Preparing to Celebrate the Birth of our Savior

In the hecticness of Christmas, it is good to slow down and reflect on the true reason for this season, celebrating the birth of our Savior.  The birth of Jesus Christ in a manger 2,000 years ago was the most significant event in the history of mankind.  It is so easy to get caught up in shopping, baking, decorating, and the many other activities that go into our Christmas celebrations.  One of the ways I focus my attention on Christ is to sing Christmas hymns as I go about my holiday chores.  The traditional hymns reflect on the wonder of Christ’s virgin birth and it’s significance to mankind.

Today, I’ve been singing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” most of the day.  This beautiful hymn summarizes the entirety of Christ’s mission as “God and sinners reconciled.”  Jesus birth, life, death, and resurrection were God’s plan to allow us a means to find forgiveness and be reconciled to him.  Without Christ leaving His heavenly home and coming to Earth to live among us, we would be without hope.  But, Jesus did come and offers to us atonement and eternal life if we only accept His free gift.  And that is truly a gift to celebrate.

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
Lyrics by Charles Wesley
Music by Felix Mendelssohn
 
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled.”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic hosts proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem,”
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!
 
Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin’s womb,
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity!
Please as man with ment to appear, Jesus our Immanuel here.
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!
 
Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings;
Mild He lays His glory by, Born the man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth; Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!
 
Come, Desire of nations, come!  Fix in us They humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conquering seed, Bruise in us the serpent’s head;
Adam’s likeness now efface, Stamp Thine image in its place;
Second Adam from above, Reinstate us in They love.
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!

Sharing Christ’s Love Through Christmas Generosity

At this time of year, most people are in a generous mood.  The Christmas spirit inspires us to share with those in need and we are bombarded with opportunities to give.  From the Salvation Army’s red kettles to Toys for Tots drop boxes to food drives, there are ample choices for everyone to give to those needs that are most dear to their hearts.  There are so many worthy charities that it is hard to decide which ones to support.  Each year I struggle to balance the desire to give to every great cause while staying within my budget. So I want to share some steps that have helped me in making these tough decisions.

1) Ask God for wisdom in determining which charities to support each year.  If we all followed God’s guidance with our giving, all the needs would be met.

2) Decide how much money you can afford to give and stick to your budget.  I once read a definition of debt as “misguided charity.”  Being overly generous can lead to financial difficulties just as surely as greed and selfish spending.

3) Support charities whose values line up with your own.  As a Christian, I support charities sponsored by Christian organizations.  While I recognize that the beneficiaries of charitable giving appreciate the assistance regardless of the source, I want to share the message of Christ’s love while blessing others.

The following are some of the charities that I have supported over the years.

1) Angel Tree–This ministry of Prison Fellowship provides gifts to children of prison inmates.  They desire to reconcile prisoners with their families by delivering gifts to the children in the name of the incarcerated parent.

2) Operation Christmas Child–A ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Christmas Child has delivered nearly 100 million Christmas gifts in shoeboxes to children all over the world.  Each box contains materials that share Christ’s love and plan of salvation with the recipient.

3) Salvation Army–Through their red buckets and their Angel gifts, the Salvation Army blesses needy children and senior citizens.  The Salvation Army’s mission is to reach the lost, the last, and the least with the message of Christ’s love.

4) Toys for Tots–This toy drive is sponsored by the Marine Corps and Marine Corps reserves and provides toys to disadvantaged children.  The mission of Toys for Tots is to provide a message of hope that will assist children in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens. 

5)  Food banks.  I donate to my church’s food ministry and our local food bank.  It’s hard to share Christ’s love with people who are hungry.  When we feed people, they know we care about them and it makes it easier for them to believe that Christ loves them.

That’s my list of favorite charitable organizations. What are some of yours?  What other ways to you share Christ’s love at Christmas?

Christmas celebrates the beginning of Christ’s earthly journey and the hope that He brought to the world.  As we give Christmas gifts to those less fortunate than us, we have an opportunity to share Christ’s love and the infinitely valuable gift He gave us when He left his home in Heaven to live among man and ultimately pay the price for our sins. Please pray and ask God to direct your giving this year.  If we all give as God leads us, many needs will be met and many lives will be changed.  The true message of Christmas is that Christ came to Earth to change lives.

