Rediscovering the Christmas Season 1 of 25

Here we go!

Join me in these readings and let's prepare our hearts for the deepest joy as we meet Him in a special way this Christmas season!

Day one begins December 1, 2012 but here is a preview. Each day I will add the next reading and contemplation:)

Read Luke Chapter 2:21-40

A Preface to This Adventure

What Is Advent? Advent comes from the Latin word adventus meaning arrival or coming. The Hebrews looked forward to the coming of a Savior or Messiah—the First Advent. Now, we are waiting expectantly for His return to sweep His bride off of our feet—the Second Advent. The Church has been waiting for Him to come back from the moment He left the first time.

Why Should I Participate in Advent? So, what does Advent have to do with celebrating the arrival of Jesus?
Traditionally, Advent counts down the four weeks leading up to Christmas. Practically, Advent reminds us to look forward to His return every day. This season is about resetting Jesus Christ at the center of our lives. After all, when He comes to take us home forever, we want to be ready. Expect to be inspired, challenged, refocused, broken, motivated, unified, encouraged, and most of all, expectant.

How Do I Use This Reading Plan? Each day provides daily reflection questions and often a suggested activity to help you center that day on Jesus. You can go in order or you can skip around and pick a day that you feel would be the most beneficial. You can go through the plan as an individual, but think of ways to do them in groups or as a family. Some activities will be things that you may already do during the Christmas season, but will suggest a Christ-centered way to think about it. Other activities will be things that you have never done before, so be open-minded and willing to try something new. Each day will include Exposure,

Exploration, Expression, and Experience. You may find that you want to read the Additional Content each day before the scripture to guide what you’re looking for.

Exposure: Read the account of two people who waited every day in the Temple for Jesus' arrival. To add a traditional element, look up information about Advent wreaths and set up something like it in your home to use during this time. Yours can be as simple as four candles arranged in a circle.

Exploration: Discuss or journal about these two people who were blessed by seeing God's Savior with their own eyes. How can your life reflect this kind of anticipation?
Expression: Think about how you anticipate Christmas. How much of this feeling of excitement is centered on the arrival of Christ?

Experience: Before you dive into this 25-day journey, spend some time in prayer. Ask God to open your eyes so your vision of Jesus becomes clearer than it has ever been. Ask God to make you more aware of what it means to live your life with the expectation of the Advent of Jesus. Even on a personal level, when Jesus comes, life truly is an

ADVENTure. Let's experience it fully this Christmas season!

We'd like to thank LifeChurch.tv for their generosity in providing the structure for the "Rediscovering the Christmas Season" reading plan. To learn more about LifeChurch.tv, visit their website at http://lifechurch.tv.

One-anothering your spouse...Doing the DIRTY work

In John 13:14-15, Jesus says, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." 

It was expected in Jesus day, that a guest in your home would be offered water to clean his feet or perhaps a servant would be given the task as the guests arrived. It was a lowly job, reserved for the lowliest of servants. 

So, what in the world is Jesus doing in his final days on earth, stooping to wash his disciples feet? Well, he says he was doing it as an example for them to follow! Imagine how uncomfortable the disciples would be; the teacher is on the floor, stooping, cleaning, getting his hands dirty...example-ing! 

And then he says..."do just as I have done to you." Really Jesus?

So, can we humble ourselves with our spouse? Is there dirty work that needs to get done? Is the lesson of Jesus that we should wash each other's feet or is there more to it?

I think there must be more to it, since I have never walked into church or a person's home and been offered water for my feet. I can't just say, "well that one doesn't apply to me." :) While there are many valuable lessons that we could learn from Jesus' action, one that I don't hear very often is "how does this apply to marriage?"

What do you think was the key quality that Jesus was displaying? I think it was humble service! The Bible says, in a well known passage, that Jesus humbled himself as a servant...and that we ought to do likewise. (See Philippians 2)

Are there jobs that you just don't like to do? Are there some that you feel are beneath you? 

Honestly, there are jobs that I don't like to do. When my children were young, my wife had the primary responsibility of changing diapers - I joined in as long as I could keep my gag-reflex from overwhelming me! I can think of many times that I just said, "here you go, your daughter (or son) needs to be changed." At other times, a child may be sick in the middle of the night, "honey, it sounds like someone is getting sick..."(nudge, nudge) You get the picture. 

While I never thought those jobs were beneath me, there have been times that I have thought..."I have more important things to do." Ouch, that hurts to say that! I am glad that Jesus didn't say that!

