Simeon, a Baby, & a Bucket List

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32

A young ambitious person often has a vision of things that he or she would like to see or accomplish in their lifetime, often these desires are mentally compiled into what is know as our bucket lists. Some of these may include living in another country, visiting a favorite vacation spot, watching your favorite team play in the super bowl, writing a book, or just purchasing a vacation dream home.

What typically happens is this list starts to dwindle down to the point where it becomes categorized by what is the most important. In most cases (not all), that list slowly begins its transformation from self to other people focused. For example, someone might say, "Before I die, I want to see my child get married." As we mature, we tend to be more concerned about seeing people that we love reach a milestone in their own lives. This doesn't mean we quit living; instead we just reach a point where our bucket lists become reorganized by what is the most important intrinsically to our hearts.

In this passage, Simeon represents such a man because he only cares about one thing before he dies, seeing the Jesus Messiah right before his eyes. Once this event is realized he is ready to call it a life, that is, to rest in peace.

Now we don't know what kind of bucket list Simeon initially had when he was young and ambitious, but we can see how it was most likely reorganized at the very end. He just wanted to see baby Jesus!

What would you like to see happen in your lifetime to make your life complete? Furthermore, what event in your life would make you proclaim, "I am ready to go now Lord, to call it a life! I suspect like Simeon, at the deepest corrido of your heart, it will be other centered, reserved for someone you deeply love.

Connecting the Loose Ends: Perhaps the most intriguing part of this story is to fast-forward it some thirty-three years at a place called Calvary. Touchingly, this infant baby would essentially utter the same words at the cusp of his impending deathbed. "It is finished" is another way of saying, "Lord I am ready to go now that your salvation is available to all of humanity, the people that we so love (John 3:16)."

Like Simeon, he reached the point in his life where he could say, "Take me, I am ready."

Simeon, Jesus & Bucket Lists

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32

A young ambitious person often has a vision of things that he or she would like to see or accomplish in their lifetime, often these desires are mentally compiled into what is know as our bucket lists. Some of these may include living in another country, visiting a favorite vacation spot, watching your favorite team play in the super bowl, writing a book, or just purchasing a vacation dream home.

What typically happens is this list starts to dwindle down to the point where it becomes categorized by what is the most important. In most cases (not all), that list slowly begins its transformation from self to other people focused. For example, someone might say, "Before I die, I want to see my child get married." As we mature, we tend to be more concerned about seeing people that we love reach a milestone in their own lives. This doesn't mean we quit living; instead we just reach a point where our bucket lists become reorganized by what is the most important intrinsically to our hearts.

In this passage, Simeon represents such a man because he only cares about one thing before he dies, seeing the Jesus Messiah right before his eyes. Once this event is realized he is ready to call it a life, that is, to rest in peace.

Now we don't know what kind of bucket list Simeon initially had when he was young and ambitious, but we can see how it was most likely reorganized at the very end. He just wanted to see baby Jesus!

What would you like to see happen in your lifetime to make your life complete? Furthermore, what event in your life would make you proclaim, "I am ready to go now Lord, to call it a life! I suspect like Simeon, at the deepest corrido of your heart, it will be other centered, reserved for someone you deeply love.

Connecting the Loose Ends: Perhaps the most intriguing part of this story is to fast-forward it some thirty-three years at a place called Calvary. Touchingly, this infant baby would essentially utter the same words at the cusp of his impending deathbed. "It is finished" is another way of saying, "Lord I am ready to go now that your salvation is available to all of humanity, the people that we so love (John 3:16)."

Like Simeon, he reached the point in his life where he could say, "Take me, I am ready."

Giving: From St Nick to Santa

21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Matthew 21:21-23

Jesus wasn't just blowing smoke when he said to sell your possessions and give it to the poor, that's how he rolled. 

Think about it. The Scriptures teach Jesus left the perfection of heaven so he could dwell with humanity. He lived in an environment where everything was perfect and in abundance. 

You see, he voluntarily came here not as God, but as a human servant. The Scriptures teach that he was obedient, even to the point of death. He gave up everything to help us, the poor and ostracized from God in his world. Is it no wonder that he wants his followers to have that similar type of mindset (Philippians 2:5-8).  

Interestingly, there was a man born in the third century, who took this teaching to heart, literally. His name was Nicholas, better known as St. Nick. You see, who we have come to know as Santa, was borrowed from this man, including the gifts, the red robe, and the beard. His story revolves around tragedy, but ends with sainthood. 

He was born during the third century in the village of Patara. His wealthy parents raised him to be a devout Christian, however, they both died while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God, even becoming the Bishop of Mira,  at a young age. 

Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.There are many stories about St. Nicolas's generosity. One of them involves a poor man who had three daughters.

In those days, a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value—a dowry. The larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. 

This poor man's daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery. However, on three different occasions, Nicholas deposited a bag of gold in their home-thus providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold were tossed through an open window and apparently landed near stockings and shoes that were left to dry before the fire. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas. 

St Nicholas lived a life of giving throughout his life, from the beginning of his childhood, to his appointment as Bishop, to his invitation to the Council of Nicaea in 325, all the way through his martyrdom.  

St Nicholas was a man who not only recognized Jesus and his Christmas virgin birth, but gave like him and was willing to keep giving until it was all gone. May we take this to heart and look to give generously by helping those in need. 

Jesus, Resumes, & Taking your Place

He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world 

1 John 2:1-2. 

It is hard to believe that we are sinners to the extent that we needed Jesus to die for our sins. It is also hard to comprehend that someone like Christ would want to die for us, especially if it involved being bludgeoned and crucified. Yet the Scriptures teach this is what happened at Calvary. It loudly proclaims that Jesus died for you! 

You can look at this from multiple angles. The first one is a prevalent one. "It may be true, but it was not necessary. I think God will accept me for who I am when he balances on his heavenly scale my good and bad deeds." 

A second angle is to proclaim, "While the Christian story may be true, so are the other faith claims involving the religions of the world." Ultimately, this is the most politically correct and "tolerantly" concludes that all roads lead to heaven. 

The third angle is to simply accept it and say you are thankful that Jesus would love you in such a way that he would sacrifice his life for you. 

The fourth angle is to boldly proclaim "I don't believe it. I don't think the Bible is really true. Stories like the talking snake, Noah's ark, and Jesus are on par with fairy tale allure." This would be in line with the atheists and agnostics in the world.   

Throughout history, people have had to come to grips with the biblical notion that it was necessary for Jesus to die for your sins. 

The Bible teaches we are saved not by our own personal resume throughout life, but instead that of Jesus'. His resume above anyone else's was the most impressive. Yes he helped, gave hope to the hopeless, showed compassion, healed the marginalized, and taught about salvation, but the most impressive part of his credentials was that he never sinned. 

So if you were the Ultimate Boss, which application and resume would rise to the top?  Ultimately, of course, it would be the one that is perfect. In that sense, Jesus was the most qualified for the job of reconciling you before God. 

Imagine Jesus going before God and saying, "I want to apply for the job to be the Savior of the World, I am the most qualified." Then God says, "Alright, however, you can't just die for those that have good resumes, but also for those whose were thrown in the dumpster." That is what it means when the Scripture above teaches that Jesus didn't die just for our sins, but also for the sins of the whole world. 

In the end, God accepts the propitiation for Jesus, a fancy word that communicates the idea of Jesus offering his life to appease God as a sin offering. God accepts this painful gesture and demonstrates His approval by raising Jesus from the dead. 

Yes, that is how the Scriptures communicate that Jesus died in your place. Below is an illustration to drive home this point when we begin to fall into the trap of only seeing the world through our own perception. 

The Visitor

One day, a man went to visit a church. He arrived early, parked his car, and got out. Another car pulled up near him, and the driver told him, "I always park there. You took my place!" 

The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat, and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's my seat! You took my place!" 

The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing. 

After Sunday School, the visitor went into the church sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit. You took my place!" 

The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still said nothing. 

Later, as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood, and his appearance began to change. 

Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?" 

The visitor replied, "I took your place."

Trusting God when Life is Overcast

20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

I cannot imagine what it felt like to be Joseph. The woman he was engaged to was scandalously pregnant and it was not by him. In my minds eye, the narrative that plays is one where Joseph must have been crushed and was fully convinced that she was lying. Yet somehow he was determined to divorce her quietly prior to this angelic encounter.

I have asked the question, "Would I have believed the angel?"  Knowing me, I would have thought I was just hallucinating. Objectively, I would have concluded, "I just want this relationship to work out so bad that I am willing to believe almost anything." Maybe you can relate. Have you ever been in a bad relationship and somehow convinced yourself that it was still salvageable, when inwardly you knew that it was a train wreck? The reality is that many of us stubbornly believe what we want to believe, even when the evidence does not support that verdict.

Yet incomprehensively Joseph had a change of heart when he was told not to "fear" taking Mary as his wife. To accomplish this, fearlessness, would have been a gigantic feat in itself. Every private conversation, every stare at her belly, every good night hug, would have led me to dance with fear as my partner many times.

