Christmas Eve

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Margaret

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

FROM THE NYMANS

“In [Jesus] was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5)

As we gathered to celebrate on Christmas Eve (31 people, 10 of them children), it wasn’t easy keeping the focus on Jesus. The Swedish smorgasbord with 13 different dishes took a while to eat. And gifts peeking out from under the tree enticed youngsters. The talent program of amateur holiday music and then group carol singing all took time, but finally we got around to the Christmas story.

It was told on strips of paper, one person at a time, one sentence at a time, with the lighting of one candle at a time, around the circle. All but the babies participated as we heard again the familiar words of Luke 2.

It isn’t easy battling the rip-roaring fun side of Christmas to dwell on the quiet miracle of Bethlehem, but if anyone can win against commercialism, it’s God and his Word. May not a day go by that we don’t marvel over Christ’s coming and bask in the light of his abundant love. He is truly the Light of the world.

CHRISTMAS HALLELUJAHS!

Glory Be!

Posted on December 23, 2013 by Margaret

Jesus is, of course, THE reason for the season of Christmas. He’s front and center, the main event, and we ought never to lose sight of that. But it’s also meaningful to examine what was happening around him as he arrived into our world.

His birth announcement, for example, was created by those living in his heavenly neighborhood and was a unique and powerful proclamation. God chose to publicize his Son’s arrival by dispatching a special angel to a few unsuspecting shepherds outside the little town of Bethlehem.

I can’t wait to ask God why those particular men were his first choice to learn of the birth. And though an angelic encounter would have been spectacular by itself, Scripture tells us God also enveloped these men in his own glory on that ordinary hill. Along with the angel, they stood inside that glowing circle of God’s presence, probably doing their best just to stay conscious. Imagine! The glory God! What must that have been like?

It reminds me of another glory-episode, the one on Mt. Sinai where Moses begged God to show him that same glory. The reason God said yes was because Moses had found favor with him (Exodus 33). The experience was so unusual, it caused his skin to glow supernaturally for weeks afterward.

But the angelic announcement and the glory event weren’t the only Christmas gifts those shepherds received. Suddenly the night skies grew bright with “a vast host of heaven’s armies,” angels as far as the eye could see. And they all had the same message: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)

The men were told that the glory surrounding them belonged to God himself, with the hint that they were experiencing it/him because they’d found favor with God (echoing the Moses incident).

As a child I was taught the heavenly hosts were singing their message, but Scripture says they were actually saying it, most likely shouting it. Maybe they spoke in unison or maybe it was a chorus-like speech the likes of which we’ve never heard, but surely it was ear-pleasing and beautiful. As the angels finished, I’ll bet those shepherds glowed.

It didn’t take but a few seconds to mobilize a run into town, doing manger checks till they found one with a baby in it. Mary and Joseph must have said, “How did you know?” and oh the story they had to tell! If these new parents had harbored any doubts about who that baby was, the shepherds’ report surely quelled them.

Today we again celebrate Jesus’ astonishing arrival. And though we’ve all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, through Jesus we can find favor with him. That’s why I believe we, too, will one day get to see the glory of God!

“The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)

Sticking With It

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Margaret

Every December I have bulldog determination to do one thing: attend a Christmas concert with a big choir and a full orchestra. Thankfully opportunities abound, and last weekend I was privileged to be at Moody Church to hear an extravaganza of glorious music, everything from “Let it snow!” to the “Hallelujah Chorus.”

We found seats in the balcony, front row, looking straight down on the violin section of the orchestra. Watching those musicians play with vigor made me wish I hadn’t given up violin lessons when I was 13.

What joy it would have been to play in such a group, but my orchestra experience will always be limited to the one I had in junior high school. Though I never made it to the first violin section, playing in that assortment of “newbies” was still a special pleasure.

Sadly, I stuck with violin lessons for only 2 years and didn’t even learn how to wiggle my fingers into a vibrato. My teacher was as irritated with me as I was with him, probably because every week I pestered him to let me do the wiggling thing. “You’ve got to get better at the basics first!” he’d say, completely exasperated with me.

When it was time to begin my 3^rd year of lessons, I told Mom I didn’t want to continue. After too many arguments over skimpy practice time, she was happy to comply, and she sold my violin within a week, a sure sign she’d been as frustrated as I had.

Most adults have a music-regret to match mine. After we begged our parents for weeks, they finally gave in and generously provided funds, transportation, time, and an instrument. We began with gusto, but not long into the commitment, enthusiasm was replaced with practice battles. Eventually the option to quit became everybody’s first choice, though parents didn’t let us give up without a lecture and one last jab: “You’ll be sorry!”

Listening to those violinists at Moody Church, I knew they’d been right.

But middle school kids are still learning accountability for their actions and make lots of mistakes. We older folk know by harsh experience that quitting when commitments get tough becomes an unattractive character trait we’d rather not have. No one wants to be known as a quitter. It’s better to be someone who does what she says she’s going to do.

God is the ultimate pro at this, doing everything he says he will, and since he’s God, that covers millions of pronouncements, promises, and predictions. If we want to be more like him, we need to practice keeping our commitments. When we feel like quitting, we should ask him for fresh perseverance, because he’s promised to help us cope.