Karen's Devotions

This is a selected collection of my devotions e-published on Daily Devotions, Journey Christian Church, Irvine, California; George Bragg, Editor. To join the mailing list, email George, gbragg@cox.net.

About Me

My Photo
Name:

As a 25+ year homeschooling vet, post-cancer, math prof, mother of five, master's track and field athlete, and certificated private pilot, I have a lot to share about what God has done in my life. In 2000 I began writing devotions as something to try when it seemed like accoustic pianists were becoming an endangered species at church. I have since found great blessings from writing and sharing. God is good.

Monday, December 09, 2013

Trumpet Fanfare

First published December 9, 2013
Luke 2:10-12

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a savior, who is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign for you; you will find baby in cloths and lying in a manger.”

***
 

The Sunday after Thanksgiving I heard a sermon given by one of my church elders, Steve.  He brought up a perspective about Jesus’ physical birth and death that I had not considered.  Most adults are aware of the extreme pain involved in giving birth.  And I personally can attest to sweating buckets and being totally drained of energy after the labor process. 


Steve also tied this pain with Jesus’ long suffering crucifixion.  This agonizing process of death is torture at its worst.  Then Steve joined the two events with the prospective outcomes.  After laboring to give birth, the result was a wonderful new life, Jesus.  And, after laboring to die, the result was Jesus rising to bring us new life.  Now if that wasn’t enough to give you goose bumps, Steve wrapped the entire concept together with the idea that in each case, pain was endured because the joyous result was anticipated. Wow! Wow!
 

I basked in the multiple lessons I’d learned.  Then on Tuesday my kids surprised me by decorating the house for the Christmas season.  I walked in from work to find the house transformed. The lights! The Nativities! The angels! The Star! It was like a trumpet fanfare!  Dum-da-da Da!


I suspect we love this season so much because we can give it so much fanfare.  “Straight from the right hand of the Holy Father, please welcome our Savior, Jesus, the Christ!”  I’m serious.  We are excited with anticipation today as if Jesus were to really be born on December 25th, 2013.  And we ought to be excited.  You say, “wait?”  There’s all the pain of His birth.  There’s all the pain of rejection from Man.  There’s all the pain of His death.  Well, having eternal life with God trumps all that!  I know that because Christ rose from death to give us that hope!


Let’s show the world that the commemoration of Jesus’ birth deserves great fanfare! Hallelujah!

 
***

Luke 2:13-14

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
 
Copyright 2013, Karen Vaughn

posted by Karen Vaughn | 5:27 AM | 0 comments