How He Loves

How He Loves Us Video

Oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

I've thought a lot the last few days about how much God must love us.
I mean...to send his son to live amongst us, to be one of us, and to face pain and sorrow like us is just amazing.

To come down and make Himself vulnerable in the form of a child just leaves me in awe. 

Yesterday, we celebrated the coming of the greatest gift ever given.  We celebrated the greatest the only real gift that truly has "no strings attached." 

Thing is, our celebration should not stop.  Christmas is not really over. 


In the Christian calendar, Christmas is not officially over until January 5th, but for many folks, Christmas is already ending.  In the next couple of days the trees will come down and the decorations will be put away.
The wrapping paper will be thrown away, the house cleaned up and relatives will leave.

For the most part, Christmas will begin to fade in our minds.  In 6 months, many of you will not even be able to say what gifts you received this year.  

But as Christians, Christmas should not be over...it should be just beginning.

Jesus came down on earth in the form of a little child to show His great love for US!  Christmas begins with us taking Christ out to others.  Christmas continues with us giving the gift of Love's Pure Light to others. 

Today is still Christmas...what are you doing to still celebrate?  Are you still in the Christmas Spirit?  You might still be today, but how about tomorrow?  Or the next day?  Or January 5th?  Will Christmas still be on your mind? 

Will others be able to still see Christmas Light shining in you? 

Merry Christmas!!!

I'm taking the day off from blogging and spending it with my family!  :-) 
Hope that is okay with you! 

Love's Pure Light

Silent Night

The above link is to a video by Sixpence None the Richer (as well as Dan Haseltine from Jars of Clay).

I think it is a very cool video for one of my favorite Christmas songs.  I like this song because the song was written and intended for guitar.  I also like it for the beautiful harmonies that can be found.  But ultimately, I love the words.  I especially love the 3rd verse.

Silent Night, Holy Night
Son of God, Love's pure light. 
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. 

I Love it..."Love's pure light."  I love thinking about the light that Jesus brings to the world.  I love thinking about the light that Jesus brings to ME! 

I love the part of the Christmas Eve services, when we all lift our candles high, belting out the 3rd verse of "Silent Night."

I love the peacefulness of that moment.  I love the reverence of that moment.

I don't know if it is the "Calm before the storm" or what, but I just love that moment.  I always feel the presence of God in a very strong way in that part of the service. 

However, what I feel stronger than anything else, is the calling to take that light out unto the world.  The message of the Gospel is clear and it is clear that we as Christians are given the task of sharing the light of Christ. 

As our campus Pastor, Andrea Smith, said at the Christmas Eve Eve service...The manger has a mission. 

We have a mission. 

We celebrate Christmas with our families tomorrow, but our mission for the year also starts tomorrow.

Christmas doesn't end tomorrow, it just begins.

It begins with us sharing the light of Christ with others.
It begins with us being the hands and feet of Christ.
It begins with dropping the label of "Christian" and we start "Being" a Christian.
It begins when we stop just going to church and we start Being the church.

It begins with You. 

Love's pure light comes tonight for YOU!
Are you going to hide that light? 
Are you going to let it fade and just go back to "life as normal" next week?

Love's pure light comes tonight for You!

What are you going to do with that gift?

Rush of Fools

Peace, Be Still

PEACE BE STILL - By Rush Of Fools
Come to Me, you who are weak
Let My strength be yours tonight
Come and rest, let My love be your bed
Let My heart be yours tonight

Peace be still, Peace be still
Please be still and know that I am God
and know that I am God

Come empty cup, let Me fill you up
I'll descend on you like a dove tonight
Lift your head, let your eyes fall into Mine
Let your fear subside tonight

Peace be still, Peace be still
Please be still and know that I am God
and know that I am God

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Peace be still, Peace be still
Please be still and know that I am God
and know that I am God

It's not necessarily a "Christmas" song, but it is a song that has very much been in my thoughts this Christmas. 
Fact is, over the next few weeks, I'll probably more have free time than I will most other times of the year.
I won't be at the church as much, I'll have time to sit and just relax some. 
You won't have to be at school.  You won't have to go to work.  You will have days that you may not even get out of your pajamas. 

There may be a few days here and there that are crazy busy with family coming in town or just spending time with your own family.  But for most of us, we'll have some time to just relax.

