Pondering Christmas

A Devotional for Carols in the Atrium

For days I have pondered and considered and searched and asked LORD, what shall I do for a devotional for Carols in the Atrium? 

• Something different...
• Something creative...
• Something new and unique                           

And I was blessed with NOTHING!

Until yesterday afternoon when the LORD graciously reminded me that...

• It is not about all the hoopla of the “Christmas Season”
• It’s about the story of Christ’s birth...
• The celebration of Jesus...anything more and anything less is just the trappings

So I went back to the source...The BOOK. 

• No holiday celebration
• No Christmas party or event
• Not even the singing of our favorite Christmas carols should be done without the most important tradition of all...The story itself.

So, I will share it with you. Selected portions of Luke 1 and Luke 2. 

(I will read Luke 1 from the NIV and Luke 2 from the King James Version. I learned it that way when I was 8 and played the part of the Angel Gabriel and I can’t seem to read it in the NIV!”

May God Bless the Reading of the Christmas Story...

The Birth of Jesus Foretold NIV

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, 

a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 

28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 

30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 

31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him 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, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 

36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 

37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”     Then the angel left her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 

41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 

42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 

43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 

44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 

45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Mary’s Song

46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies (magnifies) the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. 

50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 

51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 

52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 

53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 

54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 

55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Luke 2 King James

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

 21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

 22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

 23 (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

 25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

 33 And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him.

 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

 36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;

 37 And she was a widow of about 84, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

 39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

 40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

I wonder if you noticed how much rejoicing there was going on?

• Elizabeth, with what kind of voice? Filled with the Spirit she cried out in a loud voice!

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 

43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 

44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, 

the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 

45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

• Mary: Her heart was so full she turned it into a song...

“My soul glorifies (magnifies) the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,           

for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. 

From now on all generations will call me blessed, 

for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.

• Gabriel...

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, 

I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

That wasn’t news to be whispered...that was shout it from the mountain top news!

• To which the multitude of heavenly hosts praised God and proclaimed...

  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

• The shepherds returned to where they had come from, but what were they doing?

“...glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, 

as it was told unto them.”

I think I have always wondered how their lives changed from that night. 

• Then there was Simeon. 

It had been revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the LORD’s Christ. Can you imagine how he must have felt as he gazed into the eyes of that tiny eight day old child and blessed God? That was the moment his life’s mission was fulfilled. All he could do was bless his God.

• Anna: The 84 year old woman who spent her days and her nights fasting and praying and praising her God. I love the image of this woman with a heartful of God. 

And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord,
 and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. 

Whenever I read of the Prophetess Anna I am reminded of Anna Stoner. Some of you may remember Jess Stoner’s sister Anna. She was an older woman who fasted, prayed and praised the LORD!

And she left me with one of my favorite Christmas funnies. For those of you who were not blessed to have known her, Anna was of our very plainly dressed Brethren in Christ saints who always wore a prayer covering. Well, one Christmas Eve Service at Cedar Grove BIC, Anna walked up to me, patted my hand and said, “Debby, you are always so nicely decorated!” 

So, here is a tradition started at the very first Christmas...the birth of Christ. And that is praising the LORD, glorifying and magnifying His name. 

Let’s start right here and right now... “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Aroma Therapy of a Spiritual Nature

One of the interesting discoveries I made a couple of years ago is the fact that our sense of smell is located in the same area of our brain as our long term memory. That is why when we smell certain odors we may be instantly transported back to something in our past. 

• For instance, when I smell Rubbing Alcohol, I am immediately reminded of being taken to a huge clinic where children were lined up and given shots. There is a certain smell associated with some plastics that reminds me of the baby dolls I played with as a child.

• The smell of salty sea air always takes me back to my childhood growing up in California. 

• An outdoor evening campfire reminds me of summer vacations to Yosemite National Park or the evenings we spent singing around a campfire when we lived in the Whiteshell Provincial Park in Manitoba. 

• Rotting garbage often reminds me of driving through Porte au Prince, Haiti.

I have always been affected by scents…both good and bad, which made for an interesting revelation a few years ago. 

In the summer of 2005 I moved to Hanover, Pa to pastor the Brethren In Christ church there. I had only been living in Hanover a few days when it finally registered with me that someone seemed to be cooking all the time. I started asking myself some serious questions. 

• What is that wonderful smell?

• Who stays home and cooks ALL day long?

• ....Night and day, in fact. 

