.
ONE HOUR LATER*
We returned to Les Schwab Tires ready to pick up our trusty Nissan with new tires. The bill presented to us at the register was quite a bit more than expected. Shock! What? What is this?
The nice gentleman informed us that he only had 3 of the tires we were originally looking at. So he chose a comparable set for us. They just happen to be a bit more expensive. "What?"
I am not proud of what followed. I completely flew off the handle. "What are you talking about?" was my first question laced heavily with sarcasm. I yelled (yes, non-confrontational me yelled) at this now-not-so-nice gentleman about everything from our limited finances to how hot, swollen, uncomfortable and tired I was. I remember clearly reminding him that this enormous pregnant woman had just walked around Wal-Mart for an hour while he messed this whole thing up!
"Do you see how pregnant I am? Can you see how uncomfortable I am? Do you have any idea how angry and tired I am right now? I do not want to deal with this right now, I'm due any day now? If you would have done your job right, I could be home with my swollen feet up!"
I caused quite a scene in that tiny little tire shop. My voice so loud, my face so angry, my tone so cruel. I ended the whole thing just sobbing. Sobbing. Standing at the tire shop register counter just sobbing. Hormones, sleep deprivation, anger, frustration, anxiety, swollen feet from walking the Wal-Mart aisles...it all played a role in my outburst. It was not pretty.
.
"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."
I wonder what Mary's reaction was that night. After riding on a donkey for all those miles, all those days. I bet she was tired, uncomfortable, swollen, hot. She likely just wanted to get off that donkey, curl up in bed and fall fast asleep.
I wonder if she knew she was close to delivery. Did she feel the beginnings of the pains? The sickness? The "just not quite right" feeling?
"Sorry, we just don't have any space available." Can you imagine!?
I can only guess my reaction; "Do you see how pregnant I am? Can you see how uncomfortable I am? Do you have any idea how angry and tired I am right now? I do not want to deal with this right now, I'm due any day now? I just traveled all these miles on the back of a stinky donkey, pregnant and you have NO room for me?! Do you have any idea what you're doing?"
My tone would likely have been coarse, my sarcasm thick and unkind. I likely would have ended by sobbing on his counter.
We don't know how Mary reacted exactly. The Bible doesn't say. The fact that she delivered the Son of God in a stinky stable surrounded by animals because the inn was full, is more of a side-note than a major detail. It's mentioned only very briefly with just 10 little words at the end of a sentence. The Bible doesn't make an ordeal out of it, just a very brief mention. If Mary made a big to-do about it, we aren't told.
A little later on in that chapter of Luke, we're told "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." She remembered the details of that night; the birth, the manger, the stable, the animals, the shepherds. The innkeeper? Most likely. And she treasured them.
I wonder how often I get all caught up in the "little words at the end of a sentence" moments in my life, allowing those "side notes" to play a major role? How often do I get all in a ruckus about the "little stuff"? I mean really, most stuff I get my nose all bent out of joint about are not nearly as awful as giving birth in a barn. Really. Yet, how many times do I neglect the treasures, even in the midst of chaos? Do I miss the moments to treasure up and ponder because I'm still angry and stuck in the little side note moment? Unfortunately I know there are times I do. God provides us many moments to treasure and ponder, sometimes hidden behind a disappointment, a disaster, or a "little word at the end of a sentence."
We drove to our local, friendly Les Schwab Tire dealer. Certainly they could get us all fixed up and on our way quickly just in case this little fellow decided today was the day. We walked in to explain what we needed. The most important part of the conversation with that nice gentleman that day was price. We were still learning our debt lessons and we would not spend more than what we could pay cash for. We were incredibly specific and insistent about the price. The nice Les Schwab man assured us that there would be no trouble. He could get the tires we wanted could afford put on the ole' Nissan and we'd be on our way in about an hour. Perfect! We could go browse the Wal-Mart next door until they were finished.
As we turned to head to Wal-Mart, James stopped and turned to the man. He told him that if there was any problem to please call on our cell phone. He gave the man the number and off we went.
ONE HOUR LATER*
We returned to Les Schwab Tires ready to pick up our trusty Nissan with new tires. The bill presented to us at the register was quite a bit more than expected. Shock! What? What is this?
