"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." ~Isaiah 9:6
I say the word "wonderful" pretty frequently. However, I've decided to start using it with more care. Though I have been hearing this verse for as long as I can remember, I actually just realized that one of the Son's names is Wonderful.
Meaning? Inspiring delight, pleasure, or admiration; extremely good; marvelous. A few synonyms are superb, magnificent, and glorious.
How perfect. The Child that was born, the Son that was given, the Lamb that was sacrificed, only He is truly Wonderful.
In a way, I feel like the word "wonderful" is a bit like the word "love". We say we love a movie, we say a pair of shoes is wonderful, but what we are doing is devaluing the words. Would you give your life for a movie? Or compare shoes to the Prince of Peace? It's a little hard for me to consider not saying things are wonderful because I think a lot of words have just lost their true meaning and we need to resort to stronger words to express ourselves. I will probably continue to say things are wonderful because words like "good" and "nice" just don't sound excited enough. But, it's something to think about. How often do I say "wonderful" about something that couldn't possibly compare to Jesus?
On another note, I was just thinking about how Christmas is now "over". The excitement has waned, the presents have been unwrapped leaving little scraps of brightly colored paper around, and it's now time to finish up with the Christmas music and start thinking about putting decorations away. My question is, is Christmas really ever over? Why do we need to confine celebration of Christ's birth to December 25th? (We don't even know for sure if He was actually born on that day...) No, we won't give and receive gifts every day, and yes the music will fade out eventually, sorry. But, Christmas was never about the gifts and music...right? It was about Jesus humbling Himself and coming down into our pathetic little world to save a bunch of pathetic sinners because He loved us.
The Christmas holiday and "season" are over, yes. But, the Christmas meaning is eternal.
And, it's Wonderful.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Friday, December 6, 2013
'Tis The Season. . . To Be Thinking
Remember that cute blog post from like, 6 years ago, in which I promised to try and become a better blogger? Hah, that was funny.
I guess I'm just not a blogging person. I mean, I enjoy it, I'm just not cut out for post-every-week or at least post-semi-regularly thing. I'm sorry. However, there are occasional times when I have something I really feel like sharing with the cyber-world. Such as the fact that lately I haven't been listening to sermons at church, I've been practicing with a bunch of kids for the Christmas play, Arrest These Merry Gentlemen. Basically, I've been spending every Sunday for the past month or sogoofing off with Maryah and other friends singing fun play songs, learning the hand motions that go with them, listening to a bunch of kids younger than me practice their parts, practicing my own part with the rest of the shepherds, and recently, learning a simple dance with some other girls to the chorus of the song "He Is The One". It was actually Maryah's idea to participate in the play this year, and though I miss listening to the sermons, I'm glad we're doing it.
It's funny, though, how easy it is to think of it as just another kids' Christmas play. Just another bunch of nervous kids singing songs, reciting the lines they've worked so hard at memorizing, making the audience laugh with their pun-filled lines, and just retelling the classic Christmas story we all know--wait a minute.
I admit, I have thought that. It was actually one of the reasons why I was apprehensive about being a part of the play. However, when I really stop and listen to these songs I'm singing, I realize that while it is a retelling of a classic story, it's one we should retell over and over!
One song I particularly like goes:
When you find yourself alone
Lost and on your own
Don't worry the Lord is by your side
Always faithful He
Will be the light you need
To guide you safely through the night
And another:
Share the news with the restless
Love has come, God's only Son
There's is hope for the hopeless
Share the news with everyone
It can be easy to miss amid the catchy tunes and the hand motions, but these songs actually have a pretty deep meaning. Always faithful, hope for the hopeless, love has come? That's some good, true encouragement there. Isn't it amazing how He is always there for us, always faithful, even when we're not? How He's the Hope for even the most desperate? The truest Love any lonely, searching person could find?
I don't know about you, but I feel like December really crept up on me. Oh yeah, Thanksgiving gave a bit of a warning, but it's still crazy that Christmas is this month, and this year is almost over. Anyway, I think that I go into the Christmas season thinking less than I should be of what it's truly for and about. (Not that I'm thinking about presents, for myself, that is.) I just feel like I don't focus enough on what Jesus' birth means to me. And, I should. I should wake up Christmas morning and think about how Jesus loved me so much that He humbled Himself to be born as a helpless, human baby, all while knowing that later He would die the most excruciating death possible so that I can know Him and be with Him in Heaven when I die.
That's what I should be thinking about during the Christmas season. The gifts for my family and friends, the plans, and the events aren't so important that they should draw my attention away from the best gift I ever received: the gift of eternal life.
It took the kids' Christmas play to help me to realize that.
So, even if I do write another post this month (though I wouldn't count on it), that's my Christmas encouragement to you. Everyone loves this season, and everyone recognizes it as special. For those of us that have the Blessed Hope, let's take some time to remember and dwell on why it's special.
And, let's watch (or participate in) the kids' Christmas plays with a fresh perspective. I'm looking forward to the manger scene. <3
I guess I'm just not a blogging person. I mean, I enjoy it, I'm just not cut out for post-every-week or at least post-semi-regularly thing. I'm sorry. However, there are occasional times when I have something I really feel like sharing with the cyber-world. Such as the fact that lately I haven't been listening to sermons at church, I've been practicing with a bunch of kids for the Christmas play, Arrest These Merry Gentlemen. Basically, I've been spending every Sunday for the past month or so
It's funny, though, how easy it is to think of it as just another kids' Christmas play. Just another bunch of nervous kids singing songs, reciting the lines they've worked so hard at memorizing, making the audience laugh with their pun-filled lines, and just retelling the classic Christmas story we all know--wait a minute.
I admit, I have thought that. It was actually one of the reasons why I was apprehensive about being a part of the play. However, when I really stop and listen to these songs I'm singing, I realize that while it is a retelling of a classic story, it's one we should retell over and over!
One song I particularly like goes:
When you find yourself alone
Lost and on your own
Don't worry the Lord is by your side
Always faithful He
Will be the light you need
To guide you safely through the night
And another:
Share the news with the restless
Love has come, God's only Son
There's is hope for the hopeless
Share the news with everyone
It can be easy to miss amid the catchy tunes and the hand motions, but these songs actually have a pretty deep meaning. Always faithful, hope for the hopeless, love has come? That's some good, true encouragement there. Isn't it amazing how He is always there for us, always faithful, even when we're not? How He's the Hope for even the most desperate? The truest Love any lonely, searching person could find?
I don't know about you, but I feel like December really crept up on me. Oh yeah, Thanksgiving gave a bit of a warning, but it's still crazy that Christmas is this month, and this year is almost over. Anyway, I think that I go into the Christmas season thinking less than I should be of what it's truly for and about. (Not that I'm thinking about presents, for myself, that is.) I just feel like I don't focus enough on what Jesus' birth means to me. And, I should. I should wake up Christmas morning and think about how Jesus loved me so much that He humbled Himself to be born as a helpless, human baby, all while knowing that later He would die the most excruciating death possible so that I can know Him and be with Him in Heaven when I die.
That's what I should be thinking about during the Christmas season. The gifts for my family and friends, the plans, and the events aren't so important that they should draw my attention away from the best gift I ever received: the gift of eternal life.
It took the kids' Christmas play to help me to realize that.
So, even if I do write another post this month (though I wouldn't count on it), that's my Christmas encouragement to you. Everyone loves this season, and everyone recognizes it as special. For those of us that have the Blessed Hope, let's take some time to remember and dwell on why it's special.
And, let's watch (or participate in) the kids' Christmas plays with a fresh perspective. I'm looking forward to the manger scene. <3
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