Gifts 

  "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought,
but rather think of yourself with sober judgment,
In accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
Just as each of us has one body with many members,
And these members do not all have the same function,
so in Christ we who are many form one body,
and each member belongs to all the others.
We have different gifts,
according to the grace given us."
(Romans 12:3-6) 

            Christmas has passed, and we were all involved in the materialism of it all at some level. The advertising, the gift-giving, the holiday cards all tend to lead us away from its meaning. It is not about the gifts that were given and received by people.  

            Earlier this year, we read about the gifts that God gave us.  Paul's letter to the Romans has a special meaning. When reading further through verse 9, God's many gifts to us are listed. It is essential to understand God's blessings and recognize our gifts. We need to know where we fit in God's world and how to apply His gifts in our lives. These are the gifts that matter- They are not advertised on TV or in the newspaper. They are given to us by Him to use.

Thought for Today: As we approach the New Year, let us think about who we are and what gifts God has given us. Let us learn to use these gifts to make our lives and the lives of others better.

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, self-improvement always seems to be an objective at this time of the year. Each year I focus on "my improvement" and sometimes do not recognize the tasks you may have set forth for me. I pray that this will be the year that "my improvement" is accomplished by identifying your gifts to me and finding a way to do your work with them.

Amen 

 

Christ is Born Today

Good Christian Friends, Rejoice!

 

"Good Christian friends rejoice

With heart and soul and voice;

Give ye heed to what we say:

Jesus Christ is born today!

Jesus Christ was born for this!

Jesus Christ was born to save!"

(1989 Methodist Hymnal # 224) 

            This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Christmas is a special day in our faith and our society. The public displays that represent our faith, the music, the crowded stores, and special events impact the world, as has Jesus. 

            June and I lived for several years in a complex over half occupied by Jewish families. In the lobby, there was a Christmas tree alongside a menorah. Several of the Jewish families put up lights and had Christmas trees. Recently, One of June's friends, Cheryl, invited her to see her first Christmas tree. Religion was not the issue. It was about happiness, sharing joy, and a beautiful tree. 

            My Jewish tennis friend Bobby has a daughter in college. Every year since she was very young, they would set up a tree for Christmas, and Bobby and his wife would share gifts to celebrate Christ's birthday. He and his wife wanted to acknowledge the spirit of the Christian celebration, and it gave them the chance to discuss openly the differences that exist in the world. Bobby also attends bible study and often contributes using his Old Testament knowledge. 

            My family is Unitarian, and my mom's grandparents were both Unitarian ministers. They view Christ as a great teacher/ philosopher. They do not recognize the holy trinity. However, Christmas is undoubtedly the most important day on their Church calendar. They share in our Joy of Christmas. 

"So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph,and the baby, who was lying in the manger."

(Luke 2 vs. 16) 

Thought for Today: This is the day the Lord has made:

Jesus Christ is born today!\

Jesus Christ was born for this!

Jesus Christ was born to save!

 

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, on this joyous day, we pray that we may follow Jesus' teachings and do your will here on earth. We pray for a world of peace and love.

 

 

Universal Hope

 

Universal Hope 

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

 Day after day, they pour forth speech; night after night, they display knowledge.

 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."

(Psalm 19v1-4) 

The holiday season is a time of hope. The Psalmist notes that there is one clear message from the heavens, one God with one statement in all tongues to all peoples. We are encouraged to believe that there is hope for universal understanding and world peace. 

We live in a troubled world. There have been natural disasters, civil unrest, layoffs, and COVID and its various strains this year. They capture the headlines. Indeed, people question God's role in all of this. 

We need to remember that "The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands." The press and news media report on other issues. It is up to each of us to focus on the message. We can infect the world with faith, peace, and hope with our example. 

             John F. Kennedy said it this way, "One person can make a difference, and every person must try." 

Thought for Today: OK, there will be bad news this week. We will hear it, see it, and sometimes feel it. We need to overcome it with the faith and hope of the Lord and show others our hope for future generations. 

Prayer for the Season: Dear Lord, this is the time of year when all faiths celebrate you. We honor your presence in different ways with the common thread of love and peace. We pray for the guidance to share our faith so that we may sow a seed in your mane.

 

A Blue Christmas 

“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,

for in you, my soul takes refuge.

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings

until the disaster has passed.”

(Psalm 57:1) 

            This week Christian Churches have a particular service for people having a sad time over the Holidays. Often called a Blue Christmas Service after the Elvis Presley song, but also exists as a Service of Light and Hope. It is worth attending. We can always find reasons to be blue over the holidays, and it is good to take a look at those feelings, put them in perspective and pray to God for the support available to us.

