Getting’ Psyched about Service

By Hally Franz –

Operation Christmas Child is one of my faves. I began doing the boxes twelve years ago when my son was 3, and I was participating in a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group. We have continued the tradition every year since, preparing a box for both my son and daughter to send to two other children somewhere around the world. We love it!

There are so many ways to serve during the Christmas season. Please indulge my humble attempt at some holiday verse…
Shovel snow for seniors when the precip piles up, Sing carols in hospitals, voices filling their cups. Ring Salvation Army bells for those needing a hand, There are many ways we can serve in this wonderful land.

Deliver baskets of food to families doing without, Visit brothers and sisters unable to get out. Collect mittens and scarves to protect from the cold, Show kindness to each other, the young and the old.

Share resources we have with families in pain, To give blessings to others is always our gain. Tell folks about Jesus, His birth and His gift, Mend fences, forgive, and seek to heal rifts.

Christmas is time to joyfully give, Show one another how Christ wants us to live. Be merry, be jolly, be full of good cheer, Tell His wondrous birth story to all who will hear.

People get passionate about so many things. In recent months, many have been “fired up” about the election. In my home near St. Louis, Missouri, lots of us were pretty excited about the Cardinals chance at “12 in 12” (the twelfth world series win in 2012), even those of us who really aren’t sports fans. Hobbies, exercise programs, entertainment – we get excited about all manner of things in our culture. Let’s get excited about service during this holiday season!

Chant it, cheer it and share The Good News!

PRAYER: Most Righteous God, help me to have a servant’s heart this Christmas season and beyond, to be energized and enthused by opportunities to show the love of Jesus to others.

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11 KJV).

A Simple Silent Night

By Kathi Woodall –

Last year, our pastor called my husband two days before Christmas. He asked if our daughter would play the piano for church on Christmas morning. Somewhat surprised, but knowing she had a few Christmas carols in her musical repertoire, my husband agreed. Now, my daughter was only six years old and wasn’t an accomplished pianist. In fact, she had only been taking lessons for a few months. Despite her inexperience, she nonchalantly agreed to play. On Christmas morning, she seated her small frame in front of the grand piano and simply yet beautifully played “O Come, All Ye Faithful” and “Silent Night.”

“I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Luke 18:17).

A month previous, my daughter received a book of Level One Christmas carols. Born with a passion for music, she diligently began to learn every song in the book. She never expected to play for anyone besides her piano teacher and us. Audience or not, it didn’t matter, she simply loved to play and practiced her carols every day.

Similarly, God wants us to study and know His Word everyday simply because we love Him, not so we can look good when we spiritually perform for others. When we grow in Him just because we love Him, we become a vessel He can use at unexpected, impromptu opportunities. “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).

After the Christmas service, many people commented they couldn’t even see my daughter while she was playing because she was so little. The pews full of watching eyes, the imposing grandeur of the piano, and the expectant silence of the room could have scared her into not playing her songs. The intimidating combination could have kept her from doing what she had been asked to do.

I have felt this way so many times in my ministry. The voice inside my head says, “You can’t teach. What business do you have trying to explain the Word of God?” Or, “You can’t speak. People will be bored with what you have to say.” Sometimes the voice says, “You can’t write. Everyone will be critical of the words you type.” At those times I have to recognize the true enemy, face the giants of fear and rejection, and persevere in what God called me to do, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

Like I said, my daughter is not an accomplished pianist. Her song was simple. So often, we feel we can’t serve because we aren’t the most perfect, the most accomplished. We can’t have people over for coffee because our house isn’t adequate. We can’t teach a class because we’ve never done it before. We can’t serve on a mission trip because we aren’t trained like a real missionary. God calls us to those things, and countless others, not because we are perfect at them but because He is glorified through our weaknesses. “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me…For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Who Says it Doesn’t Rain?

By Michelle Lim –

Today I was grousing about a big disappointment that came my way. After all, shouldn’t I have a corner on the blessings market?

Not hardly. We are all on planet earth. Well, at least most of us.

Life comes with disappointment. There are wonderful blessings we can all be thankful for, but when things don’t go our way we act surprised and offended. At least I do sometimes.

What about those moments when we see others who have done wrong escape struggle, while we do not? It is especially irritating when it is someone who has treated us poorly. We do what Jonah did after preaching to the city of Nineveh. He walked to a hill overlooking the city waiting for God to destroy it. After all, they were enemies of Israel. This would be a great show.

But God didn’t see it that way. The people of Nineveh repented and God forgave them. For Jonah, on the other hand, God sent a worm to destroy the shade from the sun where he rested.

What did Jonah do? He complained. Sounds a bit too familiar to me.

This fall we have seen so many lose all of their earthly possessions, even their homes. Still, when was the last time you complained? I did just this morning about something considerably less significant.

Life isn’t always a stroll through the blessings market. In fact, sometimes it is downright devastating. We may never know on this earth why some of the struggles we face come our way, but none of us are exempt from hardship.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be the children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:43 – 45 NIV).

What’s in a Name?

By Hally Franz –

The name “Sandy” reminds me of a perky, smiling blond from the 1970’s – hardly the image of a devastating and destructive storm that recently ravaged the Eastern U.S. coast. I did a few minutes of research and learned the following about hurricane names.

Hurricane names for both the Atlantic and Pacific are selected several years prior to the current season. Atlantic hurricanes were given names starting in the 1950’s, those on the Pacific starting during the 1960’s. A committee at the World Meteorological Organization decides the names to be used. I found 21 listed for each year, one for each letter of the alphabet with the exceptions of letters Q, U, X, Y and Z. The list is rotated every six years, and names are reused, unless a storm has been especially horrific. In that case, the name is retired and replaced in the rotation.

Naming children, like naming storms, is not random. Parents-to-be often spend months pondering name choices for their children. Questions are asked. “What impression does the name leave?” “Who else shares this name?” “Will there be five of them in his class?” My husband and I tried to choose names that were easy to pronounce and spell, but unique and meaningful by definition or within our family.

We see examples of this in the Bible. Names are often connected with specific meanings. In Genesis, twins Esau and Jacob are named, respectively, based on physical appearance and position at birth.

So, when the Savior is born, certainly His name would not be left to chance.

Matthew tells us that an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. The angel told Joseph to name Mary’s son “Jesus,” meaning “the Lord saves.” Isaiah prophesied in the Old Testament that a virgin would give birth to a son, who would be called “Immanuel,” which means “God with us.”

His name was more than mere months in the making; it was the whole of time prior to His birth. It’s a name meant to send a message for generations to come and one associated with kindness and wisdom, selflessness and teaching, miracles and salvation. And, while others may share the name, none are confused about who we mean when we talk about King of Kings.
As we enter the Christmas season, let’s remember His name and celebrate His birth above all!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, be with those impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Encourage and restore them through their time of loss and despair. May they find comfort at this holiday season, remembering the promises of His name.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:21-23 KJV).

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