Can you imagine these tapes playing over and over again in your minds eye?  "Yes, your right, Joseph, it is not your child, it belongs to someone else." "Yes, and that someone has already hand picked the name Jesus, for you to beckon when you call him."

Throughout history many people have chosen to focus on Mary during the Christmas season, but Joseph desperately deserves more press coverage for his remarkable faith. He had to make a decision that would define his spirituality. "Do I want to trust God or myself?" Many times in our lives we also have to ask that very same perplexing question.

Joseph of course, ultimately decided to reach beyond logic and emphatically chose to trust God. Yes, the story sounded bazaar, but within the corridors of his being one thing would always prove true, he knew the Lord and his wife very well. Life doesn't always make sense when you follow the Lord, but by doing so your life will be filled with stories of beauty and vivid living color.

So how should God's people move forward in life? We need to discover how to become more intimately connected with God (Like Joseph), whereas we can accurately assess the direction God has for us.  When we venture to know Him well, even when the forecast is overcast and bleak, we can have confidence that one day those clouds will fade and we will once again see the sun.

God's Love, Poverty, and two Turtle Doves

Luke 2:22-24

22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

The interesting detail omitted in this passage is the fact that Jesus came from a poor background. While it is true that the Law of Moses stated that during purification, a sacrifice was necessary for the firstborn male, the ones mentioned initially were a lamb and a turtledove. Leviticus 12:8 states if the parents were too poor to afford the lamb, they were allowed to sacrifice two pigeons or a pair of doves.

Think about that for a second, in God's Providence, He chose poor human parents to be responsible for raising His son. In our culture today such a proposal would not be even considered for a family looking to adopt a child. One of the first concerns for social workers besides being a loving family, is whether the prospective parents will be able to financially support the child. The reality is that almost every prospective parent with a financial portfolio like Mary and Joseph would be denied. Yet God doesn't think like us.

Throughout Scripture He has often used the "have-not's" to accomplish His purposes. Page after page He has chosen women unable to get pregnant, the second over the firstborn, exiles in foreign countries, people born with physical handicaps, and even some who have failed in marriage multiple times while being ostracized by their community because of their immoral practices. Like Rudolph and his shiny nose, God has given these "have-not's" purpose, worth, and value. It is no wonder when Jesus grew up to be a man, he also had a heart for those who were oppressed and marginalized.

The birth of Jesus to such lowly parents reveals that God does not bless us for what we have, but rather because in His providence, He simply chooses to. Yes, some are more blessed than others, but most of those people need it more than we do if we're honest. God knows their background narrative, whether financial, relational, physical, emotional, much better than we do. In the end, His blessings for others, hit the bulls-eye.

As Christmas approaches, avoid the cultural marketing ploy that states the more stuff you accumulate the better your Christmas will be. Avoid the temptation to dwell on what you don't have to give this holiday season. The dedication of Jesus reminds us that we can experience a background of poverty, yet still be blessed by God.

We are never to poor for Him to love us. We are never to far enough removed from society that He doesn't see us. We are never too isolated where He won't befriend us. Having more stuff is nice, but experiencing God's love is everlasting. Don't focus on what you don't have this Christmas, focus on what you got.

What did Jesus look Like?

For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3  He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their face he was despised, and we esteemed him not -- Isaiah 53:2-3 




As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind— Isaiah 52:14


Above is a picture of what scholars believe is the most accurate portrayal of what Jesus may have looked like. Richard Neave, a medical artist, drew this depiction based on a skeletal discovery of a first century Jew by British scientists and Israeli archaeologists. So is this then what Jesus really looked like? 


I remember growing up and visiting the home of one of my childhood African American friends, only to discover hanging on the wall, was a portrait of Jesus as a black man. My first reaction was of disbelief. "Jesus doesn't look like that. He's white!" From that point on, I wrestled with what I assumed to be true of Jesus based on my perceptions. 


You see, in many ways our perceptions about the appearance of Jesus is largely based on what others perceived from our ethnic lineage. In my case, the European depictions of Jesus as essentially a white man, with perfectly groomed hair, and a well trimmed beard, were what I believed to be the true representation of what he looked like. 


Inevitably, I discovered that such images were largely based on the Roman Catholic church, who had power and influence over the artists of that particular era. We see this influence even in those iconic paintings such as Leonardo da Vinci's  Last Supper, were Jesus is not eating from a platter, while reclining sideways on a mat with his disciples like a first century Jew, but rather sitting on a wooden chair while eating from an extended dinner table.   


Sadly, throughout the years, such paintings have been used to to promote a sort of ethnic superiority while oppressing those who looked different. Nothing however, could be further from the heart of Jesus. He did not die for what we incorrectly label as ethnic "race," he died for all of humanity, also known as the human race! 