And yet, this always seems to be the time of year that I get "off track" with my daily quiet times, prayers, scripture reading and devotionals.  Seems kind of odd that I'll have more "free time" and yet, I'll spend less time with God. 

I doubt I am alone though.  I imagine you are likely right there with me on this one. 
It's so easy to get caught up in the business of Christmas day to forget to go to the one that we are celebrating in the first place.
It's easy to just continue to lounge in our pajamas, playing games and watching tv, and not spend time in prayer and study.

For some of you, prayer and study time may not be a regular part of your life anyway. 

I encourage you to take some time the next few weeks to really "Please be still and know that He is God." 
It's amazing how this could change your Christmas experience.  How cool would it be if as a family, first thing you did on Christmas day was not opening gifts, but turning to God for a family prayer?

How cool would it be if instead of jumping right into presents, you read the Christmas story as a family. 

How shocking would it be if your parents said it was time to open gifts and you said "no, lets wait a while, I need to spend some time with God first." 

I know I'm sounding a little "Churchy" right now, but this isn't about church...this is about Christ being number one in your life. 
This isn't "acting like a good Christian", this is having a real relationship with God. 
This isn't about just going through the motions, but really making Christ a member of your family and not just someone to add into the family when it is convenient. 

Whether it is one of those "Super busy days", one of those "extremely lazy days", or just something in between...Please take time to be still and know that He is God.  Set aside time, schedule time to focus on nothing but God. 

Part of why I thought of this song, was a different "Rush of Fools" song was on the other day while I was sitting in traffic by the church.  I thought about the name of the band "Rush of Fools" and just laughed.

I looked around at all the stressed out faces.
I looked around to see all the folks that are in so much of a hurry that logic and traffic laws didn't apply to them.
I looked at the near by shopping center, with folks scurrying around to buy last minute presents.

And I just thought...we really are a bunch of "fools" rushing around.  We are so busy to mesh with expectations during the holidays, that we forget why we have this holiday in the first place.

How foolish is it of us to just hurry through the holidays, wearing ourselves out...only to forget to be still and know that He is God.
How foolish is it for us to forget what it's all about during the holidays.

We are a "Rush of Fools"...

But we don't have to continue to be.
Peace be still,
Please be still.
And KNOW that He is God!

Merry Christmas, Merry xmas, Happy Holidays?

So each year the debate over whether or not we as Christians should say Merry Christmas, Merry xmas or Happy Holidays.

Some believe that "Merry Christmas" is the only way Christians should greet others during Advent.  Saying that we need to keep the Christ in CHRISTmas. 

Some think that saying "Merry Xmas" is okay, others think it is sacrilegious...taking the "Christ" out of Christmas.

Others think that "Happy Holidays" is appropriate, while yet others think that saying that is also taking the "Christ" out of Christmas. 

Well, you know what...it really doesn't matter.  Merry Christmas is great, if that is what you want to say then go for it.
Is "Merry Xmas" sacrilegious?  Absolutely not.  X is the Greek alphabet letter Chi... and is used as a symbol for Christ.

Happy Holidays?  Well...the root of the word is "happy Holy-days"...still a reference to the religious side of the Christmas season. 

However, whether you agree with me or not...here is what really matters.

I don't think Jesus really cares how we phrase our "Holiday greetings". 
I really don't.  You may disagree with me, but what I really believe is that Jesus just does not care. 

There are folks that have likely misused the phrase "Merry Christmas" and there are folks that have used the phrase with great intention.

There are folks that have likely used "Merry xmas" as a way of taking Christ out of the picture, and there are folks that use the phrase with great intention...trying to keep Christ in Christmas.

There are folks that have used the phrase "Happy Holidays" to take Christ out of Christmas, and there are folks that have used it with great intention as well. 

Truth is, Jesus is more concerned about your actions.  Especially if they do not line up with your speech.

If you are angered when someone doesn't use the phrase "Merry Christmas", then in my opinion, showing that anger is not exactly showing a Christ like attitude. 
If you say "Merry Christmas", but treat the employee at Wal-Mart badly, because you are not getting what you want...well then, you have taken "Christ" out of Christmas with your actions anyway.

If you say "happy holidays" but have extreme road rage...well, You have taken the Christ out of Christmas with your actions anyway. 

If you say "Merry xmas", and then turn around and gossip about your friends, co-workers or even family members...well then, You have taken the "Christ" out of Christmas with your actions anyway. 

