8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10
This time of year the kids are so excited! They are counting down the days until Christmas. The anticipation is thick in the air, and the children are trying to do their best to be good. The “Elf on the Shelf” was not a tradition I grew up with. I have to say, I am seriously impressed with the antics that some of these elves come up with. I’m not sure I could be so creative! Even though there was no Elf sitting around my house when I was young, I do remember being told that I needed to be good, or Santa wouldn’t bring me any presents.
Sometimes, I think we believe God is like Santa Claus. He is always watching, and He knows everything we do -- good or bad. But I think there is a tendency to also feel like I have to be good for God to bless me. And if something bad happens in my life, then it must be because God is giving me what I deserve because of my sins. I think it is tempting to pray to God with my wish list and ask Him to give me, give me, give me, and then work really hard to try to earn His favor so that I, hopefully, get everything on my list.
But God is so different from Santa Claus. Yes, He is omniscient, and yes, He is always with us, but He is not weighing out our actions on a scale to determine if we earn a blessing from Him. God is perfectly holy, and none of us could ever meet His standards of perfect holiness on our own. We are sinners. But that doesn’t mean that God withholds His blessings. In fact, that’s the very definition of grace: favor that we do not deserve.
There is nothing in the Bible that says you can earn God’s grace -- if you could, then it wouldn’t be grace anymore. God wants us to do good things. God works in us to bring about good things. But He chooses to work things together for His glory and our good, even when we fail.
Christmas is the ultimate act of God’s grace - He sent Jesus to earth to take the punishment we deserved so that by believing in Him, we could receive the gift of eternal life. Through the perfect blood of Jesus and our faith in Him, we can receive righteousness that we could never earn.
Yes, God wants us to be obedient, but He knows the choices we will make before we even make them. And He is always there to pick us up, dust us off, and forgive us completely when we fall to temptation. And what’s even more amazing is how He can even turn our failures around and use them for good! Even things that are really hard, things that are definitely not on our wish list -- God uses those to shape us and to help us know Him better and make us more like Jesus.
I think there are many children who understand that there will be gifts under their tree come Christmas morning regardless of how they behaved all year. As parents, we don’t withhold the presents, even though we know our kids weren’t perfect all year. We love them, and we want to give them good gifts. How much more does our Heavenly Father love us? How much more was He willing to give?
Thank You, God, for Your gift of grace! Thank You for giving Jesus to die for us so that we can be forgiven and righteous before You. Forgive us for treating You like Santa Claus. Help us to rest in Your grace and to trust You more to fulfill Your purposes in our lives.
Monday, December 17, 2018
Sunday, December 9, 2018
Giving Our Worship
11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11
Christmas time at school can definitely be challenging -- especially on party day! But year after year I am always humbled by the gifts brought in for me from my students. I do not expect Christmas gifts from my students, but every year there are some families who are so kind to think of me when buying gifts.
I have received some very special gifts over the years -- some have been used up long ago, but some are the keepsake kind that are precious reminders of students I’ve had in the past. I know it is probably not easy for these families to try to buy an appropriate and thoughtful gift for their children’s teachers, but they do it anyway - sometimes even when asked not to!
Some gifts are just harder to find. I know there are people on my list that are hard to buy for. Usually, that’s because they don’t really need anything, and they often buy what they want for themselves, too! Or sometimes it’s just because I don’t know them all that well to know what they need or what they would like.
Imagine what it would have been like for these wise men who came from the East to see the new baby who would be King. What do you bring to give to the Son of God Himself!? We know they brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These were very expensive gifts fit for a king, for sure. But they also gave Him something else that I think we often overlook: their worship.
Truthfully, I think their worship was probably the part that pleased God the most. Don’t you? The fact that they traveled such a long distance, following the star that appeared in the sky, to see this new King and to worship Him humbles me.
Often, when I think of worship, I usually think of singing at church with other believers. But worship is so much more than that! Here, we see the wise men bowing before the baby and presenting Him precious, expensive gifts. They brought the best they could bring. I think that’s what I want to remember this week: I want to be giving the best I can bring to God. I want to use my talents, gifts, and resources for Him.
