What an odd definition of Christmas with all that we find ourselves doing this time of year! The Calm of Christmas enables us in the midst of our busyness to stop and ponder the true meaning of this glorious time of year! For it is not in the giving, as wonderful as that may be; but it is in receiving the One who came for us and desires to live within us.
The Apostle Paul in Galatians tells us that In the Fullness of Time God sent His Son to redeem (4:4-7). That time in history was anything but calm with persecution under Roman domination and a people waiting for the Messiah. But in the middle of such history … His-Story began and The Calm of Christmas heralded throughout the sky as the angels proclaimed: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men (Luke 2:14).
Someone once said … it is not easy to hear the angels sing. There is so much in our lives and in our world that would persuade us that there is no angelic music, and certainly nothing to sing about. But if we listen with faith, we can hear the angel’s sing, and we find that we also can sing!
It was The Calm of Christmas that enabled Mary to say: Let it be to me according to your word (Luke 1:38) as she lived in calmness of strength and pondered all things in her heart. It is the calmness of faith … not an easy faith … but a faith that still believes when life is anything but calm that enables us to say yes to what God has for us!
CeCe Winans states: Faith is about how you live your life in the meantime. How you make decisions when you don’t know for sure what’s next. What you do with yourself between the last time you heard from God and the next time you hear from Him is the on-going challenge of the life of faith.
Has your faith been challenged in 2009? If yes, then I pray The Calm of Christmas brings you serenity, quietness, stillness and peace as you ponder the true meaning of this year … as you say let it be to me according to your word … as you sing with the angels and as you live by faith in the meantime.
Pastor Jan Rizzo, Maranatha Church of the Nazarene, Paramus, NJ
Joseph Mohr penned the words, "Silent night, Holy Night... All is calm. All is bright."
Dear Lord, may we experience such calm in the midst of the busyness.
2 comments:
To sense that calmness amid the insane pace of Christmas in the good ole USA is a gift in itself. I think I'm finally learning how to enjoy the merriment, the festivities, the decorations without being swept away in the mad rush.
"Silent Night, Holy Night, all is calm. All is bright."
Joyous Noel.
Jean
http://www.jeanmatthewhallwords.blogspot.com
I'm reminded of the Christmas carol, "Silent Night." The Lord sure knew the best time to step into history. With all the bright city lights and crazy pace, the shepherds would have been hard pressed to see the star and hear the angels.
Blessings,
Susan :)
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