Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Monday, December 23, 2013
A Different Kind of Christmas
A Different Christmas
I wanted it to be a nice Christmas, one to remember -- and it was. My parent’s house was bursting at the seams with family that year. How blessed it was, such a meaningful time. A wonderful celebration, and my oldest sister and brother-in-law’s thirtieth anniversary although a few days shy of December 25th. That year’s Christmas celebration had a different twist. This time our annual gift-giving exchange between the families did not happen—on purpose. It had been my sister’s idea to start with.
“I was thinking, in light of Hurricane Katrina, maybe it would be good to do money donations this year instead of everyone buying gifts for each other,” my sister opened up a new dialogue during a phone conversation a few weeks before Christmas. “What do you think? Would you like to do that?
“What are you proposing? How would you like to do it?” I asked, curious about her thinking. She responded that it would be nice to still include the gift exchange with the grandchildren and grandparents but it might be nice to donate to a favorite charity of Mother- and Dad’s or something else for the rest of us. She said she would talk to everyone first to find out what the consensus was. I said, “Sure, count me in!”
I have to admit my first reaction on the gut level was one of disappointment. I have always enjoyed the way our family comes together with homemade and unique gifts, family to family, with lots of personal touches. I knew I would miss it. But quick on the heels of that thought was one of relief. Now I won’t have to search and search to find the right gifts! It’s a good thing I am not an early shopper! This will make Christmas easier!
I find it interesting how our thoughts and desires evolve over time. As Christmas drew nearer and we decided to do the money-gifting as a whole family, I gave it more thought. I considered who I would choose to receive what I would give. I thought of a couple of families who I knew could use some help. It made me wonder how we would figure it out. With five families involved, it might be hard to work out in a way that would please everyone.
The next time my sister from Oregon and I talked, she said that my sister and brother-in-law from Panama, who were in the states for the year, had suggested someone who was in a very difficult place in her life. a person from their mission ministry in Panama. I told her that I had been thinking of someone else too, but probably the need was not as great.
A decision was made that on Christmas Day all of us would have a round table discussion. Each could share what was on their heart at the time about who would be the recipient of our money gifting. What a nice way to handle this, I thought to myself. The Christmas was going to be extra special in other ways for both of my brother-in-law’s mothers were coming to California to join us, one from Idaho and the other from Montana. Maybe this type of gift exchange would make it more comfortable for them as well.
After dinner on Christmas Day, we gathered round the antique mahogany dining room table. My brother’s family shared about a woman in their church who was struggling. Her husband had left her and money was tight. She could use a helping hand and especially the encouragement. I shared about two different needs: an older woman whose husband was in jail. Her funds were limited and the difficulty of her situation making it an emotional and financial hardship. I knew it would be a blessing to her. The other, a family new to my church, he, a recent convert recovering from substance abuse recently hospitalized for leukemia, active on our church worship team. I thought it might be an encouragement to them. My brother-in-law shared the woman from Panama’s story, she, a house keeper in Panama, had been diagnosed with a serious illness then received surgery. As a single parent, she cared for her daughters as best she could, a woman living in hardship with physical limitations but an abundance of living faith. All the suggestions were worthy. It would be hard to decide. I hoped all would receive donations.
. . .
It was decided that we could donate to whomever we
wished from the different needs. We would make contact with the person who had mentioned the
request. As Christmas day progressed, different ones came to me to donate to
the two suggestions I had mentioned. It touched me when one of the
mother-in-law’s contributed to my suggestions. I hadn’t expected a guest to
participate. I did the same with some of their requests. I found myself giving
more than I would have spent if I had purchased gifts. I wanted each one of the
suggested recipients to receive a generous amount. To the young woman whose
husband had left her, I wrote a note of encouragement, knowing and relating to
her pain. During the week that followed, I sent out notes to both my
gift-recipients, stating that the gift was from the Brumbaugh family not just
from me, but that it really was from God through us. I deliberated on just how
to state it, to say it in a correct way.
. . .