• I would wake up in the middle of the night to the most wonderful aroma!

Finally, I mentioned it to someone who said, “Don’t you know that Hanover is the ‘snack capital of the world?’” Hanover, of course, is the home of Utz, Snyder’s of Hanover and Musselman’s. So, what I was smelling was always either potato chips or pretzels!

Well, this went on week after week until one beautiful Sunday morning when I got up, went to the front door, swung it wide open and took a deep breath…and almost gagged! For the first time since I had moved there, my world stank to high heaven! I slammed the door shut and tried to figure out what had happened!

So, I mentioned it to a neighbor. I asked her if she had smelled that wicked odor (like the most rotten sauerkraut you could possibly imagine). To which she indignantly replied, “That is the smell of money and we don’t complain about it!”  What I smelled and complained about, was Gladfletter’s paper plant in Spring Grove…about 10 miles away and always distinct and over powering on humid days!)

Well, I am a “ponderer” and I spent quite a bit of time pondering the fact that, some days my world smelled like potato chips and some days my world smelled like sauerkraut, until one day the LORD started speaking to me about the subject…

Think about it! 

Are there days when your life smells like potato chips and then days when your life smells like sauerkraut? 

A number of years ago I spent a significant amount of time studying everything that Neil T Anderson wrote. You may know him as the author of Victory Over the Darkness and The Bondage Breaker. One of his main themes was the importance of knowing and embracing our identity in Jesus Christ. Understanding that helped me with issues like fear, anxiety and insecurity. 

Examples: Who I am in Christ

Because you are in Christ, every one of these statements is true of you. 

• I am loved 1John 3:3 

• I am accepted Ephesians 1:6 

• I am a child of God John 1:12 

• I am Jesus' friend John 15:14 

• I am a joint heir with Jesus, sharing His inheritance with Him Romans 8:17 

In 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, Paul says, 

14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. 15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?                                                                                                             

We are to be…

• A triumphal procession in Christ

• We are to be spreading everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him

• We are to be the aroma of Christ…the fragrance of life

To some, the aroma of Christ will smell like death because they are dying in their  ignorance and unbelief, but to others we are to be a sweet fragrance. 

Here’s a good exercise to try…

Put a “scent” to some “fruits of the spirit”

What aroma might…

• Love

• Joy

• Peace

• Patients 

• Kindness 

• Goodness

• Faithfulness

• And Self-control remind us of?

Especially compared with the stench of “the fruitless deeds of darkness”

• Immorality

• Wickedness

• And the Apostle Paul’s list in Ephesians 4:31 to, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” 

Why? Why is it necessary to "GET RID OF...?" Because, obviously, one can’t live a life that reflects the love of Christ when one's life is characterized by bitterness, rage, anger and malice…IN ANY FORM. 

And, have you ever noticed how aroma’s or stenches can spread to others…well they do! I have encountered a family on the streets of Mechanicsburg numerous times and every time I see them the mother is screaming at the two teenagers with language that is not repeatable. Every time I see this threesome I am appalled and I have been grieved for the teens living with this kind of verbal abuse day in and day out. 

Then one day, a couple of weeks ago, we happened to be in Subway at the same time. The mother screamed at one of her children to get up there and place her order, but when she tried, the young Indian woman behind the counter could not get it quite right and so the teen quickly grew frustrated and began screaming at her in the same tone and with the same foul language as her mother.

And, since I am not one to stand by while someone else is being treated like that, I walked over and very quietly and calmly said, “You don’t need to talk to her the way your mother talks to you. She is just having a difficult time understanding you.” Oh my! At that point all three of them got in my face and began yelling at me. The two girls behind the counter were quietly rooting me on (and I think they had 911 on speed dial). I didn’t help the situation at all (except to take their primary focus off of the young woman) but mostly it was a good reminder of how our behaviors can spread either a sweet aroma or a horrific stench to those around us.

So a few questions that we can ask ourselves every day are these…

• What does my life smell like to others?

• How has the aroma of Christ permeated “my world” because of me today?

• Or did my attitudes stink today?

• Did my behavior spread an aroma or a stench?

• Did people want to evacuate my presence at any given moment?

Have you ever got just a faint smell of something unpleasant and you search long and hard to find its source so that you can eliminate it? That’s what we, as believers, should be doing daily in our own lives! Then we don’t just try to cover up the stench with some fruity odor from a can. 