In God's providence, He does not give us a vivid description of what Jesus looked like, but rather focuses on the life he lead and how he changed the lives of many, whether privileged or oppressed. In fact, what the Bible says about his appearance is that if you looked at him he had no form of majesty or beauty that we would desire or look on him. Instead the image is that of a marred man really beyond recognition. It's unattractive! 


You see, the focus was never on the external appearance of Jesus, but rather on what intrinsically drove him. The prophecy in Isaiah goes on to say that he was led like a lamb to the slaughter and that he was not esteemed by anyone. In fact, truth be told, many felt he had been smitten by God because he was so filled with sorrows and acquainted with grief.


So how does God wants us to remember Jesus? He wants you to visualize a man who was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities. So whether you were black, white, yellow, green or purple, the point is this, Jesus died for your sins. In the end he shed his red blood, which matches yours, so that we all could be in a position to have eternal life. 


This Christmas season, as Martin Luther King once reminded us, we should not focus on the color of one's skin but rather the content of their character. In the end, Jesus choose to be physically unattractive so that we can be made intrinsically beautiful. Make sure you display this true portrait of your Savior during the holidays. 

A Heart that Drops Everything

Luke 2:15-16

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us."

So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.

God does not chose people like we do. We chose those we consider to be the best and most influential, a pattern inbred is us since since those days growing up in the sandbox. 

So why then did God select these shepherds to be the first human representatives, outside of Mary and Joseph, to see baby Jesus? Well, we won't find the answer if we look through the prism of their credentials? We won't find the answer based on their celebrity status or family prominence. We probably wouldn't find it based on their character and morality. The only thing we do know is that for whatever reason, God chose them, while they were tending their flock and just going through the process of completing another monotonous day. 

Yet God turned that routine into a day that not only would they remember, but also generations to come, including those that will follow us. These shepherds, occupationally considered to be the bottom of the food chain, where given the privilege that was denied even to the religious elite and the sages of that era. 

You see, God is not impressed by our credentials or by how much we know. Instead what He looks for has more to do with our hearts than our heads. Here, in this account, we become aware of how these shepherds intrinsically were moved. The text says, they immediately agreed to go straight to Bethlehem, seemingly leaving everything behind, including their sheep. There was something intrinsic that was moved within the corridors of their hearts which led them to drop everything to witness the prophesied savior being born that very day. 

Imagine God inviting you to come celebrate this one-time-in-history world premier event. How would you respond? Would you drop everything and do whatever was necessary to make it there on time? Your response to that question reveals to an important degree the spiritual gauge of your heart. 

At the end of the story we are told the shepherds went back to the fields glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Ultimately, this serves to drive home the point that it is never about what you know or who you are that pleases God. Instead it revolves around how you respond to His revelation about Jesus, who he announced thru an angel is the Savior of the world. 

The Motives of Giving - Gold, Frankincense, & Myrrh

11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:11).

External Giving: People give for different reasons. Some give to others that have need, whether finances, clothing, food, or giving their time to provide social companionship. 

Others give to receive. They view their gifts like investments where they can gain influence in their relationship with you. Like a Costco free sample, they hope that ultimately their calculated investment will benefit them in the long run. 

Still others give out of obligation. In many cases they don't feel like giving, but they feel guilty or obliged to in the routines of life. This Christmas season, many will be giving not out because they genuinely want to, but rather because it is expected.

Another reason people give is to make an impression. They give because they want to present themselves as generous. They like to hear you tell them and others, "That person is very giving, they are very generous." Such people give to build up positive perceptions from others so they can feel good about themselves.

Intrinsic Giving: On the other hand, some people give out of a natural and organic desire from their hearts. Something intrinsically compels them to show gratitude to certain individuals, a genuine felt sense of appreciation. This is the type of giving that was said of the wise men, who traveled many miles to pay homage to a child named Jesus as they disbursed their heartfelt gifts. 

First, they gave gold. This "perfect metal" denotes value and splendor. Gold was so revered, it was often used as an expression of appreciation for divinity. Throughout the Bible, there are some negative examples of this pattern when it comes to pagan idols (i.e. The Golden calf), and some positive ones, notably the tabernacle and the temple, which were overlaid in gold, powerfully illustrating the correlation. 

Secondly, they gave frankincense, a white resin from tree bark that is highly fragrant and used in worship when burned. It was used chiefly to denote the imagery of  a fragrant offering toward God. Later of course, Jesus would make atonement for us by offering up himself up as a sacrificial offering before His Father. 