It was a joy to hear back after they
were received. The woman whose husband is incarcerated called me up, her voice
appreciative with a hint of emotion. Yes, times had been hard and she was so grateful.
She wanted me to thank everyone. It would meet a specific need. The man from my
church thanked me, his smile genuine and words sincere, telling me it met a
need. My pastor later told me that when the card was received, this man told
him that it was exactly the amount needed to meet their house payment. The gift
surprised him and blessed his family while also encouraging him in his faith.
Well, the note to the other woman didn’t go unacknowledged either. Later she
and I met. We talked for hours as our hearts met in understanding, two women
looking to God when the pieces don’t fit. That was the only year we as a family did our Christmas giving in such a way. It stands out in my mind as one of those special times when the real meaning of Christmas came through. Our family likes to sing at Christmas, and we did. Mostly hymn-type Christmas songs like Silent Night. The songs’ words speak of Christ, the angels, and the blessed babe in a manger. God with us. It is satisfying and unselfish when a person gives to others with no thought of self or receiving in return.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
A True Story: A Christmas Star and a Cross
A Christmas Star turned Cross
Marvin and I were quietly talking as we sat
looking at the stately pine tree gracing the platform of the century-old
church's sanctuary where we both attend. He said to me. “I put it up again.”
“The star?”
I asked. He nodded. We both sat quietly remembering back to
Christmas of 2002. A melancholy feeling
enveloped me and a smile came to my eyes.
“That was really something,” I said.
“It’s a story that should be told.”
Tears lightly glistened in his eyes as he glanced away, touched by the
memory.
One of my
jobs I've done in our small country church is to direct the Christmas program which is a
whole-church effort with children and adults participating as musicians,
actors, narrators, and a few helpers to make or arrange the props and what-not. It is a worthy undertaking, one that I have
agreed to plan and supervise some years. Part of this noteworthy challenge I believe, is coming up with a script
rich in dialogue, a dialogue that will tug at the heart and pull in the
listeners. I want the audience to be
interested observers and maybe, hopefully, moved to see the Savior’s birth for
the true miracle it is, also portraying in some form the purpose, the
redemptive gift of his life.
The second
component is finding just the right Christmas music to compliment the play,
incorporating children and adult voices in musical variations and choirs. To accomplish this endeavor, I begin a few
months ahead by sorting through my own ideas, thoughtfully matching people’s skills
and talents with my story line concept (do we have someone who can do this part,
sing this song, what props will we need, etc.), then the task of putting it all
on paper. As the writer of the script,
it is always my intention to make the words speak for themselves, clearly and
with passion.
The star
was my idea, one of my innovations to blend the baby in the manger with the
Christ on the cross.
The play
that year was about two pre-teen boys having a conversation about life in
general. As the dialogue ensues the boy
who has yet to believe in Christ is commenting about differing views and in
the discussion he happens to ask the other boy, who believes in Christian
truth, why Jesus is a part of Christmas.
The second boy begins to share the reasons by telling the real Christmas
story, while at the same time answering corresponding questions his friend asks. As the boys dialogue back and forth, the
Christmas pageant unfolds with angels, shepherds, innkeepers, Mary, Joseph and
the holy infant, King Herod and the wisemen, all
parading through the sanctuary, speaking their lines then leaving on cue, the
music and scenes eventually leading up to the conclusion.
“Okay, I’ll see what I can do.” replied Marvin, “I already have a star. I’ll arrange a cross on the inside of it.” So he went to work on my request, taking down the star from his exterior house Christmas decorations and adding a shape of a cross in red lights intersecting the white lights of the star. When finished, he put the star with its newly lit cross back up on his house until we would need it for the play.
A couple of
Sundays later both Marvin’s wife and then Marvin came to me with eyes
shining. “You won’t believe what
happened this week,” they said to me.
And then they shared this marvelous story that still gives me a thrill
when I think about it.