 

Hymns of Thanksgiving

As we gather with family and friends today to remember with gratitude the blessings of the past year, let us remember to thank the One who made these blessings possible.  Without God’s help, none of us would enjoy the blessings of good health, family, liberty, and and freedom.  America was formed as a nation under God, and we need to remember to thank Him for his mercy and favor on our great nation.

I’d like to share two old hymns that I grew up singing during the Thanksgiving season.  They are reminders to me that all good things come from God.  Let’s offer up grateful prayers of thanksgiving to God today and everyday.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Come, Ye Thankful People
 Henry Alford
 
Come, ye thankful people come, Raise the song of harvest home:
All is safely gathered in, Ere the winter storms begin.
God, our Maker, doth provide, For our wants to be supplied.
Come to God’s own temple, come, Raise the song of harvest home.
 
We Gather Together
 Theodore Baker
 
We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing,
He chastens and hastens His will to make known;
The wicked oppressing cease them from distressing.
Sing praises to His names, He forgets not His own.
 
Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, wast at our side,all glory be Thine!
 
We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader in battle,
And pray that Thou still our Defender will be;
Let thy congregation escape tribulation:
Thy name be ever praised!  O Lord, make us free!
 

We Thank Thee

For mother-love and father-care,
For brothers strong and sisters fair,
For love at home and here each day,
For guidance lest we go astray,
    Father,in Heaven, we thank thee.
 
For this new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For ev’rything His goodness sends,
   Father in Heaven, we thank Thee.
 

Helping Others Through Christmas Gift-Giving

I love giving Christmas gifts and I love it even more when my gift-giving not only provides a gift to the recipient but helps to provide jobs, supports a worthy cause, or gives small business owners a means of providing support for their families.  This can be accomplished by shopping from locally-owned businesses and directly from small vendors at craft sales and through venues such as ETSY. It can also be accomplished by purchasing from businesses that are selling items from Fair Trade vendors or are donating the proceeds from the sale of certain products to charity.

To help get you in the gift-giving mode, I have identified some sites where your shopping will ‘give back’ to small vendors and those in need.  Merry Christmas and Happy Shopping.

1) A World of Good–Crate and Barrel    http://www.crateandbarrel.com//photo-gallery-fair-trade-ornaments  Crate and Barrel is featuring Christmas ornaments created by women-owned microbusinesses in Kenya, Peru, and India.  Sales of these ornaments will provide support to families in Kenya and Peru and will help to build a hospital in the Kashmir region of India.

Fiber Hut ornaments from Kenya help women provide sustainable income for their families.

2) Gift of Hope–American Diabetes Association  http://www.diabetes.org/donate/promotions-that-give-back/gift-of-hope.html  The American Diabetes Association has a catalog full of wonderful Christmas gifts.  The sale of Christmas ornaments, jewelry, candles, kitchen gadgets, and many other products will support diabetes research and bring hope to adults and children who suffer with this disease.

 

3) Kohl’s Cares http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/landingpages/kohlscares/kidscausemerchandise.jsp?icid=hpme|mes1  Kohl’s features books, stuffed animals, and cookbooks throughout the year as part of their Kohl’s Cares program. 100% of proceeds are donated to Kid’s Causes such as healthcare and education or to Women’s Causes such as breast cancer research.

4) St. Judes Candles–Pottery Barn–http://www.potterybarn.com/pages/stjude.html Pottery Barn features the St. Jude Candle collection.  50% of the sales goes to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to support research and treatment for children with catastrophic illness, including childhood cancers.

This tealight lamp is one of the product from Pottery Barn whose sale supports St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

5) Heart of Haiti and Rwanda Path to Peace– Macy’s–http://www1.macys.com/shop/for-the-home/a-committed-partnership?id=61874&edge=hybrid  Macy’s has partnered with artisans in Haiti and Rwanda to sell their handmade products, included woven baskets and pottery items.  The revenue earned from these sales reduces poverty, reduces cases of malaria by providing netting, and allows families to purchase water purification tablets to provide clean drinking water.

