Snow is hovering in the air today
weightless, space like, without gravity
it glimmers and glistens
as it floats between my vision
they dance
I am unaware of the tune
but I have seen its evidence here.
Does beauty have a tune?
I tell you it does.
How can it not when all around
evidence of the Creator’s touch
speaks into the fragile balance?
My feet crunch under its softness
as I venture out into creation
once more…this time my eyes
are open.
I read today that a church was having problems with Jesus. Okay, their problem wasn’t so much Jesus, as much as someone stealing Him from their nativity display on the front lawn of their church building.
People have been stealing Jesus? Say what? I find this kind of theft interesting. It’s as interesting as getting reports from church parishioners that someone has stolen a pew bible. If they’re stealing bibles or even Jesus, I say steal away! There’s no better way of sharing the good news than to have Jesus staring at you as you run from a church parking lot.
But this church didn’t just leave the good news in the hands in the robbers and vandalizers, oh no, they are allowing others to share in the joy should they so choose to “borrow” Jesus from the nativity set. They have placed a GPS tracker in Jesus…now they know where Jesus is at all times!
I think the disciples felt like doing this from time to time if they had possessed GPS technology. I’m sure they would have wanted to have dropped a tracker in His robe pocket so they would know where He was.
Do you know where Jesus is? If you have seen Him, or if you know where He can be located…Keep Him! That’s right, keep Jesus.
I don’t want to make light of Jesus and our relationship with Him. Keep Christ in your heart always and never leave Him! He will always be with you, He even promised that to us! We don’t need a GPS tracker to find Him, because He is right beside us each step of the way in our lives. Let Him love you, and if you haven’t already love Him in return, this makes life truly worth living!
-Just a thought.
News Source: http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/24277120/churches-using-gps-to-keep-track-of-baby-jesus#axzz2o4PIuUzG
How many Saviors does it take to save
A world hell bent on a fiery grave?
Sin-sick hearts and lonely souls
how many Saviors to make us whole?
How many Saviors will make us all free
without a cost, without a fee?
Is there a self-less Messiah around
who will love us, the lost and the found?
How many Saviors could love us that much
to redeem us from the certainly of death’s cold dark clutch?
Or die for our sins and claim our transgressions?
A God-man who hears our every confession.
The answer is One, One Lord of the Light
who redeems us and loves us and restores our dim sight
who comes as a babe and dies like a lamb
Resurrection is here, He is the Great I AM.
-JESUS.
In Bethlehem, O Bethlehem
what sights you must have seen
with manger bed where sheep had fed
and yonder pastures green.
A Savior came, O Bethlehem
the One whom prophets foretold
yet most were blind, they could not find
The God-man soft, yet bold.
Yet Shepherds came, Oh Bethlehem
the unclean keepers of the sheep.
A song they heard, they spread the word
while Jesus was fast asleep.
O Bethlehem, O Bethlehem
His name is ever true!
To all who hear, He drives out fear
Salvation comes to you!
S.E. Strissel ’13’
Yesterday I conducted the funeral of a true saint of God. She wasn’t world famous, she hadn’t traveled the world or gone into the slums of some 3rd world city. Rather, she was a consistent prayer warrior for God. Every time that I would go and visit her in her home thinking I would be the one ministering to her, the exact opposite happened. She ministered to me. I was blessed just sitting for a few minutes in her presence. Her health was declining, she had lost her husband (of many years) the year before and yet in the midst of her pains she kept testifying of God’s faithfulness. Her life represented Christ in every way. She was covered with the image of Jesus. She had “a little Jesus on her”.
It reminded me of just how important it is to bear this image of Christ in our attitudes, in our living and in our thoughts and words. Are we honorable people? How do others view us? Are we above reproach in our words, thoughts and actions? How vital it is to live exactly what we claim to believe. My prayer is that each of us would seek to be covered in Jesus. Not just on our faces on Sunday morning but every moment of every day. Is it possible to bear His image everywhere? YES!! But you see in order to bear His image we have to boldly and honestly say to Him, “I surrender all of me to You!” This is a very scary prospect for most people. Many fear a loss of their identity, or the loss of fun, or independence, yet when we say those words to Jesus we will have gained so much more than just one solitary temporal life.
