Tuesday, December 31, 2002
11:56 P.M., 11:57 P.M., 11:58 P.M., 11:59 P.M…. and another year is gone. I haven’t accomplished everything I wanted in 2002 but I just couldn’t stop time and 2003 is moments away. We pay little attention to the value of time, the speed in which it moves, how little of it there is and how precious little we have left. The question that occurs to me is; “Where are we going at the speed of time?”
The answer is in each of our hands. God did his part through the birth, life, death and resurrection of His one and only son, Jesus Christ. Each of us really do choose the “ticket of time” taking us to our destination. Time is moving us toward eternity, eternity in heaven or hell. As to the best of my understanding from the scripture, there is nothing in between!
I know that all of us can “tell time” but perhaps this year we should let “time tell us!”
-Lyn Sahr
-Prov 20:4-7 NIV
4 A sluggard does not plow in season;
so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.
5 The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters,
but a man of understanding draws them out.
6 Many a man claims to have unfailing love,
but a faithful man who can find?
7 The righteous man leads a blameless life;
blessed are his children after him.
Monday, December 30, 2002
The curtain of time is closing on another year. It seems like the months of 2002 moved swiftly into the archives of time. And I ask, like many of you, “What will be different next year?”
Foremost and utmost, each of us should be striving to learn more about God, grow spiritually and be found faithful in 2003. And I encourage you to pray and ask God to give you opportunity to lead someone to Jesus Christ this coming year.
I ask that you continue to pray for this ministry in 2003. Thank you so much for you prayers this past year and your financial support. Without it, we could not continue for another day let alone another year.
In 2003 we are transferring our missions program to “Home and Away Ministries,” a new ministry that we have set up specifically for the purpose of developing staff and commissioning mission teams to conduct short term mission outreaches in the United States and foreign countries. You will hear more about this in the next few months.
As I reflect on this past year I realize that I have experienced joy and sorrow. I continue to experience the thrill of seeing my Grandson grow and develop into such a fun little guy. I have truly been caught off guard as to what a joy it is to be a grandparent. I am blessed with a Godly wife whom I have been married to for 36 years. I have four daughters who continue to amaze me with their growing wisdom, beautiful hearts, acts of kindness and their passion for the Lord. I have three sons in law who are faithful loving husbands.
And the Lord has given me the desire of my heart. We have started a new church and it is doing wonderful. It is in Pine City, Minnesota where Lonna and I both grew up. Most of the people who are attending were not regularly attending or involved in any church. They are precious and I am honored to be their pastor.
We continue to struggle to properly fund the ministries and, of course, that affects our personal finances as well. But by the grace of God we continue to move forward.
I also said goodbye to an old friend this year. No, he didn’t die but his attitude and spirit seemed to have. After nearly 30 years of being dear friends our relationship has been severed. If you have ever experienced the disappointment of a severed relationship of a close friend you can relate. As I sorted through my emotions of the circumstances, I prayed and asked God to bless him and give him peace.
My prayer for you is that you will see the beauty of His presence in your life in 2003.
-Lyn Sahr
-Jude 24-25 NIV
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy- 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Sunday, December 29, 2002
The presents had hardly been out of the wrapping and I heard a remark that shocked me. The remark was “It is such a let-down after Christmas. All the anticipation is gone now.” I started thinking about that and wondered why that is the case for so many people, even Christians.
I suppose part of the letdown comes from not having anything to look forward to once the gifts are opened. But as Christians, we have something big that we look forward to. Just as Jesus came as a baby in Bethlehem on that first Christmas Day, He is coming again. The first time the world was in large part unaware of His arrival. The shepherds were the ones who heard the good news. But the second time He comes, the entire world will know about it. He won’t be coming as a baby in the manger, but as the King of kings and Lord of lords and the Bible says that every person will behold Him. If there were ever a reason to live in anticipation, this is it!
As we wind down the month of December and our celebration of Jesus’ birth, keep in mind that another celebration is coming. The fact that we don’t know the date shouldn’t dim our anticipation of His return. I think of how early believers greeted each other with “Maranatha,” meaning “The Lord is returning.” My prayer is that as we enter a new year, we will keep a spirit of anticipation alive, knowing that Jesus is coming back to take us all home. Is there anything better to be waiting for?
-Ardis Rivera
-Revelation 22:12
“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.
Saturday December 28, 2002
“I’m dreaming of a brown Christmas…” That’s not how the song goes, but in where I live in Northwestern Wisconsin, that’s what we had this Christmas. Oh there was a spattering of white here and there, but not the average 5-6 inches that usually lies on the ground at this time of year. My children were not the happiest campers in the world, as Grandpa’s snowmobiles sat silent in the garage instead of the traditional holiday rides. So we made alternate plans. A hike through the woods before Christmas dinner, tossing the football with family, and an extra board game took the place of holiday snowmobile rides, sledding, and snowball fights.
Isn’t that how God works? We plan for something to happen a certain way, but God’s way turns out to be something we never expected. The loss of a job that throws us into depression and makes us wonder our self worth, but then our heavenly father opens a door to another position that gives more satisfaction. A relationship is broken and we don’t feel like anyone would ever love us, and then he brings someone into our lives and fills the emptiness. The world wanted to look for a “big show” when the Messiah came, but God chose a simple stable, and simple parents, on a simple night.