6) Sweet Home Gifts–Dancing Deer Baking Company–http://www.dancingdeer.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=order&product_group_id=-45&product_id=0      35% of the retail sales price of Sweet Home cake and cookies gifts are donated to a scholarship program through One Family Inc.  These scholarships help homeless at and risk mothers further their education.

7) Global Girlfriends                            tps://www.globalgirlfriend.com/store/ggf/site  Global Girlfriends seeks to eradicate poverty by selling items handmade by women worldwide.  Proceeds provide micro-grants to women in Africa to start their own small businesses.

8) Camelback Groove Bottle–water.org–https://www.globalgirlfriend.com/store/ggf/site $10 of every purchase goes to Water.org to provide safe water and sanitation to countries across Africa, South Asia, and Central America.

9) National Zoo Store–Smithsonian National Zoological Park–http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Shop/ Every purchase supports the conservation, education, and research efforts of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo

10) Thanks for Sharing–Macy’s–http://www1.macys.com/m/campaign/give-back/index  Macy’s credit card holders can designate a portion of their purchases made from September through December each year to go to one of several charities.  Charities include American Heart Association, Make A Wish, the Boys and Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Getting in the Christmas Spirit with Samaritan’s Purse

Christmas is six weeks away, but it’s not too early to start getting in the Christmas spirit by blessing others.  Like many churches around the country, my church is participating in Operation Shoebox, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse.The girls in our Girls Ministries program filled shoeboxes with gifts to be given to a boy or girl in a foreign country.  For many of these children, it will be the first Christmas gift they have ever received.  Each of our seven classes filled one or two shoeboxes.  A few of them are depicted below.

Shoeboxes to be sent to Samaritan’s Purse to distribute to children worldwide.

There is still time for you to participate in this important ministry.  You can use your own shoebox or pick up a decorated box at your local Christian bookstore or Chick fil A restaurant.  If you use your own, please wrap it in Christmas paper.  Fill the box with some toys, personal hygiene products, school and art supplies, hard candies, or other small gifts.  Use your imagination and ask God to give your ideas for your box.

When the box is ready, put a rubber band around it and indicate if it is for a boy or girl and the appropriate age range.  Drop off the box at a local collection point.  Go to http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/Drop_Off_Locations/ to find the drop off location nearest you.  For more information on the ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, go to www.samaritanspurse.com

Box collection started today and goes through next Monday, November 19.  It’s not too late, but time is running out.  If you are able to participate, you will bless a child and share with them the true spirit of Christ. And in doing so, you will be blessed in return.   

Acts 20:35, “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

“Do You Love Me?”

A few weeks ago Lisa Whelchel announced she was divorcing her husband after more than 23 years of marriage. Yesterday I watched a video of an interview she did with Jeff Probst in which Lisa said that she was never really in love with her husband.  Lisa explained that she thought she was following God’s will for her life by marrying her husband, yet her heart was never committed to the relationship.

As I listened to the interview, I was reminded of  the very touching scene in Fiddler on the Roof where Tevye asks Golde if she loves him.  Golde tries to avoid answering but finally concludes that all they have shared in 25 years of marriage is the definition of love.  The song ends with each professing their love for the other and concludes with “It doesn’t change a thing, but even so, after twenty-five years, it’s nice to know.”

It’s not my place to judge Lisa or to try to determine what was right for her and her family.  However, my heart breaks at the realization that a Christian couple who have tried to follow God’s will for their lives could live together for more than two decades and raise a family without truly bonding with one another.  Tevye and Golde are right when they conclude that going through the ups and downs of life together really does constitute love.  I’m sorry Lisa was not able to come to the same conclusion.  I wish her all the best as she moves forward in life as a single Christian woman,  and I pray that she will find the lasting love that she seems to have missed in her recently-ended marriage.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Fiddler on the Roof, I encourage you to check out the video of “Do You Love Me?”   starring Topol as Tevye and Norma Crane as Golde:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_y9F5St4j0 .  It’s a beautiful song and a touching scene as these two long-married people finally reveal the love that is in their hearts.

Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

Tonight, October 31, children across American will don costumes and take to the street to collect candy from their neighbors in the annual celebration of Halloween.  As a Christian, I have struggled with whether Christians  should (1) celebrate Halloween, (2) ignore Halloween, or (3) partake in an alternative activity, such as a Fall festival.  I have given this much thought over the years and have decided that for me, as a Christian, providing a wholesome, safe alternative to traditional Halloween celebrations is most in line with my beliefs.

As a child, I looked forward to Halloween only because I received lots of free candy.  Our family was never put up elaborate decorations or tried to scare young children.  We simply dressed up and collected candy from our neighbors, then came home to examine our loot and start eating it.  

When I hit my teens, our church began offering an alternative event to Halloween.  Children were permitted to dress in “nice” costumes and were treated to an evening of fun, games, and food.  It was basically like going to a party.  I enjoyed these Halloween-alternative events more than our past tradition of walking around the neighborhood to get candy. As an adult, I have helped to put on many such events at my church.

My boys have always loved to dress up in costumes.

Halloween isn’t all fun and candy, however.  There is a distinctly dark aspect of Halloween.  Witches, ghosts, and goblins are displayed throughout neighborhoods.  Horror films abound on television.  Haunted houses are erected.  This scary, evil part of Halloween is what makes many Christians object to the entire celebration.  They feel the day glorifies Satan, while at the same time teaching children that Satan is a fictional character.  If the scary parts of Halloween are make-believe, then Satan probably is make-believe, also.  Unfortunately, Satan is very real and he is using every opportunity to deceive people and keep them from believing the truth.

So, why then, would I as a Christian support and participate in any events on October 31?  Psalm 118:24 tells us, “This is the day that the Lord has made.”  Every day belongs to God.  We have not been instructed to give over even one day to Satan.  Therefore, I will not be silent on October 31.  I will not ignore this day.  By offering alternative celebrations, I believe we reclaim October 31 as a day belonging to God.

Additionally, by offering an alternative to children, we have the opportunity to provide a safe environment for children to have fun.  Children need to see that the Christian way of life is not a life of restrictions but rather a life of opportunity and freedom.  Jesus came “that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  (John 10:10)  We are trying to introduce children to the freedom and joy that comes from making Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  Having a event on October 31 is one way to do that.

Our church will host a Trunk or Treat event tonight. Along with candy, children will participate in games and be fed dinner. They will also get a brief introduction to Jesus Christ.  We will not be celebrating Halloween.  We will be celebrating the Creator of the Universe–the one who makes October 31 possible.

How will you honor God this day?

Trunk or Treat car

Preparing for the Storm

I got an unexpected day off today as the Eastern seaboard prepares for Hurricane Sandy, the latest storm to head our way.  At a minimum, Sandy will bring with it a lot of rain and high winds, which is what we expect in the greater Washington, DC, area.  Power outages are also likely.  Those more directly in Sandy’s path will experience stronger winds, more rain, and flooding.  As the path of a hurricane is never certain, a wide region must prepare for a possible onslaught.

Although our area doesn’t expect to experience the worst of Sandy, most of us have prepared by stocking up on bottled water, nonperishable food, and flashlight batteries.  We’ve made sure our pets are safe and protected.  We’ve cleared debris from around our sump pumps and secured outdoor furniture that might become projectiles in strong winds.  Most government agencies and many business have closed for the day and most likely will remain closed tomorrow.

If the storm does not come our way, we will feel a great deal of relief and thankfulness.  Thanks to oft-maligned weathermen, we have had many days warning that Hurricane Sandy might head our way and those caught unprepared will have no one to blame but themselves.

Unlike storms of nature, storms of life hit us with no advanced warning.  We are going happily about our life when suddenly we are hit with a storm that wrecks havoc in our life.  It might be the unexpected death of a loved one or a diagnosis of cancer after a routine medical screening.  It could be the loss of a job or the loss of a dream.  We typically don’t have an advanced warning of these types of storms, but we know that we will all face them from time to time. 

