Who's in your manger?

One of the central images of the Christmas season is the nativity with the infant Jesus lying in his small manger. It's generally depicted as a sweet family moment with Mary and Joseph looking on, wise men and shepherds gazing in and possibly an angel hovering overhead.

Our church this year did a Christmas drama that took a look at the things that a lot of people currently think about Christmas. Everything from the "good message" of morals to the bah-humbug approach were parodied among a group of mall store owners and customers. It was a fun evening of enjoyable characters.
As I watched, though, it occurred to me that what really was taking place was that those people were trying to put something else in the manger. And in each of those characters I saw someone I know, someone trying to avoid the question of who the event of Christmas is for. I suspect its often because if they really were to acknowledge that that baby was the Incarnate God, life might get very uncomfortable for them. If that was truly God, the things He has to say about their life might mean they'd have to change something. And so they take the warm fuzzies of the season but don't want to step too close to see who is actually in that manger. So reindeer and elves and snowmen and grinches and penguins and polar bears and family and generosity fill the holidays and give them the illusion of celebrating the season without having to examine the Christmas story.

But not everyone wants to avoid the Christmas story.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2: 8-12)

The shepherds, on getting the news of the manger rushed off to see if it were true. This was a promise they had been hearing about all their lives. And to think it might be true! And in the manger, they found the child.

Throughout the Bible, we see that this baby has a variety of names and roles. But none of those names is St. Nick.

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). (Matthew 1:23, quoting Isaiah 7:14)

Immanuel - God With Us. I think it's the most exciting and the most terrifying of God's names. Exciting because God came to be with us. Because He loved us so much He would do whatever it took to be with us. Terrifying because a mighty God can ask anything He wants of me. I suspect God came as a child to help us not be overwhelmed by the fear of a very present God. Usually the appearance of angels or God himself began with a "fear not", and probably for good reason. But make no mistake - Jesus came because He passionately loves you, and wanted to provide a way to be with you forever. That baby is also your Saviour, the only one able to take your sin away and promise a future of hope and purpose.

So my prayer for you this Christmas is that you see Jesus in the manger - God with us - and come to know him as the reason for your season.

Merry Christmas!

Show don't tell

One of the basic maxims of the writing life is "Show, don't tell." It's often the difference between a writer that can succeed in the writing profession and the one that just never quite makes it.

Today I came across this verse:

"You show that you are a letter from Christ ... written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." -2 Corinthians 3:3

I suspect that, like writers, our effectiveness in sharing the hope and miracle of Christ's offer of salvation lies in our ability to show, not tell. Words alone may not convince another person of the difference Christ can make. But a life turned over to him on a daily basis can't fail to make the message heard.

Who?

A friend posted a great thought and I wanted to pass it along:

"God is not who you think He is;
He is who He says He is."

Have you taken the time to find out what He says?

Beautiful - by Mercy Me

A toothbrush experience

Some time ago, I was at a fun ladies evening that involved, among other things, chocolate and a panel of four very funny women. I don't even remember what the panel's topic was that evening but at some point, one of the panel members began extolling the virtues of ... her toothbrush. In this particular setting, is was just part of the fun even though she had no particular point to make about the toothbrush except that she REALLY liked it. Quirky, but cute.

I thought of her toothbrush a few times over the next few days. Not because I was thinking of trying the toothbrush but mostly because it struck me as a funny thing to get so excited over. I've been brushing my teeth for many, many years and never had a toothbrush that I felt the need to mention to anyone. It got the job done and that was enough.

Until my dentist gave me one of "her" toothbrushes at my next semi-annual check up. Again, without much though I went home and switched the new toothbrush for my old one. But the next morning, I got a surprise. Everything she had said about this toothbrush was true! It really was a unique sensation to use it and it did a spectacular job. It has become my favorite toothbrush, too!

Oddly enough, her toothbrush also came to mind as I sat in a conference about the Holy Spirit. There was no hype, no over emotionalism, but as the speaker began to share the experience of the Holy Spirit and the Biblical truths of the Spirit, I kept thinking about that toothbrush.

