OzThoughts Monday 28th December 2009

OzThoughts Monday 28th December 2009

The wrappings have been torn off. The gifts revealed. The food has been shared and the contact with loved ones enjoyed. So that was Christmas! Well, it was Christmas Day and then a weekend but Christmas continues.

I noticed shops at one center were tearing down their Christmas decorations on Saturday afternoon. I guess they move into their next season of encouragement for customers to “swipe the plastic”. Christmas is done for them. Maybe all that is left of Christmas will be the long lines of people with returns when they reopen for business today.

Christmas continues. If, as some suggest, “Jesus is the reason for the season” then Jesus the Babe of Bethlehem was not a one day wonder. If, we with others find good basis in The Bible for the thinking that the reason for the season was God’s love for us that continues. If as one gentlemen some years ago told a huge crowd of people gathered to sing Christmas Carols that at Christmas we celebrate Jesus death for us, then it stretches right through to Easter.

Christmas is a personal season. So we decide if it continues for us. God’s love comes to us in the love we find inn the Babe of Bethlehem and the Christ of Calvary. Christmas love continues as we worship God and share that love with others in His Holy Name. We can put away the wrapping, pull down the trees and lights, decide we will not eat so much next Christmas, and in all this, the love of the God of Christmas continues.

Even, on the first Christmas, people reacted differently.

19 Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself.
20 The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told! (Luke 2 The Message).



PRAYER:

Father, thank you for Christmas. Thank you for what it means to me. May your love through Jesus continue to be evident in my life, my home and in my friendships with others. Amen.

MEDITATION:

[Listen: Band: http://www.regalzonophone.com/audio/Chicago%20Staff%20Band%20-%20Wonderful%20Story%20Of%20Love%20&%20Trust%20and%20Obey%20-%201953.mp3 (One verse of “Wonderful Story of Love” then “Trust and Obey”) ]

Wonderful story of love!
Tell it to me again;
Wonderful story of love!
Wake the immortal strain.
Angels with rapture announce it,
Shepherds with wonder receive it;
Sinner, O won't you believe it?
Wonderful story of love!

Chorus
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Wonderful story, wonderful story of love!

Wonderful story of love!
Though you are far away;
Wonderful story of love!
Still he doth call today.
Calling from Calvary's mountain,
Down from the crystal bright fountain,
E'en from the dawn of creation;
Wonderful story of love!

Wonderful story of love!
Jesus provides a rest;
Wonderful story of love!
For all the pure and blest;
Rest in those mansions above us,
With those who've gone on before us,
Singing the rapturous chorus;
Wonderful story of love!
Author: John Merritte Driver (1858-1918)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 139

When we walk with the Lord
In the light of his word.
What a glory he sheds on our way;
While we do his good will,
He abides with us still.
And with all who will trust and obey.

Chorus
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But his smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear,
Not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear.
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil he doth richly repay;
Not a grief nor a loss,
Not a frown nor a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove
The delights of his love,
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor he shows,
And the joy he bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at this feet,
Or we'll walk by his side in the way;
What he says we will do,
Where he sends we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 397
Author: John Henry Sammis (1846-1919)

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