“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.                                                                                                                                                                    Luke 1:38

In yesterday’s blog, I talked about the unique use of the word “grace” (charitoo) used only twice in the Bible. Once it was used as the word to describe the grace given to Mary when she assented to accepting the role of “God carrier” from the angel who declared her to be the vessel to carry Jesus into the world. The other instance is when Paul told the Ephesian believers that they had that same grace to carry the message of healing to a broken world. So, I think we have established that this seems to be a unique calling that we have, akin to Mary’s role as giving birth to the Savior.

It also struck me that Mary had a say in this. This was not some edict that God enforced on Mary. While she had been set apart for this important mission, she did have a decision to make. She did not need to sign up for this assignment that was fraught with pain, anxiety and uncertainty. She could have said “No”.

But Mary did not say no. Because of that, we have a wonderful plan, an unsurpassed story that we celebrate every year. Mary agreed to be the human host of the “Lamb of God”.

So too do we have a say in our part of the plan of being “God carriers”. We can agree to it and bear the costs attendant with it, as well as the rewards of it. Mary’s agreement was the start of God’s plan of redeeming his lost sheep. Our agreement keeps that legacy going forward.

Prayer: Every day we have the opportunity to say “Yes” to your plan. Give us continued grace to do so, Amen.

And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”                       Luke 1:28

to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:6

I do so love the Christmas season! The story of Christmas is so rich and so deep that it cannot really be understood unless one understands the nature of God- as the one who loves us and wants to give his very best to us. That is why he sent his son, Jesus into the world.

We start with a miracle. The miracle of incarnation. Literally, we understand incarnation as  –“a central Christian doctrine that God became flesh, that God assumed a human nature and became a man in the form of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the second person of the Trinity. … (Oxford Dictionary)

That, of course, is a miracle of the highest order, and it is central to Christian belief. The announcement of the angel to young Mary, a virgin, is found in Luke chapter 1, staring at verse 26. He went on to tell her that she was highly favored, and that she would be giving birth to the Savior, son of the Most-High God. She was literally to be a “God-carrier”.

In the next few blogs, I want to discuss her role as God-carrier. More importantly, I want to discuss our role as “God-carriers”. You see, the very same word that the angel used to describe Mary to tell her of her mission to carry Jesus into a broken world, is used by Paul in Ephesians as he speaks to young believers in that city. That Greek word for grace, (pronounced “charitoo”), is used only one other time in the Bible, and it is used to describe those who accept the mission of spreading grace to a broken world in Ephesians 1:6. So, we have the same role as being carriers of grace to a broken world.

 I will be talking more about this in coming days. Stay tuned.

Prayer: Father, you have chosen us for a mission that we are unable to do without your incredible gift to us, Amen.

To trust in, wait for, look for, or desire something or someone; or to expect something beneficial in the future  

-Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology

“but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”                                                               Isaiah 40:31

 There are multiple ways to look at the concept of hope. The definition above conveys several of those aspects of hope. It is one thing to “wait for” an event with anticipation. It is quite another to trust in that event happening. Then there is the concept of expecting something beneficial, as opposed to wishing that something bad does NOT happen.

All these concepts seem to be embodied in the word “hope”. All of them are true depending on how we use the word.

I like to think that hope is more about a mindset than just a fleeting variable of the moment.

A mindset of hope is based upon our belief in God’s provision and love for us. In that sense, hope is more like the “trust in” part of the definition above.

Isaiah wrote that those who hope in the Lord will” renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint”

So, we see that hope is not just a desire, but it is our source of energy, no matter the circumstances we face.

As we grow closer to Christmas, hope lies in our language and our hearts. We have a hope that the Spirit of Christmas can transform a culture increasingly rife with hostility and conflict.