God’s plan is always perfect, and it is always implemented in HIS time, not ours. That’s the miracle of the Christmas story. God loving man, God coming in the form of man, God’s son dying for man…the greatest love story ever told.
By the way, the forecast is calling for a white New Years—-my kids might get that snowmobile ride over the holidays after all.
-Garrett Novak
-Luke 1:30-33 NIV
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
Friday, December 27, 2002
IMMANUEL: GOD WITH US.
“For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son . . .”
The Incarnation.
“The word was made flesh and dwelt among us . . .”
“. . . being tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin.”
He took the test and passed the test.
No one before or since ever has.
He met Satan on the field of humanity and took back title to the souls of men.
“And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” -Colossians 2:15
At the price of the Cross.
“For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” -Hebrews 2:10
To enter fully into his victory, we must also share his suffering.
“Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” -Hebrews 12:4
“Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” -John 15:20
For this reason, many people count the cost and decline the call.
“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” -Matthew 7:14
But not all.
“But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” -Hebrews 10:39
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 3:14
To follow Christ in the incarnation is to experience those things on earth that he did that we may inherit heaven where he is.
-Martin Wishnatsky
Thursday, December 26, 2002
The gifts have been opened, the food consumed by the bushel, the company headed back home. Christmas is over for another year. Our thoughts immediately turn to the New Year, but hold on for a moment. Christmas shouldn’t be over just because it is December 26th. Christmas needs to be a spirit, a feeling, a way of life, not just a day off work to be spent with friends and family.
If you remember in my thought for last week I was still struggling to find the Christmas spirit. I did find it and I am not willing to surrender it so quickly. I am going to try not to let the busyness of life define me and steal my Christmas spirit and the joy that comes with it. Try to join me in making the spirit of Christmas outlast the Christmas tree, the lights, and the parties.
On the 25th of each month set aside some time to revive the spirit. Do something extra special for someone. Go see someone that seems to be forgotten except at holidays. Write a check to the Salvation Army or some other charity that you usually remember only at Christmas. See if you can keep it alive and then let us know at the Church Mouse Chronicles how you are doing.
-John Roe
-1 John 4:7-12 NIV
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 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. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
Wednesday, December 25, 2002
Merry Christmas!
Isaiah 7:14 “His name shall be called Immanuel.” God with us.
Matthew 1:16 “Jesus who is called the Christ.” The anointed Messiah.
Luke 1:31 “She will bear a son and shall call his name Jesus.” Jeshua the Lord rescues, our Savior.
The babe in the manger is called three names; each significant in its meaning. Frequently we draw the parallel between the coming of Jesus as a babe in Bethlehem and the coming of Jesus into the human heart.
This Christmas many of us will be singing Christmas carols. Look at the verses and see how many speak to the parallel between Christ’s coming to Earth and Christ’s coming into the human heart. The third verse of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” says it this way:
“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.”
Christ being born in the human heart is as much a certainty as Christ being born in Bethlehem. We are totally inadequate before God. Our greatest privilege is that Jesus Christ, in all His fullness, is born in our hearts when we proclaim Him as our Lord. Jesus loves us so much He is with us always. That’s the meaning of Christmas. We may not always think about it but He is always right there. It is then that we can sing praises in our hearts and truly celebrate Christmas.
-Bob Espeseth
Tuesday, December 24, 2002
Worship is a response…a response to God with a heart of praise, for all He has done in our lives. God wants us to exalt Him in our worship. He wants to cultivate within us an admiration and adoration for Him. We are to magnify and glorify Him as we come to a full knowledge of who He is.
Is your response today, as we celebrate Christ’s birth, one of worship? As Mary realized Who she carried within her, her response in Luke 1, was one of worship…
“Oh, how I praise the Lord. How I rejoice in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and now generation after generation will call me blessed. For he, the Mighty One, is holy, and he has done great things for me. His mercy goes on from generation to generation, to all who fear him. His mighty arm does tremendous things! How he scatters the proud and haughty ones! He has taken princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly. He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. And how he has helped his servant Israel! He has not forgotten his promise to be merciful. For he promised our ancestors Abraham and his children – to be merciful to them forever.”
Is this your response to His goodness, faithfulness and greatness in your life today and in the days to come?
“On come let us adore Him…Christ the Lord!”
Merry Christmas!
-Jeanne Johnson
Monday, December 23, 2002
My friend the Innkeeper, I am fascinated by him or her. As we read the scriptures we find ourselves discussing the many named people such as John, Peter, David and a host of others. But there are many important unnamed people in the Bible that we give little thought to. Some may say that they were not important and, therefore, they were left unnamed. I disagree. One hundred years from now few of us will be remembered at all but that doesn’t mean our lives are meaningless. I fact, quite the contrary. It is the vast unnamed who have carried the work of the church throughout history.
The Innkeeper is just one of many we know little about that is unnamed that night in Bethlehem. Again, I like the Innkeeper. Mary and Joseph were not turned away. The Innkeeper did the best he or she could and gave them a place to stay, modest though it be.
And what about the person who was in charge of the stable? We don’t know his or her name either but someone was in charge of getting the straw and cleaning up after the animals.
And where did the strips of cloth come from? Could it be that another nameless, unknown person gave them to Mary for the Christ child?
