The One and Only, The Goodest God

Christmas Meditations Of Quotes and Carols

Angelic proclamations:

To Mary: 

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 

-Luke 1:30-33

 Mary, how much did you know about who this baby was going to be? Who do you/I understand him to be today? When will the day/kingdom of no end come? Has it already come? How can I be a citizen of that kingdom?

To the shepherds:

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news or great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

-Luke 2:10-11

Why a proclamation of the Savior’s birth to lowly shepherds? What does “savior” imply? Saved from who/what?

Christmas Carol: Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Hark! the herald angels sing, 

"Glory to the new-born King! 

Peace on earth, and mercy mild, 

God and sinners reconciled." 

Joyful, all ye nations, rise, 

Join the triumph of the skies; 

With th' angelic host proclaim, 

"Christ is born in Bethlehem." 

Hark! the herald angels sing, 

"Glory to the new-born King!

Christ, by highest heaven adored: 

Christ, the everlasting Lord; 

Late in time behold him come, 

Offspring of the favoured one. 

Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see; 

Hail, th'incarnate Deity: 

Pleased, as man, with men to dwell, 

Jesus, our Emmanuel! 

Hark! the herald angels sing, 

"Glory to the new-born King!

Hail! the heaven-born 

Prince of peace! 

Hail! the Son of Righteousness! 

Light and life to all he brings, 

Risen with healing in his wings 

Mild he lays his glory by, 

Born that man no more may die: 

Born to raise the son of earth, 

Born to give them second birth. 

Hark! the herald angels sing,

"Glory to the new-born King !"

Christmas Carol: Joy to the World

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And heav’n and nature sing

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!

Let men their songs employ;

While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains

Repeat the sounding joy!

No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found!

He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His love!

“As far as the curse is found”

This world is so broken. It’s not just the unbelieving world, either. I can be so critical, unforgiving, selfish, and judgmental—My brothers and sisters in Christ as well. I see our undeserving selves as cursed, fallen men and women.  And that’s the most difficult part of the “curse” for me to accept. The chains of sin continually needing to be broken. 

Christmas Carol: O Holy Night

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim! 

“Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother” 

Slaves. The only thing I’m to which I’m truly a slave is to sin. 

I’m the slave. You’re the slave.  We are brothers and sisters, estranged slaves until God through Christ breaks the chains. 

“In all our trials born to be our friend”

This line unnerves me. Does God truly understand our trials? Would God really descend, be birthed, to be our friend? If so, what kind of God is he?

In Memory of Clarence and Elnora Befus

As someone who has felt like somewhat of an “outsider” to my grandparents official ministry, I share a different perspective of what their legacy was all about. I don’t know all my aunts and uncles equally well, though all have their own unique gifts, but here I present my observations based on interactions and relationships with a few of them. 

Uncle Ricky—this is an uncle who serves so selflessly

Aunt Clare—this aunt cares completely

Aunt Cathy (aka: my mom)—This is an aunt/mother who connects intentionally

Uncle Tim—this uncle prays unceasingly.

Uncle Chuck—this is an uncle who loves deeply and desperately, giving generously. 

This legacy lives on through flesh and blood if we hold on to the truth of the Word of God, La Palabra de Vida. 

The Call to Respond #Charlottesville

Fashionably late thoughts on America, Americans, and Evangelicals in light of #charlottesville. 

America confuses me. I'm very unsure of what to believe these days. With the never-ending barrage of ridiculous news updates, I've been forced to stop all news notifications concerning American politics on my phone (I received far too many notifications concerning the specific amount of time it took President Trump to speak about the tragedy). 

People who I deeply respect fall on both sides of the political spectrum and in their views on Trump that I simply do not know what or who to trust. It's about time I take responsibility and have a mind of my own. I feel ignorant and skeptical when even the news has an agenda to push. 

Nevertheless, my mind thinks. The ideas aren't original. In fact, they are quite unoriginal, as most are. 

Although I read a few articles of which I agreed and disagreed, something felt lacking. I was sickened by the actions of the neo-nazis. I was disappointed in the responses of others. I was critical of myself in my lack of compassion for the people who feel the oppression of white supremacy. So I ask myself, "how should this distant heart of mine respond?"

  

I found the right response in the Old (dare I say, "inapplicable"? I daren't for it is more applicable than ever) Testament:

"and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 HCSB

They must repent for they are the guilty. I must repent for I am guilty. You must repent for you are guilty. We are the guilty in need of restoration which comes through repentance. 

Let us, Americans, conservatives, liberals, Evangelicals remember the words written by the King. 

"To our most bitter opponents we say: '...Do to us what you will, and we shall continue to love you. We cannot in all good conscience obey your unjust laws because non-cooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good. Throw us in jail and we shall still love you. Bomb our homes and threaten our children, and we shall still love you. Send your hooded perpetrators of violence into our community at the midnight hour and beat us and leave us half dead, and we shall still love you. But be ye assured that we will wear you down by our capacity to suffer. One day we shall win freedom but not only for ourselves. We shall so appeal to your heart and conscience that we shall win you in the process and our victory will be a double victory." -Quote by Martin Luther King Jr. as quoted by Phillip Yancey in "Vanishing Grace"