Brown's Daily Word: Brown's Daily Word 12-4-14

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Brown's Daily Word 12-4-14

Praise the Lord for this awesome Advent season that ushers in the glorious Christmas event and the season. I love the signs and the sounds of the season. Churches are decked and decorated for Advent. Various very special events are planned for celebration and worship. The majestic Christmas tree at the iconic and historic Rockefeller Center in New York City was lighted with great pomp and ceremony last night. The city streets and busy streets are decorated. I love Christmas. My wife is busy decorating the house with lights and trees. She loves to watch Christmas movies (or listen to Christmas music) 24/7. I am listening Handel's Messiah, reading the prophecy passages from the Scriptures and pondering anew on the blessings and the beauty of the season. Alice is preparing the list of the gifts for children, grandchildren, and family friends. I am also thanking the Lord for all the ones I am linked in the life through Jesus. You are part of the blessing. I rejoice with you on the inexpressible gift the Lord gave us in Jesus at the first Christmas. I love the stories that are associated with the Christ of Christmas. In my book, some of the best literature, best music, and best art in the world are linked to Jesus. The true life that we can have on earth is all about Jesus, the King of all nations and the Prince of Peace.

I am reading yet again one of the most famous Christmas stories of all, "A Christmas Carol", by Charles Dickens. The rich and powerful Scrooge is brought to his knees by Christmas ghosts, while the poor and lowly Bob Cratchitt rises above his circumstances to find true joy.

Some of the other Christmas stories also have a powerful message. How about Rudolph? The poor little misfit can't even join the reindeer games, let alone hope to earn a place on Santa's team, but an unexpected storm turns his disability into an asset, and he becomes the hero. How about the folks down in Whoville? The Grinch erroneously thinks he's ruined their Christmas by stealing their stockings and stuffing but they turn the tables on him and wake up singing their Christmas songs anyway. The next thing you know, the Grinch is carving the roast beast. And how about good old Charlie Brown? Everyone tells him he has to have a big, brassy tree and a flashy Christmas pageant but he refuses to go along with these ideas. He buys the saddest tree that money can buy and, with a little help from Linus and Luke chapter 2, he discovers the true meaning of Christmas!

The Christ of Christmas turns the world upide down and right side up. He makes all rough places plain. Indeed, he exalts every valley. He brings down low every mountain. He overthrows the established order. After receiving the wonderful news from the angel, Mary went off to visit her relative, Elizabeth, who was also miraculously expecting a child in her old age. When Elizabeth heard Mary's voice, and felt the child within her leap for joy, she pronounced a blessing on Mary. At that point, Mary broke into a song of praise; a song we refer to as the Magnificat. "

"My soul praises the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the mighty one has done great things for me - holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down the rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers." Luke 1:46-55

This song begins as any good hymn or praise song begins—rejoicing in the character and work of God, but it soon strikes a subversive tone. " … for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant." Mary was both a peasant and (barely) a woman. She was not accustomed to being noticed, let alone being visited by a distinguished guest or entrusted with an important assignment. "From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the mighty one has done great things for me." She could hardly believe it. God had noticed her, and her "humble estate," meaning, her poverty and lowliness, and not just her, but others in her condition: "His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation."

The song of Mary provokes us to be "mindful" of people that are often forgotten or ignored. They are the invisible people—the materially poor, the homeless, the prisoner, the lonely. To a certain degree at Christmas we become mindful of the last, the lost, and the least as people toss change into Salvation Army buckets, or sing in nursing homes. The message of Advent and Christmas provokes us to be intentional and more thoughtful.

Mary's song gets even more pointed as it continues,"He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble." This is completely turning the world view upside-down. Those on top—the proud and powerful—being brought low, while the humble and lowly are lifted up. "He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty." When the angel spoke those words to Mary, it meant that at long last God was going to act on Israel's behalf. When Mary burst into song, she sang about a world set right, with the hungry being fed, captives set free, and God being praised. Months later, in the fullness of time, Christ came.

This Christmas let's remember how Jesus came — born in a stable to a refugee couple living in occupied land. The only ones aware of his arrival, aside from his parents, were a handful of shepherds. It was a stealth campaign enacted and orchestrated by God, the Father. For 30 years no one knew that the Son of God was here in human form. This completely overturned the established order. Some of the first words out of Jesus' mouth were, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven", indicative of a diving conspiracy. He spent most of his three years telling people to keep it quiet; not to tell anyone who he was. He left the whole thing in the hands of a hundred some followers — fisherman, tax collectors, and women — and told them to take his message to the streets. Within a generation, they had turned the world upside down in Jesus' name.

I am so glad and grateful that the Christ of Christmas, the Holy Child of Bethlehem found me and loves me. This life is all about Him. I am so grateful and so blessed to know that we can do life together in Christ and because of Christ.

O Come all ye faithful joyful and triumphant.

In Jesus.

Brown

We praise the Lord for the ministry events that are planned for December that belongs entirely to Jesus.

Each Friday - Television Broadcast at 7 PM on Time Warnwer Cable channel 4. I will be sharing Advent and Christmas messages.

Saturday, December 6, 2014 at 6:30 PM. The St. Petersburg Men's Ensemble will be in concert, followed by a reception of Christmas cookies and pastries, all home made.

Sunday, December 7, 2014 at 8:30 and 11:00 AM, Worship services at Union Center UMC. 9:50 AM Sunday School 9:30 AM Worship at Wesely UMC

Saturday December 13, 2014 at 5:30. There will be a youth gathering, including Baking Christmas cookies and decorating the fellowship hall with Christmas trees.

Sunday December 14, 2014 - Morning worship services.

5:30 PM - Caroling in the neighborhood.

Saturday, December 20 from 5 to 7 PM, there will a Living Nativity at Center Court at the Oakdale Mall in Johnson City. We will be singing carols, accompanied by Yancey Moore at the grand piano. At 6:30 PM we will join in a "flash mob" singing the Hallelujah Chorus.

Sunday, December 21 - worship services. At 12:30 there will be a special Christmas luncheon, along with a reception for children and youth, in the fellowship hall of the Union Center UMC. We will be presenting each child and youth with a Christmas gift.