A fresh perspective on Christmas

I got a fresh perspective on Christmas the Tuesday before Christmas. Stick with me through this story, its a little long, but the payoff is worth it, trust me! It was my first day of Christmas vacation and we had a great day. The day started (as usual) with me rising before any sane person would get out of bed (a little before 5am). I worked a little from home, answering emails and taking advantage of the time overlap with the workday of the people I work with in India. After this I came downstairs and took a shower, followed by the sweet pitter patter of 3 year old (well almost 4 that's the response you'll get anytime you call him a three year old) feet. Jeremy climbed up in my lap and we watched a little early morning TV as we sat on the couch. Mom doesn't usually let the kids watch TV first thing, but what can I say, I'm a big softee. After a little TV, we did what we always do when I'm at home... we made breakfast together. Jeremy's such a good helper! He carried his "timeout" chair into the kitchen, climbed up on top and peered over the counter top to help me make pancakes on the griddle. His favorite parts are telling me weather to make big or small pancakes and putting the "eyes" (chocolate chips) on the pancakes. After we finished breakfast, Mommy and later Daniel woke up. We got the boys dressed and I had expressed to Laurina my desire to get the house clean, so we could enjoy the rest of our vacation. So Laurina and I worked very hard on the kitchen, living room, the boys' room, and our room. Once we finished the boys and I did the male version of Sigmon dancing which includes lots of loud music, running, jumping, hopping and throwing of small children. After that it was lunch time, so we threw together a homemade pizza, which was delicious. After lunch Daniel went down for a nap and Jeremy asked me if he could put on a magic show. Of course I said yes and he proceeded to "magically" stick straws together and use them as a magic wand to turn his parents into monsters. Next he and I laid down for a "nap" together and commenced to get zero sleep. After nap time we made and decorated christmas cookies together, which of course caused the perfectionist in me to come out which is bad since I have zero artistic abilities. Laurina packed up Jeremy and headed to the grocery store, meaning Daniel and I got some alone time to hang out. Much like my oldest son, my youngest is simply awesome, I couldn't love those boys more than I do. When mommy and Jeremy returned home we cooked dinner, ate, and watched a movie (the Santa Clause 3). As the movie went off, I was reflecting on the day I got to spend with my family. My two boys flailed wildly as they tried to dance to the music in background while the credits rolled. I sat in our recliner and was overcome with how much I love them, how much I wanted to protect them, how much I wanted to provide for them. I am a man who has been accused (jokingly I think) of having no emotions, but after spending a day with my wonderful family, I was moved emotionally just by thinking about how lucky I am. I was looking at my wonderful wife, pregnant with our first daughter. I was watching my two fantastic sons run around and seeing pure joy on their face. I thought about the innocence of the moment and how it cannot possibly get any better than this. As we got them ready for bed, I was walking out of the boys' room, I said to Laurina, "Best day ever", and it definitely was.

On my way to our bedroom I started to think about Christmas. The reason that I have vacation and take it this time of year. I was reminded that God looks at us in the same way. How we are made in God's image (Gen 1:26) and how after he created the heavens and the earth, the beasts and the birds, He said they were good, but after he created man he saw everything He had made and said it was VERY GOOD (Gen 1:31). I believe that God created each and every one of us with great plans. He stands back as he sees us grow and swells with pride at the fine workmanship of His hands. How He is probably emotionally moved by us especially in our youthful innocence. Then tonight I thought about His one and only Son. How God probably stood back and smiled as Jesus learned to walk and talk. How He saw him grow and mature, and marveled at the life Jesus lived. How He was probably moved in much the same way as I was that night as He looked down and saw the joy and innocence on Jesus' face as a child. But also I thought about how God sent Him to earth for all of us. That God had experienced this emotion of unbridled love millions of times over as he created humanity and yet He still sent Jesus to earth knowing the final outcome. He sent his Son to live the only perfect sinless life ever lived on earth, only to watch His most prized creation (man) torture and crucify His only Son. God is perfect and sin cannot stand in his presence, so He did the only thing He could, the unthinkable to me, He sent the perfect sacrifice so that you and I could dwell in His presence. I love a lot of people in this world, but there are none that I would sacrifice my children for, yet God did. God gave everything so that eternal salvation would cost us nothing. As is true throughout the Bible, on Christmas all those years ago, God reached out to us. He reached out to all mankind throughout all recorded history. He reached out with His only son, Jesus, the Savior of the world.

