Month: December 2014

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Christmas Trees Rejoice Before the Lord

There is a Christmas tree in my living room. It’s not a real tree, though I do love the smell of a fir.

We have lights on our tree and there are ornaments on it. Some of the ornaments are the baby pictures of me, my wife, children and grandchildren.

I’ve said previously that the lights remind me of the twinkling stars that shine in the night.

But is my tree a pagan symbol?
Many think so!

For the customs of the peoples are futile; for one cuts a tree from the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails and hammers so that it will not topple. Jer 10:3-4

This was not a Christmas tree in Jeremiah. Christ had not come. Were they worshipping the tree?
It’s likely. They also cut wood and stone and made little statues to worship.

I’ve cut wood and have made things but never worshipped them. Neither do I worship the Christmas tree.

What I am reminded of is that a tree got us in trouble and a tree got us out of trouble.

It was a tree that Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat it’s fruit. They did. It was called sin and it has affected everyone.

It was another tree that was cut down, put in the shape of a cross, and upon it was nailed the Son of God.
This act on the second tree took away the reproach of the first.

I often think how cruel people can be with what God had created; and I often wonder what kind of tree became the wood of the cross.

I think of how the Bible says,

The trees of the woods shall rejoice before the Lord, 1 Chron 16:33

What a joy that the trees rejoice before the Lord. I rejoice before the Lord too!

Abba, all of Your creation is beautiful to me. I love the change of leaves in Autumn and I love the budding of green in Spring. I love the beauty of snow (or ice) on the pines around my home. I rejoice in your creation, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Christmas Crowds

I don’t like Christmas shopping. There are way too many people in the same store at the same time, trying to buy the same things.

When I have to go shopping I entertain myself by watching other shoppers.

Some are oblivious to the world around them. They’ll block the aisle without any thought to the other people that need to get by them.

There are mom’s with kids and it’s a juggling act to keep them all under control.

The comparison shopper stands around the same area and looks at different varieties of the basic same product.

Some others, like me, are happy to just sit down and wait while watching others go by.

Some areas of the stores or mall are so crowded that I just avoided it.

All of this reminds me of another crowd.

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

Bethlehem was crowded when Joseph and Mary arrived and were “shopping” for a place to stay. The streets were crowded. The doorways were crowded. The restaurants were crowded. There were people everywhere.

And there were so many that no rooms were available for the night.

The innkeeper did his best to offer the couple some type of shelter.

I doubt the stable was very comfortable but it did shield them from the elements and gave a place for the King of kings to humbly be brought into the world.

So next time you are in the crowd’s, think of the crowded town of Bethlehem where the Savior was born.

Next time you’re out in the crowd’s, remind yourself that Jesus came and died for all of them.

Abba, everyone I meet today needs you as Savior; whether it’s a crowd of a hundred or just one person. I want to be the light to shine the way to You. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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It’s Christmastime

With the end of Thanksgiving and November, we enter the season of Christmas. Lights start appearing in neighborhoods and trees will soon be shining in living rooms.

You will hear ringing bells as you walk into stores and cards will begin arriving in the mail. Santa shows up at the mall and kids by the dozen will stand in line for their turn to sit on his lap and tell what they want for Christmas.

Christmas music is heard more often on the radio and there’s the hustle and bustle of shopping for gifts.

All these things say Christmas to me.

I love the smell of green Christmas trees and cinnamon spice.

I realize that Christmas is about the birth of Christ and I am reminded of it in all I see, smell, and hear.

Let’s start with the lights.

And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Luke 2:9

The lights are a reminder of the glory of the Lord shining around the shepherds as they hear the Good Tiding of great joy!

I look at my own Christmas tree and think of the stars in the heaven’s twinkling silently from light-years away and yet the Babe in the manger is the One that placed them there.

So don’t frown at the Christmas around you – embrace it and see Christ in all there is.

I’ll share some more thoughts about it next time.

Abba, I love Christmas and all that comes with it. I want to honor Jesus in all I do with Christmas, YES&AMEN