It doesn't matter as Christians what we say, if our actions do not match up with our words. 
Christianity is an attitude, not a not a title.
It is a verb, not a noun. 

I think this holiday season, our actions are going to speak a lot louder than the "greeting" we use. 

To quote Oliver Goldsmith, "You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips."

This holiday season, lets go out and preach the best sermon of our lives!

Letters from War

Not sure why I've thought about it more today than other days, but I just keep thinking about all of the soldiers that will not make it home for Christmas this year. 
I've been thinking about all of the soldiers that are in other countries, far from home that are missing their families.
I've been thinking about all of the soldiers that are on a base in the USA that will not make it home for Christmas.

I have 2 brothers that serve in the military.  One is in Fort Hood, Texas and one is in Afghanistan.  Both Cary and Brian have spent time in Afghanistan, missing out on time with family.  However, I know my family is not the only family that is separated from our loved ones this holiday. 

This holiday season, I encourage you to pray for the soldiers that are away from families this year.  I encourage you to pray for anyone that is serving in any capacity, that is separated from their families this holiday season.

This has always been a song that just kind of "tears at my heart."  As you watch this youtube video, think of soldiers that you know, or families you know that are missing loved ones and pray for them.  

Letters from War

Better than a Hallelujah

Myrrh...Now this really is a great gift for a child! 
"Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes of life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb."

That's the way the song goes, but imagine singing this to your child as a bed time lullaby.  What kind of dreams do you think that would bring about! 
"Sorrowing, signing, bleeding dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb."  Wow. 

It may not be a gift for a child, but it is a gift for a king.  It was a gift with lots of significance and foreshadowing for us as Christians.

We know now, that God just coming to earth in human form was not the end of the story.  We know that Jesus had to suffer and die for us to be free.  We know that Jesus conquered death by rising from the dead. 

However, imagine what Mary and Joseph must have thought when the gift of Myrrh was placed before Jesus.  I cannot imagine it was a very uplifting experience.  I have a feeling it probably put a damper on their day.

As we enter this holiday season, many of us are receiving "Myrrh" from other folks.  We are receiving things that are bringing us down, or experiencing things that are bringing us down.
It may be that one of your parents have lost a job and Christmas will just be different this year.
It may be that you have lost a job. 
It may be your first Christmas without a loved one.
It may be your first Christmas in a new town, where you just feel all alone.
It may be a Christmas where you are staring death in the face...either yourself or with a loved one.

Whatever it is, there is something for each of us that is not really "lifting us up" this Christmas season. 

However, even through our suffering, we can still worship God.

Even in the midst of your heartache and low point this holiday season, there is reason to worship God. 

My favorite bible verse is James 1:2-6
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

Consider it pure joy...I doubt may of us get excited when we face hard times.  I highly doubt any of us consider it "pure joy" when we face hard times. 
I also do not believe that God "gives us cancer" or "takes away our jobs/homes", etc.  But I do believe that God is just waiting for us to come to Him for wisdom and guidance on how to handle tough situations.  I believe God is just waiting to comfort us.  I love the part in James where it says "God, who gives generously to all without finding fault."  Even if you have been doubting God or questioning God.  God is still ready to give generously.
Even if you have just not really been paying attention to God, God is still waiting to give generously.
Even if you have blamed God for your hard time, God is just waiting to give generously.

Myrrh is not a great gift to get.  Being reminded of our mortality, being reminding of our troubles, is never a "feel good" gift.  However, we can turn our struggles into worship.  We can turn to God in these times and just simply say "I need you." 

There is a song that came out recently that I just love the lyrics to.  Amy Grant's "Better than a Hallelujah" is a beautiful song, but I think the message in the lyrics are even better.

God loves a lullaby, In a mothers tears in the dead of night, Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
God loves a drunkards cry, The soldiers plea not to let him die, Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

We pour out our miseries God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah

The woman holding on for life, The dying man giving up the fight, Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes
The tears of shame for what's been done, The silence when the words won't come, Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

We pour out our miseries God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah

Better than a church bell ringing, Better than a choir singing out,singing out.

We pour out our miseries God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah


I love the lyrics to this song.  I love the message.

If Myrrh is the gift you seem to be focused on the most this Christmas, give it over to God. 
I do believe that it will be "Better than a Hallelujah" to God.