Proverbs 3:5-10 November 23, 2008
“What Do You Want for Christmas?”
Rev. Meagan M. Boozer
Maybe you’ve already asked someone this question this year, “What do you want for Christmas?” Maybe someone has already asked you this year, “What do you want for Christmas?” What are we asking? Really? We’re asking, “What can I write down on my list to buy you?” We’re asking about something tangible – something we can put in a box, wrap, and actually hand to someone we love.
But this morning, here’s my question: “What do you want for Christmas?”
In this year 2008, with a lot of concern and uncertainty about financial futures, what do you want for Christmas?
In this year in which someone very close to you died, what do you want for Christmas?
In this year during which you welcomed a new baby into your lives, what do you want for Christmas?
In this year in which you have endured a lot of sickness, what do you want for Christmas?
Maybe you’ve had a fantastic year in just about every way. What do you want for Christmas this year?
What do we really want for Christmas? Let us pray: Gracious, Strong, and Compassionate God – El Elyon – the Most High God – we come seeking your truth for our lives. On our own, we flounder. With you, we find firm footing. Speak now your words of life that will help us live freely, purposefully, joyfully, and at peace with you and with one another. This we pray in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Over the last two Christmases, following the deaths of my dear father-in-law in 2006 and my mom in 2007, I have to be honest with you: I just wanted to make it through Christmas without falling apart. I wanted to be able to lead this congregation in worship out of the strength God provides instead of trying to lead out of my own emotional weakness. The only way I was able to do that was to cling to the Lord and to the promises found in the Bible. Listen with me to God’s word from Proverbs 3:5-10:
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own insight.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be a healing for your flesh
and a refreshment for your body.
9 Honor the LORD with your substance
and with the first fruits of all your produce;
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine. and he will make straight your paths.
I want to suggest three things that should be on the top of our Christmas list this year – not things someone can buy for us – but things we can choose to receive:
Number One: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your path. Wisdom to put first things first is an important gift we can receive this Christmas. One of the most difficult things about being a minister is not all the “stuff” I have to do. One of the most difficult things about being a minister is knowing how to use my time well – knowing in a given moment how to prioritize, how to “put first things first.” But I suppose this is true for many of us. How do we use our time well? For working parents, it’s an enormous challenge creating agonizing moments: How can we be with our family when our job is demanding our time? How do you decide? How do we balance all the “stuff” in our lives so that in the end first things have remained first?
Well, first you have to decide what’s first. Is your job first? Family? Friends? Fun? Sports? Others? You? God? What’s first for you? Really? What does your mind think about most, and what takes up most of your time? Often that gives you the answer to the question: what has priority in your life?
The writer of Proverbs is challenging us to make our relationship with God number one in our lives. Honor the Lord with our very selves, and give back to him the first fruits of all he has given to us. Trust in the Lord with ALL our hearts. In ALL our ways acknowledge him…in other words, in every way, allow the Lord to call the shots, lead the way, and reveal what’s most important.
In the last two Christmas seasons, if God had not helped me put first things first, which was acknowledging the primacy of my need for him above and beyond my need for anything or anyone else, I would have “made it through” Christmas, but not with the peace that comes only from Jesus - the Prince of Peace. So, I suggest you choose to receive the wisdom you need to put first things first.
Number Two: The power and patience to always be gracious and loving is a gift we can receive this Christmas.
An unforgettable moment in my life occurred when I was in 9th grade. It was close to Christmastime. I was on the girls’ gymnastic team at Faust Jr. High School and we were having our first exhibition meet for the community. Following the meet, our coach was having a party for the team. I asked my mom, who had attended the exhibition, if I could stay for the party. She said, “no.” Now, this was unusual. My mom was pretty permission-giving. But she was adamant that I could not stay for the party. Man was I mad. When we got home, I marched in the front door and started right up the steps to my room. When I was about 2/3 of the way up, my mom called to me. “Meagan, come back down here.” “No!” I shouted. “Cicely Meagan Messner, turn around and get back down here right now!” I knew things were going to get worse for me if I didn’t listen, so I turned around and started stomping back down the stairs. I’m 14 years old at the time. Fourteen year olds can have some pretty good stomping times, given the right circumstances! As I came closer to the bottom step, I saw my mom, not mad, but crying, and beaming from ear to ear. Behind her in the living room was a baby grand piano that had not been there when I left for the gymnastics meet. “Merry Christmas, Meggie!” she shouted. Talk about feeling like a jerk; feeling like a brat, feeling like an ungrateful pig – that was me in that moment. Mom wouldn’t let me stay for the party because she had worked hard on the timing of the delivery of this new piano and the big reveal of the gift for me. Wow. From time to time as I play this piano in my home for my own relaxation, and sing songs with my grandchildren sitting on the bench beside me, I remember how self-centered I was that day.
