Verse and Message (Wednesday, December 26, 2007) December 26, 2007

Luke 2:7

“And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him incloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

  

Twas the night OF Christmas and all through my house,

No more wrapping paper rustling, just the click of my mouse.

As I transfer my thoughts into this laptop and ponder,

What must it have been like 2,000 years ago in the manger of wonder?

As we celebrate Christmas, most of us are exhausted from the intense preparation for this birthday above all birthdays.  Shopping, rushing, decorating, cooking, cleaning, parties, and fun.  It can wear you out. The significance is that it’s about the SON….and He wants us to rest in Him and enjoy His PRESENCE above all the PRESENTS.

The remarkable part of the Christmas story is that the God of the Universe came down to dwell among us….as one of us.  He left His perfect home in Heaven and showed up as a helpless baby.  The reality of this story of humility, brings to mind a particular song that Joan Osborne wrote several years ago.  Chew on these words:

What if God was one of us?

Just a slob like one of us?

Just a stranger on the bus

Trying to make His way home.

The truth is…. God became one of us, but without blemish. Therefore, as the Perfect Divinity of order, “slob” cannot define any part of His being.  A stranger to this land…tis true.  Trying to make His way home….He left His home so that we would be welcome in His perfect home above.

The fact remains that the Sacrificial Lamb was born to the virgin ….the Baby sleeping in a feeding trough came to BE WITH US.  The shadow of the cross was draped over this innocent One from the very beginning.

 

I couldn’t help but marvel over a full page ad in today’s Birmingham News that read, “THE WAY IN THE MANGER.”  This beautiful expression displayed a photograph of a feeding trough filled with hay emphasizing the shadow of the cross.  It was a profound statement, very touching and uncharacteristic of the typical darkness the newspaper typically reveals.  This moving advertisement communicated the ONE TRUE LIGHT… OUR HOPE….THE CHRIST….AMAZING LOVE.

The twist in the Christmas story is that our Savior was interested in teaching us humility by entering our world in the most humble manner imaginable, so that we could be humble to trust in Him with our lives.  Yes, His intent was to direct us to the WAY HOME…..the ONLY way home.

As you are packing away your decorations within the next few days…..don’t pack Him away until Easter or next Christmas. Do not forget the ULTIMATE GIFT. He’s our everyday Father and friend.  He wants to BE WITH US…He wants to DWELL IN US.

Even though you will receive this message after Christmas…….you can have a Merry Christmas year-round.  Don’t forget the simplicity of His birth.   Our lives can have a quality of simplicity too if we let go of our own will and release it to Him. Life doesn’t have to be so complicated…He wants to carry all of our baggage….all of our burdens.

Sweet Jesus, thank you for humbling yourself to come to earth as an infant to grow into the man to forgive us and completely save us from the punishment that our sins deserve. What a marvelous expression of true and perfect love.

WOW …we are so blessed!

REMEMBER THE WAY…WAS IN THE MANGER!

THE WAY BORE THE CROSS!

  

THE WAY WILL NEVER GO AWAY

THE WAY WILL NEVER LEAVE US

THE WAY WILL NEVER FORSAKE US

SUSIE MC

Verse and Message for Christmas 2007! December 19, 2007

 

I had several thoughts when pondering what I would write for my “Christmas Verse and Message.”  I have received some beautiful writings from an assortment of friends that I also considered sending, and you may see one before the week is up.  However, I couldn’t help but reflect on a particular message I wrote a couple of years ago. As everyone is in a hurry to wrap up work details and clock-out for the Christmas experience, I believe the message below sums up what we need to consider as we consider the Christ Child.

Luke 2:7

She gave birth to her first child, a son.  She wrapped Him snugly in strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn.

I have a lot of friends who are expecting babies.  They are either pregnant preparing to deliver, or they are in the adoption process preparing for the phone call and details.  When a baby is born so much takes place.  If a couple has a dwelling place for two, then they have to figure a way to add room for the new baby.  A nursery is designed and prepared, showers and parties take place, and budgets and finances are reviewed and reorganized.  Life does not continue on as usual.  The new child not only changes schedules and arrangements, the baby changes everything.  Nothing is ever the same, once the new bundle of joy arrives.

