Saturday, December 20, 2008

Christmas confession

Today’s Reading: John 18:22-24(NIV)

22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded. 23 “If I have said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” 24 Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.

Good morning!

Just recently, I heard a Christmas confession. It was not exactly something I wanted or needed to know, but my children had carried this secret around in their back pocket for awhile. A little white lie can burn a hole in your back pocket, just like too much change stretching the fabric and eventually splitting the seam. Have you ever had a hole in your back pocket that couldn’t be repaired?

Our children love Christmas! They knew that all the decorating and baking and housecleaning and Christmas parties would lead to the biggest day of the calendar year – the celebration of Jesus’ birthday! We would bake a birthday cake on Christmas Eve and sing happy birthday to Jesus after sharing the holiday meal. They looked forward to the early morning gift exchange, and had trouble sleeping the night before, eagerly anticipating the gifts they would find underneath the tree. Jeff and I did our best to keep the presents wrapped and tucked away in what we had hoped would be a safe hiding place until the big day, but I guess our hiding places were not fool proof. We learned that our children apparently knew all about our their Christmas presents beforehand, as they would snoop around after school, unwrapping and rewrapping the edges of the wrapping paper, peeking at the labels to see what they may expect to open on Christmas morning.

It never occurred to us that our children knew what they were getting for Christmas before Christmas. They always seemed genuinely surprised and excited, and to some extent, I’m sure they were. Nevertheless, in this monumental Christmas confession, our children, who are now raising children of their own, would tell you that this choice to sneak a peek was the one Christmas memory they have regretted the most. The inner torment of exposing what should have been a joyous surprise, caused them a great deal of pain.

It makes one wonder about the guards who smacked Jesus around that night, as he stood trial before the high priest. Did they realize that the blood that covered their knuckles was the blood that would save them for all eternity? Why did they hit the One whose only crime was to speak the truth in love?

We are all God’s children, and all of us have sinned. There’s not a single person alive who hasn’t said or done something that they now regret. The Father gave us the Way, the Truth and the Life; all wrapped up in a perfect package. It was the gift that we had prayed for for years. Just like the guards that night, we took His gift for granted, accused him of blasphemy, and smacked Him in the face by our own selfishness and pride.

Christmas confessions are always good for the soul. And because we love our children and know that sometimes they are going to make mistakes, we choose to forgive and love them all the more. I really felt sorry for the guilt they carried for years; yet, it did not change my love for them or dissuade me from continuing to give them gifts.


The love of God is priceless, and Christ knew that we would reject His truth, yet He gave it to us anyway. His gift comes with no strings attached. Take some time away from the busyness of this season, to make your Christmas confession to the Lord. He will hear you and forgive you. All you have to do is ask.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Parental paparazzi

Today’s Reading: John 18:19-21(NIV)

19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21 Why questions me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

Good morning!

The parking lot was nearly full when we arrived last night at the Holy Child Elementary School for their annual Christmas program. Icy rain had been falling and the parking lot was slick. We skated into the school’s gymnasium, where hundreds of children were seated, dressed in holiday attire, awaiting their turn on the center stage risers. There were so many people in the gymnasium that all of the seats had been taken. What a turnout on such a cold winter’s night! The children sang their songs and spoke their carefully memorized words to the delight of everyone. Parents and grandparents swarmed the front stage with video cameras, snapping pictures and waving to their wee ones on center stage. This was a memory in the making, and something I will not forget.

They sang carols about the baby Jesus with such a great passion! There was no doubt that they knew the One whom they were singing about. He is the star of the night, and the children knew it! Christ’s joy became the children’s joy, and the presence of the Lord filled the entire auditorium. In one memorable moment, peace on earth had come.

Author James W. Moore published a book entitled, If God Has A Refrigerator, Your Picture Is On It. I believe that we, as parents and grandparents, mirror the image of our parental paparazzi. He loves all His children so much that He keeps our mirrored images mounted before Him all over the walls of heaven. There can be no other explanation for the perfect and holy love in the willing sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of the world. Can you picture His love for you?

That night in the garden, Jesus’ mother Mary waited in trembling and fear. How would she ever be able to let go of the Son she bore at the Father’s request? She wondered why the people could not see Him for who He truly is. This man was the baby she nursed, the child she raised; He was the One she followed. She knew He was the Son of the living God, who came to set the people free from sin and death forever. The only picture taken in the garden was that of a heartbroken mother.

The little children smiled for the cameras. Lights were flashing all over the auditorium, and as the parents took their treasured photographs, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit came and snapped a few everlasting pictures Himself.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.