Crowded Out

We have an antique chest that serves as a buffet not five steps from the front door. Contrary to my original plans, it unfortunately often becomes a dumping ground.

A few days ago I spied this scene on top of said buffet.

It reminded me of how much we crowd Jesus out of our lives. We become so very preoccupied with the trappings of this life. We fail to acknowledge or even remember the Babe, the Twelve-year-old, the Teacher, the Healer, the Worker of miracles, the Lamb that was sacrificed, the very Son of the one true God who was resurrected, and sits at the right hand of the Father.

"Infant Holy, Infant Lowly"

The grocery store has relegated their Christmas stuff to a corner at huge discounts. They don't care about the visual beauty of their displays. Ornaments are scattered hodge-podge, the boxes of Christmas lights are askew on the shelf, and the Christmas candy sits unceremoniously next to the Hannah Montana doll.

It doesn't bother me, for this is not what Christmas is anyway. Just as this hymn title is a study in contrasts, so is our Lord. It's about the Baby Who came to die. The Baby, wrapped in cloths, foreshadowing His inevitable purpose. The Son of God, placed in a feeding trough; He, Who is the bread of life.

The link below takes you to an accompaniment of this hymn, but unfortunately it doesn't accurately capture the correct harmony. As written, the soprano and alto parts "clash" at least once in every line of this hymn. It's that sound that makes you think, "Is that the right note?" But, when you look at the part, it is correct. The dissonance builds tension, and then is resolved to a chord that sounds right. Isn't this just what our Lord did? He built tension, He took everyone by surprise. Then, He resolved the ultimate tension between God and Satan. Between God and us. Between God and me.

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
Infant holy, Infant lowly, for His bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing, little knowing, Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Swift are winging angels singing, noels ringing, tidings bringing:
Christ the Babe is Lord of all.

Lessons and Carols

We've been busy around here. Nutcracker. Church jobs. The usual Christmastime activities.

Just wanted you to know: KVOD (FM 88.1 Denver) is broadcasting Lessons and Carols, live from Kings College, at 8am (MST) on December 24.

Wherever you are, try to catch Lessons and Carols this Christmas Eve.

Second Sunday of Advent

Want to listen to some good Advent hymns?

Go to Sing for Joy and you won't be disappointed. (If you like the same kind of music I do, that is!)

No need to silence my blog music, by the way. It'll stop on its own when you go to the link above.

Comfort, Comfort Ye My People
verse 3

Make ye straight what long was crooked,
make the rougher places plain:
let your hearts be true and humble,
as befits his holy reign,
For the glory of the Lord
now o'er the earth is shed abroad,
and all flesh shall see the token
that his word is never broken.

Have a blessed week.

Be Fruitful and Multiply

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
James 2:10

The kids and I reread the creation story from Genesis as our Jesse Tree reading for the day. Although I must have read those verses at least 20 times, something new jumped out at me this morning. (I love when that happens!)

As early as Genesis 1:11, God says, "Let the land produce vegetation..." (NIV). The King James translates it as, "Let the earth bring forth grass...". Verse 12 says that the land produced (brought forth) vegetation. When God creates sea creatures and birds, He blesses them and tells them, "Be fruitful and increase in number..." (NIV); "Be fruitful and multiply... (KJV). The land animals are to do the same. And finally, in Genesis 1:28, God tells Adam and Eve, "Be fruitful and increase in number (multiply), fill (replenish) the earth, and subdue it. Rule (have dominion) over [every living creature]."

Having experienced infertility for many years, I always saw these passages as the command I could never fulfill. The big glaring spotlight trained right on me, reminding everyone I had failed. But with the scripture readings from just a few Sundays ago about the Parable of the Talents still fresh in my mind, I realized this morning that our being fruitful doesn't just have to mean giving birth to biological children. An economist recently said, "Our country is in financial trouble because instead of producing and saving, we are consuming and spending." I can produce and be fruitful in the smallest of ways. I can do it by cleaning the bathroom mirror without inwardly grumbling. I can do it in a life-changing permanent way. By teaching my children about God, His word, His Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Wow. Hopeful words. Humbling words. Hard words.

(I typed in the phrase "be fruitful and multiply" and searched images, only to find this photo above. Interesting, don't you think?)