I am blessed with an incredible wife. In retrospect, I think I have taken her humble service for granted. Over the years, she has demonstrated, time after time, the point of Jesus words, ..."do just as I have done to you." She has taken up her bowl of water, knelt down, served, and...exampled Christ to me. Somewhere along the way I began to take up my own towel, and kneel down to serve (nowhere near to her level, but still aspiring.) It is not just her example, of course, but my Saviors, that inspires. 

What does this kind of service look like in your marriage? Cleaning up after the children, the dog, or each other? As we age together, I know that there will be many other ways to humbly serve (come quickly, Lord Jesus!). Your marriage has its own "dirty work" that must be done...are you above it or ready to follow Christ's example?

Let me say it this way. When I am confronted with a decision that makes me want to say, "not me," perhaps I should stop and ask the question, "why not me?" Certainly, if anyone ever had the right to say, "not me," it would be Jesus. But, instead he stooped, he cleaned, and...he exampled servant-hood constantly.  And he asked us to model it for one another.

There are probably lots of better analogies and lessons and applications to be learned from Jesus teaching here. But if I am seeking to be the best husband I can be, and esteem and value my wife deeply, then it may just start with following Jesus example of doing the dirty work and humbly serving her.

Pastor Dave

"One Anothers" apply to marriage (and family) ...too!

One Anothering Your Spouse!

If you are like me, you have heard a sermon or two on the "one anothers" of the Bible. I love these passages of scripture like, "accept one another..." or "encourage one another" or certainly, "love one another." These truths give valuable instruction about how we are to live here on earth with, and express God's care for, the family of God.

Some years ago, however, as I was thinking about how to carry out these instructions with the Body of Christ, I had this thought, "shouldn't these one anothers first apply to my own family and especially my dear wife?" Since that initial thought, I have desired to think through how these truths apply to my marriage. I can't tell you how many times since then I have been interrupted in my spirit with that idea...and sometimes even before I violate one the one another commands with my spouse;)

Case in point? Have you ever noticed that sometimes we treat total strangers (or people outside of our immediate family) better than we treat our own spouses or children? We might show extraordinary kindness to someone in line at Starbucks who appears to be having a "tough day," and moments later be snapping at our spouse or kids in frustration for something totally insignificant. Maybe this does not apply to you, but I have both experienced this and have seen this phenomena countless times. I am assuming that you have as well, so I won't bother pointing out any other "hypothetical" situations:) The "why" of this might be an interesting topic to discuss in a future entry, but for now I am guessing that you would agree that it is God's desire that we learn to do the one anothers of God's Word with those closest to us, as well as the broader family of God. 

In my next entry, I am going to begin examining these "one anothers" of the Bible in order of their appearance in the New Testament. I am hoping that you will join me.

Ready-Made Prayer

Some years ago, a dear friend showed me a section of scripture that I have never forgotten. In fact, it has become one of those sections that I return to over and over. I call it a "ready-made prayer" because Paul prayed it for the Ephesian Church, and by simply changing a few personal pronouns, it can be a prayer for yourself, for your family, your church, or a person on the street!

The prayer can be found in Ephesians 3:14-19: For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

So, here is the ready-made part. Insert your name in these blanks: For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant _________ to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in _________ inner being, so that Christ may dwell in _________ hearts through faith—that _________, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that _________ may be filled with all the fullness of God.

I was reminded about this prayer again last night, as I had some friends asking what they might pray for, for me. Of course, I have all sorts of cares and concerns, hopes and dreams, pressures and anxieties, but what is the thing I need most? What is the thing, that if I had it, all of the other things would pale in comparison? The knowledge of the love of Christ and the expression of the love of Christ in my life! There is so much depth to this prayer, and it is worth the deep look, but suffice it to say that I want to know God's love! Don't you? 

When the Bible says to "know," it is not talking about a casual, half-hearted, or weak understanding. No, it is talking about the deepest and fullest kind of knowing. Maybe this will help me explain - This past weekend I hiked the Grand Canyon with some friends. I have been on the ridge of the canyon and observed the majesty and grandeur many times; it is an awesome sight to behold! But that is a shallow kind of knowledge compared to our descent on the trail towards the river! I was overwhelmed by the beauty. Every turn revealed another aspect of this wonder, and gave additional "experiential" knowledge! 

For several years after coming to faith in Christ, I had a view of God's love from the edge of this "wonder." It was an incredible sight to behold, and certainly worth the trip! However, as I gained an experiential knowledge of God's love, I was overwhelmed in a way I can't really explain. I knew something...and I wanted to know more! And the knowledge I gained, by the way, began to transform me in a way that a view from the edge could never do.

