Cross

12 Gifts of Christmas / 5th Gift Hope

/ pastorpete51 / 7 Comments

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. Matthew 12:20

A few years ago when we lived in the city of Scranton, a house in our neighborhood was condemned and slated for demolition. Ironically, the problems had nothing to do with the owner’s neglect, but with the home’s unfortunate luck to be near a large storm sewer project. During all the digging, smashing and scraping going on out in the street, the building’s foundation had cracked. The city quickly paid the owner for the damages and he moved out. Then shortly afterward, large equipment was brought and in just two days the house was completely demolished and all its rubble carted away.

Is there anyone in your world like this small unfortunate home? Maybe their lives have gotten a little too close to other people’s important building projects. The heavy equipment, the digging and smashing going on that is happening while others are reaching their goals has weakened their footings.  Problems beyond their control have wiped away in a few short hours an entire lifetime of family dinners, memories of children playing and hopes for the future.

The world specializes in wrecking hopes and dreams, but Jesus said that He would never break bruised hearts or put out flickering candles of hope. If during this Christmas season the wrecking ball of life comes to tear down our neighbor’s home, we have an opportunity to point them to the gift of hope we have found who was born in a manger. He still shines a light in darkness that no situation person or problem will ever be able to put out!

Our Christmas Memory Tree

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

For God so loved the world that he gave us His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life! John 3:16

Our Christmas tree has lights we bought from the store. But and from the angel near the top to the ornaments on every branch the rest are gifts – except the candy canes! Some are home made, like my sister’s sand dollar wreath and the bell made of yarn from our Nepali friends. An Irish porcelain cottage rings with memories of a man named Mark who lived at our home for a year and showed us how to boil and then fry cabbage in butter. The Teddy bear from my nursing home friends reminds me how our hearts are still linked even though a disease has separated us physically this year. Nancy’s mom who had a business of creating home made ornaments gave us enough to fill the branches with soldiers, rocking horses, reindeer and clowns. Memory of each person comes back to me as I hang our precious collection again on the branches. I see again both those Christmases filled with laughter, and surrounded by family as well as the ones when we were alone and struggling with disappointment and conflicts.

Yet the Bible tells us that all through these 2,000 Christmases since Jesus came, how God has given us more than a beautiful keepsake to hang. Instead He gave us his only Son who, hung on quite a different tree than ours. On His tree, He took on all the sin and shame of every forgotten heart. His gift was painted red with blood that flowed down from His hands and feet and a wound just beneath his heart made by a Roman spear.

So in the same way remember the first Christmas night when God sent His angels to wake up the shepherds, that He was also wanting to wake up hearts. God remembered our weaknesses and His promise. Jesus came and from that moment in the stable till with the bread at the Last Supper table, when He said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” God has forever remembered us. God has given us the cross which is His memory tree. If we will look there with eyes of faith we will see the very best gift of Christmas, just waiting to be opened!

He Knows Where You Are!

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. Isaiah 49:16

Have you sometimes felt that God has forgotten where you are or doesn’t understand what you are going through? You are not alone! Lots of people in the Bible felt like that. For example, just what was Adam thinking when he tried to hide from God in the garden? Did he think maybe God didn’t know every nook and cranny of His own creation? Abraham was regularly reminding God not only where he was but of the promise that he would have a son. When Gideon was visited by an angel he had questions as well

,” And Gideon said to him, ‘Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? ‘ ” Judges 6:13

Does that question sound familiar in your own life. Does it seem you would like to say with Martha,

“If you had been here my brother would not have died!” John 11:21

But God has not forgotten us! He knows exactly where we are, what is happening and how we feel. If you are going through deep waters today as you read these words, don’t give up or become bitter. God’s promise to us is that he has engraved us on the palms of His hands. Then if we pause to think we will remember that that engraving was with the nails of the cross.

As they pierced through the soft flesh of the hands of Jesus and His blood spilled over the rough wood. Your name and mine were carved on His palms. He suffered in agony that afternoon till He cried out “My God My God, Why have you forsaken me?” In that moment on Mount Calvary Jesus felt alone and forgotten so that we would never be!