Thirdly, they gave myrrh, which was a spice extracted from tree bark that was often used for embalming the deceased. Embalming of course, was an attempt to preserve the body from decay and would in a sense symbolize immortality. Perhaps this was a future forecast of this Christ child, since we know that after he died, his body did not experience decay but instead lived on forever.  

In the end, these three gifts represented hearts that were filled with gratitude toward Jesus, the Christ-child. They were not only thoughtful, but also an appropriate reflection about how they felt intrinsically felt about Jesus. 

Inevitably, it is with this type of giving we must ask this fundamental question this Christmas, "Why am I giving?" 

God and Miracles

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

Matthew 1:23


I listened to a comedian / talk show host / political activist, belittle Christians and their faith. One comment he made that stood out was that out of all the stories Christian believe, the worst is the story of Jesus. Receiving a loud ovation, he insisted that only non-thinking people would support a story, which encourages us to believe that Jesus was born of a virgin and that he was someone both God and man. For him the idea was preposterous and just another example of how followers of Jesus fail to use our brains. 

Perhaps you also have heard similar scoffers ridicule stories such as the talking snake, the cargo of Noah's ark, even the parting of the Red Sea. The thinking behind such conjecture is that these kinds of events do not happen in our world today. Many will all of those are impossible because we live in a world with a closed system, that simply follows the normal cyclical patterns of nature. 

But here's the deal. Christianity is not just another philosophical and moral construct, it is a story about how a supernatural God destroys our perceptions about what is humanly possible. In other words, you cannot remove the supernatural from the Christian faith. We should never spend too much time trying to water down our supernatural faith because we are afraid that we may lose credibility with others. You will never be able to convince someone by removing the miracles from the Bible like Thomas Jefferson, only the supernatural God can make someone open to Him.  

You see, a prominent tenant in the Christian faith is that we are saved by faith. In other words, as difficult as some of these stories may seem, the reality is that God interjected them into the Bible so that we could by faith know that He is there. Not only that, but the miracles serve to point to something more significant, namely Jesus. 

When we read about the creation account in Genesis 1-2, we do not know who God is referring to when he says, "Let us make man in our own image." However, later in the New Testament (John 1:1-3), we discover that the us included Jesus, who was involved in the creation process. Likewise, when we study the parting of the Red Sea, we marvel how God can make such an impossible occurrence happen. However, later in the New Testament we learn that Jesus can calm the sea in the midst of a storm. 

This reality of course sets the stage for the virgin birth of Jesus. It should not surprise us that God can impregnate a young virgin in the New Testament, since he opened the womb of a lady who was 90 years old (Genesis 21), named Sarah. Over and over again, the miracles we see ultimately point to the upcoming significance of Jesus. 

Many assume the Bible is a book where miracles happen all the time. Page after page, it seems, God is busy orchestrating the supernatural. However, it is important to realize that with every turn of a page, many years pass by without some miraculous event, sometimes centuries. In fact, the Bible is filled with non-supernatural activity as a norm. The miracles are simply like Sportscenter highlights. However, when God is needed most, or people have gone their own ways, He uses the miraculous to remind us that He is still at work present in our midst. 

Ultimately, that is what this passage is communicating in Matthew 1:23. In a period of Roman occupation and Jewish oppression, God reminds us thru the miraculous virgin birth that He is still there within our midst. 

It is no surprise that the angel told Mary, people will refer to your son as "Immanuel," which means God is with us! You see, the virgin birth of Jesus reminds us that God loved us so much, that somehow, even though we cannot explain it, he chose to dwell in person with His people, just as he did in Eden. Through this miraculous event, God profoundly revealed that He is not distant. He is in our midst. 

Bethlehem, a Wife, and God's Promise

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

Here we have another example of God keeping His promises. Out of the small dusty town of Bethlehem, one would come who would rule over Israel (Jesus) would be born. Unfortunately, the parents of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, did not live in Bethlehem, but lodged in Nazareth, some seventy five to eighty miles away. In other words the address was wrong!

So what were they going to do? Many times in life we find ourselves in a similar situation. Should we trust God or just take matters into our own hands? Many times we give God a time limit and go to plan B if we don't see any movement.

God's Promise of Marriage: I remember a time in my life when I wondered if God was going to bring a potential wife into the picture. It had been a "dry and dusty season" in my life, a ten year period, where there were no legitimate prospects on my radar. I didn't understand what God was doing. At the time, I was training for the ministry and there was no activity, zilch! As a result, I met with a seminary counselor and asked if it was possible to have the "gift of singleness," even if you didn't desire it. She assured me that if God had placed that desire to marry on my heart, I did not possess that so-called gift. Yet, like stale piece of bubble gum, my dating life for the past ten years had been, shall we say, flavorless.

