It's Christmas Eve.

Tonight is special. As a husband paced back and forth waiting for the arrival of this child, there was excitement in the air. And not just the excitement in the heart of the husband. There were angels everywhere. Not everyone could see them, but they were there. And they were singing and praising God in the highest. In the whisper of the wind some thought they heard voices. It sounded like . . .  it sounded like someone was singing; “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
It stirred those listening. It stirs us even today. There was just something special in the air tonight as we walked home from church. Yes, there was the bite of winters cold wind against our faces as we buried our chins into our collars. But that wasn’t it. And yes there was a moon bright and clear above us. But not that either. It could have been seeing family and friends after the service. It was more than that, there was renewed anticipation that only Christmas brings. Something is coming. Something wonderful, something so amazing, so special, that nothing, nothing, can compare. Jesus is coming. His birth day. His arrival and we are all waiting.
There are some of you who are still getting ready, wrapping, putting together, adding batteries, downloading programs, setting up Wii, or any number of electronics devices. You are still preparing. Still getting things in order, if that is what you can call it. Be reassured, the calm will come and Christmas will arrive just the same. And all the anticipation will be over as we open our presents . . .  but what did we get for Jesus? 
Some of you are just sitting back now enjoying the calm. The tranquillity that comes with knowing there was nothing else you can do to get ready for the morning. Just like that first morning in Jesus life, everything was ready. Everything prepared and nothing left out. Just wait.  Just wait until the fullness of time.
In a few short hours, Christmas will be here. As we exchange presents we will recognize that we not only bought, but we gave because of a love that is bigger than all of us. God’s Love, God’s Gift, shown in the birth of His Son had changed the whole world and does so even today. In fact it gets bigger and bigger every year as more and more of the world learns that God’s love dispels all the darkness in our lives.
Christ came to love us and to teach us how to love. Watch the face of your loved one tomorrow morning. See in their eyes that special thanks that is never communicated in words. It is expressed in a look, an emotion and that special contact of eye to eye. That’s it! That is what happened when Mary first looked at Jesus and that is what He saw in her eyes.
What will God see in your eyes early tomorrow morning?
Something to think about.
Merry, Merry Christmas everyone.
Blessings and love to all of you.
Rob

You Are The Gift

One of the biggest questions right now is, “Do you have all your shopping done?” We hear it all the time. And on occasion I hear someone say, “I’m all finished my Christmas shopping.” With less than a week away, you need to know that time is running out. If you are still out there somewhere in commercialization of Christmas land, let me give you five tips on finishing your shopping. You can keep asking yourself what can you give everyone, but let’s think outside the box. Sometimes you can give people a gift that costs little or nothing at all? Here are my ideas but you can continue to explore this for a few more minutes.
We can always give people time. It’s setting aside our agenda. It can be as little as making a phone call or going to have a visit. Ask someone over for tea. Sit in the livingroom that never gets used (after all it is called a livingroom) and just spend time together. Go visit the seniors, but not just in the Christmas season. Make it a habit for the whole year.
We can give away things we make. Get the grand kids over to make some cookies. Then go and give them away. Make it a game to see how many of the cookies you made actually go to someone other than those who made them. Can you give every cookie away?
We can give something we own already. Hold on. I’m not talking about re-gifting here. Even though that works sometimes. I’m talking about knowing someone who could use something that you have that you don’t use or need anymore. We all talk about downsizing, and de-cluttering. Do it. Not as a Christmas present, but just to give things away.
How about getting a gift card from Horton’s, Wendy’s, McDonald’s, or wherever. But include with the card, you going with them to have lunch together, or just a coffee?
We all have to go for groceries, how about a morning out going together for groceries. Take someone along who are not be able to get out on their own, or someone without a car. I see so many people coming out of No Frill’s who call a cab.
These are just a few of the ideas I came up with in a matter of minutes. Find the one that speaks to you and moves you to do something for someone that is not only a gift to them, but a gift to yourself.
I believe all of these ideas, and so many more are all about giving others our heart. This past Sunday was our Advent Sunday of Love. We lit the third candle and realized that more light brightens our world and we have the distinct pleasure of seeing love in others and maybe, just maybe in ourselves.
It’s all about giving to others the heart of Jesus that He gave us. “The greatest of these is LOVE.” It is in you to give. When we give it away, we have more to give. GIVE it a try.
This coming Sunday will be our Advent Sunday of Joy. The joy we receive in knowing Jesus in all our days is so very important. Find Him this Christmas. And on His birthday, give Him your heart.
Something to think about.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Loving New Year.
Rob

Hurry?