There is a great picture to see here if we take the time to step back from the canvas. I was in a museum a number of years ago and happened upon a painting by the famous modern painter Chuck Close. His method of painting would be frustrating to most painters, because he paints his portraits one color at a time in a pixelated like scheme. When you stand up close (no pun intended) to one of his paintings all you see is a distorted colorful blob on the canvas, but if you step back from it the distorted image becomes so much more clearer and the true portrait is reveal. It is an amazing method that astounds most people when they first see it:
When we step back from the canvas, that is our life, what do we see? Do we see a life lived just for “self” or is there something more to it? Are we so diluted by a self-indulgent lifestyle that we can’t even fathom containing a little Jesus on us? It would be the easier route, but when we finally stepped back from the canvas we would see how little we have truly impacted this world for anything other than ourselves. I am guilty of this.
Sitting in the small living room with a Saint taught me more than I could have ever thought possible. How much of Jesus do you have on you today? Can others see Him through you? Have you said to Him lately, “Lord I surrender all of myself to You again. Use me Lord!” It might be a scary prospect, but if we do this daily, even moment by moment those little blobs (our surrender) of color will make up the image of Christ in and through us!
I would much rather get to the end of my canvas here on earth and step back and see Christ rather than a mess of colors that really never had a purpose. Let the world see Christ through you! Let them exclaim “Ah ha! You have a little bit of Jesus on you!” and because of it they are changed!
-Just a thought for today!
The journey is long
the path is caked in dust
and rocks, the donkey
lumbers on as each rut
and aching stride ushers another
exhale of air in Mary
as contractions continue.
There isn’t fan fare
or folly,
This. Is. Difficult!
With gritting teeth and concern
Joseph tries his best to make
the journey as comfortable as possible
while other along the path
catch and pass them by…
this is going to take a while.
How humble a journey,
certainly not an entrance of a king,
not to mention the King of Kings.
Yet with this journey
it brings us new life and hope.
With this journey
all of nature leans in
and whispers praises
as Mary groans with another
aching mile passing by…
this is going to take a while.
Somewhere in my grown up heart
exists a child full of wonder and the glimmer
who still “ooo’s and ahhs” over
twinkling lights on Christmas trees
and longs for that early Christmas morning
crisp and clear… where, in pajamas and socks,
the family settles in on the old worn sofa
presents wrapped and glowing under
the stings of lights still hanging on the tree.
I am still that child,
still exploring and uncovering this
majestic mystery of the Yule tide.
It is officially twelve days until Christmas, holiday shoppers are increasing while patience with our fellow man is slowly, sometimes rapidly, decreasing. Yuletide mirth and cheer are everywhere! I was driving down-town last night and the town was all aglow with ambient strings of lights hung meticulously as were the green festive wreathes on lampposts and specialty shops. The colors blurred my vision as the reds danced and twinkled to an invisible tune played by the wind as the colors of blues and greens joined in. They marked out a clear and perfect message; “Christ is almost here again!” Perhaps it was all in my head, but I heard it’s siren’s song! I heard the melodious cacophony of merriment and expectations! My heart leap within my chest as I longed to join in as its tune caught my breath and carried it away in one puff of steam rising into the cold crisp air.
I was alone, being it late at night, there in my van looking down a vacant street waiting for the light to change. The giant Christmas tree before our old red bricked city hall also glowed and pulsated as the winter wind too en-wrapped its furry bows in merriment and festooning. Such mystery and awe captured in this solitary moment. I was caught off guard and yet something that night spoke to me. Not an audible voice, nor a messenger from heaven with unfurled wings and halo to boot…though I have always longed for such a sign. But His still small voice whispered into my very soul. He made me look closely at the dance of His creation there before me. The humming rhythm and the melodies and harmonies that sauntered on the breeze and blended in an intertwining dance. He drew my eyes to the dimming lights of homes nearby and my thoughts wandered into their homes and into lives of people I have never met. They too needed to dance like this. They were missing the true celebration of Christmas. They were missing the music of creation worshiping its Creator! This music doesn’t just happen here on a cold winter night in December, but I felt closer to Him on this night. My eyes caught its fire and I was ill-prepared to take it all in.
