Tears of Joy

Serena and Cathy just left for the airport.  In the conflicting jumble of emotions connected to that event I sat down at my desk and sorted it all out.  I'm going to miss her terribly, and I'm sorry to see her go back to Maryland.  But I am also very proud of her.  Since she's my favorite . . . daughter . . . (I only have one daughter so I can say that!) I mentioned her first.  (It's an inside family joke!  My kids will get it.)  Beneath all the banter and fun my reason for being proud of my daughter is important.  She loves the Lord Jesus and she follows Him.  I can say that about all my children, and my daughters-in-law.

That's Brighton, above, our youngest granddaughter.  Cathy and Savanna probably look like many mother and daughter-in-law pairs, but they are far from ordinary.  Jeremy and Savanna have three children, Bristol, Eldon, and Brighton.  I know my grandchildren are going to be just fine because their parents love Jesus, and follow Him.  Serena isn't married yet.  I told her she can start dating when she's thirty, and now that she's thirty, I guess she'll get started with that!  Whatever God has in store for my daughter, I know she had a godly mom.  Like Cathy, Serena is a godly woman, and so are my daughters-in-law.

  

That's Tawny, Jeff's lovely wife.  She's about to give birth to their second son, Troy.  Like Serena, Tawny grew up in a home that practiced Christian values, that honored and loved the Lord Jesus.  Her mom and dad are two of the godliest people I know.  And she loves the Lord Jesus and follows Him.  The interesting thing about Tawny and Savanna is that they are two very different women, both very different moms, and yet both amazing.  I watch them with the kids and I wonder how I could be so blessed to have two wonderful women married to my sons.  The thing is, both women are amazing because they walk so closely with the Lord.  I see that in both of them and it makes me glad.

Jeremy and Jeff are amazing men of God.  They are great friends, work well together, and have similar values.  Watching them love their wives and children fills me with joy.  They even love their sister, even though they know she's my favorite . . . daughter.  As a pastor I had a lot of people weighing me in the balances, and finding me wanting.  What a surprise!  I'm a sinner saved by grace.  I have no other claim.  Only Jesus!  However, when I look at my children I realize that as short as I fall of the mark, God has blessed me beyond measure!  And I can honestly say that it's all Jesus!  I thank and praise Him for His blessing!  Cathy and I weren't perfect parents.  We made a lot of mistakes.  But we weren't the focus.  Jesus is!  I have wonderful sons and a wonderful daughter (my favorite . . . daughter) because they belong to Him.  He has made them new and He defines who they are!

Sometimes my grandkids just melt my heart.  I sat down on Cathy's hope chest and as soon as Eldon saw where I was sitting he wanted to sit next to me.  Later he brought his mug, because I had my mug.  My grandkids love me!  Despite my shortcomings, they love me!  I had to pause there, for a moment, to wipe away a few tears of joy.  Cathy and I have a favorite song when it comes to our kids and grandkids.  Because He Lives!  Bringing innocent children into this sin-stained and tainted world is a scary thing.  But we know who holds the future!  It's Jesus!  The lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children!  (That's in Psalm 103 if you want to look it up.)

Tears of joy!  I love them, even if they give me a sinus headache!  Because He lives, I can face tomorrow!  Because He lives, all fear is gone!  Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living, just because He lives!  Amen!  So my favorite sons, daughter, and daughters-in-law, my beloved wife and favorite grandkids, remember that!  This world can be pretty scary sometimes, and life can become a heavy burden.  Just turn to Jesus.  He makes it all better!  I love you all very much!  

That First Christmas

What was it like that first Christmas?  I know there were people poised and ready for the Messiah to come.  Somewhere in Persia, men who studied Daniel's prophecies knew when He was born, setting off, following the star, arriving perhaps twelve to fifteen months later.  And in Jerusalem there were those who knew when He would be born.  They had figured the year and knew the place.

Who was waiting in Bethlehem?  Almost everyone there was there for the tax census, but among them there must have been many who were anxiously waiting for the Savior.  We're not told how Joseph and Mary ended up in a house.  Did someone give them a house to live in?  Someone who had been waiting for this precious moment?

Simeon knew.  How his heart must have swelled when he first held Jesus!  He'd been studying Isaiah, because he quotes Isaiah 42:6 in his blessing.  And how bold was he to quote that particular verse in the Temple?  One thing the Jews didn't want was a Savior who would bring light to the gentiles . . . to the Romans!  We know there were those who hated that knowledge because they ended up hating the Messiah!