Questions came to mind. Should I go back to the club scene and seek some female companionship? Should I try my hand at the online dating sights that boasted of true romance? Well, I said no to the club scene thing, and after some dismal online dating experiences, I resigned myself to believing that I would never marry. Then something unexpected happened. God gave me a promise!

While at a majestic Oregon waterfall park called Silver Falls, God told me that I would marry my wife. However, there was a problem! While I was drawn to Machele, she did not feel the same, at least then. So as I stood in the cavern behind the waterfall, I argued with God. "God I don't mean to be critical here, but hello, she is not showing me any love! She is not suggesting we pick at rings at Zales." So for the next 20 minutes, with my arms flailing in objection, I disputed the Promise Maker. Finally I concluded, either I am crazy and hearing voices, or You are telling me the truth.

One year later, I asked Machele to marry me at that very exact location! Her response, "I would love to marry you." God's promise turned true, not just a little, but completely. It was a lesson that would be ingrained in my mind's eye, God keeps His promises.

Back to the Story! What would Mary and Joseph ultimately do? Should they make their way towards Bethlehem on their own initiative or simply be resigned to believe that God's promise was partly true, the lone exception being the mailing the address? Ultimately, of course, they decided to wait on God and allow Him to providentially connect the dots. Many of you know the rest of the story. God used Caesar Augustus, perhaps the most prominent Roman Emperor ever, to issue a decree that stated everyone had to register in their ancestral birthplaces to pay taxes. The town for Joseph and Mary of course, was Bethlehem.

There in Bethlehem, was born the ruler from ancient of days, just like God promised. Ultimately, he would be born to the most unlikely couple, in an unlikely town, in an unlikely way. Yet, in the end, this is just another example of how God can use seemingly unconnected events to weave His fulfilled promises into His providential masterful tapestry.

Identifying with the Christmas Prophecy

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting   Father,   Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Imagine having a child with these kinds of expectations for their life. Imagine the thought of generations to come referring to your child as the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. As a parent, perhaps you would be overwhelmed with the pressure and expectations that encompass your newborn child. Perhaps you would be afraid to make a mistake as you reared your child from an infant to an adult.

Yet for centuries the Jews waited for this prophecy to be fulfilled thru the birth of Jesus. Mary's newborn would be the reality of this highly anticipated event. Interestingly, Jesus wasn't born with the kind of fanfare you would expect for someone who had such lofty expectations on his little shoulders. 

• He would be born away from the comforts of home 

• He would lack the accommodations fit for a king since a cave was all that was available 

• He would be birthed in a manger where animals fed.

Why would God allow this to happen?

Why wasn't Jesus allowed to be born to more privileged parents or within the confines of a gated community? Why couldn't Jesus be born in the most prestigious ancient medical facility that money could buy? To push the envelope  little further, why did Jesus have to be born like a human infant anyway, one who would experience crying, teething, having his diapers changed, and ultimately be dependent on his mother for human survival? Truth be told, this seems like a terrible atmosphere for the chosen one of the world.

Biblically, we are told it had to do with identification. Life is hard sometimes and God did not want us to have a Savior that could not identify with the struggles of the poor or life just in general. He had to be, for a lack of a better term, like us! Such an unceremonious birth would provide hope to anyone not raised in the best environment that external circumstances may be tough, but they do not have to determine your future. On the contrary, the life of Jesus reveals that you can overcome anything with God on your side. In Romans 6:5-6, we are told that Jesus even died, so that we could even identify and be united in his death. He can identify with us, and he wants us to identify with him and rise to the heights that God can bring us.  

In the end, God has always wanted us to be able to identify with Jesus. He always wanted us to be able to talk to someone who can relate to the joys and the pain life can bring. On occasion, people have the tendency to refer to God as distant and uninvolved in life. This of course, is not the case concerning Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace, the Everlasting Father, and the Mighty God. No, our Savior is not distant; He is one of us.

And we are thankful.

This Christmas season, let us follow this example of Jesus. Let us do our best to listen and to identify with others, even if they are very different than us. Remember, in the end, Jesus came into the world for them as well. He came for the affluent, the middle class, and those who were raised with nothing. He identifies with us, so let us strive to identify with him!

Making Eye Contact

Have you ever avoided looking someone in the eye? Many times during the Christmas season there are people outside stores ringing their bells, wanting you to contribute some of your hard earned money to their charity. 

