Noel, Noel...

The angels sent word to shepards in their fields, to kings, to all who were within hearing distance--Christ the King is born! Bring Him gifts and worship Him as you would Me, for He is My Son, the Living Word.  And so, through the ages, we have come to accept Him as our Savior.

The trick is not that we must just believe in Him, or that we must worship Him. It is in believing that this long dead man is the Son of God, that He IS God, that He still lives. Now THAT is an act of faith!

We worship sometimes with words, with lip service. Oh yes, we say we believe, and we do, when it is convenient.  It is convenient on Saturday night, but not on Sunday at 8:30; maybe at 11:00, but certainly not on Wednesday.  We have to go to work, or to meetings, or out to dinner with Harry's boss. We all have excuses not to worship, or at least excuses not to share the Word.

When the angels called the shepards from their fields, they came. The kings came. They found time.

I have to work.  Yes, I do. I don't want to get fired. Neither do you.

So that keeps me from church services sometimes.  It doesn't have to keep me from worship.

Pastor Jeff reads my mind sometimes, as I've told you. Last week it was a challenge to see God in our lives every day at least once. For a few days, I couldn't find Him. I asked Him to reveal Himself, He did. This week Pastor offered another challenge--to BE the God-sighting,to let our light of peace illuminate our own corner of the world, letting His light shine through us.

THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO THIS CHALLENGE THAN IT SOUNDS.

First of all, we have to hear the angels calling us to follow the star.
We have to believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
We have to know that He still lives.
We have to be willing to be filled with His love and His light and His Word, filled to overflowing, so that we can, without fear or reservation, let His light shine through us.
And lastly, we have to be bold enough to share.

The challenge isn't so simple after all. Am I up to it? I don't know, but I will try, one day at a time, beginning this Christmas morning.  I will begin with my husband who deserves much better a wife than I am. I will try every day this week and beyond to give a little light to someone. I will try, even when I wake up in a crappy mood, even when I am too tired to think...I will try to give a kind word, a good deed, a word of prayer or praise.

I accept your challenge once again, Pastor. Thank you for making me see what needs to be done, and keep me in your prayers that I may accomplish your challenge.


Merry Christmas to all, and in the words of tiny Tim,


" God bless us, every one!"