Christmas Advent 2012, Christmas Day

I really hope your Christmas Day has been as fun and relaxed as our's has been. And I hope that these short devotional thoughts have caused you to think (ponder) about Christmas. It has been good to think and reflect upon people, places and events that have been a part of my put-to-gather. Let me close out with this thought. Do you remember growing up with nicknames? Some had to do with relationships like Junior. Some were related to who was the oldest or the youngest: in our neighborhood there was Big Randy and Little Randy. Every boy had a nickname; some were good and some, let's say were not too becoming. When the angel of The Lord appeared to Joseph and also Mary, he told them to call the baby Jesus, meaning Savior. Isaiah speaks of the coming baby as being called Immanuel, meaning God with us. John's gospel says He came to his own, meaning God came down to us. Jesus came down the backstairs of heaven, took upon himself the form of a child,was born in the most humble of circumstances to a virgin girl and a brave carpenter. His birth was announced to the humblest of servants by an angel sent from God, As we begin the religious calendar year let's commit to not forget the baby each day by committing our life to him. It's something to think about. Blessings

Christmas Advent 2012 Christmas Eve

December 24, 2012 Before becoming a State Convention Consultant and then Association Executive Director, as a pastor the Christmas Eve service was one the best attended services during the year. It was so much fun to see the excitement and wonder of Christmas through the eyes of the children and to hear what they were thinking about. On one particular Christmas Eve the service had just concluded. Some of the people had left others were still talking and wishing one another Merry Christmas when one of the members came into the auditorium and excitedly said, “Brother Randy, there’s a fire on the second floor!” We asked everyone to leave as the fire trucks were rolling up in front of the church. When it was all said and done, someone had come into the building and had lit a cigarette and pushed it into a roll of toilet paper and placed it on the tank in the boy’s restroom. We were grateful no one was hurt, and besides it got the restrooms refurbished and the carpets in the hall cleaned. Just about every Christmas Eve I will think of that service as the night fire came to the church. Imagine, what it might have been like for Mary and Joseph the night Jesus was born. I wonder if they kept warm with a small camp fire. I wonder also if the light was from the lamps. I wonder if they were scared at what was about to happen. I wonder if they were excited about the baby who had been promised by the angel of the Lord. I wonder? It’s something to think about.

December 23, 2012 This is the final Sunday of Advent or the Week of Joy. Traditionally the final purple candle would be lit scripture would be read concerning the joy at Christmas and a song and prayer would complete the family devotion. Sitting around the dinner table with our immediate family has never been a formal, dignified nor solemn event. As our children were growing up the dinner table was the one place where there was free air time. Any subject that was on their mind that they wanted to talk about was good subject matter including those hard to handle subjects. I always had a little dread in my mind that someday “that subject” would come up. It did. We were enjoying our meal talking about this and that when our son from out of the blue asks, “What does gay mean?” After a momentary pause that seemed like fifteen minutes we began the explanation. My wife and I were confident that we had answered biblically and correctly. After our conversation he simply said, “Oh, my teacher was reading a story where the people were in gay clothing, and I didn’t know what she meant.” There is great unspeakable joy when you are with the people you love and care about. When I read Matthew’s account of how the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph after he found out that Mary was pregnant, I am convinced that this was a man who had moral fiber, magnificent faith, and much love for Mary. By law he could have had her stoned. He could have put her away and never married her. But because of the Word from God, he took her to be his wife and never knew her until after the birth of the Savior. I can only imagine the conversations around their table. For today reread Matthew 1:17-2:15 and think about the joy Joseph had because He simply trusted and obeyed the Lord. It’s something to think about.