Why?

Because many, many Christians feel the same way about the Holy Spirit as I did about that lady's toothbrush. I thought I had shared the same experience, I thought I understood what she was talking about and I didn't see the reason for the excitement. So I went on with life until the day I really experienced her brand of toothbrush. Not just the usual, run-of-the-mill toothbrush, but one with a truly unique design and application.

So often, we think our experience of the Holy Spirit is the same as everyone else's. We think we understand His work in our life. And when someone has a different experience, we don't get it. It seems unwarranted, or, even worse, un-Biblical. We think they're just experiencing "the tingles." And we walk away, content to live in our run-of-the-mill understanding of the Holy Spirit's work and presence in our lives.

Now, I know the toothbrush comparison is a fanciful one. I'm sure most people will get through life just fine without knowing about this particular brand of toothbrush and will still have teeth left to smile with. And I'm sure, too, that most people in life will get through not missing a personal, real time experience of the Holy Spirit. Or content to let the God-in-us relationship will remain a nodding acquaintance instead of a dynamic partnership.

But maybe we need to be open to the idea that there's something more that's actually worth getting excited about. Maybe, just maybe, the unique role of the Holy Spirit is something we've been missing. I'd encourage you to start digging around and see what God's Word has to say about this part of his character.

I suspect it will become something truly unique and worth getting excited about.

Symmetry in the Psalms

I was reading last night in the Psalms and came across an absolute delight of literary construction. The Psalms are special that way - they are a unique collection of what might be called journal entries - songs and snippets, with some "diary days" thrown in where the psalmist simply opens his heart and spills it all out. But there are a special few that are a delight because the very purposeful structure adds additional layers to the message. Psalm 132 is one of these "purposeful poems".

Psalm 132

A song of ascents.

O LORD, remember David
and all the hardships he endured.

He swore an oath to the LORD
and made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
"I will not enter my house or go to my bed-
I will allow no sleep to my eyes,
no slumber to my eyelids,
till I find a place for the LORD,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob."

We heard it in Ephrathah,
we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:
"Let us go to his dwelling place;
let us worship at his footstool-
arise, O LORD, and come to your resting place,
you and the ark of your might.
May your priests be clothed with righteousness;
may your saints sing for joy."
For the sake of David your servant,
do not reject your anointed one.

The LORD swore an oath to David,
a sure oath that he will not revoke:
"One of your own descendants
I will place on your throne-

if your sons keep my covenant
and the statutes I teach them,
then their sons will sit
on your throne for ever and ever."

For the LORD has chosen Zion,
he has desired it for his dwelling

"This is my resting place for ever and ever;
here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it-

I will bless her with abundant provisions;
her poor will I satisfy with food.

I will clothe her priests with salvation,
and her saints will ever sing for joy.

"Here I will make a horn grow for David
and set up a lamp for my anointed one.

I will clothe his enemies with shame,
but the crown on his head will be resplendent."

Watch what happens when you divide this poem and sit the first and second half side by side.

This psalm becomes a conversation between David and God. In verse 2, it says "He [David] swore an oath to the Lord..." and verse 11 responds, "The Lord swore an oath to David..."

Verse 5 speaks of David's search for "a place for the Lord" and verse 13 assures him "the LORD has chosen Zion ..."

Verse 8 invites God to come to his resting place and verse 14 answers "This is my resting place for ever and ever..."

Verse 9 expresses David's hope for God's home "May your priests be clothed with righteousness, may your saints sing for joy" and God answers "I will clothe her priests with salvation and her saints will ever sing for joy."

Verse 10 asks for God to remember David; Verse 17 assures him the promises God made to him will be filled.


What does this psalm demonstrate to us? Through its form and through its theme, it is a reminder to us that will we are asking, hoping and praying for God's will in our lives, He is also at work to fill the many promises he has made us.

Psalm 132 is undeniably a thing of beauty.

A thought for the day(s)

Saw this in a friend's tag line and loved it:

Love Generously,
Care Deeply,
Speak Kindly

& Leave the Rest to God