Sunday, December 24, 2017

Believe

Every year during the Christmas season we have a list of “must-see” movies. The ones everyone is 
watching and will continue to watch year after year and readily quote all the most meaningful, 
scandalous, or slap-happy funny lines.  

I admit that being the “creator” of Christmas in the way of baking, shopping,  wrapping, cooking and 
decorating makes it hard to sit down to watch a movie, so I usually get only bits and pieces of most 
of them as I run by in a frenzy, cookie dough in my hair and wrapping paper in hand (unless it’s “It’s a
 Wonderful Life”, that’s my sit down movie).
But, somehow this year I managed to watch “Miracle on 34th Street” with my full...okay ½ attention, 
and was actually captivated by it or more so God used it to speak truth into my spirit. Don’t judge
 because it happens a lot.

I know many people choose to keep Santa out of their Christmas and I respect their decision but I 
hope those that decide to welcome Santa receive the same respect.  Santa is not the reason for
 the season but for those that have not accepted Jesus I see it as a place where faith can be
 inserted and God can penetrate a normally hard and troubled heart. Now, before you throw up 
your arms in protest let me just explain…
Santa in fact was a man of faith in Jesus. A godly man. And even though society has taken his
 persona and elevated it to a place where I am sure the original man would not approve of I think
 His legacy of goodness cannot be easily separated from the root of his goodness.. I believe God 
used him and is still using his story to minister to the hearts of the most wretched men and when 
a wretched man’s heart is open God can enter in.  

“How silently, how silently

The wondrous gift is given!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of His heaven.

No ear may hear His coming,

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive him still,

The dear Christ enters in.”  (Oh Little Town of Bethlehem)


Christmas time can be a tough time for so many sad souls. Loss, hurts and baggage from sins,
whether our own or effects of someone elses, can make our hearts heavy with doubt, regret and 
anger.
Yet during Christmas we are reminded of childlike faith, Jesus himself praised and refered to in the 
Bible.
" Then he said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven." Matt 18:3
The faith we all have had before the weight of sin and death made us cynical Ebenezer 
Scrooges, as we witness through our children just what believing can do...the joy, the wonder,
 the anticipation. Our hearts remember and want so much to go back to that simple way of believing.

 Why not? 

” Faith is the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
 (Heb 1:1)

   Or as  Fred Gailey puts it...
“Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.” Miracle on 34th 
Street (1947)

So I write this post not to give answers to all the troubles of the world but in hopes that my friends
 who struggle with believing would let Jesus “enter in” and heal your wounded soul;
and for my friends who have felt God and still have doubt to give Him a chance by believing 
He is good even when the evils of this world try to steal your belief.  

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Rom 12:21

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
 against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly 
realms...In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all
 the flaming
 arrows of the evil one.” Eph 6:12&16

And for all of my friends who have known God and find themselves in a struggle with doubt,
 to allow yourselves to put down your walls and let Him in once more...let Him fill you with the peace
 and joy you have missed.  Not everything is clear but soon sweet friends we will all know and all 
bow before this same God.
We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't
 be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as 
clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!” I Cor 13:12 MSG

“If you can’t accept anything on faith, then you’re doomed for a life dominated by doubt.” 
Kris Kringle, Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

What I know is we all have the ability to believe but only we can choose to open the door to his
knocking...He so passionately pursues us.

Today we all celebrate Christmas some of us with our mind on gifts and food and family...some 
on the empty chair beside us or the ache of the want/need deep inside us. Only one gift can satisfy
 your longings this Christmas, don’t wait to open it...God is surely with us let HIm enter in.

“Oh, Christmas isn’t just a day. It’s a frame of mind.” Kris Kringle  Miracle on 34th 
Street (1947)

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. “ 
1 John 5:11
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
 shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

This year as in every year, I wait with anticipation of the glorious return of our Saviour and Christmas
 is just a glimpse of what we all hope for but cannot compare to in the coming fulfillment of what all 
our hearts desire, being united not just in spirit but in body with Jesus, the hope of all humanity.

Merry Christmas to all our friends far and wide! 

My wish for you this year is to let God enter 
in...Believe...so that you may have fullness of joy.