Sometimes we go about things all wrong. We react too much and respond too little. We think of ourselves too much and others too little. We trust power too much and love too little. We think too much about what others will do for us and too little about what we can do for others.
I know people who are insult collectors. Some people collect baseball cards or guns or angels. Some people collect insults, and they always have a story to tell about somebody hurting their feelings.
Other people hold grudges. You’ve heard it said – so have I – “One day, I’ll get back at that person,” or “I’ll never forgive that person,” or “That person is no longer my son/or brother/or mother/or friend.” Grudge holders.
The writer of Proverbs tells us that when we trust in the Lord and follow his ways, it will be a healing for our flesh and a refreshment for our bodies. This Christmas, I want the wisdom to put first things first, and I am asking God for the power and the patience to always be gracious and loving. How about you?
Thirdly, we can receive the gift of God’s presence in our lives this Christmas – a presence that calms, that directs, that heals, that saves, that transforms, and that restores.
This is what Christmas is all about – God’s presence with us – Immanuel, which means “God with us.” God himself, our heavenly Father, our Savior Jesus, and the Holy Spirit – chose to come to earth and place himself in a feeding trough in the form of a baby. We all hunger for God, whether we recognize it, or acknowledge it, or not. St. Augustine wrote, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.” Was it just a coincidence that the fully human, fully Divine baby Jesus laid himself in a feeding trough and later spoke these words, “I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again.”? (John 6:35)
When we come to him with our hands out to receive from him and our hearts open, we will receive the gift of his calming, healing, saving, transforming, and restoring presence in our lives.
Though it may seem wildly impossible that the God of the universe, the Creator of all that has been and ever will be, chose to humble himself and place himself in the body of a baby, it wasn’t impossible for the God with whom all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). By faith, we believe it was love in its most pure form.
On Friday morning I was taking care of my little granddaughter Taylor, while Molly went to the doctor. Taylor is now 10 months old. She has the greatest smile just like her mom! While she was with me, it started to snow those great big snowflakes. They were coming down full and free. I pulled up the blinds on our big picture window, and held Taylor so she could see snow for the first time past her infancy. It became one of those moments you want to capture. Her eyes got so big – all wiggling ceased, and she just stared, and breathed. Then her little face turned to me with her eyes sparkling as she gave me the biggest smile. I thought my heart might just melt with love within me.
Love in the form of a baby is beautiful, simple, and pure. If we would just choose to pull up the blinds we have put down over our own lives to hide our pain, to hide our fears, to hide our insecurities, to hide our sin - if we would just choose to pull up the blinds and stop and stare and breathe… If we would just choose to allow ourselves to receive God’s smile over our lives, a love and delight for us which is proven by the reality of the baby in the manger, by the innocent sacrifice on a cross, and by the fully alive conqueror who emerged from the tomb - then what we really want will be ours this Christmas and every Christmas we are blessed to share together with the saints on earth and the saints in Heaven.
Hold me now
Oh, Father of Jesus
Sheltered, safe
Asleep in Your arms
No other place
Can promise protection
A fortress from pain
And a haven from harm
Hold me now
Oh, Father of Jesus
Sometimes I fear
The dark of the night
Your kindness kindles
The stars in the heavens
Your love is the reason
The moon gives us light
Just You and I
And one holy moment
Together if I have eyes
That can see
Open my ears
That I might hear You whisper
Of Your tender longing for me
Now I know
Oh, Father of Jesus
My hope lies in
Belonging to You
Never again
Will I live like a stranger
My heart understands now
That You’re my Father, too
Oh, Father of Jesus by Michael Card
Ephesians 1:5
“What Do You Want for Christmas?”
