It would be about this time that Joseph and Mary would begin to prepare to go to Bethlehem.  The census had been decreed.  Everyone knew.  Maybe they hung back waiting for the birth of the baby.  No one knows.  It would be difficult for her to ride a donkey all that distance.  He did not have shock absorbers.  His back would be hard and stiff.  

 

Yet traveled they did.  What would take two hours to drive in a car took longer back then.  They would cross the Jordan because they would not travel through Samaria.  Then they would have to cross the Jordan again at Jericho.  At Jericho they would take a narrow road to Jerusalem.  Before Jerusalem they would go south to Bethlehem.  It was not an easy trip.  But travel they must.  Travel they did.

 

Many will travel this Christmas to see family and friends.  They will enjoy the day, exchange gifts, laugh, and watch Christmas movies.   All this because of two people who traveled to be counted.

 

As you travel, give thanks for your vehicle.  It is not a donkey.  Think about it. 

 

PS  There is another lesson here.  We benefit off someone else’s suffering.  Ever notice that?

I feel like a Mac truck hit me when I woke up  I felt that way yesterday, but not as bad as this morning.  Sickness is not fun.  It is rather draining, especially if you live by yourself.  Many of you know what I am talking about.  So today, I will go to my room and rest.  Take my teas and sleep.

 

There was a belief centuries ago, that if your body was sick, so was your soul.  People related the two together.  To some degree there is truth to that belief.  If you spirit is content, at peace, joyful, then you were rarely sick.  The reason why I believe this saying, because in my own life I have found it to be true.  I am sick, because my soul hurts.  While I rest, I will rest my soul in God also.  He will heal the pain.  He will give me comfort and at the end of the day, all will be well. 

 

The soul and the body are closely bonded.  Without the body there is not soul.  Without the soul there is not body.  Think about it.  Look at your life. 

Yesterday I went Christmas shopping for two of my grandchildren.  With a little detail of the gifts, I embarked upon the task of finding the perfect gift.  As I was in the toy section, staring helplessly at the wide arrange of dolls, legos, actions figures, and other accessories, I ran into a lady who was shopping also.  I asked what was an LOL doll?  She laughed at me.  Showed me where they were.  Then watched my reaction to such an ugly doll.  It must have been priceless cause she laughed again.  For the next few minutes, she educated me on girl’s dolls.  She expressed her displeasure with LOL dolls. 

 

Now, I dislike shopping, especially by myself for Christmas.  Yet for a few minutes a complete strange made it fun.  Nothing was demanded.  It was just given.  Laughter.  Smiles.  A few minutes of craziness.  Then we parted ways.  I never got her name, but I was grateful that this individual made Christmas shopping a little bearable.

 

In this season, it is about the simple.  A smile that encourages.  Thank you.  I hope that you have a great day.  Maybe, Merry Christmas with a smile.  Just the simple things, bring such joy to others.  Do the simple.  Watch God work.  Think about it.

I bet you like shopping as much as me.  Maybe you do like shopping.  What a brave soul.  It is difficult to pick gifts out.  You do not know what they want, since there are so many of items.  It is expensive.  Or this is the best yet, they have no idea what they want.  By the way, this is me with my mother.  She is very disappointed in me for not knowing what I want for Christmas.

 

What we really want, money cannot buy.  We want our families together for Christmas.  We want the perfect gifts to give.  We want everyone to be happy.  We want everyone to get along.  The list goes on of what we want.

 

However, it is what we need that is more important.  Everyone needs peace, security, encouragement, joy, belonging, and most of all love.  The Christmas manger holds the answer to all of our needs.  A baby’s soft cry reminds us that we are loved, needed.  Bowing shepherds show us that there is one who has brought peace for all who would receive it.  The knocking on the door with great wise men standing displays that even the greatest need love.

 

The gift to give this year has already been given.  One just has to receive it.  Think about it.

Announcements, announcements, announcements.  A terrible way to die, so the song goes.  There are many announcements.

 

First, Christmas Caroling December 14 at 7 pm.  Yes we ride around on a trailer, behind a Jeep, and sing songs to people in the town.   It is fun and sometimes very cold.  Did I say it was fun?  It is.  Like to come and sing with us?

 

Second, Christmas Eve Program on December 24th at 9 pm.  This year Billie Huffer will be in charge.  It will be a great program with treats following. 

 

Third, Christmas Day.   On Christmas Morning we will have service at 10 am.  Coffee and donuts at 9:30 am for those who want out of the house quickly or just want to have a donut.  Again, everyone is invited.  The weatherman is forecasting 6 inches of snow on Christmas Eve.  So if you live in town, you have a place to come.

 

Last, but not least, New Years Eve.  We will have a New Years Eve celebration beginning at 7 pm.  There will be movies, games, and food.  No celebration is not good without food.  If you want to come and laugh, relax and be with people,  come on.