• We dig deep and eliminate the source! 

• We get to the root of our bitterness, anger, ugliness of life and we allow the light of Christ to shine into the darkness of our heart. 

• We let His love and grace to us eradicate that which is from our sinful nature so that He might live His life through us.

Walk down the aisles of any grocery store and you will see dozens of products to make EVERYTHING smell better, fresher, sweeter. When really the first place we should begin eliminating odors is in our own inner lives.

“For we are to God the aroma of Christ”… Let’s smell like it today! 

One Came Back

A couple of weeks ago we celebrated the fourth birthday of my granddaughter Anna. It was fun to watch her open one present after another. Several times, though, she was so excited about the gift she received that she wanted to immediately run off and play with it right away! 

This created two problems…

1. In her excitement she forgot to say, “Thank-you,” to the gift-giver…

2. And, there were still more presents to be opened, but she was thoroughly distracted in her excitement.

It reminded me of an incident that is told in Luke 17:11-19 “Jesus Heals Ten Men with Leprosy”

Remember, leprosy was a horrific, disfiguring and extremely dreaded disease. I would imagine that, in Jesus’ day, everyone feared contracting leprosy. There was NO cure what-so-ever…at least back then. Left untreated leprosy is known to permanently damage skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. It is hard for most of us to imagine, because few of us have ever been exposed to the life-altering diagnosis and we probably don’t know anyone else who has!

But, because of the fact that leprosy was believed to be highly contagious, lepers were considered outcasts. 

• They were the “untouchables”
• They would not have been allowed to live within the city or village. 
• They were certainly never allowed to approach others…even family members. 
• And it was the law. The written law. 

So…

• They stood a good distance away…
• The lived apart…
• They watched the rest of the world go by in their own isolation 
• Or maybe they might have even tried to forget the life they lived before the scourge of leprosy…
• They most assuredly suffered without the comfort of home and family…

In colonies, in caves, in make shift dwellings…

Because they were, in every way, outsiders.

They only had each other.

Maybe even sadder, and more distressing, is the idea that they also lived without hope…

• With no hospitals
• No doctors… I’m sure even Dr. Luke was at a loss
• There was no hopeful research and magical cures on the horizon…
• They simply lived hopelessly 

Well, maybe they had a little bit of hope…

Somewhere along the way they must have heard about JESUS and, because of ONE amazing, miraculous encounter, everything changed for them.

Well, here’s what happened according to Luke…

¹¹ Now on His way to Jerusalem, 

Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.

¹² As He was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met Him. 

They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, 

“Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

¹⁴ When He saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” 

Leviticus 13 explains how leprosy was handled under Moses' law. The priests were the ones who decided whether leprosy was contagious or not. The priests had the power to declare these men healed and clean or to send them back to their solitary lives. Jesus was sending them to the priests for a purpose!

“Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And that is exactly what they did!

Amazingly enough...

• The scripture doesn’t indicate that they grumbled or complained about the instructions Jesus gave
• It is difficult to believe that they didn’t argue or give a few suggestions of their own
• Did they not even question Jesus? 
• No sarcasm? 
• No smart aleck remarks?
• It certainly doesn’t appear as though they did any such thing 

Instead, low and behold, these ten men were, if nothing else, obedient. 

And what happened?

And as they went, they were cleansed.

¹⁵ One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.

¹⁶ He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him—and he was a Samaritan. 

(Those Samaritans…gotta love ‘em!)

Amazing, isn’t it? Immediately…not sometime later!

• As soon as he realized he was well he went back!
• He didn’t send a thank-you card
• He didn’t send a messenger
• He didn’t put it off until he’d had a chance to adjust

“…when he saw he was healed, he came back…”

And he didn’t come whispering either!

• Maybe it was because he had been shouting at a distance for so long already…
• Maybe he didn’t have a quiet voice to use anymore

How did he come back? “…praising God in a loud voice…” 

• This wasn’t his indoor voice!
• I would imagine that would be the loud voice that we would reserve for football games or the World Series.

When was the last time any of us praised God with a LOUD VOICE?

• He was excited
• He was beside himself
• I don’t think he had a whisper in him!

This guy was so excited, so grateful, so thankful, so amazed that he didn’t just come back praising God with a loud voice…

¹⁶ He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him. 

