Intentional Encouragement

            I'm always concerned about how long the experience of Christmas will affect us as we move into another year.  Next week this time, I suspect our Christmas decorations will be put away and we'll be back into our groove, anticipating 2014.  I don't want it to be the same this year.  How about you?  For one last post this year, let me re-post something from a couple of years ago.               It seems each year, as my mind is drawn back to those days so long ago when our Savior was born, that I find myself immersed once again in some “sanctified speculation.” I wonder just how the individuals that we read about in the Biblical account must have felt during the experience that we now call history.             The shepherds are on my mind today, and one particular ...

     Here's another repeat post from an earlier Christmas.  I hope you enjoy it...actually I hope it brings you encouragement; especially if "life" has thrown you a curveball or two this year.                  There was a lot about Mary's situation that would have been hard to take in.   She was pregnant but unmarried.   Further, she hadn’t done anything wrong to get into that situation.   Even more, who would believe that?             While every young Jewish girl held the faint hope in her heart that she might be privileged to become the mother of the Messiah, they didn’t plan their lives around it.   Mary wouldn’t have either.   She had plans, but they likely didn’t include this.   Not this way; n ot now; not before she and Joseph were married.       ...

     I wrote this a couple of years ago during the Christmas season, but the challenge of it is still with me, so I thought I'd share it again this year.  In fact, the next couple of weeks I'll probably do that.  Hope you don't mind re-reading.       Here's how the ESV translates Paul’s description in Philippians 2:5-8 of what happened at Christmas:   “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”   We call this the incarnation. Jesus took on humanity; he became flesh; became one of us.      I am astonished at the extent to which Christ went to bring the message of...

     Those crazy birds with the mean look on their face were all the rage a couple of years back.  You could get nearly addicted using the slingshot to tear down structures.  It was fun to hear them scream and utilize their strengths and uniqueness to accomplish as much demolition as possible.  Their reason for existence, it seems, was to tear down.      I've already started to see the Christmas version of these creatures.  The difference is that they are not animated birds.  And they aren't fun.  They are people; specifically Christians.  "Don't shop here; they hate Christmas."  "Boycott those people; they won't acknowledge Christ in Christmas."  "Those jerks won't allow us to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas because they say Happy Holidays."   OK; that last one isn't something I've actually heard, but it seems to be the gist of the argument.      Peop...

     It's Christmas Day.  I've enjoyed having all of our kids back at our house today.  We are treasuring these times because we know that this coming year holds some significant changes for our family.  At least one move will be coming this year; a wedding for our oldest son and (of course) all those other changes that happen without announcing themselves through each year.        We opened our gifts this morning and enjoyed sharing God's generosity with each other.  We did the same with my parents a couple of days ago and will with our future daughter in law this evening.  I love the opportunity to share with those I love.  It brings great joy to me as I give gifts.      The following words were penned a couple of years ago and they are brief, but I hope the idea of gift giving that is still fresh in your mind will allow you to spend a couple of moments reflecting on the amazing gift ...

    Tuesday is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus.  As you head into this week, let these thoughts about the amazing journey that Jesus took from Heaven to earth enlarge your gratitude for the reality of Christmas.      Here's how the ESV translates Paul’s description in Philippians 2:5-8 of what happened that first Christmas: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”      We call this the incarnation. Jesus took on humanity; he became flesh; became one of us.       I am astonished at the extent to which Christ went to bring the message of God’s truth into th...

     I realize that I've been out of touch for over a month, and I probably won't get back to writing until after the first of the year, but I thought I'd re-publish several posts in the next week or so that I've posted before.  They'll all focus on the celebration of Christmas.  I hope they will be an encouragement to you as you reflect on this wonderful time of year.       There was a lot about Mary's situation that would have been hard to take in. She was pregnant but unmarried. Further, she hadn’t done anything wrong to get into that situation. Even more, who would believe that?       While every young Jewish girl held the faint hope in her heart that she might be privileged to become the mother of the Messiah, they didn’t plan their lives around it. Mary wouldn’t have either. She had plans, but they likely didn’t include this. Not this way; n ot now; not before she an...

     It's Christmas Eve.  I thought I'd share a couple of thoughts with you that I plan to talk about tomorrow morning in our worship service.      Christmas is wonderful.  We very much enjoy each other's generosity as well as that of many of our friends and extended family.   Gift giving is fun as we have the opportunity to share things with each other and watch their reaction while they open the gift.   Most of the time, a simple "thank you" will suffice for what we receive.   People give to us for the joy of giving and because they love us. They expect no thanks, they just want to express themselves to us.   Other times, people are so generous that it takes us by surprise.   Did you ever receive a gift from someone and your immediate reaction was something along the lines of "I don't know what to say?"       We have talked often throughout this season about God's gift to us in ...

      “… [Jesus] did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing…” (Philippians 2:6b-7a, ESV)       I'm still mulling over those verses this week and I want to challenge you to remember something as you move toward Christmas Day. When Jesus came here to earth, there was no advantage in it for Him.       Jesus is God in every respect: power…authority…wisdom…eternality…everything about Him is God. There is no one else like the Lord Jesus. He was fully God and fully man. It is beyond my finite ability to understand.       With all of that being true, think about the magnitude of what He did in coming to earth. According to Philippians chapter 2, Jesus veiled his majesty as God and came to earth taking on the nature of humanity. He didn’t stop being God, but He did choose not to exercise His rights and the prerogatives of deity in many cases....

     I wrote this last Christmas, but the challenge of it is still with me.      I have been meditating on Paul’s description in Philippians 2:5-8 of what happened at Christmas.    Here's how the ESV translates it:   “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”   We call this the incarnation. Jesus took on humanity; he became flesh; became one of us.      I am astonished at the extent to which Christ went to bring the message of God’s truth into the world. Jesus is eternally God and the essence of who he was didn’t change when he came to earth.   He veiled ...

            It seems each year, as my mind is drawn back to those days so long ago when our Savior was born, that I find myself immersed once again in some “sanctified speculation.” I wonder just how the individuals that we read about in the Biblical account must have felt during the experience that we now call history.             The shepherds are on my mind today, and one particular point keeps resurfacing in my thinking.  The text states this: “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.”  That seems simple enough.  Here is the thought that keeps coming back to me, though:  They were going about their regular, daily activities when the message of "Christmas" invaded their lives.  Later on in the Biblical record, we read that "the shepherds returned…"  After it was all over they went bac...