The Case of the MIssing Items

     After our Thanksgiving holiday, several things turned up missing.  Of course, we also found a few things that were left behind as usual, but somehow my couch pillow in the family room had disappeared.  I contacted family members to see if someone scooped it up by accident.  No one had seen it.  I searched my closets, under beds and every place I thought it might have gotten to.  Having 21 people in your home, things have a way of being moved.  Finally, as I was sweeping the carpet, I decided to check under the recliner side of my couch, and what to my “wondering eyes should appear” (to borrow a phrase) but my pillow.  It fit neatly under the seat and I suppose the children tucked it in there as they spent time playing in the family room.  That was not the end of my hunt though.

     Having a busy toddler (18 months) in the house, I discovered a couple of pieces of my “Little People” plastic manger set missing.  He didn’t play with the manger set as much as throwing the pieces or placing them in different spots.  As I was looking for an item in my laundry room, I found one of the Magi in my plastic wrap for bottled water.  That was  a lucky find; however, Baby Jesus was still missing after they left to return home.  I think I searched about everywhere I could think when I saw something out of place in one of my plant pots.  I didn’t know what it was at first.  As I looked closer, it was, indeed, my Baby Jesus.  Hallelujah….I had found Him.  Putting Him back in the manger set, I wondered to myself, how often do we lose Jesus in all the activities of the holidays?  There is always so much to do after all.

      When we are up to our ears in Christmas decorations, cookies and receptions to attend, do we take time to pray, read the Word and spend time in worship?  Jesus told us in Matthew 6:33:  “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”  In other words, God meets our needs and cares for us.  We need not stew over things but the imperative for every believer is to put the Lord first in our lives. Then, Paul encourages us to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (I Thessalonians 5:17).  I certainly did a lot of praying while looking for those missing items.  God never fails to answer either.  We just have to trust in Him to help us with the big things as well as the little things in life.  Finding manger pieces and a pillow may seem like silly things to pray for but God cares about all that we care about.  Throughout my life, I have learned to lean on Him when my five senses cannot locate something I have lost.  He has never failed to help me find those items.

       Perhaps the biggest thing that can get lost in the holiday season is time for genuine worship of God in the House of the Lord.  It is so easy to just stay in bed instead of getting up and preparing to go to church.  However, we deprive ourselves of the very spiritual food we need when we do this.  Hebrews 10:25 encourages us to persevere:  “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.”  If we keep our priorities straight during this time of celebration, we will not get lost in the hustle and bustle.

       Time spent with the Lord is never wasted time.  We are enriched by His Word, filled with His presence in prayer and loved by Him through the care of others when we fellowship together at church. We must not get lost like my “Little People” in the manger set or my couch pillow.  Keeping Christ at the center of our activities puts everything in perspective.  Lets not get lost in activities but be “found” faithful in all that we do that the true meaning of Christmas will shine through us!  Selah!

Don’t Let the Grinch Steal Your Christmas

     One of the Stories written by Dr. Seuss (my favorite) is “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”.  It has been made into a cartoon movie and a live action one some years ago but it tells a good story about the true meaning of Christmas that changed the heart of a crabby old Grinch. The citizens of Whoville still had the Christmas spirit even without presents that were stolen by the Grinch.  Their decorations were all taken down as well. Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel, his real name) wanted to let people know that materialism and the desire to get all you can at Christmas was not what Christmas was all about.  The story was written in 1957, and as even today, there was a great emphasis on gifts, decorations, and activities in abundance.  This is where we all need to take care lest we become “Grinched” at Christmas.

 

   Christ should always be first and foremost in our hearts during this season of celebration. The problem many of us face is getting ourselves wrapped up in too many activities, gift buying and endless rushing around until we drop with exhaustion.  Then, we begin to wish Christmas was over.  Our mood becomes less than cheerful.  Suddenly we become “Grinch-like” (crabby and negative) with friends and family alike.  It happens so gradually that we may not notice it but those around us can.  The stressed out look on the face, the tight smile, and snappy comments of complaint show others around us to stay away.   However, the Bible encourages us to do things in moderation.  

