Thieves must not be permitted to escape the consequences of their deeds… . To the violent, violence is the only argument they understand. Justice they understand, but only when it is administered from strength.”
–Louis L’Amour (Killoe)

“The violence of the wicked sweeps them away, because they refuse to do what is just.”
–Proverbs 21:7 (NLT)
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“God’s terrors are mercies to the repentant; God’s mercies are terrors to the impenitent.”
–Albert Barnes

This is the time of year when everyone has the opportunity to do good and to be good. This is the time of “good cheer” and merriment. Man can do good to others with just a smile, a nod of the head, or the words of “Merry Christmas.” Even with the sin nature, most people really want to do good, but cannot find their way. They may do good “things” but most of the time the motive is selfish. They will give a present with selfish motives of one sort or another.
I really like what Dallas Willard wrote, “Love does not consist of acts and projects but is a pervasive condition of vision, joy, and love in which we habitually reside.” Love is a condition; a way of life, a part of a person’s character. Doing acts and projects may come from love but in doing them they are not love. Love is not the giving of flowers or even chocolate. Love is the person and because of who they are they give.
Someone has said, rightly, that “God is love, but love is not God.” When you look and ponder that you can see that there is a difference. There is much more to God than love; you must take in His complete character, the natural attributes and the moral attributes.
Jesus came into this world because God loved mankind and needed to provide the perfect sacrifice for sins. While Jesus walked this earth He dealt with the problem of evil and good. He had to deal with the issues of the day. He did not theorize about life and the way people lived, but “plunged immediately into the guts of human existence.” (Willard)
This Christmas take the opportunity to do good unto all men. Do not make it a show, just do it. Then realize that this should be the way of life for the Christian every day, not just Christmas.
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Christmas Thought:
“It is the one season of the year when we can lay aside all gnawing worry, indulge in sentiment without censure, assume the carefree faith of childhood, and just plain ‘have fun.’ Whether they call it Yuletide, Noel, Weinachten, or Christmas, people around the earth thirst for its refreshment as the desert traveller for the oasis.”
–D.D. Monroe

Don’t let Christmas go by without thinking about the purpose of the day! The Scripture declares, “This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24, NKJV) However, this an extra special day the Lord has made. It was a day He made for Himself as well as mankind. This is the day that the works of salvation combine with the birth of the Savior.

In that country, a man saddled his own broncs and fought his own battles, and the measure of his manhood was that he did what needed to be done, and did it well, and without shirking.”
–Louis L’Amour (Killoe)

“Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work.”
–Proverbs 21:25 (NLT)
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Annie and I over the years, almost half a century now, have put more than a few miles in travel. We both like it and I prefer to drive most places. I have been across country a few times by train and a few more times by bus. Flying is okay, but I hate all the hassle. It used to be fun, but the last few times have not been enjoyable. I remember when people used to fly they would dress up, but now, well it’s a whole different story.
A couple of millennium ago there was a couple who took a very famous trip. A decree came down from the emperor that all had to go back to the town of their ancestry and register. Caesar Augustus would be formulating a new tax system and all had to be registered. Joseph and Mary had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Now, no one knows the actual time of their journey. Some say it would normally be a 4-5 day journey, but she was ready to deliver. They probably traveled a little slower due to her condition. The trip probably took, on the short edge about 7 days, but maybe up to around 10. Mary would probably have walked most of the way, but she might also have gone part of the way on a donkey.
Reminds me of a story. When Annie was pregnant with Shauna, our first born, she was ready to deliver, but no baby. Shauna, already was showing signs of being stubborn (who would believe?). After about five days I decided that we would take a drive over the Rampart Range road. I figured that maybe the washboards in the road might do something to shake that baby loose. Didn’t happen. It was another couple of days.
There was another group of travelers: the Magi or Wise Men. We do not know exactly where they were from or even if they were from the same city. We know they came from the East. Many believe they came from Babylon since there could have been those who studied the stars and also knew biblical prophecy. Remember, the nation of Judah was exiled to Babylon and Daniel was in the court there.
This travelers would have journeyed in more luxury than Mary and Joseph. I don’t know how wealthy they were, but to see the gifts they brought they definitely were not poor. Depending on the route and how many were in the party it would have taken anywhere from one month (and that would push it) to three months. No matter how much luxury they had when they traveled it still not compare to the life at their home. For people of their social status it wasn’t that easy of a journey.
Speaking of the Magi, Annie gave me this little thought last week. Something that you can ponder this Christmas season.
“Wise men came with the treasures of earth in their hands…and left with the Treasure of Heaven in their hearts.” (unknown)
Take this opportunity to treasure what the heavenly Father gave to the earth and to each individual. Don’t let this Christmas season pass you by.
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Christmas Thought:
“So if a Christian is touched only once a year, the touching is still worth it, and maybe on some given Christmas, some quiet morning, the touch will take.”
–Harry Reasoner

As I have written the past week or so, Christmas is more than a one day experience. It should be something we experience daily, the wonder of the Incarnation, the coming of the Christ-child. Maybe one day it will take!

