Roll Out the Red Carpet for the Guest of Honor

Many have the notion that the BIGGEST DEAL about Christmas is that it's simply a month-long party.  Yes, the traditions and festivities are so enjoyable, but rolling out the red carpet and recognizing the Guest of Honor is what this awe-inspiring season is all about.  And.....it's up to us to ensure the predominant Honoree is positioned in His rightful place of distinction.

I love the story of St. Nicholas.  He was a very kind man and had a reputation for helping the poor and giving secret gifts to people who needed it.  And that story inspires us all with a heart of giving.   St. Nicholas is where "Santa Claus" came from.    But, as sweet as those "treasured" photos of Santa Claus with our little ones are, and seeing their little eyes sparkling with wonder, and putting cookies out for this jolly old soul to pay us a visit, Santa ISN'T the "Guest of Honor".  

The leading characters of the Christmas Story are Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the angels, and, of course, the Headliner, the main Attraction and the Star of the Show is Jesus Christ.  He is the REASON for the celebrations and He should be the Guest of Honor at each one.  I love that we have a role to play in this great story, too.  Perhaps we can be one of the shepherds.  We don't need eloquent words and we don't need a place of prominence or status. We just need to be bearers and sharers of "the good news of great joy".

People expect pastors and priests to talk about Christmas being about Christ.  But what people need are shepherds of the world to teach and preach that message.

You and I have the ability to amaze someone today with the message of Christmas. "For God so loved the world He GAVE His one and only Son." Let's keep our eyes and hearts open for the opportunity to amaze someone with the most precious of all GIFTS this Christmas -- in fact not just at Christmas -- all year long!

Even Santa bows down to Him as the Guest of Honor.

Never a Birth Announcement Like This One

We've all received "Birth Announcements" from friends and family telling us about their new "pride and joy".   But can you imagine a birth that a mere photo or card could not contain the magnificence and grandeur of THIS birth?   Not even a baby born to England's royal family received this sort of announcement.  This announcement was so colossal that all you had to do was look up at the sky and you saw it.  And, that, my friends, is the way God rolls.   Of course, that's the way that He Who created the heavens and the earth, and all that's in it, would announce the birth of His SON!

What a MASTER Plan -- put ONE special star in the sky to let us know that He was giving us mere mortals the STAR OF THE SHOW!   Oh, there were always plenty of stars that lit up the skies to declare His glory and His grand and majestic creation, but THIS night, He placed a brilliant, glorious STAR there that would point the way to the ONE TRUE LIGHT.  All other stars in the sky, and all those who THINK they are "stars" on this earth, pale in comparison to that ONE TRUE STAR.

And this STAR, was also a travel guide that gave directions to the maji and led them to where THE STAR lived.  Those Wise Men knew that this STAR was the promised gift from heaven.  Yes, they brought gifts to Him to show their worship, but they went away KNOWING their gifts were insignificant to the GIFT He gave them.  They received HOPE for their future, JOY for their journey, PEACE for their soul, and LOVE that exceeded anything or anyone.

And the foremost point of this post today is..... that ONE TRUE LIGHT shines ever so brightly for us -- leading and guiding us.  Yes, this world has lots of darkness in it, but no worries -- because THE STAR and LIGHT shines brighter than EVER.  And, like the Wise Men leaving wih greater gifts than they brought to Him, that HOPE, JOY, PEACE, and LOVE are our gifts, too, FREELY given, and as we stay close to the STAR's brilliant LIGHT, and accept HIS gifts to us, we'll NEVER be in darkness.