Do you find yourself in a hurry of late?  It seems like another attribute of Christmas is being in a hurry. For those who waited to be in the “Christmas Spirit,” rushing around becomes part of what it takes to getting it all ‘done’ on time. We all know about the gifts we buy, or, wish we would buy, or even the ones we wish we could afford to buy. It has to be just right for Aunt Jane or. . . well, you remember last year.
But then we seem to be in a hurry to get things done, clean the house, get the tree, clean the house again, decorate the house, clean the house again. It’s a never-ending cycle. But hurry up and get it done. Aren’t you glad for large cupboards? And what about all those parties you wish to go to, or would like to attend. This is our first year of not having a Christmas Open House. We have had them for a long time and it seemed to be the right time to end them. Part of it was hurrying to have all the decorations up for the first Saturday of December. Now that was hurrying.
A good number of years ago I listened to my parents tell about Christmas and what the hurrying was all about when we were young. Not having a great deal of money in those days, most of what we saw on Christmas morning arrived all at once in the last week before Christmas morning. The gifts, the tree, the decorations, even the treats like a handful of candy and an orange, all of it arrived in those last few days. They even told about putting it all together on Christmas Eve and getting to bed just before we woke them Christmas morning.
I guess that is what it is for almost all of us. It’s part of our society. It’s part of our world and how quickly it moves today compared to years gone by. Maybe that’s why it feels so good to go into church each Sunday morning and just sit and let the whole world rush on by.
This week at church we celebrated the second Sunday of Advent and with it an understanding of what Peace is. Another candle was lit and its glow opened up our eyes to what we miss when we are in a hurry. We miss what we read in Philippians 4:7: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” I believe what he is writing to us is; no matter how hectic life may be, we can still, in all that chaos, have peace in our hearts. Do you have the peace that only God can give? Or are you searching for peace within your heart that only He can give? It’s there for you. You just have to ask.
That is what I felt on Sunday morning. And that is what you can feel every day. His peace is definitely;
Something to think about.
Rob

Christmas Season Is Here

It may only be seven days later, but the atmosphere has definitely changed. As we drove home tonight we took note of all the outdoor Christmas lights on our street.  We both thought there were more lights this year already than in previous years.
Could be due to so many homes on our street having changed hands in the last year. It could also be due to the warm weather in the last few days and people took advantage of it to work outside. I’m just going to go out on a limb here and say, it’s probably due to people finally getting into the spirit of this wonderful season.
In one week things changed so much. The radio station has non-stop Christmas music. (Even though it’s more about a “holly jolly Christmas” than “It came upon a midnight clear.” The sales advertisements in the paper, on the radio and on the internet are non-stop. And have you notice that people seem to be smiling more. I even heard two clerks in the store today sharing about their plans this year.
Canada is getting it. Just like most every other country. It took a while but we knew it would arrive. It arrives differently for each and every one of us. But it arrives none the less. Are you glad? Are you excited about what the season means?
This past Sunday many of our churches celebrated the first Sunday of Christmas. It was our Sunday of Hope. The minister could have searched for something to do with hope for gifts or family home or even finding that special gift for that special someone. The hope we celebrate is more than that. It could be the hope of being ready for the coming of Jesus Christ. As we light the first candle on the Advent Wreath, it might even have enveloped a hope of new beginnings or hope that Christ would produce a brighter light in our lives. I believe we need to realize that Christmas is not just one special day of the year. Even though it is. It is not just this one specific day, it’s this season. Over ten percent of the year is focused on the birth of Jesus Christ. And for many, they don’t even know it.
Myself, I feel we need to embrace the hope of having Christ much closer to us this year than every year that has passed us by. A time when we realize it is His birthday, His celebration with us being participants in the biggest, largest birthday party the world has ever know. For this season, everyone can experience the most important thing of life and that is knowing someone loves them, yes loves you.
Jesus Love You.
And that is something to think about.
Rob