Advent 2008: Christmas Day

Last year, I mentioned the tradition of the advent wreath that my family does every year. Please join us in our celebration this year as I post the thoughts, scriptures and songs that make up our worship this holiday season.

Christmas Day: The Christ's Candle

The word "love" gets tossed around so often that it has almost lost it's meaning. We use it a lot this time of year, but I don't think that we can ever really grasp the love that God has for us. To take on flesh, to walk among a sinful people, and to give His life for a fallen man. This is love in its purest form. No matter how much I reflect on it, it's still something that I just can't fathom. In the end, it is this love that brings the peace, the joy, the hope and the faith that make our lives worth living. "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." John 15:13.

Verses to read: Isaiah 9:2;Luke 2:30-32

We Are the Reason
By David Meece

As little children
We would dream of Christmas morn
Of all the gifts and toys
We knew we'd find
But we never realized
A Baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives

We were the reason
That He gave His life
We were the reason
That He suffered and died
To a world that was lost
He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live

As the years went by
We learned more about gifts
The giving of ourselves
And what that means
On a dark and cloudy day
A Man hung crying in the rain
All because of love, all because of love

We were the reason
That He gave His life
We were the reason
That He suffered and died
To a world that was lost
He gave all He could give
To show us a reason to live

I've finally found a reason for living
It's in giving every part of my heart to Him
In all that I do, very word that I say
I'll be giving my all just for Him, for Him

We are the reason
That He gave His life
We are the reason
That He suffered and died
To a world that was lost
He gave all He could give
To show us a reason to live

He is my reason to live

Advent 2008: Week 4

Last year, I mentioned the tradition of the advent wreath that my family does every year. Please join us in our celebration this year as I post the thoughts, scriptures and songs that make up our worship this holiday season.

Week 4: The Shepherds' Candle

For most of us, it's very easy to have joy this time of year. We get to be with friends and family, enjoy special activities and foods, and of course (I know you're thinking it) we get presents. Even adults seem to find a child-like joy during the Christmas holiday. Then January hits, a new year begins, and "reality" sets in. We get back to the daily grind and the joy seems to evaporate. The situation was almost the exact opposite for the shepherds on that first Christmas. They were living in their own daily grind, no parties, no special foods and no presents; and yet they still found a real and lasting joy in the birth of a Savior. Let's try to be like these shepherds in the coming year, finding joy, not in our circumstances and surroundings, but in the hope we have through our Savior. "Break forth into joy, sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem! For the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD has made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God." Isaiah 52:7

Verses to read: Ezekiel 34:23; Luke 2:15-20; John 10:11

God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman
Traditional

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Savior
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

From God our heavenly Father
A blessed angel came
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

The shepherds at these tidings
Rejoiced much in mind
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind
And went to Bethlehem straightway
The Son of God to find
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Now to the Lord sing praises
All you within this place
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Great Post: Santa and God

Many Christians wrestle with the decision of whether or not to allow their children believe in Santa Claus. Some allow it as harmless fun while others discourage it because they fear that their kids will not believe in God once they find out the truth about the jolly old elf. In his article in the Wall Street Journal, Tony Woodlief discusses his view on how childhood belief in fairy tales and fantasies might actually aid children in their belief in God later in life:

"I suspect that fairy tales and Santa Claus do prepare us to embrace the ultimate Fairy Tale, the one [C. S.] Lewis believed was ingrained in our being. New research from the Université de Montréal and the University of Ottawa indicates that children aren't overly troubled upon learning that Santa is a myth. But the researchers remained puzzled because while children eventually abandon Santa, they keep believing in God. Lewis would say this is because God is real, but Mr. [Richard] Dawkins fears it is the lasting damage of fairy tales. While Mr. Dawkins stands ironically alongside Puritans in his readiness to ban fairy tales, Christian apologists like Lewis and Chesterton embraced them, precisely because to embrace Christian dogma is to embrace the extrarational."

Read the rest of the article here.

Advent 2008: Week 3

Last year, I mentioned the tradition of the advent wreath that my family does every year. Please join us in our celebration this year as I post the thoughts, scriptures and songs that make up our worship this holiday season.

Week 3: The Angels' Candle

Peace is something that everyone desires at Christmas. It is written on our Christmas cards, sung of in our carols, and even non-Christians declare this to be a season of peace. But this idea of "peace on earth" could not be any further from reality. From the hustle and bustle of Main St. to the war torn corners of the globe, peace seems to be rather elusive. But the true peace of Christmas is not found in the physical world. It is a spiritual peace. It is peace that comes from knowing that no matter what we face in this world, God's only Son has provided us with everlasting life. My prayer for you this week is that you will realize what a wonderful promise this is, and that the true peace of the season will awaken in your heart. "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'". Isaiah 52:7

Verse to read: Luke 2:8-14; 4:18-19

Hark the Herald Angels Sing
by Charles Wesley

Hark, the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark, the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heaven adored
Christ the everlasting Lord
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark, the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace
Hail the Son of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings
Risen with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark, the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Advent 2008: Week 2 (Belated)

Last year, I mentioned the tradition of the advent wreath that my family does every year. Please join us in our celebration this year as I post the thoughts, scriptures and songs that make up our worship this holiday season.

Week 2: The Bethlehem Candle

In many ways, Bethlehem at the time of Jesus' birth was a lot like my hometown. It was small, fairly unknown, and only had one hotel (there was no room for them in THE inn!). To me, it is just another example of how God can use even the most unlikely of things to bring glory to Himself. From the shepherd boy who killed a giant with a single stone, to the young and insignificant woman who brought forth the Messiah, God has allowed the weakest of us to accomplish His purposes. Take some time this season to reflect on how utterly incapable we humans are, and on the overwhelming grace of God which allows us to reflect His glory and righteousness. “ But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2

Verses to read: Luke 2:1-7

O Little Town of Bethlehem
By Phillips Brooks

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortal sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven
No ear may hear His coming
But in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive Him, still
The dear Christ enters in

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel