Christmas with a capital C

I had, what I came to discover much later as a nasty habit, the tendency of shortening most words. It was good and convinient for notemaking. Until I heard one preacher talk about how we had taken Christ out of Christmas to make it Xmas. The X could pass for anything. And it would not offend anyone.

Recently I heard about how we have altogether stopped saying “Merry Christmas”, opting for the more people friendly “Happy Holidays.”

That way you do not offend the non-Christians or people who are not so ecstatic about Christ. The point the singer-cum-comedian was trying to make is that whether or not the rest of the world accepts Christmas being about Christ, God still loves them.

I add my two-cents worth of wisdom to all the skeptics/cynics/apologeticians/blah blah who do not believe Christ was born on Christmas day. It doesn’t really matter. He was born, He lived, He died, He rose again- and a poor 33 year old man who died at his prime has so-turned the history of the modern world, that more than 2000 years after his death, the entire humanity can stop its businesses to celebrate His life. 2000 years later, He still spooks the hell out of people.

If celebrating Christmas will get some Muslim kid in Afghanistan curious about what the huff is about, then no big deal! After all we truly believe that He existed before time.

I haven’t stopped shortening words. SMSing has worsened the habit and yeah, I guess my mind will always run faster than my fingers so Long Live the Habit.

Joseph’s Lullaby

Of course it is the Christmas season. Even for the more apathetic ones like me, we cannot miss the Christmas deco in supermarkets, book shops and boutiques. Neither can we miss the promos on radio and TV. The price bargains that come with the season are of course a blessing. My best part though is listening to Carols.

I am the kind of person who will listen to Carols in March without blinking an eyelid. If I love the song, kwani?

I have some favourites. Like Newsong’s Christmas Shoes. The first time I had that song on radio, my eyes misted. It is beautiful. The video too!

Then there is Stephen Curtis Chapman’s (I hope it’s by him) Christmas is all in the heart. Another song that makes you go wuuiye.

Last Christmas I was waiting to hear Joseph’s Lullaby by Mercy Me on radio but either I missed it or no one played it- I hadn’t yet discovered YouTube. Now I am just into it. Here is one YouTube link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=he9BdHNrXTs

They have an interesting way of looking at Christmas. You always thought Christmas was all about snow and holly (like we have either in Africa) and Santa and food and gifts.

I love the gifts part. And I appreciate the holiday. Other than that, I do not know.

Anyway, the song just makes us imagine what must have been running in Joseph’s (and Mary’s) minds as they lulled their Baby to sleep, as they watched Him grow…

I believe the glory of Heaven, is lying in my hands tonight
Lord I ask that He, for just this moment, simply be my child.

Hope you can catch the Christmas spirit this early.

To be a blessing or a curse- it is a choice

The day after I completed college, I was sitting in the house listening to the radio. I was listening to God too. It was that time when you have so many questions in your mind and heart, so many uncertainties, then you realise that often, God does not lead us with a floodlight or spotlight. He leads us with a lamp for our feet. ONE DAY AT A TIME. ONE STEP AT A TIME.

God did not immediately remove the fears from my mind. Neither did He answer all my questions right then. That was like six months ago. He is still answering some even today.

Joel Osteen preached on life being all about choices. I can choose to listen to the voice of fear-or that of faith. I can choose to believe God- or the devil. I can choose to believe my family record, or the Central Bureau of Statistics, or some research findings. Or I can choose to move in faith, believing and acting like nothing is going to go wrong. Because nothing will. That was my word.

Everything was pulling away at the seams. But I could choose to carry around like everything was alright. That is not denial. By the world’s standards it is. But I am not just denying facts. I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED…and I am persuaded that He is able to bring to completion the good work He begun in me.

This is the song that followed. Beautiful. Powerful. Insightful.

We can all choose to leave a legacy of a blessing wherever we go.

SONG:THE BLESSING
By John Waller

Let it be said of us while we walked among the living
Let it be said of us by the ones we leave behind
Let it be said of us that we lived to be a blessing for life

Let if be said of us that we gave to reach the dying
Let if be said of us by the fruit we leave behind
Let if be said of us that our legacy is blessing for life

This day you set life you set death right before us
This day every blessing and curse is a choice now
And we will choose to be a blessing for life

Let if be said of us that our hearts belonged to Jesus
Let if be said of us that we spoke the words of life
Let if be said of us that our heritage is blessing for life

For your Kingdom
For the sake of every nation

North Pole

I came across a book about “Finding your north Pole.” It is by some SA author. But it reminded me of a feeling I often have, that I was born with this magnetic inclination, that no matter where I go, I will always find my way home- home in the sense of back to where my heart belongs.
I have drifted from myself and what really counts in my life so many times I lost count. God too lost count. But I always drift back home. Sometimes defeated, with my tail between my legs dogstyle, other times with a small look of embarassment on my face, other times tough-love style, like whether you want me or not I am coming back.
And everytime, I have this feeling of, I am so pathetic, Daddy it is amazing you still extend grace, still take me in. I think what I find so confounding-actually that is an understatement, it still never sinks into my cranium- is that God says he does not count my sin against me. For His own sake. If He did, it would be a continuous cause of heartache. So he forgives- and forgets. Everytime I run to him, He forgives- and somehow, forgets.
I love Casting Crown’s latest song:
Jesus can you show me just how far the east is from the west
cause I can’t bear to see the man I have been rising up in me again

I get that feeling often. How far really is that East from the West. How can God forgive me when I cannot even forgive myself?
Thanks to my North Pole- I guess it is His deposit in me- That always points me back home. Like a navigation system, it will always bring me back home.
The same allegory as that of a marrionette-His cords of love draw me back, no matter how far I am gone.

What Manner of Love

That we are loved, and that such a love could change our world, that is all this blog is about. More to come.