20 Ways to Reclaim Your Christmas

The 27 fleeting days between Thanksgiving and Christmas are not for the faint of heart! Do you agree? Today’s culture crowds our schedules with driving demands and insistent expectations. However, by Living With Eternal Intentionality®, a new and better way emerges.

The approach is simple; open the Word of God to Luke 2, and open your heart to the wonder and worship contained in the sacred text of the Christmas Story.

For the next 20 days, commit one verse per day to memory, and allow the Spirit of God to satisfy your soul beyond anything the hype of holiday extravaganza has to offer. As you lay aside mayhem and worship at the manger, you will hear the angels, you will hurry with the shepherds, and you will marvel afresh at the miracle of Immanuel, God with us.

So, jump in and begin today—December 4th—with verse 4. Then, move forward tomorrow, December 5th, with verse 5, and proceed in like manner right through December 20th. Be assured, the effort to Reclaim Your Christmas will not disappoint!

The Birth of Jesus

Luke 2:1-20, NIV

1. In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.

2. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)

3. And everyone went to their own town to register.

4. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.

5. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

6. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,

7. and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

9. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

10. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

11. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

12. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

17. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,

18. and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

19. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

20. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Living with Eternal Intentionality®

How do you believe that committing Luke 2:1-20 to memory could make a difference in your holiday experience?

What challenges threaten to derail your endeavor?

Who is a friend that could possibly join you in hiding God’s Christmas Story in your heart?

Blessings be upon you as you set out to Reclaim Your Christmas!

Psalm 103

As Thanksgiving approaches, feast becomes our focus. Psalm 103 offers a heart-soaring, soul- nourishing opportunity to praise God for His bountiful blessing upon us. Whether read in quiet devotion alone with Him or in corporate worship with a group, these words leave us deeply satisfied and filled overflowing.

Psalm 103

Of David

Praise the Lord, my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, my soul,

and forget not all his benefits—

who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord works righteousness

and justice for all the oppressed.

He made known his ways to Moses,

his deeds to the people of Israel:

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse,

nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,

so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust.

The life of mortals is like grass,

they flourish like a flower of the field;

the wind blows over it and it is gone,

and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting

the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children’s children—

with those who keep his covenant

and remember to obey his precepts.

The Lord has established his throne in heaven,

and his kingdom rules over all.

Praise the Lord, you his angels,

you mighty ones who do his bidding,

who obey his word.

Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,

you his servants who do his will.

Praise the Lord, all his works

everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul.

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

Psalm 103 richly highlights the character of God. Which attribute brings the most encouragement to you today? Why?

On a personal note, I pray this Thanksgiving ministers deeply to the desires of your heart. Please know that I am truly thankful for you, dear reader! Your encouragement to me is a gift from God Himself.

God Brought Down The Berlin Wall

Thirty years ago this month the Berlin Wall was torn down, and the course of history changed. A video (commemorating the 20th anniversary) gives a glimpse into the account of this iconic representation of the Cold War. I thought you might find it interesting.

Larry and I were shocked to have front row seats as this modern day miracle played out on the world’s stage. And truly, it was our indescribable privilege to walk shoulder to shoulder with the godly, heroic men and women featured here.

"It was a 'God thing.'" In this year (2009) the world looks back 20 years to a cascade of international events that could only have been orchestrated by God' sovereign hand. The fall of the Berlin Wall was only one, very symbolic moment of many similar occurrences in nations we used to say were "behind the iron curtain."

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes ... (Proverbs 21:1).

Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! For He has shattered gates of bronze, And cut bars of iron asunder (Psalm 107:15-16).

1. How do you see the Hand of God in bringing about the collapse of the Berlin Wall?

2. Why do you think the Lord wanted to bring about this dramatic change? Keep in mind that the world thought this event would, most likely, never occur.

3. Where in today’s world do we see impossible situations, which likewise, need God’s supernatural intervention?

4. How can you lead your church, your Bible Study, or your home group to pray to such an historic end elsewhere?

Note: For further reading, I commend to you the book, The Collapse: The Accidental Opening of the Berlin Wall, by Mary Elise Sarotte.