It seems that a neighbor
of theirs has the difficult situation of having grandchildren who are forbidden
to attend church. She is saddened by
this and has desired to share her faith with her grandchildren but she has
little opportunity to do so. That week
she had come over to Marvin and Mary’s home full of excitement and happy
tears. She wanted them to know what had
occurred the night before. The evening
before she had been driving her grandson to town when he noticed the star
shining on Marvin and Mary's house.
“Grandma,” he
exclaimed, “There’s a cross in the star on that house!” After thinking a moment he asked her, “Why do
you think it has a cross in it?” It was
a perfect opening. So as they traveled
the twenty minutes to a neighboring town, she explained to him about Jesus' birth
and the need for Jesus Christ to come to earth so he could save sinful people
by dying on the cross, and she tied it to the significance of His resurrection. When she parked the car he said, “Grandma, I
want to ask Jesus to be my Savior.” She
thought he probably was speaking on impulse and it didn’t seem to be the right
time or place, so she hesitated. But he
insisted. He meant it. Right then and
there in a grocery store parking lot her young grandson understood the message
of salvation and believed, giving his life to Christ. As Marvin was relating the story, I could
tell he was moved by the simplicity of being so humbly used by God.
.........
The night
of the Christmas program the star is brightly shining center stage as the
angels, shepherds and wise men tell their stories, skillfully guiding us to the
climactic moment. “So you see, Jesus
Christ came because he loves you and he loves me and he wants to have a
relationship with us,” the boy states to the other boy. “And that is why it matters that Jesus came
to this earth.”
The friend
quickly responds, “Um…hm.., Well, gotta go. See ya later.”
The boy rushes to leave, and then he slows down. Looking up he sees the bright white star and stops. The red lights of the cross come on, glowing and shimmering in the white star. He gazes a moment at the cross in the star and ponders its meaning. “It makes sense. … It must be true. Wow, Jesus did that for me…” He walks a bit, drops to his knees near the stage steps, bends his head, and speaks with feeling. “God, I know you love me, you died for me and my sins. I want you to be my Savior and my friend. I believe in you.”
Quietly the entire cast gathers on stage and begins to whisper-sing, “Mary had a baby born in Bethlehem…the greatest story of them all…” The boy lifts his head, stands a moment with a softened expression, glances at the star, and then moves to join the others. Immediately all the stage lights are ablaze, and we triumphantly sing the finale in full voice, “Come on ring those bells, light the Christmas tree, Jesus He was born, born for you and me…”
Monday, December 16, 2013
JOY . HOPE . LOVE . PEACE
MERRY CHRISTMAS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JOY
JOY entered our world one
dark night in the town of Bethlehem. The place it appeared was not where you would
have expected to find it. JOY came to a
lowly stable with its assortment of barnyard animals. It was JOY that filled a mother’s heart as
she held the blessed Babe in her arms for the first time. She knew this child was like no other. In awe she held him close and praised the God
who had fulfilled His promise to all people.
It
was JOY the angels sang to the shepherds out on the hills as they tended their
sheep. And it was JOY the shepherds felt
as they knelt before this newborn King and acknowledged His arrival. That night, so long ago, released a newfound
JOY into the earthly realm. Though some
would never notice its arrival, others would reach out to know this Savior and they
would find the JOY that He gives to all who ask. JOY, it is such a beautiful word to describe
the presence of Jesus Christ, to a world that needs Him so much.
JOY,
real joy, is here today. It is JOY we
receive, when we behold this same Jesus, as we embrace all that He offers us
each day.
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HOPE
What
comes to mind when you think of HOPE? Is
HOPE what makes the future bright, or helps you with the struggles of the day? We see the face of HOPE in the
smile of a baby looking up at its mother.
HOPE is a bill that gets paid when it didn’t seem possible. There is HOPE in a sunrise with its promise
of a new beginning. We find HOPE in
the smallest blessing that is ours each day.
The presence of HOPE often parallels the shadows of our steps.
