Merry CHRISTmas!!

 On this Christmas Day, let us be the voices—and arms—of compassion and grace and healing.

“Last night. Cold. I lay in bed realizing that I was, was happy. And I was that. Said the strange word ‘happiness’ and realized that it was there, not an ‘it’ or an object.  It simply was. And I was that. And this morning, coming down, seeing the multitude of stars above the bare branches of the wood, I was suddenly hit, as it were, with the whole package of meaning of everything: that the immense mercy of God was upon me, that the Lord in infinite kindness had looked down on me and given me this vocation out of love, and that He had always intended this.” Thank you, Thomas Merton.

Peace and blessings to all, my friends. May we allow this infinite kindness to find a place in our hearts today. Sabbath Moments

Casting Crowns - I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day Live

Luke 2:13-14 Glory to God and peace on earth!

To all a Blessed CHRISTmas!

Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 

The greatest gift offered to mankind came to earth as an infant, Jesus Christ. He came not to condemn the world but that through Him and His sacrifice on the Cross we could be saved. Carla

Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14“Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Glory here refers to praise given to God. “Goodwill toward men” means that people are the objects of God’s goodwill. The promise of peace (1:79) and goodwill would come to those who welcome God’s only Son. The NKJV Study Bible 

The angels’ reference to glory in the highest heaven is complemented by their message of peace of earth.

The Greek word used here, eirēnē, for peace is similar in meaning to the Hebrew word shalom (which means “peace,” “wholeness,” or “completeness”); it carries connotations of well-being, harmony, and security.  Faithlife Study Bible

A person should always offer

a prayer of graciousness

for the love that has awakened in them.

When you feel love for your beloved

and his or her love for you,

now and again

you should offer the warmth of your love

as a blessing for those who are damaged and unloved.

Send that love out into the world

to people who are desperate;

to those who are starving;

to those who are trapped in prison;

in hospitals and all the brutal terrains

of bleak and tormented lives.

When you send that love out

from the bountifulness of your own love,

it reaches other people.

This love is the deepest power of prayer.

John O'Donohue, Anam Cara

Luke 2:9-11 Jesus brought glad tidings of great joy to the people on earth!

We are reconciled to our Father because Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world. We abide in Him to the praise and  glory of His name.

Acts 2:36

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

In these troubling times in the USA that we are living in my greatest consolation is the truth that “Joy in the Lord” is my strength. May this season of renewal  give you hope for Gods’ will on earth.  May we give to others, as we strive to be the hands and feet of our Savior,  the forgiveness, mercy and grace that God has given to us. Carla

Luke 2:9-11 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 

Angels were heralds of the new-born Saviour, but they were only sent to some poor, humble, pious, industrious shepherds, who were in the business of their calling, keeping watch over their flock. We are not out of the way of Divine visits, when we are employed in an honest calling, and abide with God in it. Let God have the honour of this work; Glory to God in the highest. God’s good-will to men, manifested in sending the Messiah, redounds to his praise. Other works of God are for his glory, but the redemption of the world is for his glory in the highest. God’s goodwill in sending the Messiah, brought peace into this lower world. Peace is here put for all that good which flows to us from Christ’s taking our nature upon him. This is a faithful saying, attested by an innumerable company of angels, and well worthy of all acceptation, That the good-will of God toward men, is glory to God in the highest, and peace on the earth. The shepherds lost no time, but came with haste to the place. They were satisfied, and made known abroad concerning this child, that he was the Saviour, even Christ the Lord. Mary carefully observed and thought upon all these things, which were so suited to enliven her holy affections. We should be more delivered from errors in judgment and practice, did we more fully ponder these things in our hearts. It is still proclaimed in our ears that to us is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord. These should be glad tidings to all. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Matthew 1:20–21

But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:16–17

And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.

Matthew 16:16

Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Acts 5:31

Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

When I was a child, I would often ask my mother, “Is it going to be okay?” Back then, I knew there were adults in the room—my parents, our political leaders—to reassure me. They were the ones who stepped forward to speak to the nation as one. They knew it was their duty to instill hope, minimize fear, and steady us. It was their job.
Where are those people today?

This week, a flight attendant leaned down and asked me, “Who is our voice these days? Who can be our voice?”
Here is my answer: You are. I am.
We are. Together.