That is a picture of thanksgiving…

• Uncontainable 
• Exuberant
• Heartfelt 
• Sincere

Here was a man who was probably so overwhelmed with the thought of being declared clean and being able to return to his family, his home, his friends and his life…but first he recognized there was a source of his healing…

There was Jesus and he wasn’t able to do what he wanted to do until he did what he needed to do…tell Jesus “Thank you!”

¹⁵ One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.

¹⁶ He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him—and he was a Samaritan.

A Samaritan…the way Luke words it makes it sound as though he was the only one who was a Samaritan. Maybe, but that’s a story for another day…

So…

¹⁷ Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?

¹⁸ Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”

¹⁹ Then He said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Jesus used a word there that is all-encompassing, it doesn’t just mean physical healing, but spiritual as well. And, if I read that right... “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” His faith was in Christ and he was made well spiritually, as well as physically. 

Let’s not forget the other nine guys in Luke’s account. 

• They were certainly respectful by keeping their distance
• They were obviously obedient...they followed Jesus’ instructions to the letter
• They may have even had a degree of trust in Him
• They just weren’t thankful!

Only one was wise enough to recognize the need to be grateful for the gift of healing that he had received.

• Only One!

There are so many stories in the Old Testament where God is frustrated by the worship of His people. 

• They may have made all the appropriate sacrifices
• And kept all of the feasts
• Obeyed the Rituals spelled out in the Law
• Prayed the prayers and washed their hands
• And they thought they did everything right...

It’s so easy to think we’re doing the right thing, but are we doing them for the right reason. 

• They forgot the heart part
• Sometimes we forget the heart part
• God is far more interested in the state of His people's heart than in anything we do

Is it possible that we can be so caught up in doing the right thing that we forget God Himself. 

• It’s especially easy to do if you don’t have a grateful heart!

So, nine men found healing, but only one man found Jesus. 

• Only one man acknowledge the source of his healing

Maybe you have heard this story of Alex Haley, the man who wrote the best-selling book and movie “Roots?” He had a rather unusual picture hanging on the wall in his office. It must have been a good conversation starter, because he was often asked about it. 

And then Alex Haley would reply, “Every time I read my words and think that they are wonderful and begin to feel proud of myself, I look at the turtle on top of the fence post and I remember that he didn’t get there on his own. He had help.”

Don’t we all? Don’t we all have help?

Nine men found healing, but only one man found Jesus.

On the other hand here is a story that represents far too many people...

The story is told of an older man who went into the Post Office with a blank postcard in hand. 

• He approached the postal clerk behind the counter and asked if he would address the postcard for him, which he did.
• Then the man asked the clerk to write a short message on the card for him
• Then he even asked the clerk to sign it for him. 
• After he was finished, the postal clerk asked, “Is there anything else I can do for you today?”

And with a scowl on his face, the man said, “Yes, at the bottom of the postcard could you write: “P.S. Please excuse the sloppy handwriting.”

I think Darryl DelHousaye summed it up well…

“Thanksgiving in everything is the key to joy. The experience of joy is all about well-being, a sense of security, a deep rest, the absence of fear. It’s enjoyment! 

The absence of thanksgiving is what makes joy fade. It’s God’s design for us to give thanks lest any of our joy slip away.”

Nine men found healing, but only one man found Jesus.                                                                              Only ONE man out of ten came back to say, “Thank you” to Jesus. 

There are two questions I would leave you with today…

1. Do you want…

• The miracle
• The healing
• The answer to prayer
• Or do you want the Source? Do you want Jesus?

2. Are you of the One or are you of the nine?

• Do you have a thankful heart?

I have adapted this prayer from Psalm 111

 I Praise You, LORD.

   I will extol You LORD with all my heart 

    Great are Your works, O LORD; 

   they are pondered by all who delight in them. 

Glorious and majestic are Your deeds, 

   and Your righteousness endures forever. 

You cause Your wonders to be remembered; 

   You, LORD, are gracious and compassionate. 

You provide food for those who fear You; 

   You remember Your covenant forever.

You have shown Your people the power of Your works... 

 The works of Your hands are faithful and just; 

   all Your precepts are trustworthy. 

They are established for ever and ever, 

   enacted in faithfulness and uprightness. 

 You have provided redemption for Your people; 

   You ordained Your covenant forever— 

   holy and awesome is Your name.

 To fear You, LORD, is the beginning of wisdom; 

   all who follow Your precepts have good understanding. 

   To You belongs eternal praise.

LORD, with hearts of thanksgiving I give You praise, this day and every day, in Jesus’ Name.