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I think a primary Christmas message of the book of Revelation is that Jesus is no longer a baby in a manger. In fact, Jesus is King of all the kings and presidents, every prime minister, tribal war chief or military tyrant globally. When Jesus appeared to his disciples post-resurrection, in triumph he proclaimed, "All authority and power has been given to me." And in his own timing, by his own strategies, he is guiding the world to the fulfillment of his purposes. What if this Christmas we let John's vision of Christ flush out our fear and lay waste to our
anxiety.

He's no longer a baby and I'm tell you whatever concerns you, He's got it. He's no longer a baby, He's got it. He's got you. He's able!

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Christmas is nothing more than a shopping spree, if there isn't something more to come. Right? We celebrate the first waiting in hopes of a second coming? And in our world of chaos, confusion, and conflict, we need to be reminded that God’s not done. Come Lord Jesus! The story didn't end with a baby in a manger. It didn't even end with an empty tomb. God is still writing His story of redemption, and
there's more to come. Christmas is not just about what God has
done, but what He's doing and will do. So come Lord Jesus!

The story that began in Bethlehem is far from over. The babe wrapped in swaddling clothes is the same cosmic King who will one day return, wrapped in glorious splendor. The humble carpenter from Nazareth is the cosmic Christ who will make all things new. There's more to come, but we could easily ask, "What's taking Him so long?" This episode will provide at least part of the answer.

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When I ponder Christmas, and this story that Jesus told in Matthew 25, well let me turn it a bit and say this first of all. If you find yourself in need, if you find yourself in "least of these" kind of way, Jesus is so close. This story is a Christmas word of hope to every person listening who feels helpless, hopeless or homeless. Jesus said, whenever you serve the least of these, you served me. If you find yourself today in a least of these kind of way, Jesus is so close. He identifies with you. He sees you. He knows you. He loves you.

But this story is also a challenge for all of us, even those of us who find ourselves in a "least of these" kind of way, to look for Jesus in face of those around us who are broken and in need. In fact I might say it like this, "Your neighbor in need might be the only Jesus you see this Christmas."

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Lee Stroebel shares a Christmas story that ends with this summary.

And at that moment, something inside of me wanted desperately to know this Jesus because, in a sense, I saw him in Perfecta and her granddaughters. They had peace despite poverty, while I had anxiety despite plenty; they knew the joy of generosity, while I only knew the loneliness of ambition; they looked heavenward for hope, while I only looked out for myself; they experienced the wonder of the spiritual, while I was shackled to the shallowness of the material and something made me long for what they had. Or, more accurately, for the One they knew.

In this episode, I'll tell their story, so that we can add to our Christmas prayer, "Come Lord Jesus and give me a heart like Grandma Perfecta!"

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Christmas is an invitation to thirsty people to come and drink. But it’s also an invitation to people who have found the living water to become life-givers. Both invitations are open to everyone, with only condition; you have to be thirsty. Are you thirsty for life? If so, where are you going to get full? Where are you going to satisfy your soul thirst?

My prayer for this Christmas is that we will discover that Jesus can and only Jesus can quench our soul-thirst!

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We are beginning an advent series with this episode. At advent we celebrate the waiting that led to his birth. But Christmas is nothing more than a shopping spree, if there isn't something more to come. Right? We celebrate the first waiting in hopes of a 2nd coming? And in our world of chaos, confusion, and conflict, we need to be reminded that God’s not done. The story didn't end with a baby in a manger. It didn't even end with an empty tomb. God is still writing His story of redemption, and there's more to come. Christmas is not just about what God has
done, but what He's doing and will do. Do you understand? There's more to come.

My hope with this advent series is that a three word prayer found at the end of the whole Bible, would become our Christmas prayer. "Come Lord Jesus."

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Psalm 77 is the heart cry of a person who is waiting for bad stuff to stop and good stuff to start. He has found himself in a season of deep trouble, days when God seems absent at best, times when he cries out to God but finds no comfort for his soul. But even in this deep trouble, he finds a way to practice gratitude.

How about you, have you find a way, even in deep trouble, to still be grateful? That's the focus of this gratitude pause.

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As we enter the holiday season, I just want to focus for a moment on the word, bless. Psalm 67 uses that word alot. "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us." "God our God blesses us. May God bless us still."
I'm sure that they aren't the only ones who use the phrase, but a family that used to attend Calvary, the Norwood's are the first ones who I heard use it, --BBB-- "Blessed Beyond Belief." It's not a bad phrase to carry around in our hearts as we make our way through the Christmas season, as we shop and sing and bake and eat...and eat...and eat...

It's a good thing to be reminded that in so many ways that don't require a credit card or a receipt, we have been blessed beyond belief. In this episode and the next I just want to give us a pause for gratitude!