            Our friends Bob, Carl, and Dave miss their wives who passed this year. There are too many to list with severe ailments and others with challenging career and financial situations. Also, we need to pray for what seems to be our new COVID lifestyle.  

            Christmas is a time of celebration. Through it, we remember those who are experiencing loss. June and I pray about aging, living in a new society with COVID, and our growing family’s future. We need to accept the joy of the season as we move toward the holiday. Take refuge in the shadow of God’s wings. 

Thought for Today: Let us take note of our sad feelings over the holidays. Let us recognize that they exist. Rather than mask them with joy, let us pray about them and turn them over to God so we can enjoy the celebration of Christ’s birth. 

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, we have special prayers for the holidays. We pray that your presence brings trust and love to the world. We pray for people who have lost loved ones and are spending their first Christmas with an empty place at the table. We give thanks for your role in our lives and the help you give us. Thank you for being available for us each day.

Amen

 

 

Christmas Love

Christmas Love "If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not to love, I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13-2) The holiday season is a time of great joy and symbolism. There are bright lights in almost every neighborhood, stores are full of shoppers buying gifts for loved ones, and Christmas trees light up our homes. Special carols that we sing only once each year sound pleasing to our ears. Yes, the celebration of Christ's birthday is a beautiful experience. As Christians, we proceed through this season, and love abounds within our society. When we donate to the food shelf, Toys for Tots, serve at a shelter, or say Merry Christmas, we feel good because we are demonstrating our love for each other; through Christ. Love is a beautiful gift we have through our faith. Thought for Today: As we go through this week before Christmas, stress tends to build. Year-end activities pile up on top of holiday parties, annual budgets, and all the "to do" about Christmas. As we go through the day, let us focus on why we do all of this. Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, we are all wrapped up in the season's activities. We are concerned about all of the "hate" in the world. Everywhere there seems to be unrest and fear of terror and violence. We pray that somehow love can shine through all of this and that we as people may see through the negative forces and learn that love is possible. Amen

Invisible Qualities

Invisible Qualities “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature have been seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” (Romans 1vs. 20) The holiday season is a hectic time of the year. Next year’s budgets at home and work, the snow needs to be shoveled (for us northerners), and increased activity at church, holiday parties, and all the holiday sports tournaments added to our schedule. It is easy to get caught up in human activities and leave our spirituality behind. Merry Christmas. Interestingly, activity surrounding Christ’s birthday celebration may often deprive us of the time to meditate and appreciate the wonders of his gifts. It is a glorious time of the year, full of memories of our youth and the excitement of growing closer to our families. Where is God in all of this? First and foremost, God is with us, even when we are too busy to be conscious of His presence. His “…invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature” are available to us all, every day. All days are not created equal! We all have our ups and downs. On those days when we are out of touch, where is the Lord? He is precisely where we left Him, waiting to support us. Thought for Today: We face holiday activities added to the norm. It is a blessed time of the year. Let us focus on being sure that we bring the Lord with us every day. Yes, He can go shopping, to a youth Holiday tournament, to a business meeting, or any place we will take Him. This week let us silently recognize His presence through meditation and prayer. Prayer for Today: Dear Lord and Father, today we thank you for the gift of grace received through your son Jesus. We are blessed this time of year through the memories of his life and the celebration of his birth. We give thanks for your presence in our lives and the ability to reach out to you when we are stressed. Amen

Expressing Yourself

Expressing Yourself “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (Galatians 5 vs. 6) As Christians, we need to demonstrate our best every day in every event. That does not mean walking around handing out roses hugging everyone we see, which would scare many people off. Therefore there must be another way. Greeting people in biblical times included a hug, a cheek kiss, and sometimes water to wash off dusty feet and cool their heads. If we did that, people would be uncomfortable. Times have changed over 2000 years, and however, expressing our faith through love still works. You may do simple things that will help, and you can see the effect immediately. When you open a door for someone, make eye contact and smile; they will almost always smile back and seem more relaxed. In public places, we often see a crying child with a frustrated mom. Don’t look away or walk away! Try to make eye contact, smile, and wave to the child; say something nice. Inevitably if you do, both the mom and child will relax. You would have expressed love. In photos and movies, Jesus is portrayed with piercing, loving eyes, often a stare. No one knows if that is a truism, but it works. We are to be the light of the world we can be through simple acts of consideration and love! Thought for Today: Today, let’s smile at people and see their difference; they will be more comfortable with us. Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, today I pray that I demonstrate your love and faith through my behavior toward others. I pray that I shine your light brightly. Amen