Rev. Chism's Weekly Message

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." - Luke 2:8-11

As you read this another Christmas Day is in the books. I hope all of you had a wonderful time celebrating. If you did not, I pray for better days ahead. This time of you can bring a mixture of emotions. Especially this year as the world endures a pandemic.

Let me remind you of one of the greatest inventions of our time. Or at least I think it is. It is called the gift receipt. For those of you lucky enough to receive one with a gift during Christmas, you can do something amazing with it. You can return a gift that you don't like and get something else. How wonderful is that!

However, you might want to keep this little bit of joy to yourself. The giver of the gift might get their feelings hurt!

Let me tell you about a gift for all of us that will never have to be returned. It's the gift that keeps on giving.

God sent an angelic messenger out into the fields the night Jesus was born. Shepherds were in the field doing what shepherds do just going on with life as usual. I guess I would be terrified to if a bunch of "shoning" was going on around me. I would be like, "What's happening! Is this the end!"

The shepherds would learn about a gift that the people had been waiting on a long time. Finally their Messiah was in the messed up world that they lived. God didn't send the messenger to the big-wig kings of the world. Nope. On this night God sent the messenger to the lowly shepherds. They lived with animals. A bath was something they desperately need. But let me tell you! The gift they would find out about was no stinker.

Then a few more angels showed up and started started singing like this, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." I wonder if it was similar to when groups of people go around their community singing Christmas carols. Like the angels that sang to the shepherds, those that do this are messengers of God sharing the blessings of Christmas.

If their is a "gift" we all need to take back in is the lack of peace that surrounds us. It seems to be a gift our world keeps on giving us. We are hurried. We are hurt. We see wars either with weapons or with drugs. Civil unrest is throughout our land. We worry just for the sake of worrying. We hear about and see that people die for no good reason. We see evil and bad things happen as well.

We need to return the lack of peace with the receipt and say no more! And then when we replace with the gift of peace and share it with all!

Why? Emmanuel! God is with is. Take a moment, stop and breathe, and remember His words. Practice His words.

Many years ago I was eating wings and fries with a friend. It was a nice day. Eating I looked up at TV and noticed the news channel showing a war happening in another country. It was a different than the day I was experiencing. I asked myself, "What is peace?"

Like the shepherds that night, we too have found "favor" with God. We are given the peace of God that and quench a soul that can live in fear. Peace may not happen around us with seeing all the hurts around us...but we can know and live in the peace knowing that God favors us all! We are favored! Peace is a state of mind you could say. We are to share peace with others.

Happy New Year to you all! Live in God's peace.

Stay Safe,

Rev. Baxter