The nice gentleman informed us that he only had 3 of the tires we were originally looking at. So he chose a comparable set for us. They just happen to be a bit more expensive. "What?"
I am not proud of what followed. I completely flew off the handle. "What are you talking about?" was my first question laced heavily with sarcasm. I yelled (yes, non-confrontational me yelled) at this now-not-so-nice gentleman about everything from our limited finances to how hot, swollen, uncomfortable and tired I was. I remember clearly reminding him that this enormous pregnant woman had just walked around Wal-Mart for an hour while he messed this whole thing up!
"Do you see how pregnant I am? Can you see how uncomfortable I am? Do you have any idea how angry and tired I am right now? I do not want to deal with this right now, I'm due any day now? If you would have done your job right, I could be home with my swollen feet up!"
I caused quite a scene in that tiny little tire shop. My voice so loud, my face so angry, my tone so cruel. I ended the whole thing just sobbing. Sobbing. Standing at the tire shop register counter just sobbing. Hormones, sleep deprivation, anger, frustration, anxiety, swollen feet from walking the Wal-Mart aisles...it all played a role in my outburst. It was not pretty.
.
"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."
I wonder what Mary's reaction was that night. After riding on a donkey for all those miles, all those days. I bet she was tired, uncomfortable, swollen, hot. She likely just wanted to get off that donkey, curl up in bed and fall fast asleep.
I wonder if she knew she was close to delivery. Did she feel the beginnings of the pains? The sickness? The "just not quite right" feeling?
"Sorry, we just don't have any space available." Can you imagine!?
I can only guess my reaction; "Do you see how pregnant I am? Can you see how uncomfortable I am? Do you have any idea how angry and tired I am right now? I do not want to deal with this right now, I'm due any day now? I just traveled all these miles on the back of a stinky donkey, pregnant and you have NO room for me?! Do you have any idea what you're doing?"
My tone would likely have been coarse, my sarcasm thick and unkind. I likely would have ended by sobbing on his counter.
We don't know how Mary reacted exactly. The Bible doesn't say. The fact that she delivered the Son of God in a stinky stable surrounded by animals because the inn was full, is more of a side-note than a major detail. It's mentioned only very briefly with just 10 little words at the end of a sentence. The Bible doesn't make an ordeal out of it, just a very brief mention. If Mary made a big to-do about it, we aren't told.
A little later on in that chapter of Luke, we're told "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." She remembered the details of that night; the birth, the manger, the stable, the animals, the shepherds. The innkeeper? Most likely. And she treasured them.
I wonder how often I get all caught up in the "little words at the end of a sentence" moments in my life, allowing those "side notes" to play a major role? How often do I get all in a ruckus about the "little stuff"? I mean really, most stuff I get my nose all bent out of joint about are not nearly as awful as giving birth in a barn. Really. Yet, how many times do I neglect the treasures, even in the midst of chaos? Do I miss the moments to treasure up and ponder because I'm still angry and stuck in the little side note moment? Unfortunately I know there are times I do. God provides us many moments to treasure and ponder, sometimes hidden behind a disappointment, a disaster, or a "little word at the end of a sentence."
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
The Christmas cast - Mary
It was a scene many, many centuries in the making. A king, the King, would arrive. The story foretold for many generation, nothing prepared the characters completely with the events set to unfold.
As I have been thinking about Christmas, the meaning, the significance, the amazing grace and mercy shown on that Bethlehem night, I have also been thinking of those people, regular folks just like me, who were called upon to participate in the story. I have thought of those who in all likelihood were afraid, amazed, bewildered and awestruck by the events that were unfolding around and through them. Sometimes it's so easy to forget that the cast of characters that we sing of and set up in our nativity scenes each Christmas, were regular people with emotions and feelings just like mine.
