Found!

When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told. When eight days had passed, Jesus’ parents circumcised him and gave him the name Jesus. This was the name given to him by the angel before he was conceived. (Luke 2:15-21, CEB)

The shepherds wanted to confirm what the angels told them, so they went and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. Just as they were told. They found Jesus!

Then they shared what had happened and Mary committed it all to memory and pondered what it all meant.

What does this mean for Mary?

What does this mean for you?

God stepped down from their throne to show you love.

Know you are deeply loved.

Loving People. Loving God.

Hope.

Jesus spoke to the people again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me won’t walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” Then the Pharisees said to him, “Because you are testifying about yourself, your testimony isn’t valid.” Jesus replied, “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, since I know where I came from and where I’m going. You don’t know where I come from or where I’m going. You judge according to human standards, but I judge no one. Even if I do judge, my judgment is truthful, because I’m not alone. My judgments come from me and from the Father who sent me. In your Law it is written that the witness of two people is true. I am one witness concerning myself, and the Father who sent me is the other.” They asked him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You don’t know me and you don’t know my Father. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” (John 8:12-19, CEB)

Jesus said I am the light of the world whoever follows me will be light for life.

Those who do not get it will always find a way for there to be an argument against Jesus. Here it is he is testifying for himself. But is not God able to testify about God?

This is a circular argument that could be hard to unwind, but as I read this I hear hope. When we know Jesus, we know God and in knowing God there is hope for the promises that were made.

Even in the lowest points of our life, we have hope. Hope in God has carried me through many times of deep darkness and despair. I have never lost that hope.

Know you are deeply loved.

Loving People. Loving God.

Stay alert

“But nobody knows when that day or hour will come, not the angels in heaven and not the Son. Only the Father knows. Watch out! Stay alert! You don’t know when the time is coming. It is as if someone took a trip, left the household behind, and put the servants in charge, giving each one a job to do, and told the doorkeeper to stay alert. Therefore, stay alert! You don’t know when the head of the household will come,whether in the evening or at midnight, or when the rooster crows in the early morning or at daybreak. Don’t let him show up when you weren’t expecting and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: Stay alert!” (Mark 13:32-37, CEB)

If you knew when someone would break into your home, would you let them break in?

We don’t know when Jesus is coming back.

We need to be prepared at all times.

Our lives shouldn’t be clean to welcome Jesus, they should be focused on sharing love. When we share love we are doing and being what Christ has called us to be.

So stand fast in following Jesus and being love to the world.

Love Out Loud.

Know you are loved.

Loving People. Loving God.

normal child

Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. When he was 12 years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to their custom. After the festival was over, they were returning home, but the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t know it. Supposing that he was among their band of travelers, they journeyed on for a full day while looking for him among their family and friends. When they didn’t find Jesus, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple. He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them and putting questions to them. Everyone who heard him was amazed by his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother said, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Listen! Your father and I have been worried. We’ve been looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house?” But they didn’t understand what he said to them. Jesus went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. His mother cherished every word in her heart. Jesus matured in wisdom and years, and in favor with God and with people. (Luke 2:41-52, CEB)

I think this passage shows that Jesus was a normal child. Defiant and self-willed.

Jesus was where he knew he needed to be, regardless of what Mary and Joseph thought or wanted.

He was teaching as a 12 year old people twice his age and much more learned according to society, and yet he was not really keeping the commandments as that society would tell him he should.

But he was where he needed to be.

Where do we need to be?

Know Jesus was being in the place God wanted him, even when society would say he was self-willed and defiant.

Be where God calls you. Love out Loud.

Know you are loved.

Loving People. Loving God.

The Holy Innocents

When the magi had departed, an angel from the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up. Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod will soon search for the child in order to kill him.” Joseph got up and, during the night, took the child and his mother to Egypt. He stayed there until Herod died. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: I have called my son out of Egypt. When Herod knew the magi had fooled him, he grew very angry. He sent soldiers to kill all the children in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding territory who were two years old and younger, according to the time that he had learned from the magi. This fulfilled the word spoken through Jeremiah the prophet:
A voice was heard in Ramah,
    weeping and much grieving.
        Rachel weeping for her children,
            and she did not want to be comforted,
                because they were no more. (Matthew 2:13-18, CEB)

We don’t talk about this Holy Day a lot.

The day we remember Herod killing male children 2 years and younger because that is the time frame of when the Magi arrived after Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.

The Magi visited Jesus and the fam in a house, not the manger. And they were warned in a dream to not go back and tell Herod where they found him, so that Herod couldn’t kill him. So Herdo killed the children in the range that could be Jesus.

There was great weeping. Because innocent lives were taken because power was threatened.

Power is not ours to yield, it is a tool to be used for the betterment of the world.

If you have power, work for inclusion, mercy, grace, and justice for all, and know it is not yours to keep.

You are loved.

