After Christmas

When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.  And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.  Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.  When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom.  After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it… After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.  Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers…

He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them…

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Luke 2:39-43, 46-47, 51-52

Christmas has passed and the colorful presents under the tree have been opened.  Children screamed with anticipation and excitement.  Parents and grandparents took pictures of the memorable moments.  Perhaps, a few stray boxes or shreds of paper still remain on the floor.

You probably still have a smile on your face as you remember the abundance of good food.  Turkey and dressing, ham and sweet potatoes, and the desserts… Oh well, new dieting commitments will be resolved next week. 

Department stores are discounting the remaining merchandise on their shelves.  The executives are relieved to realize the financial windfall of the Christmas shopping season and are already making plans for next year.

I wonder, in the hubbub of family traditions and the bombardment of corporate advertising, have we lost sight of the eternal for the here-and-now?

We see our strengths and weaknesses reflected in Joseph and Mary.  They knew all along that Jesus was special… a gift of God.  For twelve years he was a human boy that needed to be protected and nurtured until adulthood.  Jesus’ parents did some really good things: they fed him well and created a safe home, so that he grew healthy and strong; they taught him respect, so that he was humble and obedient to those in authority; they modeled a righteous life, studying the Law and worshiping God regularly.  Yet, when Jesus was at the threshold of becoming a man, Joseph and Mary forgot why they were entrusted with his care.  They had become preoccupied with today’s troubles, instead of realizing that Jesus came to earth to fulfill the Father’s merciful plan of salvation.

Has Jesus’ incarnation made a difference in your life?  Christmas has passed, but the opportunity to prepare to live for Jesus’ return still remains.  Keep looking heavenward.  Let us all, like Jesus, “grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, please help us overcome our shortsightedness and our tendency to get caught up in the activities of the day.  Help us to grow in ways that please you, with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.  Bless us with the courage and strength to prepare for the Day you take us to our heavenly home.  In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Carl Smith

Stephenville, Texas

LIVING FOR CHRIST

Galatians 2:20-21    I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

I read about, and personally experienced, innumerable acts of kindness, forgiveness, generosity and love displayed for others over the last few weeks.  The acts of goodness far outweighed the evil things that occurred in the same time period.  American flags are still at half-staff as a sign of respect for the loss of life due to evil that reigned in Newtown, Connecticut for a few hours.  That was an unspeakable, unfathomable event.  However, the stories of bravery and self-sacrifice that resulted were amazing; the result of God’s love, Christ, living in us.

Last week many members from Graham Street Church of Christ served the community Christmas dinner to over 800 people. Across the nation, other communities benefitted from similar acts of generosity; gifts of time, money, food, clothing.  These gifts are the result of God’s love, Christ, living in us.

Carolers moved among nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals, visiting home-bound individuals spreading the gift of song and personal interaction. These gifts are the result of God’s love, Christ, living in us.

Angel trees in hundreds of cities in the United States were filled with gifts for strangers. These gifts are the result of God’s love, Christ, living in us.

Nurses and physicians, pharmacy workers, airline and other transportation services personnel, convenience store attendants, all gave their time to assure people were safe during the holidays and could travel to visit family and home again. These gifts are the result of God’s love, Christ, living in us.

Families and friends gathered this week to celebrate Christ’s birth; but also remembered his life, death and resurrection all combined as Good News to share with others. Union with Christ is possible through belief and acceptance of that Good News. Following Christ results in forgiveness of our own sins that Christ erased through His death and resurrection. But it means more, for it is a living and continued relationship. Jesus is present with the believer; through the Spirit the Lord lives in personal fellowship with His own. He continues to work in our lives protecting us from fear of the unknown. These gifts are the result of God’s love, Christ, living in us.

Dear God, Please help me to display your love, Christ, living in me.

Sherilyn Svien

Stephenville, TX

Don’t Get Blinded by the Christmas Lights

Every year it seems people put up a few more strings of Christmas lights.  It doesn’t matter how gloomy the economy is or how tight the budget is...those lights are going up and all for the sake of countless hours admiring their masterwork minus the painstaking hours spent messing with blown bulbs, wiring, extension cords, etc.  So what is it about these bright colored lights that puts us in a hypnotic state of feeling happy, warm, and secure despite the worries, stress, hurt feelings, and selfish desires that swirl around us on a daily basis? Why is it that some people realize how blessed they are only one day out of the year and then they take down their Christmas lights and resort to their old ways?  They are surrounded by artificial light and submerged in spiritual darkness.

 

In John 8:12, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life”. We must daily study God’s word and submit to Him in prayer so that we can develop a close relationship with God and live in the light.  As we enjoy the bright twinkling lights we are reminded of Christ’s light shining in a dark world and the reassurance of a relationship with God.  This should lead to an enlightened heart filled with gratitude and, a humble, wonderful attitude toward God each and every day.
 

“Our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5-11).
 

Father, thank you for Your Son who came to earth to be the Light.  Help us to be aware that others are still stumbling around in spiritual darkness and let us be lights that shine the truth of Jesus Christ to them during the holidays and throughout the new year. In His name we pray, Amen.
 

Carla Henson

Tuscola, Texas

Thank God for Ultimate Freedom

Stone cold walls

Total isolation

Void of human voices

No letters, no calls, no visits

Isaiah 42:6-7

I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

Walking through the halls of the original cell blocks at Eastern State Penitentiary, dark despair overwhelms the heart.  Loneliness looms throughout the property.
Belief that solitary confinement would aid in rehabilitation, the expensive penitentiary was opened outside Philadelphia in 1829.  Solitary confinement failed to rehabilitate, but devastated an individual-psychologically.
As our group toured the property, listened to the history of the massive, innovative structure, thoughts ran through my mind of various types of prisons today…

Psalm 119:31-32

I hold fast to your statutes, O Lord;
do not let me be put to shame.

I run in the path of your commands,
for you have set my heart free.

Sarah fought MS that ravaged her body.  It locked away a sharp mind and joyful spirit in a body that refused to function for her.  Simple acts we take for granted, she hadn’t enjoyed in years.  She was set free, as she crossed through death’s door, to the sweet reality of promises we hold dear.  One beautiful day, we will join Sarah, and continue to rejoice that she is whole and unencumbered.  No more confinement, only joy and fellowship with our LORD forever.

Romans 8:2
…because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

Loved ones are trapped in a prison of ugly and cruel ramifications.  Memory loss and confusion locks one in a lonely world of confinement.  Medical research continues its quest for answers to combat Alzheimer’s.  One fine day, the redeemed that have been prisoners of Alzheimer’s or dementia, will be set free from these chains that isolate them.

Galatians 3:22
But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ,  might be given to those who believe.

John 8:36
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Jesus, our Savior has set us free from the prison we find ourselves in.  He alone has the keys to open the door, freedom from the bondage of sin.  One glorious day, we will look at the face of our LORD, and continue to praise Him for the indescribable gift of salvation & reconciliation.

Romans 6:22
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves  to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

As freed captives, at times we choose bars that confine us.  Bonds that stifle growth into the servant He instructs us to be; cells of shame, guilt or fear, to name a few.

Romans 7:21

So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of  my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.  What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this  body of death?  Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Psalm 146:6-8

The Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
the Lord, who remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.

Merciful Father,
Thank You for sending Jesus to free us from the bondage of sin.  In Him, we have life and freedom.  Enable us to take the gospel to all who remain prisoners of sin and eternal death.
Thank you, Jesus, for Your ultimate sacrifice to purchase our pardon.                    

In Your name, Sweet Jesus.

Mischelle Oliver,

Stephenville, Texas