With the birth of Baby Jesus — the world changed….and was never to be the same again.  With acceptance of the Savior in our hearts, everything changes…..and will never be the same again!  He adds new dimensions to the 

transformed life.  He changes the way we perceive things.  His presence as Lord of our life changes priorities and schedules.  I found that with Christ in my life, my heart was re-arranged and my thoughts were transformed and my purpose for living became clear.

 

The inn could not make room for Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus……Have you made room for JESUS this Christmas?  He’s the guest of honor for the most popular birthday party in history…..but will He be welcome?  You may be saying….I celebrate the birth of Jesus, He’s Lord of my life….BUT have you shared the story with someone who doesn’t understand the significance of the BABY?

 

Instead of making our lives more complicated, He was born to set us free!  I have heard it said that JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON….however, I read on a church sign a more applicable statement:

“JESUS IS THE GIFT — WE ARE THE REASON!!”  

MAKE ROOM FOR THE BABY – THE ONLY WAY TO SALVATION!

THE GIFT IS NOT JUST TO KEEP–GIVE THE GIFT OF JESUS AWAY!

SUSIE MC

Activity: 

Throw a baby shower for Jesus in your Sunday School Class or Small Group. Each person share what gifts that he/she will give to Jesus in the coming year!

  

Gift Suggestions:

-Serving in some capacity for the Kingdom.

-Spending more time with the Savior.

-A commitment to tithe or add to your tithe or to give to missions. 

-Practice taking hold of His Fruit so that you will be more like Him.

-A commitment to truly share the Gospel with the lost world —

with both words and actions!

Verse and Message (Friday, December 14, 2007) December 14, 2007

Acts 20:35
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ “
  

I was reading yesterday’s devotion in my monthly publication of “Our Daily Bread,” and I smiled at a challenge that was given by a Christian radio station.  It was called the “Drive-Thru Difference.”  The goal was to perform a random act of kindness for people who didn’t expect it by paying for the person in line behind you at a drive-thru restaurant.  That’s right, pay for a random stranger. I marveled at the fact that Pastor Chris Hodges of Church of the Highlands also proposed this challenge to our congregation.  He had adopted this plan a little over a year ago or more, and our church created cards imprinted with the following:

“Just a little something extra…..to show that God loves you.”  

The card also lists the name of our worship home including the times of our services. 

Pastor Chris was sharing in a message a couple weeks ago about how someone had emailed him and let him know that they were the recipient of such a surprise.  It moved the person so much, that the person in turn paid for the meal of the person behind him in the drive-thru line.  After our pastor read the email, he somehow found out that the cycle went on four times at that drive-thru window from that one initial card of delight. Imagine the joy…..pay it forward or pay it backward…it makes no difference…incredible!

I had been planning on using one of these cards this season, but I was trying to pick the right moment.  After Pastor Chris shared that story, I made an effort to take on the challenge this week.  I was at the drive-thru window at Wendy’s off of Highway 11 in Trussville on my lunch break, and I paid for the person behind me.  I was so excited!  I looked back in my rear-view window, and it was so much fun to watch the lady drive slowly from the window while studying the card! How cool is that?  Of course I must honestly admit that initially, after I had committed to the challenge by telling the server at the drive-thru of my clever scheme, I pondered before I was given the total….(experiencing a mini moment of panic)….what if this person was buying lunch for her entire office??….hehehehhe.  I laughed to myself and figured, hmmmmm I know God will provide.  As it turns out, she must have gotten something off the $.99 menu, because it was only a couple of dollars…ha. I bet she wished after she received the card that she had gotten the biggie meal…ha…Well, all the reason more for me to continue to distribute more of these cards.  The bottom line wasn’t about the cost….it was the best feeling I have had in a long time. 

