SUESS WAS RIGHT REPRISE

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (MSG)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

I was lying in bed late Saturday and a broadcast of “In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley” was on the television and it looked most familiar.  Turns out it was the service that we had attended a little less than a year ago, in Atlanta.

And as I paused to watch this “rerun”, I was reminded that I had written about that day last year when we got back from the trip.  So, I pulled up the blog.

Then to add a little more intrigue, after I pulled up the blog from last year, I saw that I had also quoted from Dr. Suess and his timeless tale of the Grinch who ironically was the fundamental character in yesterday’s AHOP Christmas presentation, “Holiday in WHOVILLE” in Xenia.

So, something said, perhaps I should reprise it…

So I will…

Be blessed today my friends…

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“Suess was Right” – 12.22.2015 (Opportunities for Hope)

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. –

Matthew 1:21 (NIV)

“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more.” – Dr. Seuss

I posted this yesterday later in the morning than my usual daily post and so far, it has gotten the more “likes” on FACEBOOK than most of my daily encouragements.

I have to admit it, I am kind of happy about that.

Maybe the “likes” indicate that Christmas does mean more to folks than just the hoopla and harried rushing around; the tinsel and the overtaxed credit cards. 

That is a good thing.

Seriously.

I was in Atlanta on Sunday at First Baptist Church and heard a little message from Charles Stanley about the “Bigger Picture” of Christmas; that when we pull back from the shopping, the meals, and the nuttiness we can see that Christmas truly is much more than all of that.

Simply put, Christmas marked the start of GOD changing EVERYTHING for us.

Just reflect on the scenes.

Pious shepherds who are on their knees?

Kings who bring their gifts?

What is going on here, where Mary becomes the mother of God, where God comes into the world in the lowliness of the manger?

World judgment and world redemption—that is what’s happening here.

And it is the Christ child in the manger himself who holds world judgment and world redemption.

He pushes back the high and mighty; he overturns the thrones of the powerful; he humbles the haughty; his arm exercises power over all the high and mighty; he lifts what is lowly, and makes it great and glorious in his mercy.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, God Is In the Manger

Redemption?

World alteration?

Opportunity to be lifted to eternal life and unity with GOD Himself?

That is the BIGGER picture of Christmas.

Seuss is right… Christmas … perhaps … DOES mean a little bit more.

So, when you wade into the crazy of the next couple of days doing those last-minute things, the parties, the wrapping, and whatever else still needs to get done getting ready for Friday, don’t forget that Christmas indeed means a bit more than all of that.

Remember: 

“It is not enough to celebrate Christmas. We need to be changed and shaped by what we are celebrating.” - Papavassiliou

For:

“How we spend Christmas is of greater significance than how much we spend for it.” ― Fisher

I love you ALL!

Pastor G.