Rev. Meagan M. Boozer
Maybe you’ve already asked someone this question this year, “What do you want for Christmas?” Maybe someone has already asked you this year, “What do you want for Christmas?” What are we asking? Really? We’re asking, “What can I write down on my list to buy you?” We’re asking about something tangible – something we can put in a box, wrap, and actually hand to someone we love.
But this morning, here’s my question: “What do you want for Christmas?”
In this year 2008, with a lot of concern and uncertainty about financial futures, what do you want for Christmas?
In this year in which someone very close to you died, what do you want for Christmas?
In this year during which you welcomed a new baby into your lives, what do you want for Christmas?
In this year in which you have endured a lot of sickness, what do you want for Christmas?
Maybe you’ve had a fantastic year in just about every way. What do you want for Christmas this year?
What do we really want for Christmas? Let us pray: Gracious, Strong, and Compassionate God – El Elyon – the Most High God – we come seeking your truth for our lives. On our own, we flounder. With you, we find firm footing. Speak now your words of life that will help us live freely, purposefully, joyfully, and at peace with you and with one another. This we pray in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Over the last two Christmases, following the deaths of my dear father-in-law in 2006 and my mom in 2007, I have to be honest with you: I just wanted to make it through Christmas without falling apart. I wanted to be able to lead this congregation in worship out of the strength God provides instead of trying to lead out of my own emotional weakness. The only way I was able to do that was to cling to the Lord and to the promises found in the Bible. Listen with me to God’s word from Proverbs 3:5-10:
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own insight.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be a healing for your flesh
and a refreshment for your body.
9 Honor the LORD with your substance
and with the first fruits of all your produce;
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine. and he will make straight your paths.
I want to suggest three things that should be on the top of our Christmas list this year – not things someone can buy for us – but things we can choose to receive:
Number One: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your path. Wisdom to put first things first is an important gift we can receive this Christmas. One of the most difficult things about being a minister is not all the “stuff” I have to do. One of the most difficult things about being a minister is knowing how to use my time well – knowing in a given moment how to prioritize, how to “put first things first.” But I suppose this is true for many of us. How do we use our time well? For working parents, it’s an enormous challenge creating agonizing moments: How can we be with our family when our job is demanding our time? How do you decide? How do we balance all the “stuff” in our lives so that in the end first things have remained first?
Well, first you have to decide what’s first. Is your job first? Family? Friends? Fun? Sports? Others? You? God? What’s first for you? Really? What does your mind think about most, and what takes up most of your time? Often that gives you the answer to the question: what has priority in your life?
The writer of Proverbs is challenging us to make our relationship with God number one in our lives. Honor the Lord with our very selves, and give back to him the first fruits of all he has given to us. Trust in the Lord with ALL our hearts. In ALL our ways acknowledge him…in other words, in every way, allow the Lord to call the shots, lead the way, and reveal what’s most important.
In the last two Christmas seasons, if God had not helped me put first things first, which was acknowledging the primacy of my need for him above and beyond my need for anything or anyone else, I would have “made it through” Christmas, but not with the peace that comes only from Jesus - the Prince of Peace. So, I suggest you choose to receive the wisdom you need to put first things first.
Number Two: The power and patience to always be gracious and loving is a gift we can receive this Christmas.
An unforgettable moment in my life occurred when I was in 9th grade. It was close to Christmastime. I was on the girls’ gymnastic team at Faust Jr. High School and we were having our first exhibition meet for the community. Following the meet, our coach was having a party for the team. I asked my mom, who had attended the exhibition, if I could stay for the party. She said, “no.” Now, this was unusual. My mom was pretty permission-giving. But she was adamant that I could not stay for the party. Man was I mad. When we got home, I marched in the front door and started right up the steps to my room. When I was about 2/3 of the way up, my mom called to me. “Meagan, come back down here.” “No!” I shouted. “Cicely Meagan Messner, turn around and get back down here right now!” I knew things were going to get worse for me if I didn’t listen, so I turned around and started stomping back down the stairs. I’m 14 years old at the time. Fourteen year olds can have some pretty good stomping times, given the right circumstances! As I came closer to the bottom step, I saw my mom, not mad, but crying, and beaming from ear to ear. Behind her in the living room was a baby grand piano that had not been there when I left for the gymnastics meet. “Merry Christmas, Meggie!” she shouted. Talk about feeling like a jerk; feeling like a brat, feeling like an ungrateful pig – that was me in that moment. Mom wouldn’t let me stay for the party because she had worked hard on the timing of the delivery of this new piano and the big reveal of the gift for me. Wow. From time to time as I play this piano in my home for my own relaxation, and sing songs with my grandchildren sitting on the bench beside me, I remember how self-centered I was that day.
