December 23, 2009
I had a brief conversation this morning (December 23, 2009) with one of the parents in our Children Enrichment Center. He mentioned that it didn’t feel like Christmas and he wasn’t talking about the weather. He went on to say that the real reason for the season seems to have been lost.
When I got to my office, I had an email that communicated a similar truth. Bob and Linda Brewis had taken their 2 and half year old granddaughter Kamdyn on a ride to see Christmas lights. They went to one neighborhood where all the houses had white lights along the edge of the street. Several houses had snowmen, Santa & reindeers and other such blowups. As they rode slowly through the streets pointing out things for Kamdyn to see. In Bob’s words, “the angelic voice of the precious child strapped in her car seat says, ‘Where is Baby Jesus?’ Not a single house in that neighborhood had anything in their yards that represented the real meaning of Christmas.”
On the street where I live, the majority of homes have some Christmas lights on the outside of the house. But only two of us have nativity scenes in our yards. Kamdyn’s question is a good one, “Where is Baby Jesus?” After all, is He not the reason for the season?
There is a house on old Mt. Olive road that has a simple post card that has a picture of the nativity with the words, “The Reason for the Season.” Jesus is who this season is all about. He is the gift God gave to the world. He is the gift God is waiting for many to receive.
As I think about that, I realize that Christmas is also about us. That’s right, Christmas is also about us. You see, we are the reason Jesus came into the world. You and I matter so much to God that Jesus came into the world to rescue us from our sins. As the scripture says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:13; NRSV)
Think about that for a moment: The Awesome God who spoke this world into being; the Great God planned for us to live the Good Life; the Holy God who is too holy to look upon sin; this God loves you and me too much to leave us in our sins. God came in Jesus to deliver us from the bondage to sin and death and restore a relationship with us. That’s the reason Christmas happened. “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” That means, you and I are the reason for Christmas. Christmas took place because God loves you and me.
Rick Warren, in a recent devotional said that the Good News of Christmas is that “You Matter to God. God knows everything about you – the good, the bad, and the ugly – and He still loves you. He cares about you. He loves you more than you could ever know. God is for you, not against you.” That is the reason for Christmas. It is about God’s gift of love for you and me.
Rick Warren closed that devotional saying; “Christmas is God saying, ‘I want to relate to you. I want you to know Me as much as I know you.’ That’s joyful news. It’s good news!” (Email Devotional, “Renewing Your Faith at Christmas” December 17, 2009)
Christmas Eve we have the opportunity to make Christ a priority by worshiping Him. We will have three unique Christmas Eve Communion Services:
5:00 PM – Carols, Scripture and Communion Service – Sanctuary
7:00 PM – Contemporary Communion and Candlelight Service – Gym
11:00 PM – Carols, Scripture, Communion and Candlelight Service – Sanctuary
As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
I had a brief conversation this morning (December 23, 2009) with one of the parents in our Children Enrichment Center. He mentioned that it didn’t feel like Christmas and he wasn’t talking about the weather. He went on to say that the real reason for the season seems to have been lost.
When I got to my office, I had an email that communicated a similar truth. Bob and Linda Brewis had taken their 2 and half year old granddaughter Kamdyn on a ride to see Christmas lights. They went to one neighborhood where all the houses had white lights along the edge of the street. Several houses had snowmen, Santa & reindeers and other such blowups. As they rode slowly through the streets pointing out things for Kamdyn to see. In Bob’s words, “the angelic voice of the precious child strapped in her car seat says, ‘Where is Baby Jesus?’ Not a single house in that neighborhood had anything in their yards that represented the real meaning of Christmas.”
On the street where I live, the majority of homes have some Christmas lights on the outside of the house. But only two of us have nativity scenes in our yards. Kamdyn’s question is a good one, “Where is Baby Jesus?” After all, is He not the reason for the season?
There is a house on old Mt. Olive road that has a simple post card that has a picture of the nativity with the words, “The Reason for the Season.” Jesus is who this season is all about. He is the gift God gave to the world. He is the gift God is waiting for many to receive.
As I think about that, I realize that Christmas is also about us. That’s right, Christmas is also about us. You see, we are the reason Jesus came into the world. You and I matter so much to God that Jesus came into the world to rescue us from our sins. As the scripture says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:13; NRSV)
Think about that for a moment: The Awesome God who spoke this world into being; the Great God planned for us to live the Good Life; the Holy God who is too holy to look upon sin; this God loves you and me too much to leave us in our sins. God came in Jesus to deliver us from the bondage to sin and death and restore a relationship with us. That’s the reason Christmas happened. “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” That means, you and I are the reason for Christmas. Christmas took place because God loves you and me.
Rick Warren, in a recent devotional said that the Good News of Christmas is that “You Matter to God. God knows everything about you – the good, the bad, and the ugly – and He still loves you. He cares about you. He loves you more than you could ever know. God is for you, not against you.” That is the reason for Christmas. It is about God’s gift of love for you and me.
Rick Warren closed that devotional saying; “Christmas is God saying, ‘I want to relate to you. I want you to know Me as much as I know you.’ That’s joyful news. It’s good news!” (Email Devotional, “Renewing Your Faith at Christmas” December 17, 2009)
Christmas Eve we have the opportunity to make Christ a priority by worshiping Him. We will have three unique Christmas Eve Communion Services:
5:00 PM – Carols, Scripture and Communion Service – Sanctuary
7:00 PM – Contemporary Communion and Candlelight Service – Gym
11:00 PM – Carols, Scripture, Communion and Candlelight Service – Sanctuary
As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
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