To avoid them, many of us formulate a path we can take so we don't have to be asked or make eye contact. You see, if you don't make eye contact, then you feel less guilty for not giving because you suppose, they don't notice you either. I've seen people navigate their way to the point where they enter the store in the complete opposite direction. Most of us view these folks as bothersome, even though their objective is simply to collect some money for a worthy charity. Like Scrooge, we inwardly moan, "bah humbug!" 

In general, less and less people today make eye contact. Most of us are so focused on what we have to do, that we don't take the time to connect and say hello. Today, people would rather look at the smart phones that look someone in the eye. However, you can learn a lot about a person by taking the time to make eye contact as this poem suggests.  

Endlessly Playing inside the eyes is a conductor whose name is reality

and if you gaze into their stare, you can feel the highs and lows of its piercing melody. 

Ferociously playing with such honest intention...there is no camouflage for the expressions of common face

Since existing within the eyes is that score conceived from within the soul. 

The Apostle Peter once encountered a man who did not look him in the eye, he was a beggar crippled from birth. "And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk! (Acts 4:5-6)."

Now, many of us will never physically heal a lame man like Peter, lets be real. However, there are some principles we learn in this Scripture that can really help us. First, it is important to make eye contact when addressing others. No doubt, this man was used to rejection. He probably expected more. Yet Peter insisted, that he look at him, just as he had looked upon this man. At the fundamental level, dialogue requires our undivided attention. 

Secondly, eye contact makes things personal. This beggar, no doubt, experienced rejection so often, which probably led to him begging on cruise control. His pleas had reached a point where they became impersonal, most likely to fend off anticipated rejection. 

Thirdly, though Peter had no money, he did give this man something, something he could share that Jesus had blessed him with in his life. Again, most of will never command a lame person to rise in the name of Jesus, but Jesus has given each of his followers something they can give back. Now that something could be some change your going to spend on yourself anyway, or it could be simply making eye contact, flashing a smile, or even having a brief conversation. 

So as December rolls out more business day by day, lets make sure to take the time and make eye contact with someone, even if it is the Salvation Army guy. Like Peter discovered, you may not have any money to give, but you can give something Jesus has blessed you with, even if it is only a joy-filled smile. In the end, taking the time to make eye contact with someone, flash a smile, or start a conversation, may be more valuable than the change they were expecting. 

Some Gifts come in Different Sizes

One great thing about Christmas is gifts. Most of us have more than one that awaits us under our trees of abundance and we genuinely look forward to opening them.

I remember one Christmas eve, my brother did something I'll never forget as our family was about to tear open our gifts. As we all listened to Joy to the World play over and over again like a broken record, he stood by the door and sadly informed us that he would be right back. "Where are you going" we asked, annoyed by the Christmas disappointment. Awkwardly, he replied, "I just realized I forgot to buy mom a gift." We pleaded with him to stay and informed him that all the stores were closed, well everyone except for 7-11.

Needless to say we were frozen in disbelief as we watched him absquatulate from the front door. The bottom line, he did not want to celebrate Christmas without having a gift for my mom, even if it was from 7-11, and turned out to be a half-eaten box of chocolates.

Christmas, for him, would not be complete without having the ability to hand out a personal gift. In the same way, that is what Jesus did for us after he finished his work on the cross. He had to give out gifts.

7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men (Ephesians 4:7-8)."

What these two verses communicate is that Jesus victoriously handed out gifts to us after he died and conquered death. Unlike victorious kings that simply receive gifts from others; the Apostle Paul explains, "Jesus gave" gifts. The gifts, however, revolve around spiritual ones that can be used by the church to reach out and make an impact on others.

Like gifts under our trees, some are considered more valuable than others. There are spiritual gifts we would metaphorically consider less expensive and those we would deem as more spendy. Nevertheless, each gift plays a vital part for allowing us to give to others.

One question we must ask ourselves this Christmas is this: "What gift(s) has Jesus given me to make a difference in the lives of others." In other words, as you look at your own unique natural abilities and talents, how can you hone those to glorify Jesus and impact others? How can you give back to others?

As we ponder the major spiritual gifts in the church like apostleship, prophesy, evangelism, teaching, and shepherding, we must also remember that there are others "less expensive" Jesus distributed like the gift of service, administration, encouragement, and even giving to name a few. The question you must ask is this "What gift(s) showcase how God has wired me and made me unique?" Once you can answer this honestly, then you can use your gift(s) to make a difference in someone's life this Christmas.

In the end, you don't have to give normal gifts that are often expensive and cookie cutter like, instead you can share with others, the gift(s) that can really make a significant imprint in someone's lives.