This is one of my favorite depictions of the Angel bringing the Gospel to the shepherds.  Imagine!  Lowly shepherds being visited by the Lord to announce the coming of the Messiah!  Did they know then that in Christ position, wealth, health, or past mattered nothing?  Could they sense that all men were created equal and before Him were equal?  I hope so.  I like to think so.  And on that night, that most blessed of all nights, when the message came they went to see Him.  Did they stand there in front of the stable in disbelief?  Wow!  The Savior, and He's here, in this stable!  This is no way for a King to come!

The imagery of Philippians 2:5-11 comes to mind.  Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself.  He came as a Servant.  The King of Kings and Lord of Lords who created all things came with nothing, becoming a real man.  Like Pastor Chris said:  "Jesus had a belly button!"  It's often hard for me to think of Him as a human being.  That part of the eternal Christ actually had a beginning!  It happened one evening long ago, when the Holy Spirit put a human baby in Mary's womb, and Jesus joined Himself to that human body!  And now He has the first resurrected body!

I love Christmas, because it reminds me of the greatest gift given.  Jesus.  Do you know that Jesus loves you?  He doesn't care what you've done, who you've been, if you're tall or short, fat or skinny, pretty or homely, rich or poor, or anything else.  None of that is important.  What is important is what He can do for you.  If you believe in Him, and accept Him as your Lord and Savior, He will give you life, not the living death we experience apart from Him!

Isaiah described Him in chapter 42 with some interesting words.  Look at verse 3.  A bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning which He will not extinguish.  Life apart from Him can feel that way.  I am a reed, easily broken, bruised, weak.  Before I met Jesus my light burned so dimly!  But then I met Him.  I asked Him to be my Lord and Savior.  I asked forgiveness for my sins and received it.  I asked for a new life in Christ and He gave me a life of abundance and light!

Don't get me wrong!  I'm not rich, in the eyes of the world.  Nor am I important, according to the world's standards.  I have no power or position of which to boast.  But then, I don't live here any more.  Oh, yes!  I dwell here, but only to sojourn for a time.  My home is heaven, where Christ is.  Every spiritual blessing is mine!  I have peace.

Nothing can take away my light, or my life.  My body can die, but the spirit within, me, the person that uses this body for self expression, does not die.  Nor does this person live in darkness anymore.  Is Christmas special?  You bet!  Every year it gets more wonderful for me.  If only we could recapture the wonder of Christmas!

Alas!  My culture does everything to destroy what it means.  In my world Christmas is something the devil wants to remove!  Sometimes it seems that he is winning that battle, but then I celebrate the season with those who can recapture the wonder!  And I capture the wonder once again.  How blessed this Christmas is!

Thank You, Jesus, for coming!  Thank You for Christmas.  May I never forget the wonder that is the celebration of Your birthday!  I love You.

  

Christmas Wish

Christmas lights, decorations, trees, wreaths, Santa Claus, manger scenes (who are those white people?), wrapping paper, boxes, toys, pine cones, ribbons, the sound of children's voices raised in excitement, bells ringing, Salvation Army ringers collecting for that worthy institution and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, Christmas movies, and Christmas music, all delightful and wonderful reminders of this amazing season.  Jesus is the reason for the season!  The greatest gift ever given in all of history is celebrated in this season!  It motivates us to give.  Just like Old Saint Nick was motivated to give and started the wonderful tradition of Santa Clause!

  

Someone asked me:  "If you could have one wish for Christmas, what would it be?"  I was quite surprised to realize that I didn't have to think about it!  I knew exactly what my one wish would be!  Perhaps you'd like to know what it was?  Yes, yes!  Get with it Bill  and tell us!  I wish that every person in the world could look into the loving eyes of Jesus, see and understand the depth of His wonderful love for us, and respond to that love with faith and obedience, loving each other as He loves us!

Grandchildren teach us a lot about wonder and discovery.  I love children and their exuberance.  They tend to love us in a sweet and innocent way.  Would that you and I could learn to express our love and excitement about each other in the same manner.  But we tend to be too stuffy and reserved, afraid to express our true emotions.  I think about the expressions of heaven when Jesus came!  So come on!  Let's get excited about Christmas!  Let's get excited about love, and giving, and generosity, and family, and friendship, and raise our voices in song and praise together to the reason for the season!  I love You Jesus!  I'm going to tell everyone:  "Merry Christmas!  Jesus loves you!"