John 1:1-14
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John.
7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.
8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.
11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--
13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(NIV)
It is ironic when you read the account of the Christmas Story in the Bible because NO ONE was at home that First Christmas...
...Mary and Joseph’s home was NAZARETH and they were in BETHLEHEM;
...The Shepherds were AT WORK that night;
...The Wisemen weren’t home as they were TRAVELING to find the newborn King;
...Even JESUS was not at home!
Yet we all want to be HOME for Christmas!
In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their "flying machine" off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: "We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas." Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, "How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas." He totally missed the big news--man had flown.
Home – A place were you BELONG
A young woman was nervous about meeting her boyfriend’s parents for the first time; she wanted to look her absolute best. As she glanced at herself in the mirror, she noticed her black pumps looked a little dingy, so she gave them a fast swipe with the paper towel she had used to blot her breakfast bacon. When she arrived at their home she was greeted by the parents and their spoiled, cranky poodle. The dog got a whiff of the bacon grease on her shoes and followed her around all evening. At the end of the evening, as she was getting ready to leave, her boyfriend’s parents said, "Cleo really likes you, dear, and she is an excellent judge of character. We are delighted to welcome you into our little family."
Home – A place where IMPERFECTION is made PERFECT
When I’m home, I am accepted JUST AS I AM.
Home – A place where FAILURE finds FORGIVENESS.
If our greatest need had been INFORMATION,
God would have sent an EDUCATOR.
If our greatest need had been TECHNOLOGY,
God would have sent a SCIENTIST.
If our greatest need had been MONEY,
God would have sent an ECONOMIST.
If our greatest need had been PLEASURE,
God would have sent an ENTERTAINER.
But our greatest need was FORGIVENESS,
so God sent us a SAVIOR!
Home – A place where you can be at PEACE.
Three things rob us of PEACE:
GRIEF
1 Peter 5:7
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
(KJV)
GUILT (Jesus came to be an “Etch-a-Sketch for our sin!)
Matthew 1:21
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
(NIV)
GRUDGES (You may be letting people from YESTERDAY rob you of peace TODAY)
I John 4:20-21
“If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”
(NIV)
You Are My Sunshine
Karen was expecting another child and so she worked to prepare little three year old Michael for the birth of his baby sister. Every night Michael saying to his sister in his mother’s tummy.
During the delivery of the baby serious complications developed. After many hours of struggle, Michael’s little sister was born. But she was in very serious condition. She was rushed to a neonatal intensive care unit in another hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee. Instead of getting better, the little girl continued to decline. The pediatric specialist told Karen and her husband, “There is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst.” The parents contacted a local cemetery about a burial plot.
Meanwhile Michael continued to beg his parents to let him see his sister. “I want to sing to her,” he said. But kids were never allowed in intensive care.
The second week of his sister’s intensive care stay, Michael’s sister looked like she wouldn’t make it through the week. So Karen made up her mind that she would take Michael to see his sister whether and the hospital liked it or not. If Michael didn’t see her right away, he might never get to see her in all.
Karen dressed him in over sized scrub suit and marched him into ICU. The head nurse demanded that they leave. The mother instinct rose up strong in Karen and she looked at the head nurse with steel-eyed determination: “He’s not leaving until he sees his sister!” Karen took Michael to his sister’s bedside. After a few moments of looking at his sister all connected to tunes, three year old Michael began to sing.
“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You’ll never know dear how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away.”
Instantly the baby seemed to respond. Her pulse slowed and became steady. “Sing it again, Michael!” said Karen.
“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You’ll never know dear how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away.”
The strained breathing of his sister became a smooth as a kitten’s purr. The head nurse now stood transfixed with tears in her eyes. Michael sang that chorus again and again. And the next day - the very next day - Michael’s little sister was well enough to go home. Women’s Day Magazine called it “The miracle of the Brothers Song”. The medical staff just called in a miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God’s love.
Jesus came as God’s love song to you. Christmas is GOD saying, “You matter to me”. Jesus came to tell us that we are God’s sunshine.
Will you be “HOME” for Christmas?
Jesus left His home so that we could come home to Him! He came to bring you peace, real peace, the kind that brings a song of joy to your life.