Years ago, as I sat in the ICU with my mother, a nurse stopped and asked me, “Do you need anything?”
Trained by my mother never to need for anything and never to complain, I quickly said, “Oh no, please. Help someone else who has it worse.”
The nurse looked into my tired eyes and said: “There’s no competition here. Everyone in the ICU is having a hard time. Everyone here needs help.”
That truth has stayed with me. That’s what things feel like now.

Life isn’t a competition. It’s not about who has it worse. We all need tending to. We all need help for all our feels.” (Thank you, Maria Shriver)

So. We are back to the paradigm shift for our week. Instead of “What do you believe?” we ask, “Please tell me what (or how) you choose?”
Yes. Today, in a world that can feel upside down, I can choose to be merciful. I can choose to be kindhearted, inclusive and empathetic. I can choose to stand up for justice and to create sanctuaries for healing and forgiveness.

And here's the good news: The bounty from compassion is not predicated on life as we expect it.
The replenishment from grace doesn't start when our fear is gone.
Or when our beliefs are unadulterated.
Or when our circumstances make it feasible.
Most likely, if we wait for all that, we miss rebirth, comfort, healing, being fed to fullness... and the “miracles”—the little gifts of Grace—every time. Sabbath Moments

Isaiah 50:6 "I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting." 

The speaker here is the Servant of the Lord, who was fully obedient to God and willingly offered Himself to humiliation and violence without retaliation.

Today's scripture is found in the portion of Isaiah's book known as the "Servant Songs" (which also include Isaiah 42:1-9, Isaiah 49:1-13, and Isaiah 52:13-53:12). These prophecies depict a Servant who suffers on behalf of others, establishes justice, and delivers the world from the bondage of sin. Written centuries before Jesus' birth, these scriptures ultimately point to Him as the Messiah who suffered to reconcile us with God. In Matthew 26:67, we see the fulfillment of Isaiah 50:6 as Roman soldiers beat and mocked Jesus before His crucifixion: "Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him ..." 

Through the torment of the cross, Jesus endured the deepest forms of humiliation, shame, and violence. And though He could have destroyed His offenders with a word (2 Thessalonians 2:8), He willingly "set [His] face like a flint" and was firm in His resolve to endure (Isaiah 50:7).

Bible scholar Charles Spurgeon says it this way: "No man could have scarred that blessed back of his unless Christ had been willing, out of mighty love, to suffer in this way for his people." Jesus' suffering here on earth was not an act of weakness but of strength rooted in love. He fully surrendered to the Father's will so He could free us from sin and death.

On the cross, Jesus endured unimaginable injustice "but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly" (1 Peter 2:23). When we endure wrongdoing and are tempted to take matters into our own hands, we can look to our Savior, who suffered on our behalf, as the perfect example of choosing humility even in the face of pain and persecution. We can surrender our right to retaliate and instead remember the act of surrender He has offered to us. First5

Luke 2:7-14 No greater love exists!

Acts 5:31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

For God so loved the world that He sent Jesus to die for us. He did not send Jesus to condemn the world but that through him the world could be saved. Glory to our  risen King! Carla

Luke 2:7-14 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14“Glory to God in the highest,

                  And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Luke probably notes this detail  “her firstborn son “ here because Yahweh had consecrated Israel’s firstborn children (Numbers 3:13). Wrapping or swaddling provides warmth, comfort, and security to newborn infants (and is still practiced today).

A manger  was a trough out of which animals were fed. This may imply that they were in a barn of some sort, but a house is a stronger possibility; animals were often kept indoors at night in the house’s lower level.

The inn the Greek text here (at the end of this verse) uses the term katalyma in reference to a guest room (compare Luke 22:11). In this context, a katalyma is best understood as a caravansary—a roadside lodging in which several groups of travelers could spend the night. 

By noting that the announcement comes to lowly shepherds rather than to the religious elite, Luke continues the theme developed in 1:48–52.

The Greek word used here, euangelion, commonly refers in Luke’s Gospel to the saving message that the savior of humanity has come into the world. Which will be for all the people hints that the good news is not just for Jewish people, but also for non-Jewish people.

Christ the Lord the angels employ two titles: “Christ” or “Messiah” emphasizes Jesus’ anointing as God’s promised Servant; “Lord” emphasizes His sovereign authority.

Lying in a manger Mangers—though quite familiar to the shepherds—were unusual beds for babies. This oddity would serve as a sign to the shepherds that they had found the Messiah.