Loving People. Loving God.

others

He said this to show the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. After saying this, Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me.” Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. This was the one who had leaned against Jesus at the meal and asked him, “Lord, who is going to betray you?” When Peter saw this disciple, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain until I come, what difference does that make to you? You must follow me.” Therefore, the word spread among the brothers and sisters that this disciple wouldn’t die. However, Jesus didn’t say he wouldn’t die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what difference does that make to you?” This is the disciple who testifies concerning these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. (John 21:19-24, CEB)

Do not worry about other followers.

Prepare your own heart and mind and follow Jesus.

Get yourself in order and be where Jesus has called you to be.

Do not let other’s place or life get in your way, nor should you get in their way because they are not measuring up to what you think should happen.

Never ask, “What about them?” Concentrate on yourself.

Know you are loved.

Loving People. Loving God.

Service

About that time, while the number of disciples continued to increase, a complaint arose. Greek-speaking disciples accused the Aramaic-speaking disciples because their widows were being overlooked in the daily food service. The Twelve called a meeting of all the disciples and said, “It isn’t right for us to set aside proclamation of God’s word in order to serve tables. Brothers and sisters, carefully choose seven well-respected men from among you. They must be well-respected and endowed by the Spirit with exceptional wisdom. We will put them in charge of this concern. As for us, we will devote ourselves to prayer and the service of proclaiming the word.” This proposal pleased the entire community. They selected Stephen, a man endowed by the Holy Spirit with exceptional faith, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. The community presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. God’s word continued to grow. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased significantly. Even a large group of priests embraced the faith. (Acts 6:1-7, CEB)

So the 12 set in place 7 who would do the physical service of caring for the growing number of followers while they continued to proclaim God’s love through word. These 7 were the first deacons of the church and Stephen was the first martyr.

We are all called to serve in the body of Christ. All of us have a gift that is needed for the body to flourish. Be who God has called you to be for the enrichment of the body.

Know you are loved.

Loving People. Loving God.

life

In the beginning was the Word
    and the Word was with God
    and the Word was God.
The Word was with God in the beginning.
Everything came into being through the Word,
    and without the Word
    nothing came into being.
What came into being
    through the Word was life,
    and the life was the light for all people.
The light shines in the darkness,
    and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.
A man named John was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him everyone would believe in the light. He himself wasn’t the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light.
The true light that shines on all people
    was coming into the world.
The light was in the world,
    and the world came into being through the light,
        but the world didn’t recognize the light.
The light came to his own people,
    and his own people didn’t welcome him.
But those who did welcome him,
        those who believed in his name,
    he authorized to become God’s children,
        born not from blood
        nor from human desire or passion,
        but born from God.
The Word became flesh
    and made his home among us.
We have seen his glory,
    glory like that of a father’s only son,
        full of grace and truth.
(John 1:1-14, CEB)

The word was life and nothing came into being without the word.

And the word stepped down from heaven and dwelt among us.

And that word authorized us to become God’s children, not by blood, not by our passion or desire, but by God.

The word stepped down from its exalted place and tented with us to show us love.

Know on this most holy day, when our savior was born, that you are loved beyond measure by God and by me.

May the Christ child ever live in your heart and His love be shown through you to the world.

Loving People. Loving God.

In Bethlehem.

In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom. Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.” When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told. (Luke 2:1-20, CEB)

In the lowest of places, the king of the world is born!

Sent there by the power in place, Mary gives birth in the town of Joseph’s ancestors, a place that most probably couldn’t find on a map.

Because God doesn’t do things the way the people of the world think they should be done. God works behind the scenes and works for equality, mercy, and grace for all.

In a manger, Jesus is born. In a place most with power would never go, the king of the world is born.

Surrounded by animals, shit, and daily cares, God stepped into our world to show us how to love.

Don’t miss it.

See the baby.

See the love.

Know he is here for you.

Know the love he brings is for you.

Loving People. Loving God.

crafty myths…

We didn’t repeat crafty myths when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Quite the contrary, we witnessed his majesty with our own eyes. He received honor and glory from God the Father when a voice came to him from the magnificent glory, saying, “This is my dearly loved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. In addition, we have a most reliable prophetic word, and you would do well to pay attention to it, just as you would to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Most important, you must know that no prophecy of scripture represents the prophet’s own understanding of things, because no prophecy ever came by human will. Instead, men and women led by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:16-21, CEB)

A lot of people are going to celebrate a holiday in a couple days they think is a crafty myth. The birth of Jesus. Now it didn’t happen on December 25 and probably was during a warmer time given the events described in Luke. But it is not a myth.

The birth of Jesus is a step in the story of love we have from God for all of creation.

So as we celebrate Christmas, know you are loved, and the story is not a myth. While we may not know all the details, the foundation of the creator loving the world so much that they stepped down from their place and dwelt with us, to show us love is true.

You are deeply loved by God and by me.

I pray you never forget this.

Loving People. Loving God.