Take some time to consider these concepts. You may want to choose one and reflect upon it for a week. New talks are added every month. For a PDF version of a complete talk and to receive a monthly inspirational email, please indicate which sermon you'd like in the comments section of the form on the Contact Page. We respect your privacy and never share our email list with other organizations.
A Christmas Talk:
(Santa, reading a book) Oh, hello there. You caught me in my quiet time. I like to take some time before the big ride, just to prepare. And to remember what it's all about. You see, so many people forget.Oh, forgive me....let me introduce myself...I'm Santa. Over the years, I've been known by many names—Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, the Jolly old Elf, St. Nicholas, Saint Nick. And many, many more.
Of course, you and I know that I'm not St. Nicholas. He was actually an archbishop in Turkey in the 3rd century. A kind and generous man, he often tossed gold coins through the chimneys of those in need.In those days most people only had one pair of socks. They'd wash them and leave them by the fireplace to dry. Don't you know the gold coins fell right into those stockings...and before I knew it, more and more people began using these Christmas stockings for receiving gifts. St. Nicholas became the patron saint of children. And rightly so.
Initially
it was all about one child. A child who would grow to change the
world....and does even now all these centuries later. I've
been around for a while. I've even had songs written about me...and
books and poems too. I like the one Clement Moore wrote a few years
back in 1822....
He
had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he
laughed, like a bowl full of jelly,
He was chubby and plump, a
right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of
myself;
A
wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had
nothing to dread.
You see, that's more to the point than a big sack of toys. There is nothing to dread. Even in the bleakest of circumstances. Because there I bring hope and joy to people. But it's not about me. Never has been.
Make no mistake, I do exist. The editor of the NY Sun said so.But Christmas isn't about me. It's about hope and love and goodwill. Christmas isn't about the gifts. (I know, you may be surprised to hear me saying that!) (Ho, ho, ho!) No, it's about touching the heart. Really, it always has been. That's what Christmas is all about. Love. Bringing peace to places where there is turbulence. Bringing hope. :Paying attention. Sharing and caring Just to know that someone sees and cares is a gift, isn't it?
Once a year, I fly all around the world bringing gifts to everyone. I do it all in one night. It's a reminder of one very special night. I leave presents under trees—those pine trees are amazing, aren't they? They're ever green even in the middle of winter—they're a great reminder that life is eternal and that the harsh cold winter doesn't last forever.
It's about time to get packed up. Let's see what goes in this sack.... Fruit for the stockings—when I first started giving these out, sometimes it was all people had to eat...but I made sure their needs were met. Today I put in other necessities, too. Let's see what I have here...candy canes—yes, these look like the staffs used by shepherds.Dolls...every time I bring a child a doll, I think back to the little boy born in a stable. Of course there were animals there too, so I bring kids stuffed animals. Let's see what else...gold, of course. Incense, Perfume—not may people know this, but myrrh was actually used in perfume making. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh...that's where gift giving began...
And, back in the day, those three didn't have a GPS...or even an address of where they were going. With faith, they followed that star right through a dangerous desert. It's a wonder they weren't robbed--or worse!
But they knew that there was danger involved in the trip and they went anyway—they didn't send 'their people'--they went themselves—they gave their time, their attention, and their treasures to a child. They knew that hope was born in that child. And, really, can't hope be born anew everyday, with time, attention and the treasures of one's heart?
I've been known by many names over the years—at the heart of it all though, I embody attention, and knowing, and helping, and giving. At the heart of it all, I am love. And I'm known by many names........perhaps even yours.
Well, I've got a busy night ahead and I need to head out shortly. Before I do, I'd be honored if you'd let me share what I was reading when you joined me.
Luke 2: In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. All went to their own towns & Joseph went to the city of David in Bethlehem. He went with Mary and while they were there the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the in. Many years later, Jesus said “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (From Luke 2 and John 8:12)
The rain was pounding, the wind was howling and the seas were rapidly rising as Tropical Storm Irene came to town. We're lucky that had time to prepare for the severe weather. Preparation is important. So, too, is our choice of reaction to the conditions.
We didn't have a choice about Irene's visit, but we had a choice about our actions and reactions. Noah didn't have a choice about that flood. Remember, he prepared ahead of time, building his ark and filled it with animals while the sun shone brightly.
He prepared and he weathered the storm in that ark. It couldn't have been fun being in such close quarters with family and all those animals for that length of time. It must have been dangerous. And, quite frankly, the whole situation must have stunk! Ultimately, Noah sends forth a dove, symbolic of peace, and it is the dove that brings back a sign of land. Noah put forth peace. You can, too.
