just a thought… – Page 10

The End is Near…

I’m intrigued by the voting in my previous poll about a possible relationship between Billy Graham’s eventual death and the end of the age. {Scroll down to view results. If you haven’t voted yet, go for it!} Makes me wonder about a few things…like, if I knew the world would end tomorrow would I change anything about my life today?

What if you knew that this world’s clock had only 5 more years ticking on it before the alarm sounds? Would you still be so wrapped up about your failing retirement fund? Would the demands of the office give way to purposeful energy invested in spouse and children? Would you exchange the pettiness and resentment you feel toward someone for forgiveness? Would you be inclined to develop your own “Bucket List” of activities and adventures to conquer? Would you make a passionate effort to get your everyday life off the “Groundhog Day” track and do something radically different? Would you be more purposeful in counting your blessings? Would you reevaluate your relationship to your Creator and try to “make peace with God?”

Ten years ago, in anticipation of the year 2000, the cover of Time magazine carried a photo of a barefoot man with long hair wearing a flowing white gown and a sandwich board sign bearing the message “The END Of The WORLD!?!”. As the world prepared for certain annihilation at the stroke of midnight Y2K, people all over the globe took inventory of their lives and made adjustments to their priorities.

In our melancholy and/or panic we considered that life is short. We searched for purpose and meaning. One of the most popular books of the decade…The Purpose Driven Life…flew off store shelves as we sought to make sense of our existence.

Now, here we are again ten years later and none the wiser. Rats returned to the maze, wondering who moved our cheese…

The Bible makes it very clear that life is a vapor. Man is but a blink of an eye in an infinite cosmos. If you could truly begin to comprehend this fact, what, if anything, would you change?

For me, I have been taking a hard look at what it means to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength…” Mark 12: 29. Mine is an on-going quest to relinquish those things in my life that so easily become idols, to instead focus on Christ as my everything. To LOVE Him with ALL that is in me.

Such a quest cannot be confused with religiosity and a lengthy list of “thou shalt nots”. Instead it requires a daily surrender of all that is in me in exchange for ALL that He is. Being the selfish creature that I am, surrender does not come easy. Still, I am learning that it is the only road worth traveling. Whether the world comes to an end tomorrow or not at all in my lifetime, I long to be a spiritual being consumed with livin 4 Jesus.

Make Room for the King

I love Christmas. It is undoubtedly my favorite holiday.

The biggest problem with our secular, gift-giving, party-going approach to Christmas is that there often isn’t purposeful attention devoted to the Christ child. I heard it said recently that if the Innkeeper in Bethlehem had known who he was turning away, he would have gladly given up his own bed. But would he? Would we? Sadly, just as the Innkeeper of Mary & Joseph’s time uttered the words “no room”, so too, we give in to the notion that we are “full”.

Holiday paraphernalia seems to hit retail shelves earlier & earlier each year…am I the only one uncomfortable with Halloween candy corn and peppermint candy canes on display at the same time? Despite this early rush to kick off the Christmas season, we still insist there is just no time…no room for the King. Buried in busyness we allow the trappings of this season to steal our joy and conceal the original message of “Peace on Earth”.

In January 2008 I had an epiphany that we don’t really know what day Jesus was born so why not celebrate Christmas everyday this year? As my act of symbolism, I left my home decorated with Christmas trees, wreaths, nativity scenes, stockings on the mantle, an elaborate village lit up…well, you get the picture. Much to their surprise friends coming to visit were greeted with “Merry Christmas” even in July as the smell of spices wafted through my indoor winter wonderland.

Now in December 2008, with snow blanketing the earth outside my festive Colorado home I taste the warmth of hot cocoa. I recall memories of the past 11 months…the joyful, the painful, the unexpected. For some of us making room for Christ will flow as it has throughout the year. For others, it will be more difficult…in my own life I pray for loved ones in financial crisis, employment uncertainties, a prayer partner facing serious health concerns, a family chair that will be left empty this side of heaven at the Christmas feast.

My heart is heavy even as Christmas music flows from stereo speakers. Quietly the Lord reminds me He inhabits the praise of His people.

If we truly desire to make room for the King this season, we can begin…even in the most painful circumstances…with something as simple as humming, singing, praising. There’s a supernaturalness about praise that clears away heart clutter and leaves an open space. A space where the King may enter in. The more we praise the more room we clear for Him and the more Christ enters in.

Will we leave “baby Jesus” out in the cold stall this year or will we make room for King Jesus to enter in?

“Rejoice, the Lord is King; Your Lord & King adore! Rejoice, give thanks and SING, and triumph evermore! Lift up your heart. Lift up your voice! Rejoice again, I say rejoice! “

{“Rejoice the Lord is King” by Charles Wesley 1707-1788}

The Ultimate Reason

Children say its Christmas gifts and festive, pretty trees.

Merchants think its jackpot time, counting on spending sprees.

Churches stage cantatas and other Christmas shows.

Couples run to smooch underneath the mistletoe.

Schools have “winter festivals”, teachers live for a break.

Airlines look for revenue from family escapes.

HSN shows jewelry, toys & boots & skirts.

Food Network is stirring up cookies & desserts.

Thousands of Santa Clauses with children on their laps.

Hoards of Christmas shoppers lugging bulging sacks.

Carolers are singing out their favorite Christmas songs.

Neighbors’ lights are glowing with deer on their lawns.

Bell ringers, snowball fights, nativity scenes

Does anyone remember what Christmas really means?

Party invitations and cards flood the mail.

Phone lines are jammed with stories to tell.

Snow plows are roaring, pushing ice & snow.

And in the midst of all of this we act like we don’t know

that somewhere back in history, hundreds of years ago

a baby boy was born beneath a bright star’s glow.

His mother was a virgin, his dad a quiet man,

both of them obedient to their Father’s plan.

They rode into Bethlehem and settled in a stall

where Mary gave birth to the Lord of All.

Shepherds & angels worshiped in the cold.

Wise men brought frankincense, myrrh & gold.

Heaven rejoiced while the Sovereign Father cried.

He & Christ alone knew that Jesus came to die.

The world that He was born into was filled with sin & shame.

It was for man’s redemption that the Christ child came.

Of all that we could list for celebrating the season,

God’s love for us despite our sin is the ultimate reason.