He decided that he would never ignore Christmas again, and not just the date on the calendar.”
–C.J. Petit (The Second Star)

“All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).”
–Isaiah 7:14 (NLT)
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“Then I blew out the candles, one by one, until there was only one left. If it has been the evening star, I’d have made a wish, but it wasn’t a star, so I blew it out, too. Anyway, it was too late for wishes.”
–Jesse James (Christmas, 1864)

In this wonderful time of the year there are many out there hurting. Some are good at disguising it, while others don’t care and have seemed to have lost all hope. Jesse James seemed to be this way back in 1864; he was only 17. “Too late for wishes,” yes, but it is not too late for the reality of Christ to come into someone’s life.
There are those who are suffering the pain of a broken heart, the pain of a broken marriage and family, the pain that comes from emotional abuse, the pain that comes from moving away from God, the pain that makes the body ache. There are all sorts of pain. I read the following from Dave Roever’s newsletter and want to pass it on.

“People often relate pain as being punishment or judgment from God. The reality is–pain is a gift from God. Without pain we would not know how to interpret the aching arm and sharp discomfort in the chest and relate it to the possibility of a heart attack. Without pain we would not know that the severe ache in our abdomen could signal that our appendix had ruptured and could be systemic.”

People take pain as punishment or judgment when actually it should be a warning to bring us back to God. Man has choices in life, as Jesse James did. It is never too late to come back to the Lord; never too late to bring our pain to Him. We have a choice. The last Christmas before he was killed Jesse wrote,

“I get so lonely…. Sometimes I’ll just sit, oiling my pistol and wiping it down. Counting the number of shells I have left. Sometimes I think that’s about all I have left: bullets.”
–Jesse James (Christmas, 1881)

Jesse was a man that had knowledge of Jesus Christ, but never accepted Him as Lord. Jesse chose the way of perdition and his last Christmas note shows a man who has pain, yet will not turn away from the lifestyle that caused the pain. Jesus is always there, waiting to heal our pain.
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Christmas Thought: “Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won’t make it ‘white.'”
–Bing Crosby

If you’re truly dreaming of a “White Christmas” then it should be celebrated and shared throughout the year. Christmas gives us the opportunity to do so in a special way. If you haven’t been sharing your blessings before, this is a good time of year to start.

Me, I’ve never seen that years made a man smart, for simply getting older doesn’t mean much unless a man learns something meanwhile.”
–Louis L’Amour (Killoe)

“And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.”
–Romans 5:4 (NLT)
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Greed, get it while you can and by any means you can, seems to be the creed of the day. Christmas is the season for giving and yet many around us are still seeking to gain more and more materially. Remember, the fool trusts in the wrong treasure.
This Christmas do not be stingy. Now, I don’t mean to be foolish with your money for we are to always be good stewards of that which the Lord has given us, but this is the time of the year to give just a little more. In other words, use common sense in your giving. Do not want what the rich man has to offer, for in the end you’ll end up paying more than it’s worth. Real gifts have more than monetary value; they also have meaning.
One other warning: do not be envious of the rich; do not begin to envy their lifestyle. If we do we may begin to overindulge and overspend using that dreaded piece of plastic to be like someone we’re not. Live within your means and thank the Lord for that. Remember, “as ambassadors of Christ, we are called to humility and service, to modesty and good manners, to simplicity and to truth.” (Bob Beasley)
A little note of humor here. Someone said, oh for the good old days when people quit spending when they ran out of money.
In regard to the above, read Proverbs 23:1-8.
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Christmas Thought:
“The earth has grown old with its burden of care,
But at Christmas it always is young.”
–Phillips Brooks

The world, the media, the scandals, the terror, and a myriad other things would have you get your mind off the Christ-child and Christmas. They will do what they can from mockery to chicanery to get you to groan with a burden during this wondrous time of year. Did you see where at one Nativity that Mary has been replaced with the figure of a man? The scorning doesn’t end, but though it may anger you, they are the ones with the serious problem. Don’t let them burden you with their problems and issues!
This is the time of year to celebrate, no matter the world’s condition, no matter the nation’s condition, no matter one’s personal condition. This is the time when God sent His only Son to earth. This is the beginning of the hope of mankind, don’t let the news taint your Christmas. Become young again.