1. You can use your gift of service to wash windows and clean for the elderly

2. You can use your gift of administration to help establish a budget for someone. 

3. You can encourage someone by writing an encouraging and thoughtful card.

4. You can use your gift of giving to buy a family a Christmas meal.

You must always remember that God has made you unique and has given you a gif(s) that can make an impact in lives of others for His glory. He loved you enough to give you the best gift that reflects who you are. As a result, we must make sure we use them.

Children and the Importance of Giving

<sup>The typical child views Christmas as an opportunity to receive, not necessarily to give. The portrayal of Santa as the giver of gifts only adds to that perception.

However, lost in our Christmas traditions is the idea that children should also use the holiday to give to others.

So instead of just having them fill out their Christmas wish list, you might also consider helping them to fill out another one, which focuses on how they can give to others. For the parent, this requires skill, patience, and the willingness to gently challenge their kids natural resistance.

Having boys that are six and nine, I personally realize this can be quite the challenge. Mine prefer to focus on their stockings being stuffed and the their trees overflowing with presents underneath. Ultimately, their definition of a great Christmas is in proportion to what they receive.

However, training them how to be givers is a characteristic that God wants me and all parents to help them to develop. The apostle Paul once told the church in Corinth, who were great givers, to always make sure their hearts were right when they gave. He once wrote, "The point is this whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9: 6-7)."  

Many tend to view this Scripture as merely pertaining to giving to your church. However, the principle that underscores this whole chapter is that there are people who are in need, (In Paul's case, the starving saints at Jerusalem) and we should use such a reality to give freely to others.

I love the sowing and sparing analogy. Farmers in general do not hold tightly to their sacks of seeds. They do not say to themselves, "Should I sow these or keep them to myself this season in my life." No farmers gladly sow because  they realize, without hesitation, that how they sow will determine the reward of their crop. In the same way, Paul says we also should gladly give to those in need with that same kind of expectation. How we give will put us in position to receive more. However, here is the kicker: it MUST be done with a glad heart.

That of course is the challenging task for parents and their children. Helping them to understand and experience giving with a glad heart. When I talk about giving with my children, their initial response is not a glad heart, it is a sad and reluctant one! Furthermore, if they do give, they feel obligated out of compulsion. In other words, they feel forced. "Do I have too!" As parents, working thru this reality is a delicate area. In general, here are some ways we can help them develop a glad heart.

1. Don't ask them to initially give too much. Instead, as the passage says, let them determine in their hearts how much they should give. Don't be surprised if it is very little, growing in giving is a characteristic that has to be developed. Remember, our culture has indoctrinated our children to believe that Christmas is all about them receiving. Consequently, giving, even at a minute level, is a step in the right direction.

2. Model the importance of giving our time. This is an area where parents can partner with their children and show how we can use our spare time to do something for others. Some examples include, volunteering together at a soup kitchen or creatively helping them make their own Christmas cards. Even helping them to make Christmas cookies for others is a way where kids can experience what it means to give while using their free time.  

3. Have them watch videos of kids in need. Instead of letting them watch the same old shows they like, have them watch videos of kids that have nothing, yet rejoice at the prospect of receiving even the smallest gifts. Go to Netflix or YouTube and watch organizations that help others during Christmas like Operation Christmas Child or Compassion International. As parents, we have to realize that we have to make that extra effort to help our children be aware of the needs of other children. 

4. Allow the idea of giving to simmer, by talking about it early December. Let's face it, December is a busy month. We have Christmas cards to mail, work parties to attend, homes to decorate, gifts to buy and cookies to bake. However, we must remember, the reluctant heart is not slowly changed overnight. Our children need time to learn, to process, and to prepare themselves to give what God has put on their heart. We must understand, developing a heart that does not give reluctantly or out of compulsion needs time to simmer, time to shape, time to mold. Change is a slow process for everyone, and it requires time for our kids to fight it, ponder it, and ultimately settle their hearts on what they can do with hearts that turn glad.   

Final Thoughts: There are many ways we can teach our kids the value of being givers, whether it reflects the ways mentioned earlier or altering your gift buying practices by purchasing a book through organizations like Better World Books http://www.toms.com/  where for every pair of shoes you buy, that same pair is donated by the company to another kid who lives in a poverty stricken third world climate.

In the end, giving is a very important character trait that must off-set the consumer mentality that if often associated with our children. We must find ways that enable them to move toward glad giving hearts, even if ever so slightly. We must help them soften their stance from only being "takers" to becoming better "givers."

Yes, It will be a process, but we must remember that we are helping our children to develop that sowing and reaping biblical pattern that will enable them to sow in faith and eventually reap an abundant future.</sup>