How fitting that Jeremy and I recently memorized our first bible verse together:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16

What are you asking for?

In 1 Samuel chapter 8, the people of Israel are in the promised land and they are being led by the prophet Samuel. However, Israel yearns to be like other nations and asks for a king in 1 Samuel 8:19-22:

19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles."

21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. 22 The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king." Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Everyone go back to his town."

In this section of scripture, God reveals that the Israelites have rejected Him as their king. God decides in this instance to give the people exactly what they ask for. Saul is chosen as king. Tall and handsome, Saul is a man who met all of man's requirements for kingship. God has already warned the Israelites about how much worse it will get for them with a king, but Israel asked for what they wanted and did not seek what God wanted for their lives and future. In the next several chapters, Saul and his kingship fall apart. So here's the question, what are you asking God for? What you want, or are you seeking His plans and will for your life? Be sure because you may get exactly what you ask for.

Measuring your steps

When I was kid (and even now as an adult) one of the simple things my dad did that amazed me was "stepping off" distances. While spending countless hours with me honing my skills in certain sports, particularly baseball, we would need a distance measured (e.g. pitcher's mound to home plate, between bases, etc). Dad would just start walking and counting. How did he do that? He had measured many distances whether it be sports distances for his kids, distances from his location to his target area during hunting, or any other number of instances when an outdoorsman such as himself may need to estimate a distance. The fact that he made many judgements isn't what made him accurate however, its that he compared his estimations to the standard time and again. After he had checked himself enough times to measure with confidence he was freed to make those determinations quickly. So here's my question for you and me, how often do you compare your decisions to the standard? Do you review the interactions in your life and compare them to biblical principles? Is the Word of God the instruction book you use for your life? The Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:16, "16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness," in Proverbs 16:20, "20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD." in Proverbs 4:13, "13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.", in Thessalonians 4:8, "8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit."

The Bible is our instruction manual. When you buy a complicated item that needs assembly, its much easier and more likely to be right if you assemble it by the instruction manual, and our life is no different. Read the manual and assemble your life carefully.

Generosity...

The holiday season is in full swing. In America that means black Friday shopping, traveling, Santa Clause, and of course my favorite holiday pastime overeating! It means spending money you don't have to impress people you don't really like anyway. It means consuming large amounts of stuff (food or merchandise) only to spend the next several months trying to work off the debt you incurred (financially or physically with excess poundage). In our "me" centered society of go more, spend more, do more, get more, how do we focus on what God would have us do? The holiday season is also the time when we feel compelled to be generous. It's the one time a year when soup kitchens and shelters can actually get provisions and volunteers to serve those they are intended to serve. So what I'd like to do is take a look at generosity, not only in the holiday season but every season. I have been struggling some lately with where to draw the line between providing for our family and being generous with our money. Here are some questions I've asked myself with the Bible in mind to gage my generosity. Try to answer them quickly, if you have to think a long time, you may need some work in that area.

1. When is the last time you gave freely to someone who can't offer you anything in return?

Check out the instances of Jesus or the apostles performing miracles. They gave their time, energy, and spiritual power so that people could be restored. If you don't think performing miracles was taxing on Jesus or the apostles, check out Jesus saying that power went out from him when the woman reached out and touched his garment (Mark 5:30, Luke 8:46). In every case, something so great was given that the recipient could never dream of repaying those who blessed them. It doesn't count if you blessed your children or someone else whom you have a vested interest in.

2. When you see a need, is your first inclination to meet it or to think of what it would cost you?

This one is a little tricky for me personally. This particular question can be summed up in the story of the rich young ruler (Matt 19:16, Mark 10:17, Luke 18:18). He wanted to gain eternal life and was willing to follow Jesus until he realized what it would cost him personally; namely all his earthly possessions. This does not mean you need to meet every need you see regardless of the cost, but that your should first reaction should be to help those who need it, not count the cost of what Jesus asks you to give up.

3. Do you give more emotionally to your relationships than you take?

How does your attitude and interaction with other people affect them? Does it build them up or tear them down? Emotional generosity is just as important as financial generosity. Are you constantly asking people to help carry your burdens by complaining or are you building up people by calling out their potential and encouraging them (Philippians 2:14, I Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 3:13, Hebrews 10:25)?

These are a few questions I have asked myself lately about generosity. I hope you find them helpful and I hope they challenge you. Remember that Jesus came to save the lost, regardless of their station in life. Sometimes their physical and emotional needs have to met before they are able to receive the only one who can meet their most pressing need... Jesus.