If we were to search for HOPE’s place of origin, I
believe it would lead us on a journey back through time, to the ancient Garden
of Eden. There we would see a young
couple distressed with their newfound awareness of personal guilt, a burden of
fear and sadness. But next to them we
would see God speaking words of comfort as He unveils a reason for them to
persevere. Then, we would see it, HOPE,
in the form of a promise, a promise to be fulfilled in the birth of the Lord
Jesus, the Savior of the world.
Yes,
it is God, Who gives us a reason to HOPE.
If we look at the blessings which are hidden in our days, we will find God. In finding Him, we receive, HOPE. HOPE speaks to the future and says, each
day has its purpose, each heartache its comfort, and each gift, its Giver.
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PEACE
PEACE is what everyone wants
but so few have. We all know that it’s
not possible to buy PEACE. There
are times when we experience it for momentary seconds. All too quickly it fades away. PEACE is illusive it seems. I’m glad to say, PEACE is something you
know when it is yours. In the knowing of
PEACE, you are able to understand the difference between a life with peace, in contrast to the way it
used to be. It is like a riddle one
cannot solve until it becomes your own reality.
What
does PEACE look like? Why do we
associate PEACE with Christmas and the Baby Jesus? The answer is simple but hard for us to
grasp. It is found in the purpose of this
sweet Baby’s life. He was God and He was
man. When His mission on earth
was accomplished, His innocent blood was shed as He hung on that tree. For you see, it was not easy for Him to purchase
our PEACE, but He didn’t hesitate. Through
His death He claimed victory over all that haunts us. Through His resurrection He could offer us the PEACE that forgiveness and newness bring.
Jesus Christ is the true source of PEACE. It is like this; we do not have to feel empty
anymore. We don’t have to keep trying
and striving, buying and doing in the endless pursuit of happiness and
fulfillment, purpose and meaning. Rather,
real PEACE is just that. PEACE, is contentment of the deepest kind.
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LOVE
The Christmas Story is a
story of LOVE. LOVE is something we all
need and want. LOVE has many wonderful
traits, the most notable of these is that LOVE is unselfish in nature. LOVE desires the best for the one it loves. We find that LOVE will not change with the
untidy circumstances of life. True LOVE
always stays in character.
The
gift of LOVE is evident in the simple story of the birth of Jesus Christ. He came because of His LOVE for me, for you,
for the murderer and for the priest, for the millionaire and for the gangster,
for the unloveable and the loveable. In
His LOVE there is no discrimination, no bias, and no rejection. Everyone is wanted, and all are seen as worth
it! Yes, Jesus’ LOVE is amazing.
Do
you think we deserve His LOVE? The
answer can be found in how He views His children. The Savior transmits His worth to us. And in so doing, we are transformed in His
sight. Jesus’ LOVE sees us as precious
jewels shimmering on a satin cloth of royal blue, set apart as rare and priceless
gems. He sees what we will become when He, the Master
Stonecutter, has brought out our inner beauty, as we reflect the precision
and wisdom of the Master’s touch. This
is His LOVE gift to us.
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JESUS
These four blessings, the
blessings of LOVE, JOY, PEACE, and HOPE, can be likened to strands in a rope that
when wrapped together as twine become something strong and mighty. The rope’s strength and power is derived from
its source, a material that is like no other. In our lives, what is that source? The Source is JESUS, Who came to this
world as a little infant in swaddling clothes. Who was
and is the foundation of all these
wonderful blessings. JESUS, came to
offer us HOPE to help us each day. He
came to give us PEACE to calm our hearts.
But JESUS did not stop there; He said that if we surrender and rest in
Him, we will know abundant JOY and
the fulfilling of our heart’s desire.
JESUS, through the sacrifice of His own life, is able to extend grace to
us with a redeeming LOVE. Only JESUS and
His HEAVENLY FATHER could write the CHRISTMAS story that we celebrate
today.
Through these words connected with the first Christmas story, I hope you
have turned your gaze toward Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior and have seen
Him in His glory and His majesty.
To God be
the Glory.
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| JOY . HOPE . LOVE . PEACE |
Norma L. Brumbaugh
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