Last night we looked into our history – our yesterdays – to explore their impact on today. We also thought about our willingness to share – about our attitude toward charity and giving - how our yesterdays affect that, especially at Christmas time. I said this in closing:
“So we all have these images of yesterday – some good, some bad. They shape us. Some of us are busy striving to make our today as different as possible. Others are trying to perfectly recreate their yesterday for their families. Those experiences and memories impact how we live, the decisions we make, who we love and how.
Our challenge this Christmas season is to hand the power of our past over to God.
That he would help us to learn from our history, and be willing to let go and instead claim HIS story. When I think back to my Christmas history, I realize most of my “yesterday joy” came from the anticipation and receiving of presents – so the older I got the more that joy slipped away – less presents – Christmas seemed to lose it’s excitement - in many ways it died for me. BUT there was this one thing we did that was deeper than presents. My dad and I would get to go BY OURSELVES to Midnight Mass at our church – just him and I – no little brothers! And it was a very holy experience. It was beautiful and touching and sitting there in that pew I knew Christmas was much bigger than the items that laid beneath our tree at home.
If more of my history had been based on HIS story, maybe Christmas wouldn’t have died after all. Just imagine what our holidays (our holy-days) might be like if we replaced some of our tradition with his traditions. Imagine taking the energy we put into our recreation of yesterday – and instead, putting it into living the way Jesus did.
Loving the way Jesus did. Giving the way Jesus did.
As I considered what Jesus’ history was, what his traditions were, I flipped through this topical reference I have. I found these things listed there about Jesus’ traditions:
- Jesus fed the hungry
- he had compassion for those who were lonely
- he healed the sick
- he understood people’s weakness
- he forgave and forgot
- he restored the dignity of the broken
- he brought light to dark places
- he ate with sinners
- he led in humility
- he washed feet
- he raised the dead
- he rescued the captive
- he taught a new way of living
- he explained it to those who didn’t get it
- he amazed all with miracles
- he came to do God’s will
- he honored those who surrounded him
- he obeyed his heavenly Father
- he sacrificed himself on the cross
- he gave the ultimate gift, even though he knew it would be rejected by so many
I mean, holy cow! What if this was what a typical Christmas looked like in our homes? Within our spheres of influence?!
And all this was possible because he was born of a virgin – Mary – who was chosen by God to be the bearer of all that is good and perfect. The Greek word used for Mary: Theotokos - means the God (theo) bearer (tokos) or the one who gives birth to God. And here’s the cool thing: each new morning, God invites us to be Theotokos – to bring heaven down.
What if we were to respond to God’s invitation to be Theotokos as Mary did…the angel gives her his incredible news and after clarifying a sticky point or two she says:
“Yes, I see it all now: I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me as you have said.”
Let it be with me as you have said. What would God do in us and through us – especially in seasons like Christmas, if we said those words:
Yes, God, I see it all now.
I’m your servant and I’m ready.
I’ll be the Theotokos to my family, in my neighborhood, at work.
I’ll be the God-bearer this Christmas
I’ll take the power from my yesterdays and re-route it to your tomorrow.
Let it be with me as you have said.
Let it be with me.
Let it be.
And so we land right back in the middle of our Beatles theme…those profound lyrics that have touched so many…
When I find myself in times of trouble Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree,
There will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is Still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be.
And when the night is cloudy, There is still a light that shines on me,
Shine on until tomorrow, let it be.
There will be an answer, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
May we dare to say to God, “Let it be with me as you have said.”
And then let’s watch as heaven comes down,
as our yesterdays become less important than what God is doing in this present moment,
as our traditions become those of Christ – more His story than our history.
This Christmas, every time you see a nativity – a Mary holding a baby – be reminded that she is the Theotokos – the God Bearer – and that you were made to be one, too.”
So that was the big idea – our format for the night: small group discussion. Everyone grouped into little pods and answered questions on the screen. Questions about their childhood, Christmas, gifts, and about Jesus’ often unappreciated gift. We started with a video that went along with ”Can’t Buy Me Love”. We sang “Everything” by Tomlin (…every perfect gift comes from You…) and “O Praise Him” by Crowder. As ”Yesterday” hit our ears we saw images of old school sledding footage and contemplative questions as we began to focus in on our theme for the night. That brought us to our small group discussions. Following that I shared what I inserted above. We watched a slide show of pictures (with “Let it Be” as a soundtrack) from the Children’s Celebration of Christmas – a big outreach event our church hosts every year – 76 families in need came to the church – they were served dinner, the gospel, given presents and boxes of food and cleaning supplies. Awesome images of what Theotokos looks like. We sang “Unahsamed Love” by Ten Shekel Shirt, which speaks of our need to embrace a childlike faith. And “Wonderful Maker” by Tomlin. Our closing was a video that went perfectly with “All You Need is Love”. It was a good night.
Anyone can ask for prayer, just let me know! You can talk to me or drop one of our prayer request cards in the worship space Drop Boxes. Please keep these things lifted up:
:: Louise & Keith Kenney’s daughter in law – Michelle Kenney - in treatment for breast cancer. So far, so good, but she still has LOTS of treatment ahead - keep praying for her and her family (husband and two kids)!
:: Pray for Lynn Kelly – her surgery went well - pray for quick recovery.
:: Pray for Britta Alton’s grandmother (Louise Kirby) – she might have to have a full hip replacement if what they did before continues to not be enough – she’s 88!
:: Jackie Anderson has an injured foot and is still struggling through some funk – please pray that she can continue to fight for healing and wholeness.