The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. ( O Little Town of Bethlehem)

Prayer: Father, you have given us hope, no matter the circumstances. Thank you for this lifeline of how to look at the world, Amen.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.                                                                                                                                                            Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

We are in the “home stretch” of the Christmas buying season. Days are slipping by as we count down to Christmas. Most people, often women, take great care in trying to get good things for their loved ones, spending hours, even days, searching out just the right gifts.  Some men I have known have spent up to 20 minutes trying to find the right gift before resorting to the tried-and-true gift certificate.  Hey, people appreciate them!

If buying gifts were all that Christmas was about, we would indeed be the most miserable of people.  I truly enjoy giving gifts to people, but that, of course, is not the essence of Christmas.  Christmas is truly an invasion of the heart with a renewed spirit.  The first Christmas was an invasion of earth by the visitation of Jesus born in the flesh.  This invasion was little noted at the time, being witnessed only by a select few people who scarcely knew what to make of the occasion. From that humble invasion came a spirit that we now know as God’s idea of how to show real love.  Christmas giving is meant to be an expression of love to one another, shown that day some 2000 years ago. 

So the expression of love, which is the real idea here, can be done in many ways, only one of which is physical gift giving. We can give the gift of life by listening closely and intently to others, especially in their time of need.  We can give the gift of life by a word of encouragement to others when they look a little defeated by the day’s worries.  We can give the gift of life to people without a word, but through a glance and a smile, or maybe a nod of approval.

In the next few days before Christmas, try a little experiment.  When you are sitting in a meeting, a group setting, church, or some other gathering where someone is a speaker, look directly at the speaker, give a little smile, and nod approval.  You will have just given to that speaker a little gift of life.

Most people reading this column have already sent their Christmas cards for the year.  However, I encourage another experiment. During the rest of the year, send a card of encouragement periodically to people, for no apparent reason other than to affirm them. You will be sending life to them.

So as we settle into the commemoration of the gift of life that God has given to the world, let us give the gift of life to others.  Have a merry and blessed Christmas! 

Prayer: Lord, help us to spread the giving spirit of Christmas all year, Amen

Here is another of those Christmas essays I wrote, this one at Christmas, 1996. It remains perhaps my favorite reflection about family at Christmas. I was struck by the fact that my “Christmas Future” at the time of that writing is remarkably similar now to my current “Christmas Present”.

Thank you for indulging me with this trip down my memory lane of Christmas celebrations…

As we prepare to celebrate Christmas this year, I decided to look at those celebrations as Charles Dickens did in his classic, A Christmas Carol. We’ll look at past, present, and future celebrations with the idea that Christmas celebration involves tradition as well as change. We rejoice that Christmas will always be celebrated, because the news is so good it must be told over and over again, always the same story, understood better year after year. The things that surround Christmas do not overshadow it, they merely reflect our growing understanding of the treasures in our midst, and that Jesus came to earth to be a part of human life and understanding.

Christmas Past– Christmas eve excitement that could hardly be contained; singing in the choir at Midnight Mass at our church, with all the carols in the most traditional arrangements; relatives streaming into our house on Christmas Day; the thrill of two weeks off school; early experiences with Christmas shopping (“I’ve got exactly one dollar for each person on the list- I bet mom would like this pen!”); putting up the tree and placing the tinsel on the branches just right; watching mom delicately set up our ancient manger scene which my grandpa had handmade- “Did on of the wise men have an arm broken off dad?); growing to understand that giving was really more rewarding that getting; in later years, playing Christmas songs in the Xavier band at basketball games during halftime; the wonderful warmth of friends and family coming to our house on Christmas Day after all those years;

Christmas Present (1996)– Jennie is coming home from college soon, and I can hardly wait; now it’s my son who is thrilled with the two weeks off school (I’m so happy for him, his joy is contagious); Christmas Eve services are just a bit more meaningful each year; giving is now a lot better than receiving; the manger scene has been passed on to my nephew, as ancient and fragile as ever, but alive to another generation; Christmas carols seem so much sweeter, but somehow sadder (“Doesn’t anybody under 30 know the words to these songs?”); aging parents have precious few Christmases left; now the Christmas Day gathering takes place at my sister’s house, still as warm and reassuring as ever;

Christmas Future– Grandchildren coming to our house now, still warm and inviting; that manger scene goes to another generation, still fragile, but somehow stronger than ever; I can’t even remember when getting gifts really mattered that much since the real gifts are those family members and friends who keep coming through that front door; those Christmas Eve services are more meaningful than ever now, because we are the aging parents who have precious few Christmases left, and we know that we are nearer to meeting the Son whose birth we celebrated for all those years.