And who helped Mary with her delivery? Was it Joseph? I doubt that. I think we have another nameless, unknown person doing a very important part in the birth of Jesus.
And what about feeding Mary and Joseph? Yes, they probably carried some food but this trip was going to be longer than planned. Who got the food? Who paid for the food? Could it be some more nameless, unknown people?
Some believe that Mary and Joseph stayed in Bethlehem for some time, perhaps with relatives? Who were they? More nameless, unknown people?
Although the roles of the named people of the bible and those inscribed in the history of the church are important, I believe the church was built by the many unnamed, unknown people what placed what faith they could muster in the Babe of Bethlehem and have been doing their part unselfishly throughout the ages.
Your name may not be written in the archives of church history but it will be written in the same ink of love in the Lambs Book of Life as all the named champions of the faith. And that’s the only place where it counts!
-Lyn Sahr
-Rev 21:22-27 NIV
I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Sunday, December 22, 2002
The closer we get to Christmas Day, the more I pull out special Christmas videos that have meant a lot to me through the years. I guess my all-time favorite Christmas cartoon is Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol. But there are videos of Red Skelton and Tennessee Ernie Ford TV shows at Christmas that are always enjoyable in addition to the classic Christmas movies. It’s easy to forget how times have changed. At the end of one of the Red Skelton Christmas shows, he mentioned the fact that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of the Christ child, and that we need to bow before the baby in the manger. I didn’t think too much of it, until one of my children asked me if it was actually said on network TV that Christmas is about Jesus, and he seemed really shocked that such a statement would be allowed on TV.
As we approach Christmas Day, let us take time to bow before the Christ Child just as the Wise Men did so many years ago. But this is something we need to do every day of the year, not just at Christmas. What would the world be like if we come daily before the King of kings and humbly bow before Him and seek His face? I believe the world around us would see a difference in us. There is emptiness in the world today that only Jesus can fill. If the world sees that we as Christians have this emptiness filled, they will run to us, wanting the same thing we have—life in Jesus Christ.
-Ardis Rivera
-Matthew 2:11
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
Saturday December 21, 2002
As I look into my children’s eyes at Christmastime, I can’t help but smile. There, under shades of blue and gray, lies the magic of Christmas. The sparkle, wonder, and the amazement of the season, it’s right there in my children’s eyes. It’s easy to get bogged down with the ”busy-ness” of the season, but then I look at my children as we decorate the tree, wrap gifts, bake goodies, and sing carols. They are so full of the Christmas magic. I remember that magic in myself at this time of year. It wasn’t that long ago that I was a child, was it? Just look into the eyes of a child this holiday season and see what I mean.
It reminds me of the real child of Christmas, Jesus. Scripture says “And his name shall be called Immanuel,” meaning God with us. The very God of the universe chose to come, not as a king, but as a tiny infant who even had to wear diapers. I wonder what Mary thought as she gazed into the eyes of the newborn Christ child. Could she see the creation of the world in his eyes? Was she worried about being a good parent (after all, she was most likely not much older than thirteen)?
What was Joseph thinking as he peered into the boy’s eyes? God, what can I teach your son that he doesn’t already know (I mean, you helped create an ark)? Did the animals wonder what all the commotion was about (who is that in our feeding dish anyway)? What did the innkeeper think as he looked in Jesus’ eyes (maybe I did have more room inside)? Did the shepherds expect to follow a star to the infant babe (after all, who is watching all of the animals in this stable)? I wonder what they saw in his eyes. Could they all see the love of God in Jesus eyes, a love that would ultimately allow this child to give his life for them in 33 short years? I wonder…
This Christmas look at Jesus birth through the eyes of a child, the Christ Child!
Merry Christmas from the Novak Family
-Garrett, Andrea, Amanda, Jesse, Gabriella, Jonah, & Kathryn
-Matt 1:18-23 NIV
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary, was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”-which means, “God with us.”
Friday, December 20, 2002
“Ever since we were cast out of the garden and flaming swords were sent there, the great longing of human life — Jewish life, not Jewish life — is that somehow we would be able to be united with the life of God Himself and that God would come, God would enter this world, God’s kingdom would come and God would be present in some way that we could deal with Him, that we could touch Him somehow, that we could get close to Him. God would not be just a vapor in the air or a cloud or an idea in our mind, but God in reality. Immanuel, God with us. God on this planet.”
— Haskell Stone, Jewish Evangelist (11/30/1984)
“That is the incarnation: Immanuel, God with us.
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14
-Martin Wishnatsky
Thursday, December 19, 2002
Christmas is less than a week away now.
HOW IS YOUR CHRISTMAS SPIRIT?
I was going to use that question for today’s thought and just let you ponder it. When I wrote it the question caught me by surprise. It got me to thinking about my own Christmas spirit. After three concerts, a few trips to the store, exclaiming over some brilliant displays of lights, hearing Christmas music all day on the radio, and even writing about Christmas for the Thought for the Day, I have to admit that my Christmas spirit still barely registers on the old Christmas spirit meter. Too busy, I guess, to even think about Christmas. Too busy to look around and see how the season is impacting those around me. Too busy to share the joy of the season with friends and family.