      In the letter to the Corinthians, Paul addresses a church that seems to be a bit out of control.  There is infighting over spiritual gifts, problems with the Lord’s Supper and immorality.  So Paul reminds them of this (I Corinthians 6:19-20):  “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?  You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.  So glorify God in your body.” We really need to remember this because too much on our calendar can bring stress.  We must learn to be reasonable and stop and consider what glorifies God for that is why we were created.  There are times we have to graciously say “no” to some things that put us in a tizzy.  I love what Proverbs 25:28 has to say:  “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” 

     For much of my life (especially college years), I have lived full tilt with being involved in everything under the sun. This takes a toll on our body, our mind, and even our spirit.  God never meant for us to be “human doings”.  We are made in His image, and He should be the center focus for our life.  Remember, our salvation is a free gift from God not works oriented, do everything perfectly, have the fanciest decorations, the most gifts under the tree type of redemption.  He wants us to be formed into the image of His dear Son…not become like the Grinch.  As Jesus wisely said in Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”  Read the whole chapter.  It is filled with encouragement for all worriers and overcommitted people.  So what should we do?

     At Christmas, we must take time to pray about how many activities and commitments we have on the calendar. I am certain they all look good, but must we be at each one?  Do we need to put up all the decorations so that we wow the neighborhood or should we keep it low key for the sake of precious time we might miss with our church family, our own family and especially with the Lord. God can guide us and give us His wisdom if we ask Him.

     Christmas is a time for worship, reading the Word of God and fellowship with other believers.  These activities should be our top priority.  Attending to these things first will put a new slant both on the celebration and who we are in Christ.  God has given us the means of grace through the preaching of His Word as well as the sacraments.  So in remembering to seek Him first, we will thwart having our Christmas stolen by the “Grinch” and experience the peace which passes all understanding.  Selah!!

God Cares About All the Details

     My mother had misplaced her keys one day and searched all over our home with no luck.  She was getting more and more upset by the moment, and I suggested that she stop and pray.  I said that God knows where those keys are.  She looked at me and replied that she couldn’t ask God to help her find her keys because He had more important requests to answer than that.  I was surprised by her response.  There had been many times when I had asked God to help me find something, and He did just that.  Why is it that we think that God only cares about the big things when the details in a situation are just as crucial?

 

   To prove my point, we have only to look at the Old Testament books of Exodus and Leviticus.  Did God not give extremely detailed instructions on how to build the Tabernacle, the altar and other features?  If he did not care for details, I seriously doubt they would all be recorded in Scripture.  In addition, He gave very specific direction to the Children of Israel regarding their conduct, offerings and ritual cleansings.  He is, indeed, a God who is in the details.

     Jesus made a statement about our worth and the details of our life that should be a great encouragement to us all.  In Matthew 10:29-31, He said:  “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not, therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.”  If God knows all the details of our lives (and He does), then we ought to rejoice that nothing is too small for Him to help us with.

     Take another example. Jesus fulfilled about 300 of the Old Testament prophecies made about the Messiah according to the scholars down to the place of His birth, His suffering, and His resurrection.  Again, we see God in the details letting His people know what He has planned for them. How well Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day when He said:  “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39).  So why is it that we think that God doesn’t care about lost car keys, a sick animal, or the many other day to day details of our life?

     One of the reasons is because we do not see God as big enough to care about these issues in our life.  Didn’t the Apostle Paul encourage us to take everything to God in prayer?  After all, God made us and knows we are weak, sinful and frail in this world.  He sought us before we ever sought Him that we might be saved from sin and death.  If He cares that much, will He not care about the small things that trouble us in this life? 

     A hymn that was dear to my father says is well:  “ Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer “(What a Friend We Have in Jesus) .  In this season of celebration when we look to the the cradle in a manger, let us not forget that Jesus came for us.  He lives to ever make intercession for us before the throne of God both in the big things and the details of our life.  Let us carry everything to God in prayer knowing that He hears us when we call.  May this encourage your heart today!  Selah!