We need to dance to the music of the Creator. We have lost this glow and joy from within our souls and hearts! Our greatest gift, our source of hope and joy is still playing our tune and message that can ignite our lives once more. We shouldn’t idly cruise on through, just trying to “survive”…I want to relish this. We have to relish this! Cannot miss this anymore. It isn’t about the lights or the trees, or even the gifts beneath the tree, it’s about God sending us His Son…It’s about Jesus saying “If they keep quiet, the very rocks will cry out!” (Luke 19:40) The rocks, lights and trees have cried out for far too long…it’s our turn to worship Him! It’s our turn to re-capture the mystery and awe of His birth! Don’t miss it again this year! Don’t be caught unaware and wake up January 1st and wonder how you will survive this next year. Stop from time to time and dance to His music. Stop and sing His praises. Stop and allow Him to shine through you into a world that still longs to wake up and dance as well.
May your Christmas be about Him, and may He ignite in you like never before!
Merry Christmas!
Here is a list of my favorite songs. At the end, after you have read mine, won’t you please leave me comments on your favorites! Thanks!
10) What Child is this?
9) Mary Did you know?
8) O Come all ye faithful
7) Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
6) Silent Night
5) Still, still, still
4) Angels we have heard on high
3) O little town of Bethlehem
2) O Holy Night
1) O come, o come Emmanuel
Now if you could comment and leave me feedback on what your favorite Christmas songs are!
Thanks!
Christmas is a spectacular time of year! There should be plenty of cheer to go around, yet all too often people get bent out of shape, stressed out and generally miss the whole meaning of Christmas. In order to lighten the mood, allow me once again to expound on some often misunderstood Christmas song lyrics. These are not my own, but rather from other people who have reported these along the years:
“Good King Wencelas’ car backed out on a piece of Steven.”
Who knew that Good King Wencelas even had an automobile! The song doesn’t say if he was drive a fuel efficient vehicle or if it was an SUV, but the dude needs to check his mirrors and check them twice. Poor Steven, I hope he had good medical insurance to cover the repairs on the “piece” that got run over! One thing I do know, that if this happened in our day and age Good king Wencelas would certainly be sued and probably would lose his crown in the process. Perhaps next time he will just have one of his loyal subjects drive him instead…that is if he has any loyal subjects left after the dust settles on the legal suit!
I kid you not, nothing irritates me more (in real life) than drivers who either aren’t paying attention or are simply inconsiderate to other people. I have to calm myself down when I see drivers who are holding their cell phones in front of them while they are attempting to drive. I will admit from time to time checking my status at a red light, but seriously while driving in heavy traffic around town (or anywhere for that matter) – not cool! Hopefully Good King Wencelas wasn’t on his cell phone poor Steven got run over.
We three kings of porridge and tar…
Seriously, does the Quaker Oatmeal company know about this porridge and the secret ingredient “tar”? I imagine the three kings running out of supplies on their long journey. It’s hot, the camels are crabby, and so they stop to park their camels, they whip out these pots and pans and a big box of porridge and tar. YUM! talk about a substance that literally sticks around. There beside the fire the acrid smell of burning pitch and oats pollute the air with its stench, but it’s apparently a meal fit for a king. 😉
Oh the joys of Christmas, and yule tide cheer…you have to enjoy while it lasts! Christmas can be really special if you slow down long enough to laugh a little bit and take in the true meaning of the season. Maybe watch some Christmas movies to help, go caroling with a church group, make some Christmas cookies (by the way send me some if you do!).
In closing I’m reminded of the misheard lyric from “Silent Night” in which the child boldly sings the last refrain:
“Sleep in heavenly peas…” See, perhaps Veggie Tales hasn’t cornered the market on french peas…there’s a heavenly place filled with peas to prove it.
Until next time….
Pastor's Ponderings 