It occurs to me that I may just all round be too busy. Guess I better do something about that before I get too busy to remember that Jesus wasn’t too busy to take time out to be born on Christmas so that He could show the rest of us how to live. Could be that this is the time I stop being so busy and get busy on my Christmas spirit.
HOW IS YOUR CHRISTMAS SPIRIT?
-John Roe
Wednesday, December 18, 2002
While we were singing carols the other night it occurred to me that nothing could quite capture the mystery and the beauty of Christmas quite like the music of Christmas.
Carols have the power to create in our imaginations that first Christmas. I enjoyed being a shepherd in Christmas plays when I was young because one never had to speak. But I’m sure the shepherds did speak and asked the same question when they went to the stable on that first Christmas Day: “What Child Is This?”
I don’t think they got an immediate answer either because it says that Mary “kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)
The chorus of that carol says, “This, this is Christ the King.” The Epistle to the Hebrews answers better than anything the question that is on the lips of those who come asking, “What Child is this?”
“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all
things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had
by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” (Hebrews 1:1-4)
-Bob Espeseth
Tuesday, December 17, 2002
God seeks our praise whatever our circumstances. I heard of a story about the famous conductor, Sir Michael Costa. As he was conducting a rehearsal with hundreds of instruments and voices, the mighty chorus rang out with the thunder of the organ, the roll of drums, and the blare of horns. In the midst of all the din, one man who played the piccolo, far up in a corner, said to himself, “It does not matter what I do, my instrument is tiny and insignificant,” and ceased to play.
Suddenly, the great conductor stopped, flung up his hands, and quieted the performers. “Where is the piccolo?” he cried. His sharp ear had missed it, and the whole piece had been spoiled.
What about you? You may feel like you are insignificant and hidden, but God sees you, loves you and seeks your praise. He listens for it! Your praise and worship, no matter what your circumstance is important to Him…give Him your best!
-Jeanne Johnson
-1 Tim 6:12-16 NIV
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time-God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
Monday, December 16, 2002
Last night we celebrated “Our First Christmas” at our new church that we started in August. I had no idea as to how we were going to make this program work, who was going to be in it or who was going to do what. But as we began to plan and coordinate, things began to fall into place. We had wonderful participation from children and adults and, yes, it was “Our First Christmas.”
The youngest person in the program was 3 and the oldest was almost 86. That’s when I noticed something special about our congregation. They really enjoyed the songs that people sang, the stories they read and the poems recited, regardless of age. I thought, “Something very, very good is happening here.”
At the end of the program the Christmas story from Luke was read and then one of the ladies sang “Oh, Holy Night.” Then we passed out bags of candy to the kids, just like the good old days. This was followed by a time of fellowship. Everyone brought goodies to munch on.
As I looked around and saw the congregation interact, it brought tears to my eyes. Only a few short months ago most of these people did not even know each other. Many of them were not attending a church and some have never attended a church. But, unbeknown to them, God was bringing them together for a very special congregation.
As I drove home I began to ponder all of these things. I thought, “There is something I am missing here. Perhaps there is something for me to learn. What is it?” I prayed and asked God to teach me the message of this moment in time. What is so special here?
I continued to ponder as I lay down to go to sleep. From time to time during the night I woke up thinking about these special people God had brought to this new church. Finally before dawn broke I jumped out of bed with ”Christmas Joy.” I think I get it.
First, not only did our “organized” church have its first Christmas together but many people in our congregation celebrated their first Christmas as part of a church and that is very special. And some celebrated their very first “spiritual Christmas.” Was it a special night? Absolutely.
It is my prayer for you that, if you have never had a “spiritual Christmas,” you will enjoy the presence of God in your heart this year. Commit your life to Jesus because God already committed His to you!
-Lyn Sahr
-John 3:3-8 NIV
“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Sunday, December 15, 2002
I was searching the Internet the other day, looking for a good poem or story to use in the Christmas program. I found an article declaring that Christmas should be called a secular holiday and get rid of all the Christian emphasis. I didn’t read much of the article, but what I did read disgusted me. I remember hearing a story about a frazzled mother who was doing her Christmas shopping with her active youngsters at her side. She stopped in front of a large department store’s window, where there was a Nativity scene. She was completely disgusted, and declared, “I can’t believe it—the church is even trying to barge in on Christmas these days.”
Many people have forgotten the reason for the season. What should be a time to celebrate God’s gift to humanity has become a race to see who can give the best gifts and spend the most money. And there seems to be an outright attempt to eliminate the Christ-child from the celebration. I was just reading about a school district that will allow the religious symbols for the Jewish and Muslim faiths in the public schools, but will not allow the Christian symbols. This is not a case of the separation of church and state—it is a statement that the Christian faith is not recognized as a valid religion by the school district’s leadership. As Christians, let us make it known through our words and the ways we celebrate Christmas, that we are celebrating God in flesh, born in Bethlehem, who came to take away our sins. Let us proclaim to the world this Christmas that Jesus Christ is born.
-Ardis Rivera
-Luke 1:30-33
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
Saturday December 14th, 2002
This past week I attended two Christmas programs at my children’s schools. Of course we can’t call them “Christmas” programs today, but to make them politically correct they are called “holiday sings”, or “winter programs.” The Christian based Christmas songs in the programs had the words changed as not to “offend” anyone in the audience. The children couldn’t sing of the Christ child, but could sing about Santa, reindeer, Hanukah and Kwanzaa. Again making the programs “politically correct” for those in attendance.
