Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Max Lucado from his book, Because of Bethlehem (with Bonus Content): Love Is Born, Hope Is Here (p. 108). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Have you ever given a significant gift that you wrapped in an ordinary box so they wouldn’t guess what it was?   It was an incredible gift that you gave them to show them you loved them.   And they were really surprised.  It's a fact,  “ a remarkable gift can arrive in an unremarkable package. ” Max says, “One did in Bethlehem.  No one expected God to come the way he did.” Max later says, “He entered the world not to demand our allegiance but to display his affection.”   He continues, “Jesus descended the ladder of incarnation one rung at a time. In nature, God. He did not grasp equality with God. He made himself nothing. He took on the form of a servant. He submitted himself to death. Even death on a cross. Down, down, down, down. From heaven’s crown

A thought by Max Lucado from his book, Because of Bethlehem (with Bonus Content): Love Is Born, Hope Is Here (p. 93). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) There is so much looking to be done. Max says, “Looking for snow if it’s cold, mistletoe if he’s dense, instructions if some assembly is required. Looking for red-nose lights if you’re young, headlights if you’re a grandma, insights if you’re a preacher. ’Tis the season to be looking.” We also are looking at the birth of Jesus, looking at that First Advent.  But there is also a Second Advent to be looking for this season. Max says, “We live between the Advents. The Second Advent will include the sudden, personal, visible, bodily return of Christ. Jesus promised, ‘I will come again’ (John 14: 3 RSV). The author of Hebrews declared, ‘Christ . . . will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him’ (9: 28 RSV).”

A thought by Max Lucado from his book, Because of Bethlehem (with Bonus Content): Love Is Born, Hope Is Here (p. 86). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) It really does.   And f or sure it doesn’t lift up people, does it? Max says, “The other day I saw some children at play on a large vacant lot where someone had dumped a mound of dirt. They were playing the greatest of kid games: King of the Mountain. The rules are as simple as they are brutal: fight your way to the top, and shove off anyone who threatens to take your spot. It was a slugfest of crawling, pushing, and falling. “King of the Mountain is not just a kid’s game. Versions are played in every dormitory, classroom, boardroom, and bedroom. And since mountaintop real estate is limited, people get shoved around. Mark it down: if you want to be king, someone is going to suffer. Your uppitiness won’t prompt a Bethlehem massacre, but it might prompt a broken

A thought by Max Lucado from his book, B ecause of Bethlehem (with Bonus Content): Love Is Born, Hope Is Here (p. 73). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) I love to travel.   My son, Brett and his family are on the road today headed to Colorado.   I love that drive.   Next week, Margaret and I will be headed from California to Nevada to be with our daughter, Stefanie and her family for Christmas.   Holiday time is highway time. Max says, “Ever since the magi packed their bags for Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus has caused people to hit the road.” Matthew 2: 1– 2 (NLT) says, “Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews?’” Matthew 2: 2 (NKJV), “We have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” They went to the King thinking he should know but he didn’t so