2019 Worship Guide

2019 Worship Guide LINCOLN DAILY NEWS Wednesday, December 4, 2019 Page 13 A very physical story. We can even smell the hay and the manure. We can imagine the animals warmth and noises. Some of us cringe at the thought of giving birth in hay and blankets. We hope Mary had a midwife present to help her with the birth. We celebrate Jesus’ birth in so many ways in our culture. Some of those ways bring us back to the physical state of affairs. . .creches’s, children’s pageants, church programs, etc.. We who are Christian believe in celebrating the “reason for the season”. . .the actual birth of Jesus the Christ. So, this year, as we are thinking of the physical birth, I would like to challenge us to think of the birth that longs to emerge in our own souls. Can we find a new way for Christ to be born into our hearts and into our lives? Christ is born into our hearts when we look at people who are different than we are, no matter our status in life. We may be the marginalized and outcastes in our town. . . Christ is born into our hearts when we start to love someone who is “filthy rich” and/or have much status and power in our world. We may be the “upscale” and “well-off”, and need to have Christ born into our hearts with someone who has to choose between food and medicine. The Spirit of Christmas is born when the lions lay down with the lambs. When those who are ready to pick a fight can suddenly lay down their anger in the manger; when those who are seeking revenge can kneel before the manger; when those who live in constant fear can find peace because of the Christ child. God, baby Jesus, Holy Spirit, help us to find You living in our own hearts. “Love God with all your heart, mind and soul. Love your neighbor as yourself.”