Month: December 2023

In the Silence

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And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 
Luke 2:8 ESV

Have you ever wondered why God sometimes requires our silence? When I was small, my parents had a dinner table rule, “Children were to be seen and not heard!” Today, I realize that it was because they needed time to talk with each other after a busy day, but at the time I hated it! It felt like my mom and stepdad were only interested in themselves, and that we kids were second class citizens. So, when God asks for our silence, we might feel the same way, but it isn’t true. God is looking for us to be quiet so that He can tell us what is on His heart.

In fat, it was on that first Christmas, that God came in a moment of quietness to shepherds, who were watching their sheep. When God broke their silence, it was with the message of “Good news of great joy, that will be for all people!” In the darkness and the silence, God came to show us all, that He: the Good Shepherd, was watching over us, His sleeping sheep. Today, He invites us to come into His presence, in Heaven, where we will never be silent again, but there we will worship Him with shouts of praise for all eternity!

“In the holy hush of dawn – I hear a voice
I am with you all the day – Rejoice! Rejoice!”
L. B. Cowman - Streams in the Desert November 28

Lentil Soup And a Wise Man’s Gift

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And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 
Matthew 2:11 ESV

“What’s for dinner honey?” I said with a laugh knowing that it would be lentil soup for its third and final performance. During those first years of marriage, our food shopping was a low-cost adventure. So, with Christmas not far away, even putting up a tree with decorations was something we couldn’t afford. That year, Christmas Eve was pay day and at four thirty I waited in line for my check. “Merry Christmas” My boss said winking as he handed me my envelope. “There’s something extra in there for you tonight.”  

I peeked inside and drew a quick breath in astonishment. “Wow thanks Joe! Merry Christmas to you too” I said amazed at seeing a fifty-dollar bill tucked inside! I drove home through the heavy traffic getting there just before five. “Come on Nancy! Let’s go buy a tree!” I shouted as I ran up the stairs to show her my bonus. Five minutes later we bundled up and drove to a Christmas tree lot where the owner was delighted to sell us a tree for five dollars, just before he closed. Then we raced over to the Woolworth store, where for ten cents each we bought some colored glass bulbs and a string of lights with tinsel. God didn’t have to send the wise men with gifts to make it Christmas; but He did. That Christmas our wise man was named Joe and he left us a special gift on that Silent and Holy Night!

“Because of Bethlehem, I have a Savior in heaven. Christmas begins what Easter celebrates. The child in the cradle became the King on the cross. And because he did, there are no marks on my record. Just grace.”  
Max Lucado
Lentil Soup And a Wise Man’s Gift 
by Peter Caligiuri - Copyright 2021
All rights reserved

Born Again at Christmas

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Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 
John 3:3 ESV

This famous verse comes at the start of a conversation between a Jewish teacher, named Nicodemus and Jesus. Interestingly, Nicodemus had just finished saying that he knew that Jesus must have come from God because of the miracles he had seen Him doing. Then Jesus interrupts him, to say, “Unless you are born again, you cannot see who I really am!” Jesus was happy that Nicodemus understood that Jesus came from God, but he wanted Nicodemus to see the whole picture; and for that to happen, Nicodemus needed to be spiritually reborn.

Just as Jesus had to be born, in order to come to earth, we must ask God to change our hearts in order to receive eternal life and go to Heaven. Just as Jesus had to be born as a real human baby, we must be born again to receive the life He came to bring. Jesus came to earth at Christmas. Now God is asking us to receive Him into our hearts as our Savior, so that we can be born again and spend an eternity of Christmases with Him!

Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Pexels.com