Jesus deserves all my worship. He has done so much for me. He is my perfect, holy, gracious, loving Savior who gave Himself for me. I know that I go to worship services every week, and I try to give my whole self to that time. But what about the rest of the week?
Christmas time at school can definitely be challenging -- especially on party day! But year after year I am always humbled by the gifts brought in for me from my students. I do not expect Christmas gifts from my students, but every year there are some families who are so kind to think of me when buying gifts.
I have received some very special gifts over the years -- some have been used up long ago, but some are the keepsake kind that are precious reminders of students I’ve had in the past. I know it is probably not easy for these families to try to buy an appropriate and thoughtful gift for their children’s teachers, but they do it anyway - sometimes even when asked not to!
Some gifts are just harder to find. I know there are people on my list that are hard to buy for. Usually, that’s because they don’t really need anything, and they often buy what they want for themselves, too! Or sometimes it’s just because I don’t know them all that well to know what they need or what they would like.
Imagine what it would have been like for these wise men who came from the East to see the new baby who would be King. What do you bring to give to the Son of God Himself!? We know they brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These were very expensive gifts fit for a king, for sure. But they also gave Him something else that I think we often overlook: their worship.
Truthfully, I think their worship was probably the part that pleased God the most. Don’t you? The fact that they traveled such a long distance, following the star that appeared in the sky, to see this new King and to worship Him humbles me.
Often, when I think of worship, I usually think of singing at church with other believers. But worship is so much more than that! Here, we see the wise men bowing before the baby and presenting Him precious, expensive gifts. They brought the best they could bring. I think that’s what I want to remember this week: I want to be giving the best I can bring to God. I want to use my talents, gifts, and resources for Him.
Jesus deserves all my worship. He has done so much for me. He is my perfect, holy, gracious, loving Savior who gave Himself for me. I know that I go to worship services every week, and I try to give my whole self to that time. But what about the rest of the week?
Paul says in Romans 6:13: “Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.”
This month, as we count down to Christmas Day, I want to give Jesus more of my worship. I want to honor Him with my words, my actions, my attitude, and my songs. I think that is a gift that pleases Him.
This month, as we count down to Christmas Day, I want to give Jesus more of my worship. I want to honor Him with my words, my actions, my attitude, and my songs. I think that is a gift that pleases Him.
Lord Jesus, thank You for all You've done for us and all You continue to do each day. Help us to know how we can honor You. We want to worship You and give You our best today and every day. Teach us how!
For Small Groups:Do you have a special memory of a precious gift from a student? What made that gift so special? How can we follow that example in giving to others and in giving to God?
For Small Groups:Do you have a special memory of a precious gift from a student? What made that gift so special? How can we follow that example in giving to others and in giving to God?
Monday, December 3, 2018
Memorial Stones
4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5 and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” Joshua 4:4-7
I put my Christmas tree up the day after Thanksgiving this year. I love the Christmas tree! It’s twinkling lights, sparkling ornaments, and fluffy greenery combine into a feast for my eyes. I have so many ornaments that are tightly connected to special memories.
I was noticing this year just how many of my ornaments have been given to me. Many have been gifts from students, and I love hanging them each year and remembering the time spent with those 5th graders. Some were gifts from family and are full of precious memories of Christmases of my childhood. Some ornaments were given by close friends old and new, each with their own special stories. And, of course, there are many ornaments from my own children hanging on that tree, too.
I have many ornaments that are just sparkle and shine on my tree. And I have my share of Santas and snowmen and reindeer, too. But many of my ornaments, I noticed this year, are stars and angels and manger scenes. I am drawn to those because they help me remember why I celebrate Christmas.
I also have a special ornament that was given by my church last year that holds a thorn, a nail, and a small piece of wood with some white sand. These are to remind me of the footprints Jesus left as he walked this earth in human flesh, the cross he bore, the crown of thorns he wore while on it, and the nails that pierced his flesh and held him to it. All so that I could know eternal life and be given His righteousness. The greatest gift of all time came to us at Christmas in the form of a tiny baby laid in a manger.
