Sara
Jack Frost, I have not felt the tickle of you nipping at my nose or toes! Nor, have I seen a flake of snow for you, Old Jolly to ride! Sure hope a blade of grass or old brown leaves will help to improvise your trip to tinsel town.
My list is getting longer as the good old days keep flying by. The nativity scenes are sparse on the lawns and windows of stores giving me the look of forlornness. The crosses made from ancient wood have been abandoned right before my eyes. But, I see a looming Star that tells the story with nativity alive rather than still born.
Some say the 25th of December is for the little children only. Sad, to think I would let my heartless heart and mind define the story of a New Born King that came as a Messiah to a hurting world. A King that’s not a fairy tale but an Eternal Light with a forever Kingdom. There are many that flock to a gravesite that houses bodies of many soldiers and Our Nation’s Elite just to see an eternal flame that burns on President Kennedy’s grave. As honorable as it is we must remember it is only a temporary flame.
We so want many times to see flames of fire, flying angels, and burning bushes to confirm our stories that we substitute the real with a flying Santa, lustful flames and digital angels. Of course it brings a little fun to our day!
When my home is filled with wrapping paper that cost more than the little alms/omen given to a poor child that represents the Christmas of years gone by; what will I say to those in my room with eyes waiting for hope. Will I be able to tell the truth of confidence in peace and hope not because of what masterful item one holds in their hand but because of the One that holds their hand.
I want to practice my story by being prepared for the big day, December 25, that blows the family budget while Jolly Old shakes in his boots thinking of American’s Fiscal Cliff. For as the Cliff goes so goes a chip off this old earth. Let me pull out the truth from Isaiah, Jeremiah and some other old wise men that predicted just how things would go. Where is my origin in their story of a King to be borne? “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
thedailylily.com 
Really good blog of contrasts and pointers to think on.
Well, Sara, Jack & Nick have nothing over Jeremiah and Isaiah….[as an aside i have both of them in my classes]. And certainly NOT over Jeshua for Whom this holiday has come to celebrate. But Jesus said in the Gospel of John, that God is looking for….HE’s searching for those who would care enough to’ worship Him in Spirit and in Truth’ So while I am not knocking Frosty and Rudolph,,,[my little students love them so] I long to say to them, whose young little spirits so easily receive and recognize truth…I long to tell them Who the Hero of Christmas really is and WHY!
Candace Lewis writes; “WE WITNESS the commercialization of Christmas all around us. Holiday ads entice us to purchase more than we can afford. We overextend ourselves with shopping, cooking, events, parties, and people.”
In listening to radio/TV I have heard all kinds of comments on Christmas. One woman medical Dr. Journalist says, religion ‘murks’ Christmas. She loved the smell of green live trees and everybody happy. One of her debaters said, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” O, my, did they and we all laugh. Another network talking head said; Christmas is just for kids….toys..
One grandmother told me that her son was not going to teach his children about Santa.
Well for a lack of better word; they all AMUSE me including me amusing myself! Why, I haven’t heard one single individual in this flapping chatter, say, without a doubt there will be no commercialization in my home. It starts months before, what can we buy our kids, what can we buy ourselves and our other family members. What ‘white elephant’ can we share, etc. and on and on. Food, food, food!
That poor old stable, stack of hay and pocket food, no baths, smelling baby and animals all around. Wonder how many baby strollers were to be had? How man pricy diapers were wrapped in $’s. Wonder what big 3 wheel buggy Jesus rode in? Where was old grandmama and her credit card? Of course Jesus didn’t have the scientific minds and ingenuity we have today. Sigh! BTW, my amusement is really giving me a laugh.
If one person that calls themselves Christian really celebrates Christmas
to its truth I would like to hear about them. O, I see, maybe Christ came as a baby in a manger so we could be happier with ‘commercialization’? OK, where has that lead us; or is it leading us to The Truth? Peace, God with us! “Your word is a lamp that gives light wherever I walk,” the psalmist wrote in Psalm 119:105 (CEV). Why not give the story and not a flashlight?
Sara, if we will receive the gift, your comment above throws cold water in the face and says… wake up people!
Which brings me back to the mirror over the sink that speaks your comment back to me: “Will I be able to tell the truth of confidence in peace and hope not because of what masterful item one holds in their hand but because of the One that holds their hand.”
I think that deep down there is a longing in each one for a steady hope, a Hope that doesn’t disappoint us after the presents are unwrapped and the roller coaster ride for the day ends.
Your word is a lamp…thank you.
Yes, YOUR Word is a Lamp and not a flashlight or a 40 watt bulb…or its reasonable facsimile in the lower compact fluorescent lamps. Jesus is the Light of the world not the flashlight. In this densest, darkness that is creeping slowly [well maybe not THAT slowly] upon us A Rudolph the Red Nosed will not do.
In the famous hymn by Philip P. Bliss, the first verse says,
“The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin; the Light of the world is Jesus. Like sunshine at noon His glory shone in; the Light of the world is Jesus. [Chorus] Come to the Light it’s shining for thee. Sweetly the Light has dawned upon me. Once I was blind but now i see; the Light of the world is Jesus.
Who will have the courage to dismiss the materialism of the secular Christmas and let your STAR at the top of your tree be the SON.
Reading the Christmas Story from Luke 2 this am lead me on to Luke 3:8….Try it on for size and see if it fits were my thoughts to myself?
Luke 3:7 When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, “You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath? 8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 9 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.”
10 The crowds asked, “What should we do?”
11 John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.”
12 Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?”
13 He replied, “Collect no more taxes than the government requires.”
14 “What should we do?” asked some soldiers.
John replied, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.”
And what should WE do? We who are well-fed, well-shod, well-appointed; well-nurtured; manicured nails; comfortable homes; nice cars; Is there a hope for us lest we befall the Laodicean fate of being luke-warm fence sitters when Messiah Jesus Christ comes again and spews those out of His mouth!
Which side of the fence shall I choose? In these times of testing, when souls are on the line [including minei] in this time and season, NOW, which side will I / we choose?
So, Sara asked me to answer my own question. Here are some thoughts that I have picked up along the way as I listened to others who, like Sara, have wondered at what Jesus is saying about coats, shirts, taxes, and pay- grumbling.
I will give clothes to the poor. I do not grumble about my pay NOR LISTEN TO those who are malcontent concerning theirs. I will gladly contribute to those who have little or no food. Nor will I WASTE food. [yikes]
Does anyone else have suggestions as to what Jesus is saying to us in Luke 3?
It looks like Jesus addressed three different groups about some perhaps seemingly secret sins that unless addressed and changed would prevent them from entering heaven as God’s children.
The ‘crowds’ may have thought themselves benevolent but have been so selfish they had closed their eyes to the poor and hungry.
The ‘corrupt tax collectors’ may have been stealing and lining their own pockets in the name of government spending.
Perhaps the ‘soldiers’ had grown accustomed to lying to meets the needs of their greed.
Sounds like each of the three were selfish and without love. Money grubbers who worshipped their money and heaped upon themselves and couldn’t possibly see the need of others (people or government.)