A Prayer For Christmas Eve

Dear Jesus Child, I want to kneel by Your crib.  I know I can never thank You enough.  I know I can't give You anything that would sufficiently thank You for what you've done.  But since You want to have everything that's evil in me, I will give You everything: my life and my heart, my past and my sins, my future and my eternity.  I wouldn't dare to come to You if You hadn't come to me.  But now You are here, and I know that it's for my sake.  Therefore, I kneel here and thank You, Jesus Child, Prince of Peace, You who are called Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God.  Amen.

Bo Giertz - "To Live With Christ" page 797, CPH

A right now blessing

Earlier last week, I was preparing for my Thursday Bible class and began to wonder if it was worth making the effort to lead the class.  I'm not sure why but I was feeling a little down and started talking myself into pulling the plug on the class as soon as it was appropriate.

I was just getting the class started when one of the members approached me and said, "It isn't very much but we want you to know how much we love and appreciate you and this class."  She handed me a Christmas card and inside the card was a very generous gift.  But the words written inside the card were priceless.  It was just the pick-me-up that I needed.

A fellow I used to work with liked to talk about "right now blessings."  These were blessings that came unexpectedly.  And so often they came just when they were needed the most.  

Do you think I left class that day with a new desire and determination to give my best in preparing and teaching the class.  You bet! That's what a right now blessing will do for you!

Making the sign of the cross

We Lutheran make the sign of the cross.  It's not mandatory.  A person doesn't have to do so.  But making the sign of the cross is a very good reminder of our baptism - our adoption into the family of God.

While researching a topic the other day, I came across something in the book, Lutheran Worship: History and Practice that I thought I'd share.  The book references another book, Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book, written in 1912, which gives instructions to the pastor on making the sign of the cross.  Read on...

The presiding minster will, therefore, position himself accordingly.  The signing with the cross connected therewith is a personal signature, and it is appropriate that all join in this act as a remembrance of Holy Baptism and the call to repentance.  Lutherans have commonly made this sign differently from Roman Catholics, specifically as to the direction of the last movement.  With the palm of the right hand held flat with thumb and fingers together, first the forehead is touched ("My Lord Jesus Christ came down from heaven"), then the breast ("and was incarnate for me"), the right shoulder ("and was crucified for me"), and finally the left shoulder ("and entered into my heart").  Luther recommends the use of this sign in both the Small and the Large Catechism. 

For some, making the sign of the cross seems a little awkward.  You might even feel a little self-conscious about making the sign the first few times you do so.  After a time, it is quite easy and becomes more and more meaningful.  Anything we might do that reminds us of our baptism and the new life in Christ we have received through the washing of water with the Word, is a very good thing indeed.

Oops! The Christmas card I didn't mean to send!

Perhaps you've heard this story...

A lady had a circle of friends for whom she really wanted to buy Christmas presents.  Time slipped away and it was so busy at work that she just wasn't able to get to the store to purchase those gifts.  Time was running out.

Not too many days before Christmas she decided to give up on the gift idea and just buy everyone the same beautiful Christmas card.  She went to the local gift store and hurriedly went through the now picked over stack of cards.  She found a box of 50, just what she wanted.  She didn't take time to read the message, she just noticed a beautiful cover on it and gold around it and a floral appearance on the front of the card and she thought, "That's perfect.  So she signed them all, 'With all my love'."

As New Year's came and she had time to go back to look at the cards she didn't send, she was shocked to read the message inside.  It said, in a little rhyme, "This Christmas card is just to say, a little gift is on its way."

Charles Swindoll

Checking in with good friends

This lunchtime I'm getting to me with a couple of good, long time friends, Dan and Paul.

Years ago the church I attended had a great sports program.  We fielded basketball and softball team that won championships in both our city and church league games.  Dan and Paul were two reasons why we did so well.

Dan's family moved to the Valley from Wisconsin.  Being good Lutherans they sought out our church and immediately became faithful worshippers and helpers.  Dan was just starting High School.  You could see that he had a lot of basketball talent.  He very quickly became a key part of our starting five.

Shortly thereafter Paul and his family moved to our area and joining our church.  Paul was tall, around 6'3'' and he had good moves around the basket and could also shoot from the outside.  His rebounds helped to start our fastbreak which usually led to a basket.

When my family and I moved to St. Louis in 1988 I slowly lost contact with Dan and Paul.  But about a year of so ago I reconnected with the two guys.  We've been meeting for breakfast every few months and now with Dan retired, we decided that lunch at a favorite spot would be fun.

Dan and Paul have both gone on to have successful careers.  They both are intelligent and hard working.  Both are married and have families.  I marvel at the men they have become.  I couldn't see that years ago.  

God blesses us with many things.  Friendship is one of them.  I praise and thank God for Dan and Paul.

Joy and Peace at Christmas

Andy Williams sang, "It's the most wonderful time of the year."  And that certainly is our desire for Christmas.  A time for enjoying family, sharing gifts, giving thanks for blessings that came during the year and, most importantly, preparing our hearts and minds for welcoming again our Immanuel, "God With Us," who has come to bring forgiveness, new life and salvation.

But this is a not wonderful time for many people.  Some have lost loved ones during the year.  Or had to dealt with a lingering illness that doesn't respond to treatment.  Or struggled under an inflation that more than outpaced the weekly paycheck.  

This Sunday's Epistle lesson is taken from Philippians 4:4-7.  Paul enthusiastically proclaims, "Rejoice...the Lord is near."  Is it possible to have real joy when loss or disappointment had been at the forefront of life.  That's the question we'll wrestle with this Sunday during the 9 am service at Christ the Redeemer, 43rd Avenue and Olive.  May God give us many reasons to rejoice this Advent season!

Be prepared!

"Thus John's ministry was to abase the proud and life up the humble.  He prepares people for the Messiah through repentance and forgiveness, that they might receive the Messiah - the Lord in the flesh, who was come to save them - and not be destroyed.

So it is that John still ministers to us today.  We still need preparation.  The Gospel begun in the wilderness continues now among us.  King Messiah, risen from the dead, comes to us hidden in bread and wine, but He is not less dangerous now than He was then.  We must be prepared, and we are prepared in the same way: repentance, baptism and forgiveness.  Thus prepared, the coming of Jesus is indeed very good news."

God With Us, David H. Petersen, page 38