I used to love the “Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy” song on the old Ren and Stimpy show years back. These two crazy alien cartoon characters would get all fired up and start singing this happy song that made me happy and it is always good when we have things in our lives that make us happy. I have a few random things that I would like to share with you on this subject.
It makes me happy that Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora are still making music that is usually pretty good. It makes me happy to see the Cookie Monster destroy something on Sesame Street. It makes me happy to drink a glass bottle Coke. It makes me happy when there is still coffee in the pot in the late afternoon. It makes me happy to watch any of the Jeopardy skits from Saturday Night Live. Those are just a few things that make me happy.
Another thing that really makes me happy is this time of year. I absolutely love Christmas. I love all the neat (and sometimes free) things to do. I love the lights. I love the weather (most of the time). I love the music. I love the parties and gatherings. I really love the food (perhaps too much). But what I love the most is the people and how the birth of Jesus brings so many of us together.
God sent His ONLY son. Think about that for a moment. He sent his ONLY son that we might know hope, peace and especially love. And not love that is earned, but love that is free because He loves more than we can possibly imagine. God is awesome and every December He seems to awaken this dormant spirit in man so that we can open our doors and our hearts and love like crazy!
So love this Christmas. Love like you are going to lose your mind if you don’t. I think this is going to be the best Christmas since the first one and I hope for that every year. Let’s all do our part and see if we can’t make that happen.
I want to thank everyone who showed up to listen to me preach this past Sunday and also Steve for giving me the opportunity. I enjoy getting in front of everyone from time to time. It allows me to share the visions the Holy Spirit has been impressing on me to a wider group of people which is always nice.
Having friends who care about Jesus while simultaneously caring about me is really an awesome feeling. It kind of feels like I have the best of this world and the best of the next. Because of my relationship with Christ I know that eternity will be a beautiful thing. And because of the joy I have in the friendships I have here, this life is a beautiful thing. Now I do realize that we are taught not to put our faith in man, but I do believe friends are something to rejoice over.
Think about this…God made us in His image. His image! He is constantly in a state of togetherness (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). If we are made in His image, then we should be in a constant state of togetherness. In other words, God made us to make friends! How awesome is that!
This time of year is busy. There is no doubt about that. My hope though is that the “busy” is a good busy. I hope it is not just spent running from store to store and mall to mall. I hope you are spending it in the company of friends. I know I will be.
The Christmas Express is arriving at Kershaw this Sunday! Inspired by the Polar Express, we’ll be talking about…
Dec. 6 “Get On Board”
Nowadays, it’s easy to miss the true meaning of Christmas, but when Jesus was born, all of heaven focused it’s attention on one thing, and one thing only. This season, travel on the same track of the wise men who pushed all aside to worship Jesus.
Dec. 13 “Enjoy the Ride”
The wonderful sights, smells, and sounds of Christmas invite us to “feel” something during the Christmas season…anxiety? indulgence? loneliness? But, over 2000 years ago, angels hovered over a field of sheep and invited a few shepherds to also feel something too… Great Joy!
Dec. 20 “Share the Window Seat”
Christmas was always meant to be shared. The angels proclaimed, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” If you have faith, and hope and joy because of Jesus Christ, then don’t hog the Good News all the way to your final destination…Share it!
And finally, we’re going to have a wonderful community Christmas Eve service for Kershaw. I hope you’ll begin inviting others to “get on board” with the true spirit of Christmas.
Take a look at our video promo for The Christmas Express, and pass it along to others…see you Sunday!
Christmas has come to our household! The trees are up and decorations are out. I did say trees…as in plural. We have two, one inside and one outside. (I’m not counting a couple 4-footers btw). Since I’m not much of a decorations-man, that sounds like a lot, but really they are no trouble. I told my wife that putting on the lights was the husband’s job when I was growing up, and since the trees are pre-lighted, they are really no trouble at all! And now that it is all done, I’m glad that we have the decorations. It makes the season so much better to have beautiful things around.
Of course, I know that the things that we have are not meaningless decorations. They are all symbols of something much greater. Evergreens, lights, gifts, stars and more all have symbolic meaning that point to Jesus in a beautiful way. Sometimes the meanings are lost, but we try to remember why we put out these symbols, and teach it to our children.
Another way we use symbols in our household is by creating a Jesse Tree. Each day of the Advent season we have a Scripture reading and a printed ornament that one of the children color. Each ornament reminds them of the Scripture. On the first night, we read, Isaiah 11:1: “A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots.” We talked about how this prophesies about Jesus coming from the family tree of Jesse, the ornament was colored, and then placed on a tree. By the end of Christmastime, we will have a tree full of reminders of God’s Word. (That is…if we don’t get behind. Yesterday, we had to catch up on one night!)
What are the symbols that you put up in your home for Christmas? I’m sure you have many things with sentimental value. I also hope that you have decorations with symbolic meaning that reminds you that Jesus is our Messiah. Share in a comment if you have any special decorations, and why they are important to you.
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