  

When we pay for another’s meal or give a gift or provide a service……our concern should be “selfless giving” whether we get credit for it or not.  A heart of Christ pursues to give without a concern of whether the action will be returned.  In fact….those are the most fun!!  Something like Secret Santa…..well not Santa…..how about “Secret JESUS.”  However, JESUS doesn’t have to be a secret……our actions should spell J-E-S-U-S whether it is during a celebration season of “typical giving” or not….We should share the BRIGHT SHINING LIGHT of HOPE each and every day.

  

For it is more blessed to give than receive – so who can you bless today!  If you don’t have a card…..just give the message to someone “JESUS LOVES YOU” and try this beautiful challenge by giving a generous tip …..or offering to clean someone’s home……or raking someone’s yard … or babysitting someone’s child….what a novel idea!

Really, it isn’t so much to give away what we have already been given…..the gift of TRUE LIFE that started in a manger more than 2,000 years ago. 

  

OH COME LET US ADORE HIM!!

PAY IT FORWARD…PAY IT BACKWARD — IN JESUS NAME!!

THE BEST GIFT OF ALL….AND WE ARE WRAPPED IN JESUS!!

   

SUSIE MC

Verse and Message (Thursday, Dec 6, 2007) December 6, 2007

  

Today, I wanted to reflect on an archive verse and message I had written during this week a couple years.  As I reviewed the message, I was amazed that the subject of “HAPPY HOLIDAYS” VS “MERRY CHRISTMAS” applies more today than it did at that time…..ponder this and don’t be afraid to step on anyone’s toes by wishing them—MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

John 10:10

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.  My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.

  

John 15:11

I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy.  Yes, your joy will overflow!

JOY TO THE WORLD THE LORD HAS COME!  Hmmmm, I wonder if I am going to be receive some form of Internet violation for writing CHRISTMAS?!?!?! OK everybody….if you express your anger about what is going on with this whole “HAPPY HOLIDAY” nonsense…then………SATAN HAS GOTTEN THE BEST OF YOU.  I admit that I am disappointed that the SGA at Auburn University has renamed the school Christmas tree a “Holiday Tree” because they claim it “creates a problem of exclusion rather than acceptance.”  However, that is not going to have the power to steal my JOY!

The kind of JOY our Lord offers doesn’t depend on what is happening around us.  It depends on what is going on inside us.  It is a POWER like no other!  Do not be afraid to say “Merry Christmas!”  Just act like none of this chaos is happening.  Go on as you have before……don’t let the actions of others attempting to take the “Christ” out of Christmas break your spirit!  Remember Christ already won at Calvary! There are those who may not care to celebrate the birth of our KING, and that is their choice.  But we will not be intimidated to the point of cowering down to a hush hush. 

We are the people of God, and we are thousands of years old!  Our Savior came to rescue us more than 2000 years ago, and HIS STORY has stood the test of time.  The most popular book in the entire world is the Holy Bible. 

The most crucial thing we can do at this time is to reflect our birthday Boy to a world that has lost hope!  We can stand our ground with HIS GRACE!  We don’t have to prove anything…the proof is inside US!  We have to continue to keep our eyes on the One Who gives us all we need.  He fills us with His fruit and provides an abundant love overflowing……and that’s what our world needs. We have nothing to fear…..because HIS LOVE inside of us will never die! 

If we allow the distractions of the removal of the Baby in the Manger to scare us…. we have chosen to appeal to the approval of the world, not the approval of the One Who matters!  Mothers and Dads, would you choose not to celebrate your child’s birthday if someone told you not to?  Of course not!! Birthdays are a beautiful miracle of life, and we cannot overlook the most remarkable birth in history!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!  

I CHOOSE TO SIT AT YOUR TABLE AND SHARE YOUR BIRTHDAY CAKE!

I CHOOSE TO DECORATE MY CHRISTMAS TREE!! 

MERRY MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

   

I CHOOSE TO BE JOY-FULL IN JESUS THIS SEASON!!

SUSIE MC