The Cross at Christmas

December 25, 2010 by Leave a Comment

I’ve recently posted about our family memorizing Luke 2 and the birth of Christ which are great ways to look past the shopping, the gifts, and the food to prepare, in order to just slow down and focus our hearts and mind on the true meaning of Christmas.  However, it seems as though the older I get, the more I see Christmas not so much as the miraculous birth of Christ (which it definitely is), but more of the unfolding of God’s great plan and His deep love for us.

At this time of year, the question begs to be asked, ‘Why did God send His Son into the world?’  This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  (1 John 4:9-10)

Yes, Jesus had a miraculous coming into this world, but He was born to die…for us.  Christmas is so much more than the birth of the baby.  It is about the cross that Christ grew up to carry.  His obedience to the Father.  His deep love for us, even while we were still sinners.  Jesus willingly left His heavenly throne to redeem His people.

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David…  (Luke 1:68-69)

When we celebrate Christmas — the birth of Christ and God’s great love for us, I can’t help but also reflect upon Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.  At Christmas, we are truly rejoicing in the birth of our Savior – the One who has come to save us from our sins,  the Almighty, All powerful, King of  Kings, eternal God.  To Him belongs all glory, honor, and praise.

Wonderful Cross
Lyrics and song by Michael W. Smith

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My Richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

See from His head His hands His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown

Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
Bids me come and die and find
that I may truly live
Oh the wonderful cross (2x)
All who gather here by grace
draw near and bless your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all

Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all
and the beauty and the shame
in the glory of His name

Filed Under: Christmas, The Joy of God's Word, The Joy of Holidays

If Mary and Joseph Were On Facebook

December 20, 2010 by Leave a Comment

I saw this video shared on Facebook the other day and hesitantly clicked on the link.  I was skeptical at first, but as I watched I began to get goose bumps.  It is based off of the accounts in Matthew 1 and Luke 1-2 from the Bible.  It was very creatively done, taking the account of the birth of Christ and all the related events -bringing them to life with the likely real emotions  that accompanied each.  The joy at the end with the typing of  “It’s a Boy!” and “His name shall be Jesus.” are overpowering. 

Rejoice!  For our Savior has come!

 

This is just one of several Christmas videos that Igniter Media has created.  The ‘Paradox of Christmas’ and ‘Retooning the Nativity’ are two others that I thought were well done also.

Filed Under: Christmas, The Joy of God's Word

Declaring the Great News

December 17, 2010 by 1 Comment

This just in…

It may just be me, but doesn’t she sound like a little news reporter?

Our family has been trying to memorize Luke 2:1-20 this Christmas season.  It was intended to be just for my husband and I with the oldest three kids.  However, our 2 1/2 year old has often been present while we are reciting it and has quickly caught on to the words.  (Well, most of them.)  I am pleasantly surprised each day at how much the littlest lives in our home are able to learn and process in their hearts and minds.

Our little one only attempted the first 11 verses and wasn’t able to say all of the words, so here is Luke 2:1-20 (NIV, 1984 version) in its entirety…
(Free printables to use with the verses can be found here.)

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were
just as they had been told.

 

Merry Christmas to you and yours!  The Savior has come!

Filed Under: Christmas, The Joy of Children, The Joy of God's Word, The Joy of Holidays

Music to Strengthen Your Faith

November 23, 2010 by Leave a Comment

In regards to music, I am a huge Chris Tomlin fan.  So, it is no surprise how much I have been enjoying his newly released album, ‘And If Our God is For Us.’  As usual, he assists us in focusing our hearts and minds on Christ and in bringing praise and glory to our Lord through song.   ‘Our God’, ‘ I Will Follow’, ‘I Lift My Hands’, ‘The Name of Jesus’, and ‘Faithful’ are favorites around our home right now.  The older kids have even set up a ‘stage’ of sorts with microphones built from Tinker Toys.  They have been dancing and singing along with some of the songs from the album for the past several days.

stagestage2

Below are just two of the songs that I found through YouTube.  You can hear portions of each of the songs from the album and learn about the meaning behind a couple of the songs at http://www.christomlin.com

Faithful by Chris Tomlin
…
You are there in every season of my soul.
You are there.  You’re the anchor that will hold.
You are there in the valley of the shadows.
You are faithful, God.

I will sing to the maker of Heaven and Earth.
God, You reign forever and Your love will endure.
Faithful and true is the name of the Lord.
You are faithful, God.

Faithful by Chris Tomlin from "And If Our God Is For Us"

 

I Lift My Hands by Chris Tomlin
…

I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge.  You are my strength.
As I pour out my heart these things I remember
You are faithful, God, forever
…

I Lift My Hands by Chris Tomlin from "And If Our God Is For Us"

Today, I am thankful for…
5) music that praises Jesus
4) the funny sayings that come form our sweet toddler’s mouth
3) children and their laughter and smiles 
2) a husband who loves the Lord and serves his family
1) my faithful Lord and Savior – Jesus Christ 

DSC_2696

Filed Under: Mom's Heart, Thanksgiving, The Joy of God's Word

“What you want Mama?”

November 22, 2010 by 3 Comments

DSC_2419 Our toddler frequently grabs a piece of paper or small notepad and asks me, “What you want Mama?”  Typically, I will give her my order of some foods for her to pretend to prepare or some items for her to write on her ‘grocery list’.  About a month ago, when she asked this commonplace question, my mind unexpectedly sent out a flurry of silent answers for her…

  • Joy and contentment
  • Obedient children – For the older girls to not question and correct me; for our oldest son to eat foods everyone else eats; for our toddler to not scream and throw tantrums; for our sweet baby to sleep longer at night
  • Children who love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength
  • To get outside in the fresh air more
  • To be able to pray aloud with my husband
  • To sleep for more than 4-5 hours a few nights in a row
  • To have time to record the memory verse songs
  • To not be so pressed for time and always feeling behind
  • To be a prayer warrior for my kids and husband
  • To be in the Word and sitting at Jesus’ feet daily
  • To draw my children close and to not push them away with my too quick responses, harsh tones, or actions
  • More time with my husband
  • Trees and flowers
  • To not feel so tired and to not look so tired and worn out all the time

She kept asking and I kept telling her some of my favorite foods to add to her list of circles and scribbles, but even after she ran off to play something else, the unspoken responses stayed with me. Many of these ‘wants’ were good things. However, could any of them possibly have become idols? I also noticed that several of the ‘wants’ were caused by areas of sin in my life that must be dealt with. For example, was I correctly training and instructing or had I been letting certain behaviors slip by without addressing them?  And then there were a few that I had to question as to whether they were actually grumblings and discontentment against my faithful Lord.

God can use the innocent speech of our children to prick our hearts and to help turn our thoughts back to Him.

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Filed Under: Mom's Heart, The Joy of Children
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