At first I was a little upset at the lacking of the real meaning of Christmas, after all, when I was a youngster (not that many years ago), we could still sing about the three kings, or the babe in the manger. But today that’s taboo to instill the real meaning of Christmas into a secular Christmas program.
Then I remembered how God sent his son to dwell among us. Had I been God and sent my son I would have done it in a “BIG” way, but God chose to be “politically incorrect” and sent Jesus to be raised by average parents. He was born in a stable, without the pomp and circumstance of the king he truly is. No fanfares, just a bunch of animals surrounding a warm manger filled with hay.
This Christmas season don’t focus on the commercialism, but on the Christ child. Not the shopping but the Son of God. The “Mary miracle” is still much bigger than any “Macy’s miracle sale.”
Over two thousand years ago, the real reason for the season occurred. When a tiny baby was born a half a world away, born fully God and fully man. Born to die, for you and for me. It might not be “politically correct” in the world to keep Christ in Christmas, but Christmas without Christ is not Christmas to me.
-Garrett Novak
-Luke 2:15-18 NIV
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.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
Friday, December 13, 2002
Christ shares a lot with the unborn child.
He dwelt in the womb for 9 months.
Although he was not killed before birth, Herod sought to slaughter him soon thereafter. Matthew 2:16
Pharoah had previously sought to kill the Hebrew children. Exodus 1:16-22.
Jesus survived Herod’s slaughter, and Moses survived that of Pharaoh. Through Jesus the devil’s power over the souls of men was overthrown (“Whosoever will, let him come”); through Moses God wrought deliverance for the Hebrew people and destroyed Pharaoh utterly.
Today we experience a worldwide mass slaughter of infants before birth, numbering in the hundreds of millions, far dwarfing the extermination campaigns of Herod and Pharaoh. And in the midst of this mass slaughter of innocent life, will God raise up a deliverer as he did before?
Christ suffered the pain and humiliation of the aborted child when an adult. He is fully able to share their plight, for from the moment of his conception he was “the lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” And as the Lamb of God, he was foreordained, which he well knew, for Calvary. “For so it must be fulfilled as it is written.”
In this age of wanton slaughter of innocent life, it is well to reflect that the Christ Child was born to be subject to the cruelty of the wicked for our benefit.
Let us thank him for being made flesh to endure that horror for our sake, and pray that the aborted babies will one day know the dignity that will accompany his Second Coming.
As Thomas Jefferson said: “God is just, and his justice will not slumber forever.”
I pray we will remember the forsaken unborn this season as part of the human family also and worthy of more than to be discarded as an inconvenient interference with someone’s misconception of the good life.
Help a pro-life ministry this Christmas and extend a helping hand to the least among us.
-Martin Wishnatsky
Thursday, December 12, 2002
It was Christmas Day, 1900. A five-year-old boy and his younger sister sat quietly in the kitchen of the small mountain cabin as their mother attended the last few minutes of their father’s life. When he finally passed away the mother dressed them in their warmest clothes and they walked down the railroad tracks nearly five miles to the closest neighbor. The children were left there in the care of the man of the house as the two women walked back down the tracks to prepare the body for burial.
All day the children sat, barely moving and too afraid to talk. On the table before them was a dish of candy. The day dragged on as they waited for their mother to return. The candy dish, brimming with candy, tempting in its nearness, went unoffered and untouched all day.
My grandfather would tell the story, almost every Christmas until he died in 1986, how he and his little sister sat there wanting that candy and how the neighbor never offered them any. He said that sitting there he made up his mind that when he grew up and had his own house he would always have candy to give to kids. He kept that promise that he made to himself. I can remember going to his house as a kid and he would be getting the candy out for us almost before the door was shut.
I miss my grandfather every Christmas as I remember that sad little boy. I also miss his reading the Christmas story out of the worn Bible that he loved so much and his praying for the family before we opened gifts. Each year my mother would say, “Listen to Papa pray, this may be the last year we will have him with us.”
Family is more important than you may realize. The memories of family Christmases of the past are to be treasured as a part of your legacy. Spend time with family this holiday season. Remember, you are making tomorrow’s memories today.
-John Roe
Wednesday, December 11, 2002
For many of us Christmas brings on a broad spectrum of emotions. Feeling deep spiritual emptiness juxtaposed by a deep awe of the presence of God. We miss lost family members and at another time feel a close togetherness with our family. We are often overwhelmed with Christmas “tunes” and yet can’t get enough Christmas carols, hymns, concerts, worship.
One carol I admire for its completeness is “Angels From the Realms of Glory.” The stanzas follow the Christmas story from Luke’s and Matthew’s Gospels. Angels were spontaneous and joyful and worshipful; angels proclaimed the Messiah’s birth; shepherds finding the infant Light; sages seeking the desire of nations; and finally, saints before the altar bending. Isn’t that where we want to be at this Christmas?
The invitation from heaven is to fall down and worship Christ with great joy, because God is residing with us. The song says, “Suddenly the Lord descending, In His temple shall appear.” Then the chorus, “Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ the newborn King.”
We are the temple of his appearing. In 2 Corinthians 6:16 Paul writes, “For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ ”
Failures, challenges, situations, illness, loss, relationships, disappointment, emptiness, struggles, regardless of where we are, we’re always in a position to come and worship Christ the King.