 

On request.  If you know of someone who is without family or friends this season, invite them into your home.  Being alone is not fun.  Think about it.  Remember: Jesus is the reason for the season.

It is the time for the cold and flu season.   Let us not forget covid.  Being sick is not good.  The coughing, vomiting, and other bodily functions do not bring joy to life.  I have heard people cry out, “just let me die,” while vomiting at the porcelain throne.  It is not the best time of our lives.

 

With that said.  All the bodily functions is the body trying to get rid of a virus or bacteria.  Thus, the fever, vomiting, and other unpleasant acts.  Old remedies are very  helpful, but beyond the scope of this writing.  While this experience in life is not fun, it is need to eradicate the intruder. 

 

The same is true in life.  Tough, difficult times are need to flush out of our lives unwanted materials, people, emotions, or pain.  At the end of this difficult time, we feel better.  It is just getting through it.  When we are sick, we call a doctor.  When we are sick, we should call God.  Funny thing about this life, when we go through hard times, God is usually the last one we call.  He is the last resort.  What would happen if He was the first resort?  Maybe a lot of what we experience, would never happen.  Think about it.

On this day, 81 years ago on a bright sunny Sunday morning, the Japaneses Navy attack Pearl Harbor.  This attack brought the US into World War 2.  The greatest generation that this country has ever seen, defeated two “evil” empires and liberated the Jews from German enslavement.  The US was the greatest country on the earth at that time: technically, morally, and spiritually.

 

But as one studies history, when a country displays greatness, it soon falls.  That is where we are at now in the US.  This nation that once pronounced its allegiance to God, has turned from Him taking another path.  We have seen the destruction of the family, race, genders, of morals.  We do what is right in our own eyes.  There is no longer a true longing to help our fellow brothers and sisters.  Help is only given is something is taken.  Marriages are no longer scared.  Children are no longer seen as a gift from God.  Now, this could go on and on, but the point is made.  What happens next is what all great thinkers have warned for centuries, this nation will fall from the inside.  Fall it will.

 

For those who believe in and follow Jesus, we have to be ready for what will happen.  We have to be ready with God’s Word, His Love, and our very lives.  Some will die.  Following Jesus will come at a cost.  However, we are more than conquers in Christ Jesus.  It will be an opportunity for us to shine for our Lord.  Shine we must.  Shine we will.

 

We can no longer look at the materialistic United States, we must look at the souls of those men, women, and children that God created.  We must and will give them the peace, purpose, and life that they need.   The last words of Jesus started with the word, “GO.”  It is time to Go and shine.  Think about it.  Go do it.

In ancient days (over 300 years ago), in some cultures at Christmas, bonfires would be lite.  On Christmas Eve, across the country side would be bonfires, lighting the way for the new born King.  Even in the U.S. in the west, some people would lite their bonfires.

 

It is an interesting concept and in some sense Biblical.  In John 1: 1 – 5, John uses the word that we translate as light.  Yet, it comes from an obsolete word which means fire.  Interesting.  In one translation from the 1700’s, the word fire is used instead of light.  A popular western writer quoted John and used the word fire instead of light. 

 

Fire.  If one looks at the life of Christ, it was a life of full of fire.  Fire that drove passion, purpose, breathe.  I wonder what was in His eyes.  I would bet it was  a fire to please His Father and bring healing to His creation.  What is in your eyes?  What drives you?  Think about it.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He  was with God in the beginning.  Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.  In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.  John 1: 1 – 4

 

Noticed something about those verse?  It is all about the Word.  The Word is a He (politically incorrect, I know).  Still it is true.  It is about He.  Who is He?  Immediately the response is Jesus. That is true.  Still, who is Jesus.  According to the Scripture, Jesus is the very essence of God.  When Jesus came to this earth, the very essence of God came.  God walked with us.

 

So when you look at the manger this season, notice the baby.  Notice that it is God with us.  Awesome. 

Tis the Christmas Season.  The stores are crammed.  Some shelves are empty.  The lists of gifts.  Some you can find.  Some you cannot.  Grumbling in the long lines at some stores because of the lack of cashiers.  You could be your own cashier in some stores.  Then you get made at the cashier because the price is wrong.  

 

Looking at the manager, one wonders: why would Jesus come here?  Why be born in such terrible conditions?  Leaving a perfect place to come to an imperfect place is  crazy.  We would never do it.  Yet He did.

 

Makes a person wonder.  If Jesus was willing to come and be with us, how am I to react to that?  Simple answer: awe.  We react in awe that He was willing to go through with the Father’s plan.  We kneel in awe that He showed us love, healing, and compassion, when our reaction was hate.  We cry out in awe, because He died for my sins.  We give praise in awe, because He conquered death and gave us new life.

 

I know.  Here we go again with Christmas.  Maybe we should just stop and look at the baby in the manager with awe.  Think about it.