In Mark 4:35-40, Jesus and his disciples are in a boat. Jesus is asleep and the weather gets bad. The the rain comes pelting down and the boat starts filling with water. The disciples are afraid that they're going to capsize. They wake Jesus up..and, actually give him a hard time. They ask him how he could sleep while they were afraid they'd die. Jesus calms the seas and also chastises the disciples for their lack of faith.
In this story, water represents life. The storm represents any trying time that could hurt us, blow us off course, or drown our dreams. Jesus represents the ultimate Peace. He represents calm in the storm. He represents faith, the sense of knowing that things will be alright. Clearly, in the story, the disciples represent worry, panic, and fear while Jesus represents represents calm, peace, and faith.
In John 14, Jesus says “Peace, my peace, I give unto you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” This is the peace that passes all human understanding. This is the peace born of faith, of knowing, and believing with every fiber of your being, that everything is going to be okay. Even when the winds of change blow. Even when you're tossed about. Even when you're all shaken up inside.
We can consciously choose to be peaceful. We can choose not to carry fear. I'm not suggesting foolish actions. In dangerous times, prepare the emergency kit and have an evacuation plan, but don't get so anxious that you make yourself sick. You can choose to stay calm in the storm. It's better for your health, your clarity of mind, your relationships, and your overall wellbeing.
Irene has passed us by, but we will face other storms. There are all kinds of things that can potentially upset you such as an emergency room visit, the loss of a job, a flight cancellation, the denial of the raise, a fender-bender, or when the babysitter cancels.
When the storm comes, may you be calm and peaceful. And so it is.
"In God We Trust"
Faith is, in part, how you can co-create your life. Faith is a conductor of God's current. When we have faith, we get results. "In God we trust". It says so right on our money, doesn't it? And we don't usually leave the house without a wallet or handbag, do we? So we take our money everywhere, but do we take our faith everywhere?
It's interesting to consider that with money, you have to give it away to get something. You go to the grocery store and give the clerk your $25.00 to get a bag of groceries. We give in order to get.
We put forth in order to receive. Faith is a currency in a manner similar to money. Have faith and demonstrate that faith and you will reap the rewards.
It's like having a checking account. You write checks or use your debit card, trusting the funds are there and that the bank will give the appropriate amount to the vendors. With faith, you trust that there is a Higher Power and that the Divine Spirit is actively participating in your life and the world. You connect through prayer and your faith...and amazing things can happen. All things are possible with God!
Consider God the ultimate bank vault full of the treasures of your heart, everything you could want or ever need. Go back again to the Source for anything you want from that vault. Your faith is the key that will let you enter. All of the most precious things in the world are there...and they're all available to you, but you need to have and demonstrate your faith. If you ever forget that faith is the key, just look at a dollar bill. The key is right there and In God We Trust.
Paul told us in First Corinthians that we’ve each got spiritual gifts and they are to be used for the benefit of all. Spiritual gifts are talents, abilities, and perspectives. Your gift may be something you were born with, like a great singing voice. Or it may be something that you have developed, like learning to play the piano. What we don't often notice as adults are that our hopes, wishes, and desires can also be gifts.
When you wish that you could be something--or that you could do something, that thought signals a potential gift that you can develop. When you tend to that desire by planting it in fertile soil, feeding it, and making sure it receives light; you nourish that dream and bring it into blossom. In trying new things, it's important to surround yourself with people who will support you and your endeavors.
Are you using all of your spiritual gifts? Is there something that you’d like to have in your life…or something that you’d like to do? Know that with God, all things are possible.
Can you imagine if Jesus knocked on your door today? You’ve got Jesus in your house! You bring Him into the living room and offer Him the best seat in the house. Then you realize that your house is a mess and you need to tidy up.
So while you’re changing your clothes into something nicer…and you’re sweeping the floor, and doing the dishes, Jesus is in your living room.
When you finally get back to Jesus, you see your sister engrossed in conversation with Him. You’ve been running around and working hard and you’re a little put out that she hasn’t helped at all. When you mention this to Jesus, He says, “You’ve been busying yourself with unimportant things, but your sister knows what’s important.”
You see, this is what happened with Martha and Mary. Martha busied herself with things she could see and tasks she knew--even though there was something infinitely more important right there in front of her. Her priority in the moment wasn’t God. Mary, though, chose to listen to God.
Think for a moment about which of the sisters you are more like. Is God a priority in your life?
What if people could actually see your priorities? What if you wore them like a necklace or an emblem on a shirt? What would people see about you?