Every Who
Down In Who-ville
Liked Christmas a lot...
But the Grinch,
Who Lived just north of Who-ville,
Did NOT!
The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season!
Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason.
It could be his head wasn't screwed on just right.
It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all
May have been that his heart was two sizes too small.(The Grinch that Stole Christmas! Dr. Seuss)
My guess is most of us like Christmas with all the fixin's. My guess is a lot of us see Christmas as a wonderful time that stresses us a bit but we get it done. Having said that-My guess is some of us, though we do it, may still have hearts that are two sizes too small. The Bible consistently warns us about monitoring, challenging and cleanising our hearts. By a small heart I don't mean you aren't generous with gifts or meals or lights and ribbons. Small hearts can celebrate big without being big.
The next four weeks we will challenge our hearts to see If "maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!" As a body of Christ what does it mean to have our small heart expanded and transformed so the celebrations, gifts, parties expand in expanding Christ's influence in our neighborhoods and communities.
I was thinking about another Christmas Classic--the one with Scrooge in it. It occurred to me that for as long as I have known about that story I never wanted to be like Scrooge. BUT without paying attention to my heart I easily fall into Scrooge like patterns of thinking and behaving.
This Week we will ask how a changed and expanded heart deals with expectations that sometimes crush our hearts at this time of the year. We will look at the only answer for mis-placed heart affections. I really think you will be encouraged to find lots of room in your heart for Jesus and the things that matter to Him. It would be a wonderful time to invite a friend. Most people I know want to have the best and right kind of celebrations-the best place to start is with the heart.
See you this weekend! Remember to Pray and Watch wherever you go this Christmas season. As you do I know God will give you many opportunities to use your life as an influence for His Name.
God Bless
Pastor Randy
PS: Don't forget to calendar our "Constance Christmas Concert" (December 11 @ 7:00 p.m.) featuring all the worship teams from Constance. Great night to invite a friend. I will personally be doing a number from Handel's Messiah!(JUST KIDDING!)
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I love the Grinch story-I like to watch it although I'm a grandma. The Grinch's heart grew when he realized that Christmas is much more than presents.I'm eagerly awaiting this series of messages.
ReplyDeleteI am praying that I will see the bigger picture in people and take a chance on inviting them to some this holiday season. i don't want to be seen as having a heart to small esp. for those that I love and care about. I am looking forward to this series!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to hearing you talking about "how a changed and expanded heart deals with expectations that sometimes crush our hearts at this time of the year. We will look at the only answer for mis-placed heart affections." There is so much in this statement.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I did that helped me dig out of the disappointments of this time of year is that I now ask that the family donate to charity on my behalf instead of buying me presents. They were as shocked as I was when I cried last year because they donated to Dan and Angie's adoption fund for my gift. Sharing love for others in this way brings out the true meaning of Christmas and the love God showed us by .... ACTUALLY GIVING US HIS OWN SON KNOWING THAT HE WOULD BE DYING FOR US.
This year, I am going to share the same joy by giving to a charity for each of my children. Your heart truly does grow when you express love (not things) during Christmas.