I am the least important of all God’s people. But God was kind and chose me to tell the Gentiles that because of Christ there are blessings that cannot be measured                                                                              Ephesians 3:8 (Contemporary English Version)

Albert Einstein. Tom Hanks. Simone Biles. John Steinbeck. Michelle Obama. Abraham Lincoln. The apostle Paul.

Do you have anything in common with these people? If you said “self-doubt”, you would be correct. Along with many, many more people, the individuals named above are all self-confessed self-doubters.

Interestingly enough, often people who doubt themselves are highly accomplished people who are introspective and self-aware. Perhaps the very ability to question their own ability is what helps to make them successful. At times, self-doubt can be crippling, and it takes courage to overcome some of the negative self-talk that accompanies such thinking.

I recall plenty of times in my own life where I doubted myself and my ability to handle certain situations. One situation that I used to relate to my supervisees was that when I made the move from working at a chronic care in-patient mental health hospital to community mental health, I felt lost. I was sure that at some point the agency director would find out how incapable I really was and he would invite me to leave!

This story often was helpful to my supervisees, because they usually felt the same way early in the internship. It is part of the process of learning and growing. In fact, I think it might be an essential part of growing. Healthy questioning of self is good and it spurs us to work at learning. We just need to remember that our inner thinking is not the only voice that counts. We need to rely upon others who know us well to get valid input that can balance a sometimes-unbalanced equation.

So, if you have self-doubt at times, I think that by looking at the list at the top of this blog, maybe you can get some reassurance…

Prayer: Lord, you have made us unique and in your image. Help us to remember that such craftmanship is worthy, Amen

I found this essay buried deep in the archives of my writings from years past. It was a summary of a discussion that I had with my (then) teenage daughter some thirty years ago. I hope you enjoy it…

“If there weren’t already a Christmas, the world would need to invent one.” That’s what I said to my daughter the other evening. Interested, she asked me why. I proceeded to tell her that I think people need some time during the year to have permission to do thoughtful, loving things for one another without people seeking an ulterior motive. We need a time when we can turn our hearts toward family gatherings, thoughtful communication with those we haven’t seen in a while, and a reason to reach out and wish good things to other people. We need a time to take a break from usually formal business relationships to infuse them with some warmth.

I have always been fascinated by the way people who usually have no interest in spiritual things take an interest in a high Christian holy day. Our culture has managed to appropriate this day as a “winter holiday” or just “the holidays”, teaming it with New Year’s Day to make a week-long celebration.

Around the Christmas season, we wish each other “peace on earth, goodwill toward men” in a world that has neither. We do this every year, and so far, it has not seemed to work. So, why do we do such things each year at Christmas? Well, it ties in with the idea stated above regarding the “invention” of Christmas.  For some people, Christmas is no more than a manufactured holiday of the marketplace used to sell merchandise, promote a good feeling, and allow people to take a break from the humdrum of life. It is an attempt to bring an artificial peace, and feelings of warmth that aren’t really there. However, unless Christmas joy and meaning is an internal possession year-round, Christmas won’t have much real impact except for a three or four week stretch in early winter.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the Christmas season, the warmth, the excitement, etc. I am also not completely cynical about the world’s view of Christmas. I’m glad people can find some hope and joy in this season. I also understand the reasons why people would invent another reason to have such a celebration, even if there were actually no Christmas. The circumstances around the celebration of Christmas can bring some temporary happiness and enjoyment, and that is a good thing.

However, the deeper satisfaction and real peace comes in the understanding of the original, the REAL reason for the celebration of Christmas. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, whose very coming was meant to bring real peace.