A multitude of the heavenly army refers to a massive group of angels. Glory to God this third hymn in Luke’s birth narratives echoes the angelic song in Isaiah 6:3).

The angels’ reference to glory in the highest heaven is complemented by their message of peace of earth. The Greek word used here, eirēnē, for peace is similar in meaning to the Hebrew word shalom (which means “peace,” “wholeness,” or “completeness”); it carries connotations of well-being, harmony, and security. Peace is a major theme of Luke’s Gospel. Faithlife Study Bible

The inn was most likely a reception room in a private home or a space at a public shelter, not a large building with several individual rooms.

Glory refers to evidence of God’s majestic presence, later associated with Jesus (Acts 7:55). In this scene, the glory is the appearance of light in the midst of darkness.

Savior … Christ … Lord: These three titles together summarize the saving work of Jesus and His sovereign position. What God was called in 1:47, Savior, Jesus is called here. The word Christ means “Anointed,” referring to Jesus’ royal, messianic position. The word Lord was the title of a ruler. The meaning of the word is defined by Peter in Acts 2:30–36. Jesus is destined to sit and distribute salvation’s benefits from God’s side, ruling with the Father.

Glory here refers to praise given to God. Goodwill toward men this phrase means that people are the objects of God’s goodwill. In ancient Judaism, this phrase described a limited group of people who were the objects of God’s special grace. The promise of peace (1:79) and goodwill would come to those who welcome God’s only Son. The NKJV Study Bible

Matthew 1:20–21

But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:16–17

And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.

Matthew 16:16

Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Acts 2:36

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

From the cross, Jesus quoted David's cry in Psalm 22:1, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46), further connecting this psalm to His crucifixion and confirming that Jesus was fulfilling Old Testament scriptures. In this moment, Jesus lamented feeling abandoned by God the Father, but like David penned in Psalm 22:24, the Father would not hide His face forever. Jesus' cries of deepest despair were heard by our loving God.

And just as He "died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures," Jesus was also "raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). He came to ransom us and secure our place with Him for eternity. Jesus chose to be forsaken on the cross, bearing God's wrath for our sin, but ultimately He conquered the grave. Because Jesus chose to be forsaken on our behalf, we can trust that God will never forsake us. First5

“Christmas is the story of God breaking into the world with a new kind of power; love power, peace power.” And a reminder about Jesus’ words, “But I say, love all people, be gentle with each other, care for the ‘other’ and also, you can’t get to the kingdom of God unless you come as a child.” Rev. Jacqui Lewis

I was raised in a church tradition that asked, very often, “What do you believe? “And I learned early, how to give the “right” answers. And I remember being “corrected” if I was “wrong”.

I know now that this paradigm focuses on the wrong question. I no longer ask, “What do you believe?”

Now I ask, “Please tell me what (or how) you choose?”

In other words, your beliefs can say one thing, but tell me where your feet hit the ground. Tell me where your heart reaches out. Tell me where your faith has hands, and feet. Tell me where your light spills.

Speaking of paradigm changes, Jesus’ message transformed our world. “The heart of Jesus’ message is that loving ‘others’ means caring not only for family and friends but even for strangers—whoever is in need, whether we know them or whether they are like us.” Bart Ehrman said in an interview this week.

And no, this is not easy in a world where it is so tempting to pull a thick stocking cap over our eyes and ears.

I can hear Bob Dylan singing, “Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn't see?”

I do pay attention, and I do see how my friends in minority communities are treated and affected. And then just recently, I read this statement, made by a pastor, “Empathy is dangerous. Empathy is toxic.”

“So many people who claim to follow Jesus appear to have no idea what he actually taught,” Bart Ehrman observes.

Yes. And we are back to the paradigm shift. “Please tell me what (or how) you choose?”

Today, in a world that can feel upside down, can I choose to be merciful, kindhearted, inclusive and empathetic?

Can I choose to stand up for justice and to create sanctuaries for healing and forgiveness?

And here's the deal: the affirmation, “you are the light of the world”, can make all the difference.

If we let this affirmation take root, our capacity to make a difference, one gift at a time, tells us that despair doesn't win.

We can choose

We can act

We can risk

We can fail

We can forgive

We can offer hope

We can bear witness

We can affirm human dignity

We can stand up to hatred and despair

We can be the light of the world

In this dance we call life

On this planet we call home

Sabbath Moments