WARM & FUZZY

WARM AND FUZZY

Tuesday, December 17, 2013 (Originally 12/21/08)

Deuteronomy MKJV 23:23  That which has gone out of your lips you shall keep and perform, even a free-will offering, according as you have vowed to Jehovah your God, which you have promised with your mouth.

Psalm 63 … I have seen You in the holy place, seeing Your power and Your glory. Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. So I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

Isaiah 29:13-15  And Jehovah said, Because this people draw near Me with their mouth, and with their lips honor Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the command of men; therefore, behold, I will go on doing among this people, a wonder, even a wonder. For the wisdom of their wise ones shall perish, and the understanding of their intelligent ones shall be hidden. Woe to those who go deep to hide their purpose from Jehovah! And their works are in the dark, and they say, Who sees us? And who knows us?

  Christmas season can be a time of rejoicing in Christ, or it may with dominance of sentimentality all warm and fuzzy, yet be no closer to the babe in the manger that the “3 kings” in the misleading popular carol.

  Worship includes feelings, they most please the Lord when accompanied by our walk.

  Truth is, my feelings this morning as I write are that I’d much rather keyboard tinsel and hot cinnamon cider, but I cannot for I am deeply impressed that our “Christian nation” is already too wrapped in happy holiday; evidenced in conversation, placement, and time investment apart from God.

  How well I remember a large church sponsored Christian school experience of many years ago.

  As in every year, all students and faculty plus parents and otherwise volunteers worked long and hard on the Christmas pageant, a yearly feature that packed the pews with people standing around the walls. Trouble was, early the day of the evening program, one of our infamous destructive Maryland wet snow ice storms necessitated the children being dismissed rather than staying until show time, without possibility of safe returning.

  The next week, electric power and vehicle travel restored, it was discussed as to when to reschedule the pageant. One wise soul suggested surveying a sampling of school staff, students, and regular attendees.

“Why bother, it’s not Christmas now.” sums up the general response, with many people answering that they probably wouldn’t attend if the program was put on.

  For the Christian, is it ever not Christmas?

  Is there a calendar for celebrating the true meaning of Christmas, God’s love offered in His incredible redemption through and by Lord Jesus Christ?

  Yes, indeed let us focus on celebrating God’s greatest gift to man, but not forgetting for one day the price, paid in full; God demonstrating His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us! (Jn.3:16-17; Rom.5:8)   EBB4