One group could not stop talking about it

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.” Luke 2:20 ASV

and the second group decided they would leave a different way then the way they came:

¹¹ After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way. Matthew 2:11-12 NASB

So after experience Christ this Christmas, will you keep him on your lips?  Is it time to go another way?

And so should it be with us, each day changed from a boring selfish person, to someone who emits that light of the Father.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 New International Version (NIV)

I have tried to read more this month and I found some great reading plans at the YouVersion Bible site.  I have actually been reading two different plans, one that is discussing a Christmas carol a day, and the other that is just discussed different areas surrounded the birth of the Christ.  Yesterday there was a question posed at the end of the both readings and interestingly enough they were both very similar. One asked this

How has your life been a light to those around you? Make a point to be light during this season.

and the other this

What one thing could you change to give those around you a foretaste of God’s Kingdom of peace?

Great questions, how would you answer them?

 ^14-16“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16The Message (MSG)

 

To say it was words, is actually dramatizing the situation.  Simply put Plummer said – ‘stop talking about Jesus every play’, and Tim Tebow responded -’I can’t’.  That’s the Daily Buffet abridged version.  Check out real quotes here.

I think it’s really cool to see the poise with which he answered these questions.  It appears that he maintains his position of love, humility and grace, but still stays steadfast.  That’s a pretty good example.  Plus it reminds me of some words of the Son of God from the book of Matthew.  I really like The Message version here:

 ^32-33“Stand up for me against world opinion and I’ll stand up for you before my Father in heaven. If you turn tail and run, do you think I’ll cover for you? Matthew 10:32-33

Today, draw strength from Tim Tebow’s example and realize that if he can stand firm in front of the entire world with the TV cameras on him, maybe you can stand firm in your little corner of the world.

Plus, it has some benefits!

Fortunately for her, she was able to maneuver her vehicle in a way that there was no collision.  However, she stated, related to greed, that she wonder how she would have been if she had wrecked the car, which she loved.  She was concerned that maybe she was holding on to tight to stuff.

hmm,

Well as many of you know, I live on the phone.  Not that I love to talk, I am just on the phone a whole lot.  I also love my iPhone!  Recently I saw a site where people post pictures of the  essential stuff in their lives.  For me, its my car keys, my very small money clip/credit card holder, my sunglasses,  my iPhone and my Bluetooth headset.  With those elements, I can go just about any where and be fine.  (sometimes I might want a gallon of sweat tea, and of course at night a toothbrush!)

Anyway, earlier this week, the receiver on my iPhone died.  That’s the speaker that you listen with.  The headphones work, the speakers work, but the receiver just does not.  That makes a phone hard to use!  So, no biggie right, just use the Bluetooth headset.  Well, it seems that in the last week I have lost my most favorite Bluetooth headset.

argh….

Since then, I have been so anxious.  I have spent hours trying to fix my phone.  I have spent hours searching my cars, the rooms in the house, my bags, my wife’s bags, dresser drawers, wherever I could look to find that headset.

As a matter of fact I laid in bed Wednesday night, frantically trying to remember where I could have let that headset and lamenting the current state of my favorite piece of technology.

And that’s when I remembered Jill.  Could it be that I was getting a message about how much I was “holding on” to these devices.  Could if be that I was placing them in front of things that are more important and boom – now they are being taken from me?

I dunno.  But I can say that this helped me remember that they are just things.  Things the are to be helpers, not rulers.

The book of Colossians compares greed to idolatry.

⁵Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.  Colossians 3:5New International Version (NIV)

And I can tell you as much as I use my iPhone and even with the amount of utility it brings to my life, I still really don’t want to think that I worship it!  But maybe I have been?  What I do know that Jill and my iPhone’s issue have given me a great reminder this week about where my treasure is and where is should be!

    ¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 New International Version (NIV)

What are you holding on to?

I am not really sure why I like this so much, it is just something that’s really neat..  And it brings to mind two verses about ones today that you can think about each time you see the date.

 ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28 New International Version (NIV)

On Sunday, the children dug a hole to China.  As we left the beach on Sunday, they had great expectations that they would continue to dig the hole on Monday morning.  Of course as we enter the beach on Monday the hole was completely filled in my the surf. How depressing.

So, two quick passing thoughts from the beach before I drift back off into a lazy morning nap.

First, a gentle reminder of the futility of building on things that will not sustain,and can be quickly washed away.

²⁶But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  Matthew 7:26 New International Version (NIV)

And second, an uplifting message of persistence.  You see the kiddos, just grabbed their shovels and dug another hole.  Of course we all know digging holes builds character.

8 Do not gloat over me, my enemy!
Though I have fallen, I will rise.
Though I sit in darkness,
the LORD will be my light. Micah 7:8 New International Version (NIV)

Believe or not,

I’m walking on air I never thought I could feel so free,

flying away on a wing and a prayer,

who could it be, believe it or not , it’s just me!

Yes, that’s quite weird.  I am not sure why the ear worm that is singing the theme song for the Greatest America Hero has landed in my head, but it’s there!

It could be because the talk radio guys where talking about real life super heroes yesterday morning.  In fact there is a web site devoted to them – http://www.reallifesuperheroes.com/.

That’s good stuff.  Some of it is actually quite fascinating and sort of motivating as these people are giving up themselves for others.

But I wonder if you have to put on a super suit to be a super hero.  It seems to me that we can be a super hero to someone each and every day by caring and serving, and treating others with respect.  Look at this

⁴²Those who give one of these little ones a cup of cold water because they are my followers will truly get their reward.”  Matthew 10:42 New Century Version (NCV)

 Watch out for the little things today and be a hero!

However, it sure is a lot of fun to put on that suit as well!!!

I was a little unsure what bit of wisdom and morsel of goodness to pass on to you today, when I was reminded this morning of something I read last night.  This quote from C.S. Lewis is pretty thought-provoking.

To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. – C.S. Lewis

It comes from his “Essay on Forgiveness” that I found published here.  The whole thought that is wrapped up in that sentence is really pretty expansive. 

I mean really, just imagine if we could actually extend forgiveness and mercy in the same way God has extended it to us.  Hm, it sure seems we may drastically change our behaviors and they way we interact with others when we stop and remember the healthy dose of forgiveness that we take directly from the Creator each day.  The inexcusable excused.  It’s quite remarkable, really!

¹² And forgive us our debts,
   as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12  New International Version (NIV)

And all that reminds me of some words of the creator of tomatoes – the Christ himself:

³⁵A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.  Matthew 12:35 New International Version (NIV)

It’s an interesting thought for you today to consider – what is stored up in you?