Let’s see!

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God with UsThe marvel of Christmas is “God with us.” Though this is absolutely astounding, it’s difficult to grasp the depth of it, so during church last week our pastor went back into the Old Testament, before Christ’s birth, to see what God’s presence looked like.

First he mentioned the “thick and dreadful darkness” * that came over Abraham in conjunction with God’s arrival on the scene. Then he described the pillars of fire and cloud which were God’s actual presence when he brought the Israelites out of Egypt. **

Pastor Jay also described the time when God allowed Moses to see only his backside as his presence passed by, reminding him that if he saw his face, Moses would die. *** He also read about God’s presence coming in a whirlwind much like a terrifying tornado. **** In other words, the message of God’s physical presence was that we keep our distance and acknowledge a healthy fear of him.

Angels and shepherdsAnd then we come to Luke 2 where an angel says, “You will find him!”

That’s followed by the shepherds’ response, “Let’s go and see!”

The limited-access God of the Old Testament was announcing that everything would be different from then on. No more keeping our distance. No more dreadful darkness. No more whirlwind. No more smoke. No more fear.

In other words, no more unapproachable Divinity. Instead it was going to be, “Come and see.” Approach him. Get close. Interact. Worship. That night the presence of God became accessible in a brand new way. An unexpected invitation was extended to “Come and see that God is with us!”

And that’s the astounding truth of Christmas.

“The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today…. and you will recognize him…” (Luke 2:11-12)

*Genesis 15:12   **Exodus 13:22   ***Exodus 33:20   ****Job 40:6

Praising and Praying with Mary

I’m praising God for being surrounded by my loving family, now 26 strong, and for still being able to say I’m feeling good.

 

Gift-giving

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All of us have experienced Secret Santa gifts. Maybe it was in elementary school or Girl Scouts or even in an office setting, but we’re familiar with the inexpensive gift-giving done anonymously to someone assigned to us.

Keeping secrets is always fun, at Christmas or any time. Last week, for example, I received something that was given in secret. While I was away from home, someone came to our door and left an envelope on the front mat.

???????????????????????????????I didn’t recognize the writing, and when I opened it, I expected to see a “from who.” Instead of a signature there was just a short message: “Go get some donuts, diapers or dog treats – whatever you need. Wishing you God Speed. Your friend.” Tucked inside was a gift card for $100!

Birgitta and I studied the handwriting, trying to determine if we’d seen it before. Was it a woman’s writing? A man’s? Was it a young person? Someone older? I began asking around, but no one would claim responsibility. I wish I could say thanks, but anonymous gift-givers usually aren’t looking for that.

Giving anonymously is done only with careful intention, and very few do it. But when Jesus said, “It’s more blessed to give than receive,” he meant it for non-credited givers as well as those hoping for credit. Maybe those whose gifts are given in secret somehow enjoy their giving even more than the rest of us.

What kind of person gives anonymously? Maybe it’s someone who simply loves keeping secrets. Or it might be a person who doesn’t want a relationship to be tipped one way or another by the size or type of gift. It’s also possible the anonymous giver wants to be sure the gift can’t be given back, in case the receiver considers it too generous.

God is all for secretive giving. Using an interesting metaphor, he says in Scripture that we shouldn’t even let one of our hands know what the other is giving. The Bible also says that if no credit is sought on earth, the giver will be credited in heaven. (And if I know God at all, it’ll probably significantly magnified.)

Anonymous giftSo, dear anonymous friend, thank you for your very generous gift. God watched you leave it at my house and is personally planning something very special for you!

“Your Father who sees in secret will himself reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:4)

Tis the Season

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Christmas time puts many extra items on everyone’s to-do list. Our brains quickly clutter with gift ideas, entertaining opportunities, and pressing errands. As we go about our usual responsibilities, seasonal tasks take priority while everything else slides.

A few days ago, after yanking a stack of cash from the local ATM, I pulled into the bank lot to organize my wallet and prioritize my errands. As I sat with a wad of bills in one hand, my list and a pen in the other, I saw in my periphery vision a man approaching my car. “Now what,” I thought.

ATMHe rapped on the frosty window, and I looked up from my organizational work through irritated eyes. He smiled, then pressed something flat against the window for me to see: my ATM card.

Racing to start my errands, I’d forgotten to pull the card from the machine. This kind man had done it for me and amazingly had noticed my running car in the nearby lot. If he’d chosen to keep the card, he could have headed for the nearest Walmart and gone on a spending spree, since I’d recently made a large deposit to cover a college tuition bill.

Feeling ashamed of myself, I rolled down the window and accepted the card. He smiled and said, “I thought you might need this.”

Last week I blogged about my friend Melanie performing 38 random acts of kindness. The man who returned my card was doing one, too, expecting nothing in return. I wish I’d thought to give him a reward. Then I would’ve had the fun of participating in a random act of kindness, too.

Jesus was the perfect model of performing kindnesses. He healed, blessed, taught, served and did a variety of miracles for the benefit of others. One lavish kindness was feeding a mob of hungry people by miraculously dividing five rolls and two fish to generate food for all.

As the disciples walked among the masses distributing that meal, did Jesus’ hands get tired breaking off bits of bread and fish? There were 5000 men there that day, with women and children probably doubling it. Since all were satisfied after the meal, he probably “broke the bread” (i.e. tore off many thousands of pieces) with human fingers that surely got sore.

Did he receive anything in return? Although the story is told in all four Gospels, none mentions that Jesus even got to eat his own meal that day.

During this season of Christmas gift-giving, each time I pull out my ATM card I’ll think of the stranger and his random act of kindness. But I’ll also think of Jesus, who went out of his way to be kind to others…. and is still doing it today.

“God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Praising and Praying with Mary

We are all praising God tonight for the safe delivery of Anders James! God is good!