Good Tuesday morning! Waking up to a temperature above 0 this morning is a blessing. I think it made it up to a hot-smokin' 5 degrees yesterday, a cold day here and colder still in Fargo. This may be the first devotional typed from my laptop while I sit at the kitchen table and listen to the new Casting Crowns Christmas CD, Peace on Earth.
Okay, this is one of those re-write days. I started out with a devotional that I thought a bit on the serious side for Christmas. I want to be serious, but not depressing, in the writing of these messages. This brought me to thinking about love and joy, and also why I didn't think these to be serious subjects. We should take love and joy very seriously, just not the depressing, sad kind of serious that we are often presented with on our network television sources. The economic news right now is a case of the sad, depressing side of serious. On the other hand, the celebration of Christ's birth is the right kind of serious. The expression and exaltation of the heavenly host is the kind of joyful and loving seriousness we need. The need of the world is great. While we could jump out at someone on the street and call attention to their sins, would it not be better to give them the seriously loving and joyful good news of Christ's birth and redemption of our sins?
Yes, it would be fun to see a Scrooge on the street and jump out yelling 'sinner', but even Dickens left it up to the ghosts to show him the error of his ways. Most of us know of someone who should expect a visit from the three ghosts on Christmas Eve, but Jesus didn't come to condemn the world, but to save it. Take a moment and spread some Son-shine around you on this fine morning.
Have a merry and joyous Christmas!
Bucky
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