Christmas Advent 2012 Day 20

December 21, 2012 By the time our daughter was born, the birthing process took place in a single room and any one the family wanted could witness the event. With our son, which was eight years earlier, we had gone from prep room to labor room, to delivery room and then the post room before getting into a room where folks could come. One thing that I will always appreciate about being in the room with their births is being present when there is that momentary silence followed by the little gasp of a breath of inhaled air that almost sounds like a hic cup and then their first cry. It’s the sound of a long awaited time two parents have longed for fulfilled. When Jesus was born in the barn of the inn, the only witnesses recorded were Mary, Joseph and the animals stabled there. Through the pains of labor came that momentary silence followed by the little gasp of air by the baby born of a virgin according to the will and power of God. Not only was it a fulfillment for two parents, but all of history from as far back as the garden had looked forward to the fulfillment of God’s promised Messiah Savior for all mankind. As we reread Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus, read both chapter 1 and 2 and see how God’s plan fit together and then rejoice that we can look back rejoicing in what Christ has done. It’s something to think about.

Christmas Advent 2012 Day 19

December 20, 2012 Thirty years ago this December we welcomed our son into this world. As hard as it is to believe, this was back before cell phones and especially cell phones with cameras and text messaging and everything we enjoy now. To announce his birth I had to get on a pay phone, connect with the operator and give the number. Although it only took a minute or so, it seemed like an hour before my dad was on the line and I could share the news of the first grandchild being born. One thing that they did in the hospital for the birth certificate was to make an ink image of his foot. In addition the nurse made an image of his foot on a note card for his scrap book and handed it to me. As the day went on and people were coming by, our best friends volunteered to sit with my wife and allow me to go get something to eat. Once seated at the restaurant, the waitress came to the table and asked if we were ready to order. I announced that I was a new dad. She kindly congratulated me, upon which I asked if she would like to see a picture of my new born son. She again politely said yes. So I immediately produced the note card with my son’s footprint and asked if she could see a resemblance. We all had a good laugh and a wonderful conversation. According to Luke 2:17-18; When the shepherds saw him, they told them what the angel had said about the child. And all those who heard marveled about the things spoken to them by the shepherds. Seeing and experiencing the Christ child must have been an experience they could not contain within themselves. They had to tell others. As we celebrate Christmas let us also come into His presence and remember what He has done for us. If we really get serious with our observations we will not be able to contain ourselves, but will want to share with others the good things He has done. It’s something to think about.

Christmas Advent 2012 Day 18

December 19, 2012 I haven't met many people who do not like to receive some sort of gifts at Christmas. One different kind of gift I received was a baby calf. It was an extremely wet and cold Christmas Eve in Oklahoma. We had been watching a couple of heifers that were about to calve (have a baby cow) in case they had problems. After feeding that morning we realized one was missing. We found her and the calf by the pond at the back of the property. The calf could not get up on his own or walk due to the fact that he had been born and laid in ice all night freezing his knee joints. We took the calf and cow to the barn. Working daily with the calf got him where he could stand and walk like a buffalo. The calf was given to me for the effort to save him. When the Wise men bowed before the baby Jesus they presented gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. These were gifts fit for a king, a priest, and a Savior. We have the opportunity this year to offer our gift of praise, our life in service, and voice of adoration to the one who died for all. It's something to think about.

Christmas Advent 2012 Day 17

December 18, 2012 There I was standing in the choir loft of Lone Star Baptist Church with twelve others practicing for the Christmas music program. Lone Star was a small country church that on a high attendance Sunday would have maybe 35. The choir for Christmas was about half the congregation. At that time in my life, I thought I had a pretty good voice. I could sing loud and project real well. After all I had sung second soprano in the All city boys choir one spring concert when I was in fifth grade before my voice changed. Choir practice was going well I thought until the Music Director stopped us and announced that someone was off. He gave us the note and we started to sing again. Just as before, He stopped us with the same announcement. At that point he asked me if I would come down and help him figure out who it was. Knowing my own history I gladly assisted. We finished choir practice that night and I was given the narrator's role. We never figured out who was singing flat. So far in my ministry I have served in various positions; but God has never called me to lead music. The night of Jesus' birth, after the announcement came to the shepherds, the sky according to Luke 2 was filled with the heavenly choir shouting the praises to God for what He was doing in bringing the Savior to the earth as a baby. In the midst of everything we do maybe as part of our preparation and as part of our family celebration we take time to praise The Lord with our voices no matter how they sound. It's something to think about.