Today, I read Luke 1. I love the story from Luke, perhaps because I memorized a good portion of it at Vacation Bible School one year as a child (yes, Summer Vacation Bible School) and it has remained with me all these years. But, in Luke 1, we are introduced to Mary and in verse 29 we find that Mary is "greatly troubled" by the message delivered by the angel. I had to laugh as I read this. Mary, a young virgin woman set to be married, is visited by an angel and told she will be pregnant with the Son of God. It seems that "greatly troubled" is quite the understatement. I would think terrified out of her mind would be more like it. I can only imagine my own reaction. I began to think of what would have gone through my mind had it been me receiving the news:
As I have been thinking about Christmas, the meaning, the significance, the amazing grace and mercy shown on that Bethlehem night, I have also been thinking of those people, regular folks just like me, who were called upon to participate in the story. I have thought of those who in all likelihood were afraid, amazed, bewildered and awestruck by the events that were unfolding around and through them. Sometimes it's so easy to forget that the cast of characters that we sing of and set up in our nativity scenes each Christmas, were regular people with emotions and feelings just like mine.
Today, I read Luke 1. I love the story from Luke, perhaps because I memorized a good portion of it at Vacation Bible School one year as a child (yes, Summer Vacation Bible School) and it has remained with me all these years. But, in Luke 1, we are introduced to Mary and in verse 29 we find that Mary is "greatly troubled" by the message delivered by the angel. I had to laugh as I read this. Mary, a young virgin woman set to be married, is visited by an angel and told she will be pregnant with the Son of God. It seems that "greatly troubled" is quite the understatement. I would think terrified out of her mind would be more like it. I can only imagine my own reaction. I began to think of what would have gone through my mind had it been me receiving the news:
- I must be dreaming
- I must be crazy
- I can't be pregnant. It is impossible.
- What will Joseph think?
- What will Joseph do?
- What will my parents think?
- What will my parents do?
- This was completely not in the "plan for my life" list
- I don't want kids yet.
- I'm not ready to be a mom
- I'm not ready to be the mom of God.
- I'm certainly crazy
- I can't do this
- I won't do this
- You can't make me do this
- I don't want to do this
- Why are you asking me to do this?
Those are just a few of the thoughts that came to my mind. I'm sure that there are plenty more. "greatly troubled"? Yes, I would most definitely be greatly troubled! With much worry and anxiety and stress to go along with my "troubling". And I'm sure Mary was too.
And yet, and yet.
Luke 1:38 "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said"
What is the Lord asking of me? What instructions has He given about my life? I know for sure He hasn't asked me to become pregnant and deliver His son, the Messiah. And yet, my reaction to the things He does ask of me are often, "I can't do this, I don't want to do this, what will everyone think if I do this?, Why are you asking this of me?" It's not always easy to be the Lord's servant. Mary had a very difficult assignment, and yet...
Thursday, December 3, 2009
God is...
(from Time magazine)
This is the cover from the December 7, 2009 issue of Time Magazine. The title pretty much says it all & you can likely guess what is detailed in the story. From the Y2K scares that started the decade to terrorist attacks to wars to job losses to market crashes to housing bubble bursts to hurricane Katrina to Ponzi schemes to mass shooting in public places to major corporate bankruptcies, this was a decade that saw it all. The average American, this story claims, is likely no better off than they were at the start of the decade.
"Sometimes it was as if the gods themselves were conspiring against this decade," the author of the article writes.
And I would have to counter and say that it is very likely that the God was in complete control over the debacle of this decade. Is it any coincidence (and you know what I think about coincidences) that this is also a decade that saw an increase of the acceptability of ungodly, worldy behavior in our country? A decade that included immoral activities being labeled as "normal" or "alternative"? A decade where political correctness trumped Biblical correctness the majority of the time? A decade that saw the removal of God in our society in abundance? I think it's no coincidence.
Hosea 7:13-16a
"What sorrow awaits those who have rebelled against me! Let them die, for they have rebelled against me. I wanted to redeem them, but they have told lies about me. They do not cry out to me with sincere hearts. Instead, they sit on their couches and wail. They gather together, begging foreign gods for grain and new wine and they turn away from me. I trained them & made them strong, yet now they plot evil against me. They look everywhere except to the Most High. They are as useless as a crooked bow."
God is a god of blessings and curses. From Deuteronomy 11:26 "Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the Lord your God and turn away from him and worship gods you have not known before."
It's time to turn around. It's time to examine our own lives. It's time to compare with the plumb line provided by God in the Word. Does my life align with His commands? Have I rejected His commands and turned away from Him to worship something else? We cannot change a nation, until we change ourselves. And we must pray for those in authority over our nation, whether we like them and their policies or not. Today is the day to choose, a blessing or a curse?
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