Great Commission Churches

December 2002

Dear Sisters,

As this Christmas season is fast approaching, John and I decided how to divide up our preparations and shopping for the family celebrations. He happily attacks the addressing and mailing of letters and cards every year, while I really do enjoy tackling the shopping lists and marching around patiently from store to store. However, this year we’ll see a change in plans. I had surgery on both feet within the span of six weeks, and will not be doing any “marching” for some weeks yet. Now I guess I could have had all the Christmas shopping finished already, ahead of time, but I like doing it in December. The difference is in the music, in hearing the Christmas carols played.

Kelly Lewis shares some thoughts with us this month about the beautiful Christmas carols and hymns we hum and sing the season long. Do I truly take to heart the meaning of their words? Kelly advises us to “obey” what we sing! Her article has reminded me once again of the joy of knowing the One who was born to die, that we might live. God’s grace and blessing on you all this season!

In His love,

Sandy

Those Old Familiar Carols

by Kelly Lewis, Grace Point Community Church, Lewis Center, Ohio

I was excited when Sandy and Carol asked me to write for the newsletter this month, because it gives me the opportunity to reflect on my favorite time of year. Christmas is a big deal around the Lewis home. We use the four weeks of Advent to really focus on the Savior. It becomes a month long celebration of Jesus through family devotions, festive decorations, and thinking of creative gifts of self we can give to Him. It is a time when I feel hopeful, reflective, and joyful.

As I was thinking about things that give meaning to the holiday season, I thought of the words to some Christmas carols. We sing them so often that we can become oblivious to their meaning. I'd like to focus on a few phrases from these songs in hopes that they will bring added depth to our Christmas.

Probably the best loved Christmas hymn is “Silent Night.” Every year I sing the phrase “all is calm” and often I’ve thought, “No, it’s not!” “Calm” doesn’t remotely describe our lives during the chaos of the Christmas season. I’ve often thought that I could find peace if only I had more time or if only I could escape from my stress and activities. But Ephesians 2:14 says “He Himself is our peace.” Peace is found not through escaping, but through bringing God into the midst of our hustle and bustle. We find by praying over all we have on our plate on any given day and asking Him for the grace and help to handle it all.

“Joy to the World” contains the line: “Let every heart prepare Him room.” I want to draw our attention to the word “room.” Is there room in your heart for Jesus this year? The rooms of our heart are going to get booked up during the holidays with parties, shopping, family, financial concerns, and more. Jesus was born in a stable because there was no room at the inn. Will you also have to turn Him away? Preparing room for Jesus means deliberately and consciously setting aside time to remember Who the season is all about and to allow the Lord to fill and renew you.

What jumps out at you from the title “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing”? To me, it’s the word “hark.” It’s simply an emphatic plea to listen. Has the busyness of the season gotten you so distracted that you can no longer hear His voice? Ps. 46:10 says “Be still, and know that I am God.” This seems impossible to me when there’s just so much to get done. But I don’t think the verse is necessarily telling us to stop our activity as much as it is imploring us to slow down and to be aware of God in the middle of whatever we’re doing. Think about Him being the Light of the World as you light candles around your house. Give thanks for what an amazing gift He is to us as you wrap presents. Take time to listen to the Holy Spirit’s promptings of whom you can reach out to at church, work, or while running errands.

If you have young children or are around them at all, you’ll most likely hear “Away in a Manger” at least a few times this year. I was recently reading an Advent devotional that highlighted the phrase: “And fit us for heaven to live with Ye there.” That should be our goal this Christmas – that God would mold us and make us ready for the home He’s preparing for us in Heaven. There’s no better gift we can give Him than our pure and devoted desire to love Him and become more like Him. How will you be different as a result of this season? Will you have spent more time in the wonder of His presence. . . developed patience. . .become more giving. . . show love to those around you? Whatever ups and downs come our way this holiday season, we need to pray for the willingness to let God mold and shape our character.

Go on your personal hunt through the Christmas hymns this year. Focus on the words of the carols you sing to discover what God wants to tell you about Himself. May you view them with fresh eyes and an expectant heart. Merry Christmas!