~ "Come and worship..."

(from "The Nativity Story")

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. ( Luke 2:15)

He came heal the sick. He came to feed the poor.  He came clothe the naked.  He came to redeem mankind. 

Many people will flock to church this morning out of obligation.  Many will go to celebrate the birth of Jesus simply because they are moved to.  Many will continue on with their day without giving a thought to the reason for the season.  Many will worship from the quietness and comfort of their homes.  "Why can't every day be Christmas" was a song attached to a Christmas movie entitled "The Christmas That Almost Wasn't"...it hit theaters when I was a kid so many of you would not have every heard of it.  A movie I saw only once, yet the lyrics to the songs and the moral of the story have stuck in my head all these years.  

The verses of Luke, the ones that tell of the birth of our Savior, have been written into children's Christmas shows ("A Charlie Brown Christmas"), they have been etched across the hearts and minds of people everywhere.  God is not gone from this country.  We continue to sing his praises and tell his story.  We continue to pray.  We continue to mourn and try to understand his plan.  There are quite a few people who seem to think that we need to bring God back to schools and other places where he is "not allowed" -- may I remind you that God is everywhere!  The best way to turn anyone's heart is by giving them a gift...the power of giving has an effect on both the giver and receiver.  He lives in the hearts of the children who enter the school, in the hearts of the teachers who educate them.  He lives in the offices we work in.  He lives in the businesses we patronize.  He lives on the floor of the Senate and in the halls of Congress.  He lives in the White House and on Capitol Hill.  He lives where ever a Christian walks...and we are many!

Take some time today and worship the gift of love given to us that very first Christmas morning.  That miraculous birth that occurred for one reason...to teach us the true meaning of love.  Take some time today and pray for those who do not know the joy that is Christmas.  Do not let the events of this world overshadow the greatness of what is in the next!  Live it, breathe it, feel it...share it!!!  Merry Christmas!!!

Linus' monologue...

The Nativity Story...