-Bob Espeseth
Tuesday, December 10, 2002
When I go into a store I enjoy watching people shop. I know you’ve all seen it, the mad dash to buy gifts for family and friends. Our gift giving is an expression of love for those we buy gifts for. Too often the size of the gift or cost of the gift is used as a measuring stick for the love of the gift giver for the gift recipient. But the size of the gift or the cost of the gift has nothing to do with the size of the heart. It only means some people have more money to spend than others.
I have always been conscious as to how hard some people work for such little pay. When I was a young boy I mowed yards and shoveled snow to earn money. In my junior high school years I worked in a grocery store stocking shelves and whatever else needed to be done. In my freshman and sophomore years of high school I worked in a Coca Cola bottling company loading trucks, bottling soda, and sorting bottles. One summer I cleared $91 in one week at $1.25 per hour. In my junior and senior year of high school I worked in a tire shop changing truck tires, tractor tires and manure spreader tires. I used to have to beat the tire bead down with a big hammer to get them off the rim. And changing manure spreader tires when it’s 20 or 30 degrees below zero can never be considered easy or fun work.
Lonna and I were married the fall of 1966 after I graduated from high school and I attended Pine Technical College where I earned a degree in Mechanical Drafting. While in school I continued to work in the tire shop for a period of time and spent a short stint working as an aid in a state hospital working with those who were both mentally and physically challenged. I changed diapers on grown men and carried them in and out of bed. When they died I had to help clean them up, load the bodies unto a cart and transport them over to the morgue. I understand what it is to work hard at unpleasant jobs and get paid little.
When I see hard working, low income people purchasing gifts at Christmas it often brings tears to my eyes because I know how hard they work to provide for their families and to purchase the extra things at Christmas. When a father who earns $8 an hour working in a tire shop purchases a gift for his child for $50 he works almost 8 hours lifting and tugging on heavy, dirty tires to earn the after tax money it takes to purchase the $50 gift. When a single mom who earns $8 an hour working in a nursing home as an aid purchases a gift for her child for $50 she works almost 8 hours lifting, bathing, feeding and changing diapers on heavy, elderly people to earn the after tax money it takes to purchase the $50 gift.
For those who have a critical spirit about the lower income people in our society, I challenge you to go get a part time job as an aid at a nursing home, a laborer in a tire shop or some other physically hard lower paying job to earn the money to purchase your Christmas presents for your family and friends this year. You will receive the greatest gift of all. You will learn that it is not the size of the gift but the size of the heart of the giver is what Christmas is all about.
God sent us the gift of his son, a babe born in a manger to a young couple that was probably low-income “working folks.” Joseph was a carpenter and Mary, to the best of my knowledge, was a “stay at home mom.” The next time you feel tempted to criticize hard working low income people, remember who God entrusted to raise His Son here on earth.
-Lyn Sahr
-Matt 1:19-25 NIV
Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”-which means, “God with us.”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Monday, December 9, 2002
If there were anything you could change about Christmas, what would it be? Many people want to eliminate Christmas from the calendar altogether. What would the world be like without Christmas?
There would be no Christmas lights, no Christmas trees, no Santa Claus, no reindeer, no sleigh, no elves, no exchanging of gifts, no Christmas cards, no Christmas caroling, no Christmas concerts, no Christmas programs, no Christmas decorations, no Christmas letters, no Christmas parties, no after Christmas sales, and no big family get-togethers. Surely it would change the season because that’s what Christmas is to many, many people. Nothing more and nothing less.
But Christmas is for Christians. Frankly, I find it rather unique that non-Christians celebrate Christmas.
As a Christian, Christmas is the very essence of our faith. If all of the above things were eliminated from the celebration of Christmas we would still celebrate Jesus birth, glorify and praise Him as the shepherds did (Luke 2:8-20) and worship Him and bring Him gifts as the wise men did (Matthew 2:1-12).
And how do we celebrate His birth? With our lives.
And how do we glorify Him? With our lives. And how do we praise Him? With our lives.
And how do we worship Him? With our lives. And what gift can we possibly bring to Jesus? We can bring Him the gift of our life. It’s the least we can give considering that God gave of Himself in giving His Son and Jesus gave of Himself by giving His life on Calvary for us.
Christmas to me is Christ in me because without that there is nothing to celebrate!
-Lyn Sahr
Sunday, December 8, 2002
It is easy to hear the Christmas story and think of what a beautiful story it is and it is truly a beautiful story. But it is easy to forget the reality that Mary, who was probably in her teens, gave birth in a barn. Having lived on a farm all my life almost all my life, I know about barns. They are not always the cleanest places, and they tend to smell.
Have you ever thought about what the innkeeper thought? He sent this couple to the stable, she has a baby, and then shepherds arrive to see the baby. I wonder if he even realized what was happening. I wonder if the other people in the inn had a clue that God had come to earth that very night. They went on with their lives not realizing that history was being changed.
It is easy to look at the innkeeper and think that he should have given up his bed for one night, but how many times do we push Christ out of our lives or give Him a small corner somewhere, out of sight. There is a story about a Christmas program and the little boy who was playing the part of the innkeeper had studied his lines and had practiced sending Mary and Joseph away. The night of the program, Joseph came begging for a bed (as rehearsed) for Mary. The “Innkeeper” paused—it appeared he had forgotten his lines. Then he said simply, “You can have my bed tonight.”