So, my hope is that you will pray for the ability to take the hike into God's love and that you will be empowered to this end. God's love is so much more wonderful than any trip to a Grand Canyon, and certainly Paul knew this...that is why he prayed this prayer for his Ephesian friends. Won't you do the same?

Desiring to really KNOW the love of Christ!

Heads you win; tails you lose

Psalms 39:4 says, "O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!"

This reminds me of the game I used to play called “heads or tails.” Flipping a coin into the air, with roughly a 50% chance of it landing on heads, 50% tails, one of the participants comes out a winner and the other a loser.

Psalm 39:4 is like a heads or tails game to me; I can live by faith or fear! But unlike the game, I have some control over the winning or losing…let me explain.

The heads (faith) side: Over the years, I have tried to live with the end (my end) in mind. In my desire to live for God and impact my world for Him, I have tried to understand the reality that David talks about above. Knowing my end helps me to evaluate my life against the reality that I am only here for a fixed number of days, all short in terms of eternity. Hence, I am more prone to prioritize the things that truly matter. What matters most? Loving God and loving others. As a youth, I tended to live without this knowledge – thinking only about my own needs and desires; my end was not in my mind! However, in my twenties, I encountered this verse, and others like it, and I began to allow this truth to shape how I live each day. As I get older, this idea is becoming even clearer to me.

Unfortunately, there is another side of the coin; the tails (fear) side: In my weaker moments, I wrestle with the phrase, “let me know how fleeting I am.” I don’t like that phrase! Other translations use words like, “transient” or “frail,” I don’t care for those either. When I think about this verse in my flesh, I am afraid. It reminds me of the inevitable; my end is coming. Especially in my forties, I began losing friends to cancer or tragic accidents. In my weakness. these losses are like “shots across the bow” of my heart and mind; it’s like death is taunting me, “just so you know, I am coming for you, too!” (Evil laugh)

When I live in fear I lose; I experience anxiety and worry that robs me of energy I could use to please God, serve my family or world. In other words, fear brings stagnation to my spiritual growth by turning my attention away from faith and trust in God.

When I live in faith I win; I can pour my life out as an offering to God which brings a sweet satisfaction that I am pleasing my Lord, serving His purposes, and modeling faith to my children, church, and world.

Good news! Unlike the chances of the actual game, 50/50, I can influence the chances of landing on heads. The scripture says in Hebrews 10:17, “So faith (heads) comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” One thing I can do is to listen to the words of Christ. I can sit under His teaching, read and meditate on His words! I can also do what David said in Psalms 42:11, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil (tails) within me? Hope in God…” David is basically telling his soul to obey him…his soul can be a slave to truth and not the other way around! So, when I feel like I am landing on tails, I have a choice to tell my soul to listen up!

My prayer is that you and I will live in faith. Understanding the brevity of life will then prompt us to use the minutes, days, years that we have left to honor and serve the King.

Heads we win, tails we lose. We choose!

Heads you win, tails you loose

A look inside my journal...

I was stopped again in my spirit last night, as I prayed and thought about my day. Does that ever happen to you? I was stopped as I realized how easy I become religious; how easily I can go about doing the things I should...out of habit, without experiencing my Savior. I mean, I pray often, seek wisdom, desire to do His will, yet without intimately connecting to the True Vine. Does that even make sense to say that?

Some might argue, and I might be open to listen, that I desire what I can't experience until heaven. I am not saying that I always need to experience His presence, but perhaps what I am saying is, I don't want to go about "doing good" while not realizing that Jesus is with me. It would be like working alongside of others all day but not engaging in relationship...does that make sense?

All I know is, I felt as I prayed, that I had not had the awareness of or set my mind on Christ in that "relational" aspect. I remember the words of Christ in John 5:19, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise." I wonder if that is even possible for me, and to what degree? I know that Jesus is God and He relied on His Father in ways that I cannot in my humanity...but the longing yearns within me to experience some of that closeness with my Lord! I want to be like Jesus in His relationship with the Father while He was on earth!

There is a mystery to that, and cautions, perhaps. Yet I desire a closeness, meaningful work, and joy that comes from that kind of intimacy!

So my prayer today is; Lord, You promised to remain in me as I remain in you (John 15:4). Please help me to be aware of your presence and intimately converse and depend on you as I go about seeking to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which I have been called (Ephesians 4:1). I love you, Jesus.

I don't want to be religious, I want to be in relationship! Do you?