Sometimes we go about things all wrong. We react too much and respond too little. We think of ourselves too much and others too little. We trust power too much and love too little. We think too much about what others will do for us and too little about what we can do for others.
I know people who are insult collectors. Some people collect baseball cards or guns or angels. Some people collect insults, and they always have a story to tell about somebody hurting their feelings.
Other people hold grudges. You’ve heard it said – so have I – “One day, I’ll get back at that person,” or “I’ll never forgive that person,” or “That person is no longer my son/or brother/or mother/or friend.” Grudge holders.
The writer of Proverbs tells us that when we trust in the Lord and follow his ways, it will be a healing for our flesh and a refreshment for our bodies. This Christmas, I want the wisdom to put first things first, and I am asking God for the power and the patience to always be gracious and loving. How about you?
Thirdly, we can receive the gift of God’s presence in our lives this Christmas – a presence that calms, that directs, that heals, that saves, that transforms, and that restores.
This is what Christmas is all about – God’s presence with us – Immanuel, which means “God with us.” God himself, our heavenly Father, our Savior Jesus, and the Holy Spirit – chose to come to earth and place himself in a feeding trough in the form of a baby. We all hunger for God, whether we recognize it, or acknowledge it, or not. St. Augustine wrote, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.” Was it just a coincidence that the fully human, fully Divine baby Jesus laid himself in a feeding trough and later spoke these words, “I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again.”? (John 6:35)
When we come to him with our hands out to receive from him and our hearts open, we will receive the gift of his calming, healing, saving, transforming, and restoring presence in our lives.
Though it may seem wildly impossible that the God of the universe, the Creator of all that has been and ever will be, chose to humble himself and place himself in the body of a baby, it wasn’t impossible for the God with whom all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). By faith, we believe it was love in its most pure form.
On Friday morning I was taking care of my little granddaughter Taylor, while Molly went to the doctor. Taylor is now 10 months old. She has the greatest smile just like her mom! While she was with me, it started to snow those great big snowflakes. They were coming down full and free. I pulled up the blinds on our big picture window, and held Taylor so she could see snow for the first time past her infancy. It became one of those moments you want to capture. Her eyes got so big – all wiggling ceased, and she just stared, and breathed. Then her little face turned to me with her eyes sparkling as she gave me the biggest smile. I thought my heart might just melt with love within me.
Love in the form of a baby is beautiful, simple, and pure. If we would just choose to pull up the blinds we have put down over our own lives to hide our pain, to hide our fears, to hide our insecurities, to hide our sin - if we would just choose to pull up the blinds and stop and stare and breathe… If we would just choose to allow ourselves to receive God’s smile over our lives, a love and delight for us which is proven by the reality of the baby in the manger, by the innocent sacrifice on a cross, and by the fully alive conqueror who emerged from the tomb - then what we really want will be ours this Christmas and every Christmas we are blessed to share together with the saints on earth and the saints in Heaven.
Hold me now
Oh, Father of Jesus
Sheltered, safe
Asleep in Your arms
No other place
Can promise protection
A fortress from pain
And a haven from harm
Hold me now
Oh, Father of Jesus
Sometimes I fear
The dark of the night
Your kindness kindles
The stars in the heavens
Your love is the reason
The moon gives us light
Just You and I
And one holy moment
Together if I have eyes
That can see
Open my ears
That I might hear You whisper
Of Your tender longing for me
Now I know
Oh, Father of Jesus
My hope lies in
Belonging to You
Never again
Will I live like a stranger
My heart understands now
That You’re my Father, too
Oh, Father of Jesus by Michael Card
Ephesians 1:5