How can we prepare for these storms?  I prepare by putting my faith in my Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  When Jesus ascended into Heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell with us and guide us through life’s storms.  “I will ask the Father and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever–the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:16, NIV)  As we call on the Holy Spirit, He comforts us and guides us through the trials, or storms, or life.

I awoke this morning with the old hymn The Solid Rock running through my mind and I’ve been singing it all morning.  The chorus says, “On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.”

I am truly thankful today that no matter what punch Hurricane Sandy throws at us, my feet are firmly planted on solid ground.  With Jesus Christ as my Savior, I have nothing to fear.

Are your feet planted on a firm foundation today?  If not, I pray that you will look to Jesus as your solid rock.

 

The Solid Rock
Lyrics by Edward Mote, 1797 – 1874
Music by William B. Bradbury, 1816- 1868
 
My hope is built on nothing less,
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name
 
On Christ the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
 
When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the vale.
 
On Christ the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
 
His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
 
On Christ the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
 
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
 
On Christ the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

Welcoming Home A Returning Hero

On my recent trip to New Orleans, I was seated beside one of our military heroes as he flew the last leg of a very long trip home from Afghanistan.  Sam had been away from his family for a year, serving with an Army unit.  His trip home had taken him from Afghanistan to New Orleans by way of Africa, Germany, Indianapolis, and Atlanta over a period of 36 hours.  He was exhausted but willing to talk to me about his family and his life in New Orleans.

Sam’s military service qualifies him as one of America’s heroes.  He put his life on the line to protect our freedoms and defend our nation. Additionally, Sam is helping to rebuild New Orleans while realizing the American dream and supporting his family.  Sam has been able to purchase damaged homes, renovate them, and rent them.  He is building a future for his children while helping to rebuild his home town.

I enjoyed my visit with Sam and looked forward to witnessing Sam’s reunion with his family after his long absence.  So I was disappointed to learn that Sam was sneaking into town unannounced. He planned to surprise his family by suddenly showing up at home.  I’m sure it was a great surprise and that his family was delighted to have Sam home.  However, I couldn’t help but feel that Sam had denied them the great pleasure of waiting excitedly for their first glimpse of him as he made his way through the airport.

Many years ago I waited at the Savannah airport with my mother, three sisters, and little brother as Dad returned home safely from Vietnam.  It is one of the best memories of my life.  Even now, forty-four years later, there are tears in my eyes as I recall that joyous day.  Dad had left home 13 months earlier and served in Saigon during the TET offensive.  Although we were in elementary school,  my sisters and I couldn’t escape the daily barrage of news on the war in Vietnam.  We were aware that he was in harm’s way everyday and there was nothing we could do except pray for God’s hand to protect him.

Mom received word of Dad’s homecoming a day before he arrived home.  I think he had called her from Hawaii to let her know he was on his way.  She tried to keep the news a secret from us, but we noticed her whispering to the neighbors and figured out that something was up.  Mom soon realized that we feared something was wrong and told us the wonderful news.  Shortly afterwards, Dad called from California.  It is impossible to describe the joy I felt as a nine-year old girl upon hearing Dad’s voice for the first time in more than a year.  There was little sleep in our house that night and in the morning we piled into our station wagon to make the trip to the airport. 

In 1968 airports were not equipped with the security systems now in place.  We stood behind a chain-link fence and watched as Dad came down the steps of the plane.  Then we raced into his arms.  It was so wonderful to have our Dad home. 

Dad could have chosen to surprise us, as Sam did and as many fathers are choosing to do these days.  I’m sure we would have been just as thrilled to have him home.  But we would have been denied those glorious hours of anticipation, knowing that he was on his way home, and the pure joy of watching him step from the plane.

Thanks, Dad, for your service.  You deserved the hero’s welcome you received from your grateful family.  And Sam, thank you for your service.  Thank you for making the sacrifice to serve your country thousands of miles from home and those you love.  I hope your homecoming was as special and joyous in its own way as my father’s was so many years ago.