My hope for my dear readers is that you have a truly meaningful and joyous Christmas season, and that it last far beyond the “holiday season” that we set aside every year.

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven                                                                                                                                               Luke 6:37

We are all familiar with these types of images. Depending upon how you look at it, you will see either the figure or the background. Sometimes it is hard to get one image out of our mind to be able to see the other possible interpretation. Our brains have a need to identify one image at a time. Once we are open to seeing either image, we can more easily go back and forth, interpreting the image as we decide.

It is hard for us to hold two very different interpretations at the same time. So it is also true with how we identify other people. We are often quick to judge, placing certain people in categories, often without thinking. It takes an intentional decision to look for another way at seeing the image before us- or the people before us.

Our current political and social media atmospheres tend to put us into “either/or” thinking. “You agree with me or your thinking is wrong”. Indeed, some decide that those who do not think similarly are the enemy.

God does not see us that way. While he is the God of justice, he is also the God of mercy. He grieves over our sin, but he sends a redeemer to solve the problem. Seeing the world the way God sees the world does not come naturally to us. His thinking is supernatural, informed by the presence of the Holy Spirit. In order to see the world this way, we need more than our natural thoughts. We need that same Holy Spirit.

We need the wisdom of God, and humility is the only way to come around to this way to see other people.

Prayer: Lord, give us your eyes to see other people, Amen

 A good Joe:

def. a kindly obliging good-hearted person                                                                                                          Merriam-Webster Dictionary

His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.  Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  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.”

 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”^] (which means “God with us”).

 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.  But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.                                                                                                         Matthew 1:18-24

During the Christmas season, we read the story of the birth of Jesus, and there is one major character that recedes into the background. Joseph, the betrothed husband of Mary. Joseph, a good father, though not biological father, plays a key role in making this whole plan work out. Joseph hears the plan in a dream, and by his faith which he put into action, enables the whole plan of the birth of Jesus to move forward as it must.

Joseph’s steady faith and obedience allows Jesus to be born safely, and rescued during a later purge planned by Herod. Joseph knows that he is not the star of the show. He has been relegated to be a bit player who gets scant recognition for the success of the venture. Yet because he is a good husband, he provides for his family’s safety and growth without fanfare. He is just a good provider and dad.

In other words, he was a “really good Joe”.

Prayer: Lord, you have given us all parts to play. Some are glamorous, but all are important, Amen

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”                                                                                                                                                  Exodus 3:11

Feelings of guilt can rob us from fulfilling our potential.

In this passage we see the life of Moses, a gifted man of God who did not really see his gifts. Why not? Why didn’t Moses see his obvious gifts and talents which could be used for God? Well, many of us fail to see in ourselves the gifts with which God has endowed us. We tend to be oblivious to such gifts, sort of saying, “this (our talent) comes pretty easy to me; it can’t be that big a deal; anybody could do this”. This is compounded when we carry around guilt over some past behaviors. Guilt can render us pretty ineffective. Moses had killed an Egyptian in a fit of righteous anger, and he had been caught in the act. I think that this lingered in his mind, making him feel that, having done such an awful thing, God could no longer use him. He seemed to judge himself as unworthy; and even the God of creation could not forgive such an act. Certainly, he felt that he could not be a powerful instrument of God.

Remember Paul? He talked about his “thorn in the flesh”, which, to my way of thinking, was the memory of his past of having killed Christians.  Paul was painfully aware of this past for the rest of his life and continued to call himself “the least of the brethren”, even as he led the church in so many ways later in life.

I think that we often disqualify ourselves from God’s service by our own standards, not using God’s standards of forgiveness and restoration. Remember, whatever sins we have committed, God has allowed grace to “much more abound”. We are more than qualified for service; we are commanded to serve with whatever God has given us to bring forth.

Prayer: Father, thank you for the calling you give to each of us. Remind us that we are not the judges of our worth, but you, the merciful One, are. Amen