christmas

“Silent Night, Holy Night, All was calm, All was bright.”

Everyone knows the words to this famous Christmas carol.  During the holiday season you could hear this beautiful hymn sung over and over again in shopping malls, church services, park concerts – there is something so comforting, so beautifully seasonal about familiar Christmas songs.

Yet the words of this one carol have played repeatedly on my mind this particular year.  SILENT night. HOLY night. All was CALM.  It paints a picture, doesn’t it? A simple birth, in the most common of environments, under a starry sky….PEACEFUL.  And I don’t know about you, but when I think of this holiday season for me and my family I would probably use words more like ‘busy’, ‘hectic’, ‘tiring’… to describe the schedule we keep during the month of December.

"Emmanuel, Emmanuel, God incarnate, here to dwell..."

Dwell. What does that word mean to you? What thoughts does it conjure up? Did you ever notice that unlike any other holiday, Christmas seems to revolve around home, around a 'dwelling'? We sing about it, we decorate them; we spend hours and hours putting up lights and trees, green garland around the fireplace and ornate decorations on the table. We hurry to and from airports to make long-distance trips and pull out roadmaps as we go home for the holidays. We are invited into people's homes and them into ours...

It makes sense that Christmas would be a story that ultimately deals with home. It speaks of how a loving Father looked down on a lost and hopeless world and decided that He - through His precious Son - would leave His heavenly home and come here. And He did.

He removed a heavenly robe and wrapped himself in human skin. He embraced humanity and accepted us so that one day, we might be HOME with Him.

So last Saturday night, its about 12 days to Christmas ... Brian and I are driving home from our City campus Christmas Spectacular and we decided to divert and drive past the now famous houses in our neighbourhood, who light up the street with crazy, fabulous Christmas lights. It seems that each year they add more ... more light, more effort, more passion, more statement. (One of them has even added a "donation box" this year because the enchanting spectacle is attracting more and more onlookers. Maybe its to contribute to their increased "festive season power bill" or maybe it's for a nominated good cause ... When we walk our grand-daughter up there in a few nights time, I'll check what it's for).

I went 15 years without "really knowing". Didn't know that God really existed, didn't know that the Jesus of "Christmas-season fame" really was Saviour of the World, didn't know that He loved me personally and bore the consequence and weight of my personal salvation upon His personal cross.

Revelation of Jesus Christ is exactly that! It’s a revelation (a revealing of truth) ... and it’s personal. So I'm praying that if this blog finds it's way into your world and if your heart is thirsty for truth and a reason for your existence, then the One who is more than capable of revealing Himself will do so. To those who genuinely knock, seek and search, He will be found.

Once again the sun is shining, the line-ups at the seafood market are HUGE and the beaches are bustling with 'Santa's' wearing surf shorts and sunscreen.  Yes, Christmas has come to Australia and we are looking forward to the fun, family, and rest that is a part of this sacred holiday.

It's hard to imagine that in some parts of the world, while we are running around buying last minute gifts and food for the table, preparing for Christmas Eve services and Christmas Morning church - many are going without, many are hungry, alone or simply unaware of the significance of this season.