In this scripture passage from Joshua, Joshua gives instructions to twelve Israelite men. They are each to take a stone from the middle of the Jordan River (which they could do because God miraculously cut off the water flow for the people to cross over during a time of high water). They are to set these stones up to help them remember what God had done for them. And they are to teach their children when they ask about these stones that God went before them that day.
I need to make some of these memorial stones for myself, I think. Visual reminders of God’s provision and grace placed strategically to help me remember and to help me to teach my children and others around me. God has done so much for me! And I so quickly forget.
So this year at Christmas, I’m going to do my best to remember what it’s really about. I’ve hung this memorial ornament front and center to start. I have set out the nativity scene center stage in our living room. I am going to purposely place reminders in my home and in my classroom to trigger my memory and even spark conversations about how God gave His only Son for me.
I realize that the holiday season is often difficult for many people because of all the memories -- especially for those who have lost those dearest to them. Sometimes it’s hard to remember. If you are in that situation, I pray that you will be comforted by sweet memories and by our loving God who sees your pain.
This time of year can often be a difficult time in the classroom with children who are so excited about Christmas and whose routines are interrupted by special events and activities. But through it all, I want to remember the reason for all the celebrations -- the birth of my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ!
Lord Jesus, thank You for humbling Yourself and coming to earth in human flesh so that You could take the punishment for my sin. Thank You for taking the cross for me. Help me to always remember!
For Small Groups:
Do you have a special tradition, decoration, or other habit that helps you to remember what God has done for you? Share a favorite with your group!
I put my Christmas tree up the day after Thanksgiving this year. I love the Christmas tree! It’s twinkling lights, sparkling ornaments, and fluffy greenery combine into a feast for my eyes. I have so many ornaments that are tightly connected to special memories.
I was noticing this year just how many of my ornaments have been given to me. Many have been gifts from students, and I love hanging them each year and remembering the time spent with those 5th graders. Some were gifts from family and are full of precious memories of Christmases of my childhood. Some ornaments were given by close friends old and new, each with their own special stories. And, of course, there are many ornaments from my own children hanging on that tree, too.
I have many ornaments that are just sparkle and shine on my tree. And I have my share of Santas and snowmen and reindeer, too. But many of my ornaments, I noticed this year, are stars and angels and manger scenes. I am drawn to those because they help me remember why I celebrate Christmas.
I also have a special ornament that was given by my church last year that holds a thorn, a nail, and a small piece of wood with some white sand. These are to remind me of the footprints Jesus left as he walked this earth in human flesh, the cross he bore, the crown of thorns he wore while on it, and the nails that pierced his flesh and held him to it. All so that I could know eternal life and be given His righteousness. The greatest gift of all time came to us at Christmas in the form of a tiny baby laid in a manger.
In this scripture passage from Joshua, Joshua gives instructions to twelve Israelite men. They are each to take a stone from the middle of the Jordan River (which they could do because God miraculously cut off the water flow for the people to cross over during a time of high water). They are to set these stones up to help them remember what God had done for them. And they are to teach their children when they ask about these stones that God went before them that day.
I need to make some of these memorial stones for myself, I think. Visual reminders of God’s provision and grace placed strategically to help me remember and to help me to teach my children and others around me. God has done so much for me! And I so quickly forget.
So this year at Christmas, I’m going to do my best to remember what it’s really about. I’ve hung this memorial ornament front and center to start. I have set out the nativity scene center stage in our living room. I am going to purposely place reminders in my home and in my classroom to trigger my memory and even spark conversations about how God gave His only Son for me.
I realize that the holiday season is often difficult for many people because of all the memories -- especially for those who have lost those dearest to them. Sometimes it’s hard to remember. If you are in that situation, I pray that you will be comforted by sweet memories and by our loving God who sees your pain.
This time of year can often be a difficult time in the classroom with children who are so excited about Christmas and whose routines are interrupted by special events and activities. But through it all, I want to remember the reason for all the celebrations -- the birth of my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ!
Lord Jesus, thank You for humbling Yourself and coming to earth in human flesh so that You could take the punishment for my sin. Thank You for taking the cross for me. Help me to always remember!
For Small Groups:
Do you have a special tradition, decoration, or other habit that helps you to remember what God has done for you? Share a favorite with your group!
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