It is easy in this Christmas season to focus in on all the activities and take no time for the very One whose birthday we are celebrating. This Christmas, I challenge you to take time each and every day and consider what we are truly celebrating—God became man to live among us. Will we push Him out to the stable again or will we give up our “bed” and make Him the center of our celebration?
-Ardis Rivera
-Luke 2:6-7
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.
Saturday, December 7, 2002
There are certain memories we all have of Christmas’ past. For me, it’s one of my grandfather. Each Christmas Eve my aunts, uncles, cousins, and our family would get together at my grandparents home for a Christmas meal (yes there was always lefse) and to share gifts with one another. It always took quite awhile to clean the dishes after we had eaten, and after what seemed like an eternity to a young boy, we would finally sit down to exchange gifts with one another.
Each family would sit by each other and us kids, well we had the privilege of passing out the gifts to the over 20 plus family members each year. After the gifts were handed out, which was quite a feat in itself, we would then start going around in a circle, starting youngest to oldest, with each person opening one gift while the others looked on. This way everyone had a chance to see what others were getting. You can imagine that this process took quite awhile, and my grandparents were always last to open their gifts. But every year while we were watching family open their gifts, my grandfather would hide one present under his chair (or in another spot), where no one would see. My grandfather always wanted to have the last gift. And it never failed, a few moments after we had finished opening all the gifts, and cleaning up the wrapping paper, my grandfather would say, “What’s this,” and he pulled one more gift out from his secret hiding place.
Through the years other family members and myself would always try to hide a present to be the “last gift” of the year, but every year my grandfather would pull out one more present that we hadn’t seen him hide.
My grandfather passed away from lung cancer 10-years ago this fall and several family members had shared the love of Christ with him over his lifetime, but he had never made the commitment to follow the babe of the Christmas story until shortly before he passed away. He wasn’t able to speak and was in the hospital when my mother spoke with him about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Since he couldn’t speak, when my mother asked him to pray with her he just squeezed her hand. My mom then helped her dad make sure of spending eternity with Jesus in heaven.
This Christmas, after the packages are opened, and the wrapping paper is thrown away, make sure that the “last gift” isn’t forgotten. The “last gift” is the most important gift of all, God sending his Son to save mankind. Maybe the last gift should be the “first” gift that you open this year.
-Garrett Novak
– Luke 2:8-12 NIV
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 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. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Friday, December 6, 2002
I am Jewish — from A to Z. All Jewish through and through on both sides.
Therefore, we grew up not celebrating Christmas, because otherwise we would not be Jewish. Jewish was defined in part as “not Christian.”
When I became born again, I accepted Christ, but, because of my upbringing, never got into the swing of the multidirectional gift exchange that defines the Christmas season for many.
He lives in our hearts every day.
Christmas is reportedly a Christianization by the Roman Empire of the pagan Yule festival, which coincided with the winter solstice. In the pagan/wiccan practice, the sun is an object of worship, and a holiday exists for each of its phases, including the nadir in late December.
NONETHELESS, however and whenever observed, the event of Christ’s birth receives major emphasis in the scriptures, and is worthy of our serious contemplation and reverence.
“No greater love hath a man than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.” And Jesus could not lay down his life for us unless he were first born. The incarnation is “good tidings of great joy” for the sons of Adam, and so the angels sang.
“For unto a child is born, unto us a son is given . . .” Isaiah 9:6
In this utilitarian age, it is very good to have fixed occasions when the business of business ceases for a few days and families devote the time to reconnecting with each other. It is also an occasion for extending hospitality and cheer to those who are alone or unable to prepare a feast
for others.
It is altogether fitting that this most humane and sharing season be dignified with the name of Christ who gave the purest and most precious gift of all, and the most costly.
The hallmark of the season is to extend benevolence to others. “And if you cannot love your brother whom you can see, how can you say you love God, whom you cannot see.”
-Martin Wishnatsky
Thursday, December 5, 2002
A child, not a full-grown man, not a political ruler, not a king, not a prophet or a priest, a mere child, and He was to be the savior of the world. What a plan! Who would have thought that the maker of the universe, when he finally decided to interact with the world in a personal way, would come as a baby? Just a regular baby, one that wet and cried and had to learn to walk and talk like the other kids in his neighborhood. A baby, a little kid, dependant on his parents, needing to be fed and changed, yet a king of kings. Someone has written that this is the greatest covert operation of all time. Live among them, get to know them, prepare to rule them.
The Jews were waiting for a messiah but they were looking for a hero, a man that would come riding in and take over, expelling the hated Romans and establishing a kingdom. Even though there were prophetic scriptures outlining his birth they were caught by surprise and totally unprepared for a baby savior.
He came as a baby so that he could relate to us in our humanity. If he had come full-grown he would not have been exposed to the temptations of the teen years, he would not have struggled with identity problems and would not be qualified as someone who, having experienced all forms of temptations, remained sinless to be the one true, forever sacrifice for our sins.
The angel told Joseph (Matthew 1:23) “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
A baby, but God with us! The promise of the father, fulfilled in the son: God with us!!!
-John Roe
Wednesday, December 4, 2002
It was the last Christmas I would spend with my younger brother Steve. But I will never forget the gift he gave that Christmas.
My sister was a probation officer and for some reason there was one particular 15 year old American Indian boy named Jimmy who had no place to go for Christmas
Eve. So she brought him home to “meet the family”. My mother always said it’s only one more plate and we always felt free to invite others even on holidays.
After dinner we gathered to open presents before going to church. Everyone had something to open but Jimmy. Steve excused himself a moment and returned with a wrapped package for Jimmy. Each of us wrapped something like a box of candy so Jimmy would have something to open but we all eagerly awaited Steve’s gift to Jimmy. What could it be?
The boy’s tears brought our tears as he unwrapped a belt with a cast brass buckle of an American Indian Steve had made. In a moment of compassion Steve removed is belt and gave it to a stranger. Jimmy’s smile the entire time he was with us said it all.
I have forgotten most presents that have come and gone over the years. But I’ll never forget Steve’s gift in 1978 that had been such a part of him.
Jesus Christ, in all His fullness, has given us the most precious gift of love. We are never alone. We have a relationship with the King of Kings who invites us to feast with Him and fellowship with each other. Many of us accepted that gift in tears. May we wear a smile this Christmas season because of His gift.
“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another…And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.”
-1 John 4:11,14
-Bob Espeseth
(Editors Note: Steve Espeseth was a high school shop teacher in northern Minnesota. He was in his early 20’s when he was killed in an auto accident in 1979 on his way home to visit his parents and family.
Tuesday, December 3, 2002
It is always good to have friends and relatives who challenge us and encourage us spiritually. I was having a conversation one day with one of my sister-in-laws about optimism. We were discussing how important it is to see one another’s strengths and capitalize on those instead of another’s weaknesses. This led to a conversation about generosity and how it often goes hand in hand with optimism, seeing situations and others in a positive light. You may ask, “what’s the connection?” Here’s the thought.
On a recent radio broadcast by Chuck Swindoll, he discussed how generous people are almost always optimists. He went on to say that generous people often allow themselves to be taken advantage of, but look at people in a positive way. Optimistic people are freed up to be generous because they can give without an expectation being met. Optimists can give without reservation or hesitation because they are “glass half full” instead of “glass half empty” kind of people. As Christians, we should be both optimistic and generous. Seeing the good in people enables us to give with a glad heart!
As we come into the Christmas season…a season of giving, look at those around you through the eyes of Christ. This will enable you to love others and give to them unconditionally.
-Jeannie Johnson
-Acts 4:32-35 NIV
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
Monday, December 2, 2002
A little boy was born into the world over two thousand years ago. This single event is the great dividing line of time. It changed history like no other event before or since. As important as changing history is, it is minuscule in what His birth has meant to those who choose to believe that Jesus, the babe of Bethlehem, is the Son of God. As the prophets of old proclaimed, the Messiah was born of a virgin in the City of David. And that He would bring peace.
Many interpret this peace as the condition of the world. Obviously, there is a lacking of peace on the face of the earth. But the peace that Jesus brings is the peace that is beyond understanding. His peace in us is not dependant upon the condition of the world but rather the condition of our hearts. That peace is a spiritual peace received through accepting the free gift of God, Jesus His Son, that we may be cleansed and freed from the burden of past, present and future sins, living at peace with Him.
Giving gifts at Christmas is a symbol of the gift that God has given, Jesus His Son, the Prince of Peace. But giving or receiving gifts at Christmas is not nearly as important as giving or receiving THE GIFT. It is my prayer for you that you will have peace this Christmas, the peace of God.
For many it is difficult to believe or accept this free gift of God. But that doesn’t change the gift, only those who receive it!
-Isa 7:14 NIV
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel.
Matt 1:20-23 NIV
“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”-which means, “God with us.”
-Isa 9:6 NIV
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Sunday, December 1, 2002
It is December again. It seems that it was just yesterday that I was writing Christmas cards, but another year has gone by.
I could not believe how early I was seeing Christmas decorations in the stores. If I felt that they were put up early to get a jump on the celebration of our Lord’s birth, it wouldn’t bother me. But my guess is that the majority of the businesses do it to attract customers and sell more things.
A couple of years ago, I heard of a family that had a unique way of celebrating Christmas. I wanted to adopt the custom, but I was outnumbered in the family. But this is how one family (probably more than one) celebrated the season. The gift exchange with family and friends took place at Thanksgiving. That way the family could concentrate on the true meaning of Christmas during the month of December.
As we enter the busiest month of the year, keep your focus on the “reason for the season”. Most people will not remember most of the presents they receive for very long. As I look back, I remember a few of the gifts I received along the way. When I think about how important they seemed at the time, I have to chuckle. Those things broke or just didn’t seem so great in a while. But what I remember most are the many times I played Christmas carols for church programs and the joy of learning the songs and declaring the Christmas message that Jesus Christ is born in Bethlehem. The funny thing about that is that most of the gifts from those years were discarded a long time ago, but I still can play most of the songs without a problem. As you go about the things you have to do, looking for the perfect gifts, keep in mind that there is one Gift that always fits and will never go out of style. And give that Gift the place of honor that He alone deserves.
-ArdisRivera
-Luke 2:8-14
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.”
